This post was featured on The Crafty Crow.  Looking for more creative back to school activities?  Check them out!

http://www.thecraftycrow.net/2014/08/block-printed-pencil-case.html

Materials

• Pencil case
• Carving block
• Linoleum cutter (we used the speedball one that has all the interchangeable heads that store inside the grip.)
• Rubber brayer
• Fabric ink for block printing
• Pencil
• Large tile (you can purchase these inexpensively at hardware stores or you can use a specially inking plate from art supply stores if your prefer
• Pencil
• Smock
• Table cover or craft tray.

Tassel  (optional)

• Embroidery floss
• Beads
• Scissors

Directions

• Don your smock and cover your work area.

• Draw out a simple design that would be easy to cut on your carving block.

•  Using a linoleum cutter, have an adult cut away the excess area around the design.  (The blades can be quite sharp.)

• Make sure you have carved away enough so that your image is the only part that is raised on the block (so ink will only go onto your design).

•  Apply a small blob of ink to your tile or inking plate and rub your brayer in it, going horizontally and vertically to help distribute the ink evenly on the brayer.

•  With your brayer, apply an even layer of the printing ink to your stamp. (You may have to go over it several times.)

•  Carefully apply your stamp to your pencil case.  (Make sure your case is on a hard surface).

•  You could repeat this several times if you like or create a patter with different colours.

• Follow the directions for setting the product and washing etc.

 Adding a Simple Tassel 

• Take the labels carefully off an embroidery floss skein, keeping the floss in it’s little bundle.

• Find one end of the floss and gently unravel it a few times from the bundle to create a longer piece for the beads and knotting it to your zipper pull.

• Fold the skein in half as seen in the photo.

• Take an additional colour and wrap it around the top of the fold about 1/3 of the way down (as seen in the photo).  Be sure to knot it at the beginning and the end.

• Trim the bottom with a pair of scissors, making a uniform fray.

• Make a knot to hold your beads in place on your long piece that you have out of the tassel (on the top) and thread your beads.  Knot the top.
• Knot it to your zipper pull on your pencil case and trim off any excess floss on any of the parts.
• Fill your pencil case with your school supplies!

Purpose

• Designing your own image
• Getting familiar with printing techniques

Safety Notes

• Be sure to wear a smock to protect your clothing.
• Have an adult use the cutter.
• Use scissors with adult supervision.
• Beads can be a choking hazard and are not recommended for children 0-3 or those who tend to put things in their mouths.  Be sure to store them out of reach.

Materials

• Craft tray
• Shaving foam 
• Liquid watercolour (You can use other forms of paint, we have found this one is quite effective and vibrant.)
• Spatula
• Old butter knife (you could use a popsicle stick or tongue depressor too)
• Scraping tool (we used a ruler, but you could use a popsicle stick or tongue depressor too)
• Scissors
• Glue
• Washi (paper) tape
• Cardstock
• Coil ring notebook
• Labeller (optional)
• Cloths for clean-up (this would be a great craft to do outside!)
• Smock

Directions

• Don your smock to protect your clothes.

• Spray shaving foam to the approximately the size of your paper.

• Smooth out your surface.  We used a spatula.

• Apply droplets of your concentrated liquid watercolour.  If your child is little you may want to put it in small containers and give them a eye dropper to apply it to the foam.  The brand we used has a lid that makes droplets easy.

• Take your knife and pull lines down through the foam.  (You could experiment with other formations as well.)

• Gently apply your paper to the foam/paint.  Peel it off carefully.

• Scrape your ruler across the paper.  Initially your child may need a bit of assistance with this, but once they get the hang of it, it will be easier.  Wash or wipe off your ruler.

• Allow your project to dry overnight.

• Glue it to your notebook cover and cut off any excess edges. (Flip to the inside to make this easy, using the cover as your cutting line.)

• We sewed around the edges to create a bit of detail and then added some Washi tape as well.

• Label with the class, year and your name.

• If you have extras or scraps from cutting the edges, why not punch a hole in the top, loop through some ribbon and make a bookmark!  (We laminated ours for longevity.)

Purpose

• Getting engaged in school related activities
• Experimenting with different techniques

Safety Notes

• As shaving cream is in a pressurized can, exercise care and supervise your child directly in using it.
• Use scissors with care.
• A sewing machine should be used by an adult (if you add this detail).

A HUGE thank you to The Crafty Crow for featuring this project on their site!  Check out this amazing craft collective for creative, playful and developmentally appropriate activities of all sorts!

http://www.thecraftycrow.net/2014/08/design-your-own-stickers-for-school-supplies.html

Materials

• Permanent markers
• Scissors
• Clear contact paper
• Smock

Directions

• Don your smock to protect your clothing.

• Cut your contact paper into manageable pieces.  You might want to roll it the opposite way of how it was on the roll to flatten it out a bit.

• Using your permanent markers, make several drawings.

• Cut out your drawings, leaving a margin around them.

•  Peel off the backing.

•  Carefully attach it to your supplies- pencil jars, clip boards etc.

•  Smooth out any bubbles that may occur, pushing them to the edges.

• Enjoy your beautiful work!

Purpose

• Getting engaged about the back to school process.

Safety Notes

• Permanent markers can be difficult to remove from clothing and other surfaces, therefore be sure to protect them!

