Popsicle stick desk set: You can make a memo pad/sticky note holder, a business card holder and a pen caddy using just craft sticks. Just start out with a line of glue along two sticks. Carefully lay more sticks, perpendicular to these sticks, all along the length of the first sticks. This is the base piece. Then build up the containers "lincoln log style" - alternating where sticks are placed. For the memo holder, just go about 4 layers high. For the business card holder, add another stick in the middle (making two seperate areas) and going about 10 layers high. Paint the containers or decorate with stickers, buttons, or whatever embellishments you wish. 

Leather look desk set: Carefully clean and dry several empty cans. Then tear small pieces of masking tape and cover the can completely with overlapping pieces. Then spread brown shoe polish all over the taped can. Let the polish dry and then spray with a clear acrylic top coat. You can do pens and pencils to match too!

Candy jar: Decorate a clear jar with stickers or ribbons. You can decorate the lid by adding a salt dough topper. Simply mix 1 cup flour, 1/2 cup salt and 3/4 cup warm water. Mold the dough onto the metal top of a jar. Let dry several days or in the over at 200 degrees for 2 hours. Paint as desired. 

Magnets: Use a golf ball to mold a piece of aluminum foil into a half circle. Fill with plaster of paris. While soft set, place a magnet into the plaster (on the flat side). When dry, remove foil and paint as desired.