3 Unique Back to School Projects That Look Good + Are Actually Useful

Back to school projects anyone? Here is Atlanta, schools are already starting back up and I had a few dorsum to school projects that I've been dying to share. Partly considering they'll truly work for any time of year, whether it'south back to school calendar month or non. And partly because one of the projects became a good excuse for buying a new power tool and I am now completely obsessed with my jigsaw!

Don't worry though – if you're not into power tools, there's some simpler projects besides that are perfect for anyone wanting to get organized – adults and kiddos akin. I teamed upward with Martha Stewart and Plaid Crafts over again to create material covered organizational boxes (from recycled shoe boxes), DIY stenciled notebooks, and (my fave) a woods arch wall organizer that both kids and adults volition love. Click through for all iii cool/ modern back to school projects.

Yous might remember that I've used Martha Stewart stencils and paints many fourth dimension earlier – most recently from my tutorial for how to paint on glass when I painted a ready of colour blocked glass vases, as well equally my DIY fabric souvenir wrap project from over the holidays.

That'south one of the things I like virtually near these products… you can use them on so many different surfaces. Which really helps cuts down on the clutter in my craft room (and you lot know I need help in that department). You tin can utilise Martha Stewart'south Family Friendly Multi-Surface Satin Acrylic on glass, wood, sail, metallic, terra cotta, paper, and cloth. And the same is true for the stencils – they can exist used on many surfaces and they're washable and reusable also. And then, with these different use cases in mind, I wanted to show you three cool / modern back to schoolhouse projects today, each using a different surface material to bear witness how these supplies really piece of work. Here we go…

How to Make Textile Covered Organizational Boxes

One thing I'grand learning with having a kid, even as young as Hayes currently in, in that location's no lack of 'stuff' hanging around the house to proceed him entertained. And every bit he gets older, and goes to school, I imagine the clutter is only going to go worse – with pencils, scissors, notebooks, erasers, crayons, homework, etc. And so, I made these stenciled fabric storage boxes from onetime shoe boxes hanging out in my cupboard to tame the small toys in Hayes' room now, that are perfect for older kids going back to school…or just need a little boost in the organizing department. They're super budget-friendly and look amazing when they're done. Yous'd never know they were once shoe boxes, would you?

Materials for DIY Material Covered Boxes

Martha Stewart stencils (I used the cloud from the Weather and Forecast stencil)
Martha Stewart daubers or Martha Stewart foam pouncers
Martha Stewart's Family Friendly Multi-Surface Satin Acrylic
cardboard shoebox
obviously material yardage (I used linen)
scissors
mucilage gun

Step 1: Offset by cut the fabric downwards to size.

Outset by cutting out a piece of textile that will wrap the chapeau of your shoe box and a piece that will wrap the bottom of the shoe box. I just used the chapeau and box lesser as a guide and wrapped the textile around to make certain it would be large plenty before cutting. This will be a different dimension for every shoe box, which is why I'm not giving exact dimensions. Iron fabric if needed, before moving onto footstep 2.

Step 2: Get your stencil gear up.

Once the fabric pieces are cut, it'south time to stencil the pattern onto the fabric. I used the 2 large clouds from the Martha Stewart Atmospheric condition and Forecast stencil to create an overall pattern with Martha Stewart's Family Friendly Multi-Surface Satin Acrylic in deep ocean blueish. I love the deep blue color confronting the linen material, but if y'all're not a fan, these paints are bachelor in 78 colors – so there's TONS of options to explore.

For the adhesive paper stencils like mine, yous remove the stencil from the backing, place the stencil on the fabric surface, and button downward all the mode around to ensure its adhered to the surface really well before painting.

Footstep 3: Time to paint.

Then cascade a small amount of paint onto a paper plate and load the paint (sparingly) onto your dauber, or pouncer.Personally, I like using thedaubers best, just the foam pouncers come up in larger sizes, so they're a adept pick too.

It's important to dab off the backlog paint before borer or pouncing a thin layer of pigment over the the stencil, onto the textile. So, pull the stencil abroad (carefully) to reveal the finished shape.

Stride 4: Echo steps 2 and 3.

Repeat this process from steps 2 and 3 until both pieces of fabric (lid fabric and bottom of box fabric) are both covered in clouds (or whatever stencil you choose). Let the fabric dry completely before moving on to the side by side step.

Footstep five: Covering the boxes in fabric.

Flip the fabric over, and then the good side of the lid fabric is facing down. And so center the hat equally shown in the photo on summit of the fabric. Start by pulling and glueing the long sides of the fabric to the underneath of the hat. Just a few lines of gum on the inner lip of the lid are all you need. Then highly pull the cloth over and attach.

Then you'll wrap the sides of the lid in a similar manner. I did a infirmary corner method for making clean looking / finished corners. And and then added gum to the inside lip again before gluing down. Cut any excess material if necessary and add a terminal finishing fabric panel if desired. I decided to keep mine unproblematic and did not add together a finishing panel to the inside since it will likely be used for somewhat messy supplies anyhow, similar crayons and colored pencils.

Now, repeat those steps for the bottom of the shoe box with the larger piece of material and you lot're all set.

