The final bell rings, school doors close, and a wave of pure joy washes over both kids and parents – summer is officially here! As a parent, I absolutely cherish having my children at home, embarking on creative adventures, tackling fun DIY projects, and making unforgettable memories together. But with the return of summer, a familiar challenge often emerges: an unexpected treasure trove of unused or partially used school supplies. Each year, my kids bring home an astonishing assortment of crayons, pencils, notebooks, and binders, prompting the same question: what do we do with all of this?
Often, these perfectly good supplies are simply stashed away, only to be forgotten and ultimately replaced with new ones the following school year. This cycle not only wastes valuable resources but also adds unnecessary clutter to our homes. This year, I decided to break that cycle and explore more sustainable and creative solutions. Why buy new when we can repurpose and reimagine what we already have, turning potential waste into wonderful creations?
I embarked on a mission to discover ingenious ways to transform these forgotten school items into exciting summer crafts and useful household objects. What I found was truly inspiring! Repurposing isn’t just about saving money or reducing waste; it’s about igniting creativity, teaching resourcefulness, and discovering new potential in everyday items. My passion for repurposing has truly reshaped my approach to household waste and craft projects. If something can be given a second life, I’m eager to find it!
Whether your children have returned home with stacks of graded papers, boxes overflowing with crayons, or an abundance of any other school supply, this guide offers fantastic ideas to give them a fresh purpose. From crafting charming pencil jewelry to creating a clever iPad case from a composition book, and even constructing a unique lampshade from old papers, there’s an inventive project for almost every item they bring through the door. Teachers, too, will find these eco-friendly and budget-conscious ideas incredibly valuable for classroom activities or personal use. For more life-simplifying tips, you might also find these 37 parenting hacks that are sure to make your life easier incredibly useful.
So, as summer officially begins and your kids bring home what feels like half the school, let’s turn those leftover school supplies into delightful summer crafts and practical innovations. I’m thrilled to share these 20 brilliant repurposing ideas with you, and I truly hope you enjoy creating them as much as I have. Don’t forget to share your favorite projects and your own unique repurposing discoveries – let’s inspire each other to live more creatively and sustainably!
1. Transform Old Clipboards into a Creative Pinterest Display Board
Got a stack of old clipboards that are no longer needed for schoolwork? Instead of letting them gather dust, transform them into a stylish and functional real-life Pinterest board! This brilliant DIY project is perfect for showcasing your favorite inspirational images, family photos, or even creative project ideas. Simply paint the clipboards in colors that match your decor – think pastels for a subtle look or bold hues for a pop of color – and then clip on your chosen images, quotes, or small artworks. Arrange them artfully on a wall in your living room, home office, or even a child’s bedroom to create a dynamic, ever-changing display. It’s an excellent way to personalize your space and visibly celebrate your creative passions, all while repurposing what you already own.
Source/Tutorial: brit
2. DIY Composition Book iPad Cover for Classic Style and Protection
Give your iPad a unique and retro-inspired makeover with a repurposed composition book cover. This ingenious project transforms a common school supply into a durable and stylish protective case. First, carefully remove all the pages from the composition book; if they’re blank, save them for your kids’ drawing projects! The sturdy cover then becomes the foundation for your new iPad sleeve. With a few simple modifications, you can create a custom-fit cover that not only safeguards your device from scratches and minor bumps but also adds a touch of quirky charm. It’s a fantastic way to extend the life of a school supply and create a conversation-starting accessory that stands out from generic tablet cases.
Source/Tutorial: lilblueboo
3. Brighten Windows with DIY Crayon Heart Sun Catchers
If your kids have brought home a collection of broken and stubby crayons, don’t discard them! Repurpose these colorful remnants into enchanting sun catchers that will add a beautiful glow to any window. This simple yet magical craft requires only crayons and waxed paper, making it an ideal activity for kids of all ages. Grate the crayons, sprinkle the shavings between two sheets of waxed paper, and gently melt them to create vibrant, translucent designs. Cut them into heart shapes, or any shape you desire, and hang them where the sunlight can catch them. These DIY sun catchers are not only a wonderful way to use up old crayons but also make thoughtful, handmade gifts for friends and family, celebrating creativity and sustainability.
