Back to School Archives - Page 3 of 8

Can you believe August starts this week? That means the first day of school is rapidly approaching. Eek! Luckily, these fun and adorable DIY back to school ideas are easy projects to have your family ready in no time.

This year we are starting school much earlier. Normally we start around the 21st but this year the first day of school is August 15th. Surprises like this are exactly why I love planning ahead.

Thanks to my Back 2 School Quick Guide, we are prepared despite the fact that our vacation is the week before school starts. The kids’ backpacks are stocked with school supplies, breakfasts are batched, and we’re getting back into our routine.

All that’s left are some small details like organization elements and some of the fun stuff. All of which you will find in these DIY back to school ideas.

Back to School ABC Cookies (She Saved)

These adorable cookies are the perfect sweet treat to get kids excited for the new school year! Throw a mini celebration for dinner the night before school starts or simply pack them as a surprise in their lunchboxes.

Striped Pen Holder (Simply Designing)

Nothing is more frustrating than kids sitting down to do homework and complaining about not having a pencil. Keep a stash homework ready with this easy pen holder.

DIY Desk Organizer (Anika’s DIY Life)

Need to free up space on your kid’s desk? This DIY organizer utilizes empty wall space for a clutter free surface.

Vintage School Desk DIY (Pink Fortitude)

Speaking of desks, how about going vintage with your child’s homework area? This adorable desk makeover is great for saving space! It’s the perfect place for doing homework or simply being artistic.

Back to School Shirt (Where the Smiles Have Been)

Are you looking for a fun and easy back to school tradition? If so, this t-shirt idea is exactly what you’re looking for.

School Supplies Tote for Classroom Organization (Gluesticks)

Teachers spend so much time, money, and energy preparing for the new school year. Say thank you with a school supplies tote!

10-Minute Collection Envelope for Box Tops (Dazzle While Frazzled)

Ahh, the lovely Box Tops competitions. It’s proof that school is truly back in session. Wrangle those little rectangles until it’s time to send them in with this easy envelope!

DIY School Year Journals (DIY Adulation)

Don’t forget corralling all of those school papers and artwork. These DIY school year journals help you organize it all while capturing your child’s precious school year memories.

Now that we’ve gotten you taken care of with these fun and adorable DIY back to school ideas, I have to know. Are you excited for school to start back up? I love my kids something fierce but I have to admit, I am looking forward to the reprieve. I like my routine and summer comes and destroys it like a tornado. School means schedules, routines, and all the things organized hearts love.

Now it’s time to get this week’s Merry Monday link party started! Find even more back to school ideas below and be sure to share your awesomeness with us too!

Don’t Forget to Pin It!

Saving money is a top priority in this house. That doesn’t have to mean boring for the kids’ back to school wardrobe, though. It just means being being creative. Find out how to turn a plain pair of black and white sneakers into these colorful DIY stars shoes with beaded laces!

Affiliate links may be used in this post. Ordering a product through these links may result in a commission. Read the full disclosure here.

Last weekend was my son’s basketball tournament. While there, I pointed out this gorgeous pair of peach tennis shoes a player was wearing to my mom.

“Why can’t they make fun shoes like that in adult sizes,” I complained.

My mom looked dead at me and said, “Honey, you’d never in a million years pay what those shoes cost. You’re too cheap.”

[bctt tweet=”Create awesome kid’s style on a budget with these colorful DIY stars shoes with beaded laces!” username=”diyadulation”]

I wasn’t offended because you know what? She’s 100% right.

Being cheap doesn’t mean that I, or my kids, have to sacrifice style though. It means rolling up my sleeves to create something unique and beautiful with what we have. That’s exactly what I did with these shoes!

Materials

Step 1

First, remove the laces from your shoes. This makes them so much easier to color, especially the tongue of the shoes.

Step 2

Next, choose one of your fabric markers and color in random stars on your shoes.

Step 3

Repeat step 2 with your remaining markers until every star on each shoe is colored in.

Note:

The stitching on the shoes bled a little but I thought the effect looked pretty cool so I didn’t worry about it.

Step 4

Help seal the fabric coloring by running the shoes through a cycle in the dryer.

