20 Back To School Crafts & Ideas
Well, well, well.. for some of us the Summer holidays have all but started, for others, the new School Year is beginning! So get ready for “Back to School” craft ideas. To be honest, they are great activity throughout the holidays (who doesn’t love a bit of stationary?!), as well as the new school year approaches.
We already did this theme last year… so if you want even MORE back to school (and the office) craft ideas, take a peak Stationery Craft Ideas:
Get a taster of some of these crafts in our 5 School Supplies video running on Auto Play! Enjoy!
Back to School Crafts – Pencil Holders
Pencil & Pencil Toppers
Monster Felt Pencil Toppers
Not only are these adorable Monster Felt Pencil Toppers for back to school, these little monster pencil toppers are also great for great for as cute Halloween and Valentines Gifts too (Printables to come **soon**). They are SO quick and easy to make, that you can make them for ALL the class or even use them for trick or treating or as a Halloween Party Favour!
Chestnut Pencil Toppers
We still (!) have some chestnuts knocking around from last Autumn. You can make these with those shrivel chestnuts or with brand new on this Autumn. Both go. Check out the pencil topper post to find out all about the glue you need to use – the glue being key to the longevity of these little critters.
Cat Pencil Toppers – so cute!
ADORE all things POM POM!! Wonderful and easy Bunny Pencil Toppers!x
Babushka Pencil Toppers
I think these are ADORABLE. I love Babushka crafts (and yet have never actuallygotten round to do any myself, this is my chance!), so I love this set of little Pencil Toppers. Melissa Goodsell tells us how to make them.x
Make your own bulletin board from cardboard and felt! This one is decorated with felt flowers and hearts, but you can make them any design you wish!
Notebooks
DIY Rainbow Unicorn Notebook from a Matchbox
Super fun mini notebooks made from one sheet of paper and NO GLUE! These can be used for fun subject guides!
Neon Notebooks
Look at these little cuties – they started life as perfectly “ordinary” notebooks and in a jiffy are transformed into a cute little notebook set. Madigan Made shows us how she went about it.
Cereal Box Notebooks
I love these little cereal book notebooks!! When we go on holiday, the kids always get a little notebook for drawings and scribbles. Making our own will be sooo handy! Especially as they love STARTING a new book each time, but don’t necessarily fill it. I am so making these. From Apartment Therapy!x
Denim Notebook
Love the use of these little pockets to hold pencils and erasers. Planet Forward gives instructions.x
Pencil Cases & Pen Pots
Take a peak at this easy peasy No Sew Pencil Roll Up! Fun and easy to make and also easily customisable!x
Or how about some super duper cute DIY Penguin Pencil Holders? These only take 5 minutes to make! We have a whole RANGE of Pencil Holder DIYs for you to check out – from Pokemon Pen Pots (with printables) to cute Melon and Pineapple Pen Pots! Do check out the full list here!
Similarly we have our Owl Desk Tidies – these are a fun craft and doodle project, perfect for that Autumn/ Fall feeling. They are a super cute project to make with the kids to help you get organised!
Nom Nom Nom Case
Hopefully both girls and boys alike will love this quirky NomNomNom pencil case! Find the instructions from Artists Helping Children.x
Measuring Tape Pencil Case
Love this measuring tape pencil case. What a quirky way to upcycle and will be a sure way to have something “original” at school. I so want to make one for when Pip Squeak is older! This great idea is from Punk Projects.x
Drinks Package Case
Well.. another great want not waste not project – upcycle old drink pouches. Not really wanting to promote any brand in particular…. but I do know that as a child this would have massively appealed to me. Craftster shares.
Zip Pencil Case
Oooh, now the example here is made with some cutsy ribbon too.. but I reckon if you get a bold coloured zipper, this would look fantastic plain too! The Zip idea comes from Craft Passion. Brilliant.x
Plastic Bottle Cases
Not sure if this is supposed to be a pencil case.. but whever you decide to put in these, I think they are genius! Take a couple of plastic bottles.. a zipper and some imagination…Country Woman Magazine shares more.x
A simpler version would be these super quick and easy to make apple gift boxes, for any back to school teacher’s gifts!
Key Ring or Zipper Pulls
Zipper pulls are a fun way to decorate and customise your back pack when heading back to school. They add a fun splash of colour and make it easier to spot your backpack amongst all the backpacks (especially if you like to buy hard wearing black or navy coloured back packs). You can easily switch them out over time too! Or add seasonal elements!
Macrame Men! Too much cuteness!
Colourful Zipper Pulls (more fun with pom poms!) Making pom poms and finger tassles is quick and easy and they are a great way to add colour to your zipper pulls. They are lovely and tactile too!
Bottle Cap Zipper Pulls
My son has only been to nursery so far, but already he LOVES key rings and all things “Zipper Pully”. He will ADORE these super hero bottle cap zipper pulls for sure. A tutorial for kids from U Create with Kids.x
Lizard Lanyard Zipper Pulls
Whilst on the topic of zipper pulls… I rather like these little lizards too. Aren’t they adorable? Love this “alternative” bead craft idea. They would make great party favours too! Crafts for All Seasons shares their pattern and how to!x
Peg Doll Zipper Pull
I also totally adore this little Peg Doll. How cute to have her as your Zipper pull. You could of course paint the wooden peg superhero or Star Wars style, then finish them as per Lusa Organics to make a zipper pull.x
Best Back To School Bookmark ideas
As you know we are GREAT fans of DIY Bookmarks – they are a fun to make, a great little back to school gift for friends or teachers and a quick and easy way to cheer up stationery. We have two DEDICATED posts of ALL our bookmarks here (over 100 Corner Bookmark Designs!!)
General Creative DIY Bookmark designs (we particularly LOVE the “hug a book” bookmarks… but also have a number of great printable bookmarks for you here)
And as mentioned OVER 101 fantastic CORNER Bookmark designs to discover and make!! Covering all your favourite topics and crazes (so hard to pick a favourite!)
Paper clips
These are adorable little paperclips and so quick and easy to make. Me and My Shadow had a go a these lovelies after spotting some on The Crafty Crow (who doesn’t LOVE the Crafty Crow?!)! Do check out both sites for button goodness!
Other Ideas for Back to School
Have a go at these fun 3d coloring pages for Back to School!
Accessories with these easy DIY Scrunchies. Quick and easy to make – perfect as a BFF Back to School gift idea too!Carton Wallet
Goodness, I love this wallet – totally genius once again. I do love a clever bit of upcycling!! And how the lid is also the closing mechanism of the wallet. Examiner shares this clever tutorial.x
Clipboard Oragniser
Oooh this a handy little idea – make a special clipboard with a wallet per child and keep all the important bits and pieces relevant to each child together from Our Big Earth.x
Pencil Magnets
Or if you rather keep all your information stuck to the fridge, how about some cute pencil magnets? Shared by Silly Eagle Books.x
Denim Lunch Sack
Love Inner Child Fun denim lunch sack – not only is it a lovely bit of upcycling (who doesn’t love denim), but I do love the little apple decoration too. Cute!x
Apple Treat
And… after a hard first day back at school how about this adorable little apple treat? Easier to make than you think! Check out The Idea Room!x
Pocket Hearts
Last but not least.. aren’t these little hearts just LOVELY! Pop one in your child’s pocket and whenever they have a wobbly moment… they can give it a little squeeze. From Curly Birds.
Find out more here:
Hope you found some Back To School inspiration!