Source/Tutorial: marthastewart
4. Craft Colorful and Scented Crayon Candles
Turn those neglected, broken crayons into delightful and functional crayon candles – a craft project that’s both fun and rewarding. This DIY endeavor is an absolute must-try for anyone looking to repurpose old school supplies. It’s incredibly easy to make, serving as the perfect solution for utilizing the abundance of stray crayons your children might bring home. You can experiment with various color combinations, creating single-hued candles or stunning layered, tiered designs by melting different colored crayons one by one. For an extra touch of luxury and ambiance, consider adding a few drops of your favorite essential oils to the melted wax, infusing your handmade candles with a wonderful, inviting scent. These colorful creations make charming decorative pieces and thoughtful, personalized gifts.
Source/Tutorial: adventures-in-making
5. Adorn Your Desk with Beautiful DIY Flower Pens
Transform ordinary pens into elegant and eye-catching flower pens with this simple and charming DIY project. If you find yourself with an abundance of leftover pens at the end of the school year, this is the perfect opportunity to give them a decorative upgrade. The process is incredibly straightforward: simply glue a delicate silk flower to the top end of the pen, and then meticulously wrap the entire pen shaft with green floral tape to mimic a natural stem. The result is a fully functional writing instrument that doubles as a beautiful desk accessory. These flower pens make delightful gifts, especially for teachers or anyone who appreciates a touch of floral beauty in their workspace, adding a touch of personality and charm to everyday writing tasks.
Source/Tutorial: yourmodernfamily
6. Create Your Own Sustainable DIY Recycled Paper
Unlock the amazing world of papermaking right in your home by creating your own recycled paper from old school documents. If your children have accumulated piles of graded papers, worksheets, or drawings that are destined for the recycling bin, give them a more meaningful second life. The process of making recycled paper, while a bit time-consuming, is incredibly rewarding and offers a unique educational experience. You’ll transform old paper pulp into beautiful new sheets with a distinctive texture, perfect for crafting, writing notes, or creating personalized stationery. Imagine the satisfaction of presenting a handmade journal filled with paper you’ve recycled yourself – it makes a truly unique and thoughtful gift. This eco-conscious project not only reduces waste but also provides a tangible connection to sustainable practices.
Source/Tutorial: wikihow
7. Innovative Repurposed Glue Stick Crayons for Twist-Up Fun
Here’s a brilliant way to give both empty glue sticks and broken crayons a new lease on life: combine them to create fantastic twist-up crayons for your kids! This clever repurposing project is both practical and eco-friendly. Begin by thoroughly cleaning out any residue from the empty glue stick containers. Next, gather all those orphaned, broken crayon pieces, melt them down carefully, and then pour the vibrant liquid wax directly into the clean glue stick tubes. Once the wax cools and solidifies, you’ll have wonderfully functional crayons that twist up just like their glue stick predecessors. This design makes them easy for little hands to hold, reduces mess, and ensures that every last bit of crayon gets used, extending the joy of coloring while minimizing waste.
Source/Tutorial: kidsactivitiesblog
8. Craft a Sophisticated DIY Leather Journal or Planner from Old Binders
Three-ring binders often bear the brunt of a school year, but even if the covers are worn, their inner ring mechanisms are typically still perfectly functional. Don’t let a damaged binder go to waste when you can salvage its most useful component to create a stunning, personalized leather journal or planner. This upscale repurposing project involves carefully extracting the intact ring mechanism from an old binder. Then, simply integrate this mechanism into a piece of leather (or even faux leather or thick fabric) cut to your desired size. Once assembled, you can easily insert new loose-leaf paper, creating a customizable, refillable journal or planner that exudes rustic elegance. It’s an exceptional way to transform a humble school supply into a durable, beautiful, and eco-friendly item for personal use or a thoughtful gift.
Source/Tutorial: modtoggery
9. Revitalize Old Notebooks into Fresh, Recycled Stationery
At the end of the academic year, you might find several notebooks with only a few pages used or an assortment of loose-leaf paper still perfectly blank. Instead of letting these go to waste, gather them up to create brand-new, recycled notebooks! This project is a fantastic way to consolidate all those leftover blank sheets into a single, functional notebook. The process involves designing and crafting a new, custom cover – perhaps from sturdy cardstock, decorative paper, or even repurposed fabric – and then binding all the clean, unused pages together. You can use simple binding methods like stitching, stapling, or even a basic ring binding system. The result is a personalized, eco-friendly notebook ready for journaling, sketching, or even stocking up for next year’s school supplies, minimizing future purchases and maximizing resourcefulness.
