Put your back-to-school supplies to work with one of these fun DIY
projects you can make using pencils, erasers, books, and
more.
Plus! Buy it or DIY it for Less
1. Colored Pencil Vase
Magnify the hues of gifts from the garden with a kaleidoscope of colored pencils hot-glued to a glass vase or jar. Fill the vase with your favorite blossoms (we chose purple and white lilacs, anemone, and privet berry) and tie a bow (we used double-faced satin ribbon) around the bottom.
Sick of the typical flowers? Check out these 7 Herbs with Gorgeous Blooms.
2. Book Bag
Take a beloved hardcover off the shelf and put it on your shoulder by transforming it into a smart-looking purse. All you'll need, in addition to the book itself, is half a yard of fabric, a $4.99 handle kit, some ribbon, a button — and a free afternoon.
Complete How-To: Book Bag
3. Paper Vases
Near a favorite reading chair, present a page-turning vignette. Paint a silhouette on a backdrop of book pages. And cut vase shapes to give text three dimensions.
Complete How-To: Paper Vases (page 8)
4. Chalkboard Erasers
Transform your erasers from dull to delightful. Glue scraps of vintage fabric, wallpaper, and old ads to the backs of standard erasers for retro appeal. Cheerful children's blocks are reinvented as erasers simply by gluing a piece of felt to one side.
Plus! Etsy Sellers We Love
5. Children's Book Clock
If you use your imagination, you can turn almost anything into a clock with an $8 kit from klockit.com. Assembling a timepiece requires little more than finding an interesting "face", like a children's book with a cool cover, and attaching the kit's small battery-operated movement and two hands. To make your book come to life, just use a craft knife or drill to make a hole through both the front and back covers and follow the kit's installation instructions. Then, prop your new book-cum-clock on a shelf, or add a picture hanger to the back with superglue.
Looking for more craft ideas? Check out these fun summer ideas!
Get More From CountryLiving.com:
The Best Bedroom Design Ideas
Playful Family Decor Ideas
Ultimate Outdoor Party Guide
Beach House on a Budget
60 Living Rooms You'll Love
Plus! Buy it or DIY it for Less
1. Colored Pencil Vase
Magnify the hues of gifts from the garden with a kaleidoscope of colored pencils hot-glued to a glass vase or jar. Fill the vase with your favorite blossoms (we chose purple and white lilacs, anemone, and privet berry) and tie a bow (we used double-faced satin ribbon) around the bottom.
Sick of the typical flowers? Check out these 7 Herbs with Gorgeous Blooms.
2. Book Bag
Take a beloved hardcover off the shelf and put it on your shoulder by transforming it into a smart-looking purse. All you'll need, in addition to the book itself, is half a yard of fabric, a $4.99 handle kit, some ribbon, a button — and a free afternoon.
Complete How-To: Book Bag
3. Paper Vases
Near a favorite reading chair, present a page-turning vignette. Paint a silhouette on a backdrop of book pages. And cut vase shapes to give text three dimensions.
Complete How-To: Paper Vases (page 8)
4. Chalkboard Erasers
Transform your erasers from dull to delightful. Glue scraps of vintage fabric, wallpaper, and old ads to the backs of standard erasers for retro appeal. Cheerful children's blocks are reinvented as erasers simply by gluing a piece of felt to one side.
Plus! Etsy Sellers We Love
5. Children's Book Clock
If you use your imagination, you can turn almost anything into a clock with an $8 kit from klockit.com. Assembling a timepiece requires little more than finding an interesting "face", like a children's book with a cool cover, and attaching the kit's small battery-operated movement and two hands. To make your book come to life, just use a craft knife or drill to make a hole through both the front and back covers and follow the kit's installation instructions. Then, prop your new book-cum-clock on a shelf, or add a picture hanger to the back with superglue.
Looking for more craft ideas? Check out these fun summer ideas!
Get More From CountryLiving.com:
The Best Bedroom Design Ideas
Playful Family Decor Ideas
Ultimate Outdoor Party Guide
Beach House on a Budget
60 Living Rooms You'll Love
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Reprinted with permission of Hearst Communications, Inc.
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