Useful and Fun Back to School Crafts

Making back-to-school crafts with your children can be a great way to make memories with your children and to get them excited about going back to school. It can be extra special if the crafts are something the child can take to school with them and use on a daily basis.

Reusable Cloth Lunch Bag

Supplies you will need:

• One 3" strip of Velcro hoop and loop closure

• Sewing machine to use

• Thread

• One rectangle of sturdy fabric - size 9 ½" X25" - with a pattern that your child likes or a solid and some fabric paint so your child can decorate the bag as desired.

A cloth eco-friendly lunch bag is an easy to make craft item. It is a good beginner -level sewing project if you want to teach your child to sew or a fun and easy project for you to work on together. This is not the kind of lunch bag you would want your child to put perishable foods in because it is not insulated. Think of it as being for days when your child wants to take a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, crackers, granola bars, etc.

• Step One: Fold the length of the 9 ½" edge over ½", center the Velcro, and sew along the top and lower edge. This step both attaches the Velcro and finishes the edge.

• With the wrong sides of fabric together and the Velcro closures lining up at the top - measure up 1 ½" from the bottom and pin to mark the spot.

• Turn the right sides together. (Wrong side will now be exposed.) Pin again making sure raw edges line up. The bottom will be folded under in an accordion fold.

• Sew up the side seams and then finish the side seam with a zigzag stitch or a serger.

• Turn the lunch bag right side out, make sure the Velcro closes the bag, and if your child wants to add any further decoration this is where they can take over.

Decorated Tote Bag

This is an easy back to school craft project and your child can use it for carrying any number of things.

Supplies needed:

• Tote bag: available at any fabric store and most department stores - unless you want tot make your own.

• Fabric paint

• Brushes

• Stencils - letters, school buses, apples, rulers, etc. (Anything school-themed)

This is so simple because the fun of it is decorating it however your child likes it. If you are a good enough artist you can do this freehand and if you doubt your painting ability, or, if your child prefers to use stencils, then the two of you can decorate this back-to school tote in any way that pleases. Every time your child uses it they can be reminded of the fun they had painting and choosing the decorations they wanted on the bag.

Decorated Notebook

Supplies needed:

• Notebook

• Foam stickers

• Paint

• Paint brushes

• Stencils

This is another project where creativity is what makes it fun. Combining textures by using foam stickers and paint add interest to the notebook cover. Your child might want their name, or they might prefer a fun back to school scene. Imagine a green foam dinosaur climbing into a bright yellow stenciled school bus carry a painted apple for the teacher. It could be anything your child likes.

Making these useful back to school craft projects can be both fun and rewarding.