Back to School Projects

With summer coming to and end and school starting for must kids, I can’t help but feel a little excited. I think it is a result of all the years of prepping to go back to school at this time. A little anxious about what the school year will bring, but mostly excited. Starting school again means new pencils, notebooks, and clothes. It means seeing all my friends again and getting back into a routine. I think back on that anticipation and joy and can’t help but get a little jealous. Since I am not heading back to school, I thought I would share some of my favorite projects. These are some great ideas if you are heading into the dorms this year, your first apartment, or you are looking for a gift for a student. 

Paint your Own Artwork

Moving into a new dorm or new apartment means you need new artwork. Don’t think you can paint? The secret is stencils! Anyone can paint with stencils. Check out more details about this project and my use of stencils here.

Fabric Bulletin Board

These are perfect for organizing your desk and keeping reminders. Plus, it’s always nice to have a place for your friends and family photos. 

My mom and I made this one and it’s been put to good use for years. It’s made with foam board, thin quilt batting, fabric, ribbon and buttons. You can put the whole thing together with hot glue. 

 

Quilt

This one is extra special and would be an amazing gift to give any college student. My grandma made this quilt for me for my high school graduation. One side is made from old denim she had been collecting and the one side is a beautiful red orange materiel. It even came with a matching pillow case. She has made 6 of them, one for each cousin. How special is that? And it’s reversible, so when I was tired of one side, flip it for a completely new look. 

I loved having this on my bed. It was a constant reminder of grandparents and what an amazing family I have. She put a lot of time and effort into making this quilt and it shows. 

 

Here is me moving into my first apartment. I loved that place!  

Paper Decor

Being a poor college kid is rough. And it’s hard to justify spending money on decorations when you have books and food to buy. Especially when you are looking for something large to cover a big white wall.  I took advantage of the on campus book store, the Duck Store (UO is so punny), and bought poster board and construction paper and got to work. 

Framed T-Shirts

What a cool idea from Crafts and Coffee. Everyone has those cool t-shirts that are too small or have a hole in them but you just can’t throw them away.

 Add some Plants

Don’t forget to add some green friends to you space. A little greenery instantly makes a place more homey and more comfortable. 

A Beautiful Mess shares an easy tutorial on creating a cacti garden. Cacti is a good choice for those that don’t always remember to water the plants. But don’t water them too often.. they don’t like that either. 

Did you make anything for your dorm room that you loved? I would love to see other projects!