10 Money-Saving DIY Back To School Supplies

Personalize your kid’s school supplies with these DIY ideas and get them excited to go back to school while saving a few bucks!

RELATED: Easy DIY Art Supplies Perfect For You And Your Kids

In this article:

1. Design Your School Supplies with Washi Tape
2. From Old Notebooks to Back to School Ready Notebooks
3. Bookplate Stickers
4. Literally, A Notebook Bag
5. Milk Jug Lunch Box
6. Sweater Laptop Sleeve
7. Back to School Locker Accessories: Clothespin Magnets
8. Tank Top from an Old Shirt
9. One-Of-A-Kind Sneakers
10. Friendship Bracelets

Back to School Supplies, You Can DIY

1. Design Your School Supplies with Washi Tape

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A few rolls of washi tape with varying patterns can instantly make quick personalized and cute school supplies. This tutorial shows you how to decorate pencils with washi tape.

You can washi tape pretty much all your school supplies–books, notebooks, laptops, mobile devices, etc. Best of all, this washi tape craft is so safe to do, you can let your toddler do it.

Be sure to stock up! Click HERE to Buy our FAVORITE washi tape on Amazon!

2. From Old Notebooks to Back to School Ready Notebooks

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This is the perfect back to school DIY if you have old, half-used notebooks lying around from previous school years. You can give them an update with these simple yet chic notebook jackets.

Personalize it by stamping the front cover, washi taping the edges, or embroidering your name on the back cover.

3. Bookplate Stickers

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Although mostly used in books, these free printable bookplate designs can also be used in other back to school supplies such as notebooks, laptops, and file organizers. Younger children can create their own unique designs using photos of their favorite characters.

4. Literally, A Notebook Bag

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The backpack may be the king of school bags, but this cute notebook tote bag is coming very close to taking that title.

Using only a canvas tote bag, Sharpies and embroidery thread, this back to school couldn’t be any simpler. You can also let your kids in on the fun by letting them doodle on their “notebook”.

RELATED: 14 First Day of School Crafts & Activities

5. Milk Jug Lunch Box

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Packed lunch has never been this cute – and it’ll only cost you $1. Take an empty milk jug and follow the steps here to create your very own lunch box.

Aside from a lunch box, you can also use it as containers for your school supplies to keep your desk organized.

Now your kids can go back to school in style http://t.co/trIvhS3qkM #crafts #love pic.twitter.com/9Hcg4X8ffC

— DIY Projects (@DIY Projects) September 5, 2015

6. Sweater Laptop Sleeve

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Too many ugly sweaters taking up space in your closet? Re-purpose them into laptop or tablet sleeves for your back to school tech.

Add sequins, buttons, ribbons, and other knick-knacks to add your own flavor to your laptop sleeve.

7. Back to School Locker Accessories: Clothespin Magnets

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Help yourself to this locker accessory idea you can DIY to personalize and prettify your locker. Attach magnetic tape strips on one of the flat surfaces of wooden clothespins for a new way to display photos and notes inside your locker.

8. Tank Top from an Old Shirt

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Spruce up your back to school outfits with an easy DIY tank top. Take any of your old shirts and follow the steps here.

You can add more embellishments if you like to create a unique tank top. This DIY is especially recommended for teens.

9. One-Of-A-Kind Sneakers

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Complete your back to school outfits with this versatile and totally cute sneakers. If you’re transferring magazine images for the first time, make sure to read the directions carefully here.

You can also use this technique on canvas tote bags and pouches.

10. Friendship Bracelets

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Back to school supplies won’t be complete without friendship bracelets to give to your BFF. Make one now before school starts.

This video from SoCraftastic will show you four DIY notebook ideas with Sharpie markers perfect for back-to-school:

Before you went on a splurge at a school supplies store near you, take these DIY back to school supplies ideas, first. Now you know how you can spare a few dollars from your pocket with DIY back to school ideas to personalize your school supplies.

Don’t forget to share your finished back to school DIY with us. We love learning about new projects! Write about it in the comments section below!

Up Next:

• Back to School Organization Tips and DIY Tutorial on How to Organize Your Locker
• 15 DIY Teacher Gifts To Ring In The New School Year
• 15 DIY Back To School Supplies For All Ages

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Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on September 8, 2016, and has been updated for quality and relevancy.