How to Make Stenciled Notebooks

If the other 2 projects feel intimidating at all, this 1 is the easiest of the bunch! So uncomplicated. Though I practise hope that all three DIYs really are pretty straightforward to tackle. Customize ANY notebook based on your kiddo's interests, using Martha Stewart stencils and paints. Here'south how…

Materials for DIY Stenciled Notebooks

Martha Stewart stencils (I used the snake from the Pets stencil)
Martha Stewart daubers or Martha Stewart foam pouncers
Martha Stewart's Family Friendly Multi-Surface Satin Acrylic
notebook

Step 1: Cull your stencil and apply to surface.

Only like the other projects, remove the stencil from the agglutinative backing, place the stencil on the surface, and push downward all the style around.

Step two: Utilize paint with dauber.

Employ a dauber to pounce the paint over the stencil and onto your notebook. Pull the stencil away when finished and wait for the paint to dry before using the stencil once again on some other surface area of the notebook if desired.Wait for the pigment to dry out before using.

How to Brand an Arch Wall Organizer

This is probably my favorite back to school projection considering it's so cute merely Likewise very functional. I love places where I can go out reminders / notes to my self and keep paper organized all in i spot. And then why not accept something like that for kids, right? This back to school wall organizer is perfect for keeping kids homework and haversack handy (then it never gets lost again( along with a spot for notes, doodles, whatever. A infinite for inventiveness and functionality. Hither'south how to make an arched wall organizer like mine.

Materials for DIY Curvation Wall Organizer

Martha Stewart stencils (I used the stars from the Weather and Forecast stencil)
Martha Stewart daubers or Martha Stewart cream pouncers
Martha Stewart'south Family unit Friendly Multi-Surface Satin Acrylic
Martha Stewart Multi-Surface Chalkboard Acrylic Paint
paint brushes
piece of cheap wood or mutual board*
small piece of woods for shelf*
string and pencil
jigsaw, sander, and drill
2 modest L brackets (mine are ane inch) and screws
decorative hook (mine is a wood ball hook)
clipboard clip

*I bought a piece of mutual board that is one inch thick ten 12 inch wide ten iv ft long for under $8 and then cut it down. And I as well bought a pocket-sized, nicer piece of oak (because it was not painted) for the shelf that was i/2 inch thick x 3 inches wide x 3 ft long for $5. You could technically use the scraps from the mutual lath for the shelf though, if desired.

Footstep i: Create an curvation with a pencil and string.

Start by using a string and pencil to create an arch toward the finish of the piece of larger wood. This is the basic method I used, I merely didn't consummate the circumvolve – only created the curvation.

Step 2: Cut down and sand the forest to create an arch shape.

And so employ a jigsaw to cutting the arch abroad from the cease of a piece of woods using the pencil line as a guide. Then cutting the bottom of the board downwardly to size besides, based on your desired height. I cut mine down so the final height would be roughly 18 inches alpine.

Utilise a sander to sand any edges that need to be smoothed or evened out later using the jigsaw. I gave the entire board a quick sanding (even the sides) to prep for paint. Then wipe any debris off with a clean cloth. *This would also be a skillful time to determine the front and back of the board as well and create a hole toward the meridian center of the back that a sturdy screw can rest in when it goes on the wall. I used a spade drill scrap for this.

Footstep iii: Cut the pocket-sized shelf down to size.

Next, cut down the smaller piece of woods, which will exist used for the shelf. If y'all're post-obit the dimensions I used, the lath should be 12 inches long to match the 12 inch width of the curvation board. Again, sand if necessary.

Step 4: Paint the arch with chalkboard paint.

Paint the front and sides of the arch board with chalkboard paint. If you are using a chalkboard paint that is a paint and primer in one, there is no need to prime. Otherwise, you lot'll beginning want to use a primer, then add the chalkboard paint.Wait for the pigment to dry and apply another coat if needed.

Footstep 5: Stencil and pigment design.

Now it'southward time to stencil! Using a portion of the star stencil from the Atmospheric condition and Forecast stencil, remove the agglutinative backing. Put the stencil wherever you'd like to utilize it on the arch. I went with simply a simple addition toward the top. I wanted it to look similar a doodle or drawing, and so I went with Martha Stewart'south Family Friendly Multi-Surface Satin Acrylic in Snowball. The white kinda looks like chalk on the chalkboard surface, correct?

Use a dauber to pounce the paint over the stencil and pull the stencil away when finished. Super easy! For more complicated patterns, wait for the paint to dry before using the stencil again on another area that may overlap, if desired.

Step 6: Assemble / attach the concluding pieces: shelf, claw, and clip.

One time the paint is dry out, information technology's time to assemble the final pieces. Determine where you want the shelf elevation to exist (mine was secured 5.five inches from the lesser) and secure to the arch using pocket-size Fifty brackets and screws.

Next, secure the decorative hook and clipboard clip. I used screws for each of these too to brand certain they're super secure. And then it'due south set up to hang!

You tin discover Martha Stewart products exclusively at Michaels.

Practise you have any kids going back to school? And if not, recall you lot'll still endeavour ane of these DIYs? I experience like any of them would work for adults too.

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I accept partnered with the Martha Stewart team and Plaid Crafts for this post. All expressed opinions and experiences are my own.

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Source: https://www.papernstitchblog.com/modern-back-to-school-projects/