Tip:

If you worry about your dryer handling the shoes tumbling, you can also use the hot air setting on your hair dryer to set the color.

Step 5

After your colors are sealed, pull your laces back out and slide a metallic star bead to the center of each one.

Step 6

Next, add 2 translucent pony beads to each side of the metallic star.

Step 7

Re-lace your shoes with beads between the bottom most eyelets.

That’s it! Not bad for a $15 pair of shoes I got on sale. The best part? My daughter loves her new colorful DIY stars shoes with beaded laces. In the end, that’s what matters.

I’m actually considering making these babies glow in the dark. What do you think? Would that be awesome or too much? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

See where I’m linking up!

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More Ideas You’ll Love:

Fun and Colorful Girl’s Purse
Capture Memories with DIY School Year Journals
DIY Duck Tape Backpack Tag
6 Tips to Get Your Kids Out the Door for School – C’mon Get Crafty

What is one of the first questions your kids ask when they get home from school? When you ask how school was the answer is, “Good. Can I have a snack?” Part of the reason for this I think is that elementary kids, especially, eat lunch so early in the day. Find out how to create an after school snack station to make your life 10 times easier in the afternoon.

Affiliate links may be used in this post. Ordering a product through these links may result in a commission. Read the full disclosure here.

After school in our house is more than a little chaotic. It is the same time that my husband is getting home from work and the kids are clamoring to tell me a hundred things. Add to that homework to be done and hungry kiddos, it is craziness.

That’s why having a snack station is imperative. The kids know exactly what snacks they can have and where to find them. This frees me up to give my attention to homework troubles, listen to stories from the kids, and welcome my husband home.

[bctt tweet=”Learn how to create an after school snack station to free time with your family in the afternoon and be less likely to resort to the convenience of chips.” username=”diyadulation”]

Create 2 Stations

Be sure to give kids plenty of options. Nobody wants to eat the same thing day after day (except me with tacos). This will help make your life so much easier. Your kids feel empowered to choose what they eat but you can feel good knowing you chose the options they have.

The easiest way to provide a variety of healthy snack options is to create 2 snack stations. One snack station is in the pantry or a cabinet for dry snacks. The other snack station is in the refrigerator for perishable snacks.

Dry Snacks Station

First, find a convenient space for your dry snacks station that little hands can get to easily. If you don’t have a pantry, store them in a lower cabinet that is within their reach.

We use a large plastic storage bin with a lid for our dry snacks. The kids know that they are allowed to choose any snack in that bin without question. Some of our favorite snacks to include are:

Applesauce Cups
Granola Bars
Fruit Cups
Boxes of Raisins

Perishable Snack Station

In addition to a dry snacks station we like to provide some perishable options as well. The easiest way to do this is to designate a snack drawer within your refrigerator. Another option, if you don’t have many drawers, is to use a small plastic basket on one of the shelves. Whichever you choose, fill it with snacks for the kids like:

String Cheese
Yogurt
Baby Carrots
Apple Slices

Now that you know how to create an after school snack station you can focus on connecting with your family in the afternoon. Hopefully you’ll get more than a one word answer to the “How was school?” question. Even better, when you stock your snack stations well, you are less likely to resort to potato chips out of convenience.

Do you have any other after school snack hacks? I’d love for you to share them in the comments!

See where I’m linking up!

Fun and Adorable DIY Back to School Ideas

Back to School ABC Cookies (She Saved)

Striped Pen Holder (Simply Designing)

DIY Desk Organizer (Anika’s DIY Life)

Vintage School Desk DIY (Pink Fortitude)

Back to School Shirt (Where the Smiles Have Been)

School Supplies Tote for Classroom Organization (Gluesticks)

10-Minute Collection Envelope for Box Tops (Dazzle While Frazzled)

DIY School Year Journals (DIY Adulation)

Don’t Forget to Pin It!

Colorful DIY Stars Shoes with Beaded Laces

Materials

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Note:

Step 4

Tip:

Step 5

Step 6

Step 7

Don’t Forget to Pin It!

More Ideas You’ll Love:

How to Create an After School Snack Station

Create 2 Stations

Dry Snacks Station

Perishable Snack Station

Don’t Forget to Pin It!

More Ideas You’ll Love: