5 Sustainable Back-to-School Crafts for Kids

Believe it or not, some kids love school. Others, well, let's just say they need a little encouragement as the new school year approaches. What better way to get your kids excited about the first day of school than by engaging them in some fun, satisfying and, of course, sustainable craft projects?

These are all things kids can show off to their school friends, new and old. They'll get a kick out of making them, but they'll also love sharing them around the classroom! We're talking about projects like:

1. Leaf-Stamp Book Covers

   Personalize anything from the math book to a journal with a colorful nature motif. All you need is a paper grocery bag, your favorite paints, and a handful of the prettiest leaves you can find in the backyard.

   First, check out this simple tutorial to learn how to cut and fold the paper bag to get it into book-cover shape. Then dip your leaves in paint, press them gently onto the out-facing side of the paper bag, and press straight down with a scrap of paper (unless you like paint-fingers).

   In the end, you'll have kept a paper bag out of the landfill and preserved a bit of natural beauty. Not bad for an afternoon's work!

2. Last-Year's-Jeans Pencil Case

   Why throw away worn out or outgrown jeans when you can use them to make a unique pencil case? The ReUseIt blog describes how to take an 8-inch swath of old denim and make it into a cool, roll-up pencil holder.

3. Spruce Up Old Pencils

   Staying green is all about source reduction, but who wants to go to school with some boring old pencils? Rather than buying new ones, why not decorate the ones you already have? (Pro tip: This works for pens, too.)

   For starters, you'll need a roll of super-skinny masking tape, 1/16 or 1/8 inch. Have your kids tape the pencil in a pattern — a spiral works great, but straight lines, concentric circles, and anything else they imagine is also terrific.

   Paint the pencils with acrylics, let them dry, then remove the tape. Voila!

4. Tin Can Pencil Holders

   Use fabric and Modge Podge to transform a used (and scrupulously cleaned) tin can into a beautiful DIY pencil holder. As for the fabric, we recommend a used textile that would otherwise end up in the landfill. (Maybe you still have some denim leftover from that pencil case?)

   The trick is to cut fabric to fit your can, then glue it around the outside and upper edge. This tutorial describes the process in detail. Get ready to show off your school supplies in style!

5. Fabric-Scrap Clipboards

   Don't put away the Modge Podge or the rag-bag yet! Pick up a cheap or used clipboard and get ready to dress it up in beautiful new colors. Even if kids don't need clipboards for school, chances are their teachers do, and this will make a memorable first-day-of-school present.

   Essentially, the process involves cutting fabric and gluing it to the clipboard. But it can be so much more creative than that! This tutorial includes directions for adding a little pencil pocket at the base.

With crafts like these, kids can hit the books in style. Whichever ones you choose, make sure everyone has fun. After all, the new school year is right around the corner!