Materials

• Liquid watercolours (diluted with a bit of water)
• Liquid dish soap
• Straws
• Circular plastic containers
• Notebook
• Cardstock
• Labeller (optional)
• Glue stick
• Washi (paper) tape
• Scissors
• Smock
• Craft tray

Directions

• Before you start this activity it is a good idea to practise blowing out of your straw, rather than sucking which is usually associated with the use of straws.  You may want to do this in a glass of water.  This helps prevent your child from sucking in the bubble mixture accidentally!

• Don your smock.

• Put a few centimetres of water into your containers and add your liquid watercolours.

•  Add about 1 tablespoon of liquid dish soap to each of your paint mixtures.

•  Stir the mixture throughly.

•  Place your bubble mixture on your craft tray.  Blow your bubbles up over the lip of the container (not overflowing, however.)

• Gently put your paper on top of the container.

•  Lift off your paper carefully and repeat with different colours.  You can overlap or go off the edges of the paper for different looks.

• Allow your project to dry overnight.

• Glue it to your notebook cover and cut off any excess edges. (Flip to the inside to make this easy, using the cover as your cutting line.)

• We sewed around the edges to create a bit of detail and then added some Washi tape as well.

• Label with the class, year and your name.

Purpose

• Getting engaged in the back to school process.
• Exploring different techniques.

Safety Notes

• As mentioned, go over blowing, rather than sucking with the straw, prior to starting the activity.  This is not an activity for children 0-3 or who may have trouble with this.
• Use scissors with care.
• Be sure to wear a smock and use a craft tray to protect your clothes and surfaces.
• A sewing machine is recommended for adult use or with direct supervision depending on your child’s age and abilities.

Materials

• Fabric
• Stuffing
• Fabric scissors
• Fabric glue (we sewed ours, but fabric glue could work too.)
• Popsicle stick

Directions

• Layer two pieces of fabric on top of each other.

• Cut out a heart shape or anything else you might like.

• Sew around the edges, leaving a small space to insert your stuffing.

• Insert your stuffing.  Sometimes a popsicle stick can be handy in helping to push it to the edges of your chosen shape.

• Sew up the space.

• Tuck your heart into your child’s pocket or pin it into their backpack the first day of school.  Alternatively, select a special rock for this purpose.

Purpose

• A tip for assisting in the transition process back to school

Safety Notes

• Depending on the age of your child and her/his classmates a rock may be a choking hazard and therefore the sutffie might be an alternative!

Materials

• Marbles
• Craft tray
• Paint
• Cardstock
• Notebook
• Scissors
• Glue
• Washi (Paper) Tape
• Labeller (optional)
• Smock

Directions

• Don your smock.

• Put your cardstock in your craft tray.  Put drops of paint onto the paper.

• Set your marbles in your craft tray and gently tilt the tray, moving the marbles through the paint.

• Allow your project to dry overnight.

• Glue it to your notebook cover and cut off any excess edges. (Flip to the inside to make this easy, using the cover as your cutting line.)

• We sewed around the edges to create a bit of detail and then added some Washi tape as well.

• Label with the class, year and your name.

Purpose

• Getting engaged in the back to school process.
• Exploring new techniques

Safety Notes

•  Marbles can be a choking hazard.  They are not recommended for children 0-3 or those who tend to put things in their mouth.  Be sure to store them carefully.
• Wear a smock to protect your clothes.
• Use scissors with care.
• A sewing machine should be used by an adult or with direct supervision based on your child’s age and abilities.

Materials

• Whiteboard, chalkboard etc.
• Washi tape
• Concentrated beverage lids
• Pencil
• Family Photots
• Scissors
• Glue
• Contact Paper or laminating Supplies
• Self adhesive magnetic strips
• Thin point markers

Directions

• Measure an area in your home where you want to hang your board and purchase or re-use a board that fits there.

• Section off your board for the days of the week and the number of people in your family.  We used Washi (paper) tape to do this.

• Trace around the faces of your family in the photos with the lid.  Cut them out and glue them into the centre of the lid.

•  Write out the days of the week and the activities that your family participates in.

• We cut them out and laminated them.  You could also cover then with contact paper (sandwiching then in between the 2 sticky sides).

• Peel off the back of the tape of the magnet stip.  Cut it into pieces and put it on the back of the labels and juice container lids.

• Set up your board to help you keep organized.  Have your chid(ren) arrange the activities and take ownership of it.

Purpose

• Developing your child’s sense of responsibility, organization.

Safety Notes

• Magnet pieces can be a choking hazard, exercise caution when using them.
• Use scissors with supervision.

Materials

• Notebook
• Cardstock
• Craft tray
• Bingo markers
• Scissors
• Glue sticks
• Washi tape
• Labeller (optional)
• Smock

Directions

• Don your smock.

• Place your cardstock into your craft tray.

• Cover your paper with bingo marker dots.

• Allow your project to dry overnight.

• Glue it to your notebook cover and cut off any excess edges. (Flip to the inside to make this easy, using the cover as your cutting line.)

• We sewed around the edges to create a bit of detail and then added some Washi tape as well.

• Label with the class, year and your name.

Purpose

• Getting engaged in the back to school process.
• Using different tools and techniques.

Safety Notes

•  Be sure to wear a smock as bingo markers may stain clothes.