Creative Uses for School Supplies

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School supplies aren’t just for school. Consider these ways to make the most of back to school sales and BTS clearance racks.

Creative Uses for School Supplies | Life as Mom

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Now is the season to pick up some great deals on school and office supplies. As you know, places like Walmart and Target have been hawking their wares for months. The back to school season seems to begin as early as July 5.

Now that kids are actually in school, the “sales” are mostly over, but the deals are still to be had. My mom regularly snatches up bags and bags of supplies on clearance about this time. I’ve found backpacks for a couple bucks each that I’ve used for our kids’ Go-Bags. I’ve also stocked up on different items to use for travel such as small pencil bags, hand sanitizer, and tiny notebooks.

Clearly, you don’t have to use school supplies just for school. With some clever thinking you can repurpose those items for gifts and other household uses. Check out these ideas:

1. Make decorative pens.

You’ve seen these in doctor’s offices – the Bic pens transformed into flowers. Sure, they can look cheesy, but that really depends on the type of fake flower you buy. They can make great gifts for teachers and friends and grandmas.

2. Build a household notebook.

School and office supplies can help you get your head on straight at home! With binders and copy paper and a copy of my ebook Organizing Life as MOM, you can create a household notebook for yourself or as a housewarming gift for a friend.

Read how to set up your own home management notebook – one that rocks.

3. Make decorative journals.

Simple composition books can get new life as journals when you decorate them. My sister gave these as Christmas gifts years ago along with a coffee gift card and a beautiful fabric coffee sleeve.

These are the makings of a great Saturday Morning Off to gift to a friend. Just be sure to make yourself a set!

Creative Uses for School Supplies | Life as Mom

4. Use crayons as gifts.

Crayons are a dime a dozen right now — literally. Stock up for your own children, but also lay in a supply for your gift cupboard. Crayons make a great birthday bag filler or part of a coloring kit. Repurpose your old crayons into Muffin Tin Crayons.

5. Stock up on stocking stuffers.

Crayons, pencils, erasers and little notebooks make great stocking stuffers. Plan ahead for Christmas and avoid the crunch — for time and money — later.

For more clutter-free stocking stuffer ideas, head here.

6. Give them away.

Check with your local homeless shelter or foster children’s care board. Kids who live transient lifestyles, obviously through no fault of their own, still need school supplies. Find out what your community’s needs are and how you can help fill some of them. A backpack loaded with extra supplies can help one more kid feel better about his day at school.

Creative Uses for School Supplies | Life as Mom

7. Send them away.

Likewise, plan ahead for “Love in a Shoebox” and other similar ministries where collections are taken of items to send to children in Third World Countries. Often times the simplest things, like a Hello Kitty pencil, can brighten the lives of children.

Read Carrie’s tutorial on the best ways to pack for Operation Christmas Child.

Got another great use for school and office supplies? I’d love to hear it!

PS: This post was originally posted on July 21, 2009. Please take a minute to read the comments. Readers suggested some more wonderful ideas. I was so blessed by everyone’s thoughtfulness. Thank you!

Creative Uses for School Supplies | Life as Mom

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33 Comments

  1. How creative. We usually just save our extras till next year but I love the DIY journal idea and boxing it up and sending it to those that need them.

  2. I stocked up on bottled glue this year to make gak/goo during my to-be 4 year old’s Messy Monster party ( in January!) I like to keep a spiral or 2 and a few pens and pencils in our game cabinet, so they’re ready to go when needed for games. I like buying extra crayons to melt into molds for party favors or little seasonal gifts (i.e. hearts for Valentines). As far as donationsOur children’s hospital requests donations of crayons and coloring books, I’ve given them to our church (we have a basket of crayons at the entry for little ones to use during the service), and of course OCC and schools (as others mentioned).

  3. I love school supplies! I think the idea of stocking stuffers is great. I always hate those cheap little things that you end up tossing. And by Christmas the newness has worn off the other school supplies, and some things are lost. I’ll have to keep that in mind. 🙂

  4. I ask at my local elementary school what they would like me to donate for families that struggle to afford school supplies.

  5. Making decorative journals and adding a coffee gift card to it is a great idea for a gift! You could also add some chocolate and a nice pen as well and make it a small gift basket. I also like the idea of stocking up for Christmas stocking stuffers. My girls like getting art supplies like crayons, markers, and such at Christmas and we usually buy some of those for stockings. So great idea to stock up on them now when they are on sale!

  6. I have noticed that file crates are cheaper during back to school season. I use these as laundry baskets. They can also be catch-alls in the garage to help with organization. I keep a plain one by the front door to stash shoes. And every bedroom closet has a crate for shoes. I use one at the beach, so sand falls through. There is a black one in the trunk of our auto, to hold gear. In the playroom they can help to sort toys and if you flip them over and add a chair cushion they make extra child seating. I love finding more uses for file crates and back-to-school season is the time to get them.

  7. Another great place to donate that most people don't think about is the local hospital.
    The children's wing can use crayons, coloring books, paper, markers, stickers and other things and all the other areas can use notebooks, pens, pencils (for the psychiatic ward, they can't have pens), binders, etc.
    I have been hospitalized unexpectedly several times and sometimes just having something to do with your mind and hands can make a big difference in recovery.

  8. ooh, thanks for the reminder! i need to get stocking up on (home)school supplies while they're cheap! by the way, loved the pieces on reorganizing your homeschool room!

  9. I donate them to my local humane society. Many shelters are in need of office supplies like pens, tape, office paper, highlighters, dry erase board markers etc.