Get Organized Day 5 | DIY Mobile Device Charging Station

The other morning I was scrambling. Completely scrambling. And by the time I needed to be out the door I realized that I couldn’t find my iPod, which I wanted for my planned run. When I did find it (on the bathroom counter), it hadn’t been charged. In this 30 Days of organization, I need to find a place for everything and to put everything in its place. This is especially true for things I use every day, like my cell phone or iPod.

So here is a perfect DIY for a Mobile Device Charging Station! The charging cord fits through the hole in the back, so the charger, cord, and device are all contained in this sweet little cup. It fits both my iPod and my non-smart phone (and I can even squeeze them in at the same time), but it would fit any hand-held device that’s smaller than a tablet. And best of all: I made it with materials I had at home.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• Empty and clean plastic bottle (I used a conditioner bottle, but a lotion bottle or something similar would work too)
• Paint brush
• Sharpie
• Scissors
• Mod Podge
• Steel wool
• Fabric

Start by measuring your mobile device against the plastic bottle. I used my phone, because it’s smaller than my iPod and I wanted to make sure that it wouldn’t get lost inside or be hard to get out. Mark the bottle with the sharpie so you know where to cut. The front side of the charging station should be lower than the back. Also make sure the back of the cup wide enough to cut out room for the cord to plug into the wall. Use the scissors to cut out along your dotted line.

Now, measure against an actual outlet (if you have a baby-proof cover you can use it as a template), make an outline, and cut out the hole in the back of the holder. If you have a utility knife or box cutters, that might make cutting this part easier.

Now for the decorating! Use the steel wool or fine-grit sandpaper to scratch the outside of the plastic. This will make the glue stick better. You can also sand down the edges a bit if you think they’re too sharp. Add a good layer of Mod Podge to the plastic with your paint brush. Wrap a piece of fabric around the plastic, smoothing the wrinkles as you go. Make sure the fabric ends wrapping past the outlet hole in the back. You can ensure the ends of the fabric is smooth and secure by gluing both the bottom and top flap. As for the bottom, fold the flaps under, smoothing it and gluing it as you go. Then cut an oval shape and glue it down over the bottom for a clean and polished finish.

Using the plastic edge as a guide, trim all the excess fabric, including the outlet hole. Again, box cutters or X-acto knife might make this job easier. Add a final coat of Mod Podge to the outside of the fabric, and let the whole thing dry. I left mine upside down over my bottle of dish soap for about an hour.

Of course you could decorate this in a million different ways: craft or spray paint, scrapbook paper, duct tape, markers. Use your imagination!

Your Mobile Device Charging Station is ready. Plug your charger in through the hole and place your device in the cup. I’m excited about the possibilities. I’ll be organized on a day-to-day basis. My iPod will always be charged for a morning run. My cell phone will be charged when I head out the door for the day. But beyond that. When I travel, I’ll have a spot to keep everything that I need to charge in one place. Mobile organization is a beautiful thing. Plus, it comes in such a pretty package. And the best part? My husband wants one too, so as soon as I find the right fabric, I’ll organize him too.