25 DIY School Supplies to Make for Back-to-School

Notebooks, Pencil Cases, Backpacks, and More

Written by

Updated 10/24/19

DIY school supplies — Katarina Radovic / Stocksy United

Back-to-school season can be an exciting, albeit hectic time. Every year brings a new list of school supplies, and these can quickly add up. This year, save money and get crafty instead. These easy ideas are a fantastic way to personalize your school or office supplies, and just wait for the compliments to pour in from your peers.

01 of 25

DIY Embroidery Backpack Patches

Mollie Johanson

Make your embroidery patches to stitch onto your backpack (or jacket). There are 4 methods to this DIY project, so pick your favorite, choose your patch, and personalize your bag.

DIY Embroidery Backpack Patches from The Spruce
02 of 25

DIY Eyelet Bound Notebooks

Damask Love

You stare at your notebook every day during the school year, so why not make it something you love? This year make your own notebooks for you or your kids. For this DIY, bind together sheets of paper with eyelets for some stylish school supplies that fit perfectly into a three-ring binder.

DIY Eyelet Bound Notebooks from The Spruce
03 of 25

DIY Glitter Bow Locker Magnets

A Bubbly Life

Before your teenager returns to school this fall, spend a summer afternoon making glittery magnets that they can use to decorate their locker. These easy to magnets are a great way for your teen to personalize their locker and will come in handy too as they can use them to hang things such as their class schedule on their locker wall.

DIY Glitter Bow Locker Magnets from A Bubbly Life
04 of 25

DIY Gold Leaf Brushed Clipboards

Lovely Indeed

Break out the paint and gold leaf to refinish your old school clipboard for school this year.

DIY Gold Leaf Brushed Clipboards from Lovely Indeed

Continue to 5 of 25 below.
05 of 25

DIY Notebook Lined T-Shirt

Say Yes

Make this cute notebook t-shirt for your children to wear for their first day of school.

DIY Notebook Lined T-Shirt from Say Yes
06 of 25

DIY Chalkboard Lunchbox

Stephanie White

This chalkboard lunchbox is an adorable way to surprise your child with a sweet message at lunchtime. Transform any ordinary lunchbox with a little bit of chalkboard paint and you'll be finished this project in no time. You can even create a matching set of school supply containers for your child's homework station.

DIY Chalkboard Lunchbox from The Spruce
07 of 25

DIY Printable Binder Covers

Pop Cosmo

Help your child find their binder for each class quickly with these beautiful printable binder covers.

DIY Printable Binder Covers from Pop Cosmo
08 of 25

DIY Embroidered Pencil Case

Mollie Johanson

Give your pens and pencils a stylish place to be stored by making your own embroidered pencil case. Even beginner stitchers who are just starting can manage this project.

DIY Embroidered Pencil Case from The Spruce

Continue to 9 of 25 below.
09 of 25

DIY Lizard Keychain

Lisa Yang

Beaded keychains were probably all the rage when you were a kid. Let your kids enjoy the fun of making their own lizard keychain and attach it to their backpacks for a cute little accessory.

DIY Lizard Keychain from The Spruce
10 of 25

DIY Donut Bulletin Board With Sparkle Push Pins

Paint The Gown Red

Keep all important papers and to-do lists in one place by making your own delicious looking donut bulletin board with sparkle push pins to help you stay organized throughout the school year.

DIY Donut Bulletin Board With Sparkle Push Pins from Paint the Gown Red
11 of 25

DIY Hexagonal Desktop Organizer

Sugar And Cloth

When it is time for homework keep everything on your child's desk within easy reach with a handmade desktop organizer.

DIY Hexagonal Desktop Organizer from Sugar and Cloth
12 of 25

DIY Drawstring School Bags

Polka Dot Chair

Sew some adorable drawstring bags for your child to use this year to carry their school supplies.

DIY Drawstring School Bags from Polka Dot Chair

Continue to 13 of 25 below.
13 of 25

DIY Neon Patterned Pens

Madigan Made

Never mix up your pen with someone else's again. Personalize your pens by adding brightly colored patterned details to them with sheets of neon cardstock.

DIY Neon Patterned Pens from Madigan Made
14 of 25

DIY Paper Globe

Joachim Robert

Ace Geography class by making your own paper globe.

DIY Paper Globe from Joachimesque
15 of 25

Printable Back to School Signs for Each Grade

Elegance and Enchantment

Snap a photo of your child as they head off to school with a printable sign to indicate which grade they are entering.

Printable Back To School Signs For Each Grade from Elegance and Enchantment
16 of 25

DIY Reusable Snack Bag

Gwenny Penny

Help make lunchtime more fun with this cute reusable snack bag that is perfect for storing lunchtime snacks and can easily be thrown into the laundry machine to be cleaned.

DIY Reusable Snack Bag from Gwenny Penny

Continue to 17 of 25 below.
17 of 25

Blackboard School Countdown

Simply Kierste

Track how many days are left of summer vacation, and the first day back at school with this free blackboard school countdown that you can hang within your home.

Blackboard School Countdown from Simply Kierste
18 of 25

DIY Gold Marbled Pencils

Lovely Indeed

Spruce up your ordinary #2 pencils with a little bit of gold. This fun DIY is easy to do and all your friends will ask you where you got your pencils.

DIY Gold Marbled Pencils from The Spruce
19 of 25

DIY Printable Lunch Bag Labels

Studio DIY

Pack an extra special lunch for your child to eat at school by decorating the brown paper lunch bag with a cute printable label that you can use to seal shut the bag.

DIY Printable Lunch Bag Labels from Studio DIY
20 of 25

DIY Art Supplies Case

Sarah Hearts

Store all your child's art class supplies together in a DIY clear case with gold scalloped detailing.

DIY Art Supplies Case from Sarah Hearts

Continue to 21 of 25 below.
21 of 25

DIY Backpack Flair Patch

Lovely Indeed

Display all your pins and badges without putting holes in your backpack or bag. This adorable DIY Flair Patch will allow you to pin your favorites in a cute cluster.

DIY Backpack Flair Patch from The Spruce
22 of 25

DIY Spiral Eraser

Squirrelly Minds

Skip the standard pink eraser and craft a fun spiral eraser using eraser clay that wraps around a pencil for your child to use this school year. This super fun eraser is sure to be a welcomed surprise in your child's pencil case this year.

DIY Spiral Eraser from Squirelly Minds
23 of 25

DIY Back To School In A Box

Damask Love

Surprise a student with a back-to-school gift box with all sorts of school essentials such as agendas, notebooks, and pencils with this amazing DIY gift box.

DIY Back To School In A Box from Damask Love
24 of 25

DIY Honeycomb Embroidered Backpack

Mollie Johanson

This adorable design is certainly buzzworthy. Your regular old canvas backpack will feel like new again after stitching in a few honeycombs.

DIY Honeycomb Embroidered Backpack from The Spruce

Continue to 25 of 25 below.
25 of 25

DIY Pencil Holders and Pencil Toppers

Katherine Lee

This is a craft the kids can make themselves (with your help). Spend a homework-free afternoon crafting these cute holders and top off all your pencils with a star or flower.

DIY Pencil Holders and Pencil Toppers from The Spruce

Blackboard School Countdown