Source/Tutorial: designsponge
10. Create an Artistic Upcycled Book Page Lamp for Unique Home Decor
Elevate your home decor with a stunning and eco-friendly upcycled lamp crafted from old book pages. Think about those workbooks or textbooks your kids bring home at the end of the year, often unfinished or outdated. Instead of discarding them, transform their pages into a beautiful, sculptural lampshade – often referred to as an “artichoke lamp” due to its layered appearance. This project involves folding and arranging individual pages to create a dynamic, textured design that diffuses light in a soft, inviting way. While the provided image showcases a similar design made from crossword puzzles available on Etsy, the concept is perfectly adaptable using any old book pages, sheet music, or even graded papers. It’s a truly artistic statement piece that highlights your commitment to sustainability and adds a literary touch to any room. You can either follow a DIY tutorial to make your own or find inspiration from crafted pieces like the one on Etsy.
Source/Tutorial: etsy.com
11. Fashion Unique DIY Paperclip Heart Earrings
Discover a delightfully simple and creative way to transform those leftover paperclips into charming, personalized accessories. With just a few paperclips from your kids’ school stash, you can craft a pair of unique heart-shaped earrings. The process is straightforward: gently bend the metal paperclips into elegant heart forms. Once shaped, wrap them intricately with colorful embroidery floss – choosing hues that complement your style or mimic your favorite school colors. This adds a soft texture and a pop of color to the metallic base. These DIY earrings are incredibly easy to make, and if you already have paperclips and embroidery floss at home, the only additional cost will be for a pair of earring hooks. This project is a fantastic example of turning mundane office supplies into fashionable, handmade jewelry, perfect for personal wear or as a thoughtful, budget-friendly gift.
Source/Tutorial: helloglow
12. Engage Kids with Fun and Creative DIY Paper Mache Projects
Bring out your children’s inner artists with the classic craft of paper mache, utilizing the abundance of leftover graded school papers and workbooks. This is an exceptionally engaging and low-cost activity that’s perfect for younger kids, offering hours of creative fun, especially on hot summer days or rainy afternoons when indoor activities are a must. By tearing up old papers and mixing them with a simple paste (often just flour and water), kids can create a moldable pulp that can be shaped into an endless array of imaginative objects – from animal figures and decorative bowls to masks and even small sculptures. Paper mache not only repurposes discarded paper, preventing it from ending up in landfills, but also encourages fine motor skills, patience, and boundless creativity. The possibilities are truly limited only by imagination, allowing children to proudly display their unique, handmade creations.
Source/Tutorial: dltk-kids
13. Stylish Repurposed Pencil Desk Accessories
Unleash your creativity and transform a collection of humble number two pencils into a range of chic and functional desk accessories. This clever repurposing project offers endless possibilities for organizing and decorating your workspace with a unique, school-themed touch. With a handful of pencils, you can craft items such as a striking desk clock, a personalized picture frame, or even an innovative pencil holder – quite fittingly made entirely from pencils themselves! Imagine a vibrant pencil organizer, or a playful memo board framed with pencils, adding color and character to your home office or study area. This idea celebrates the essence of school supplies by reimagining their function, making them both practical and aesthetically pleasing. It’s a wonderful way to keep your desk tidy and express your appreciation for resourceful design.
Source/Tutorial: brit
14. Innovative Short Pencil Dish Rack for a Quirky Kitchen
Give those stubby, well-loved pencils that are too short to sharpen a surprising new purpose as a unique kitchen accessory! This ingenious DIY project transforms a collection of short pencils into an incredibly distinctive dish rack. The core idea involves securely attaching these pencils upright onto a sturdy wooden cutting board, effectively creating a grid of pegs for drying dishes, mugs, or even small pot lids. While it requires a bit of DIY skill, primarily drilling precise holes into the wooden board to insert and secure the pencils, the result is an undeniably eye-catching and functional piece. This pencil dish rack stands out as one of the most creative and unexpected repurposing ideas, adding a touch of whimsy and an eco-friendly statement to your kitchen decor. It’s a testament to how even the smallest school remnants can find a grand new life.
Source/Tutorial: project-re
15. Clever Hack: Pencil Erasers as Emergency Earring Backs
Never lose an earring again with this ingenious and practical repurposing trick: use pencil erasers as secure earring backs! This is a fantastic emergency solution when you find yourself in a pinch, having lost a traditional earring back or needing a more reliable hold. Simply take those broken or otherwise unusable pencils and carefully remove the erasers from their metal casings. The soft yet firm rubber of the eraser provides an excellent, snug fit for earring posts, ensuring your precious earrings stay firmly in place. I can personally attest to the effectiveness of this hack – it really works! Not only does it offer an immediate fix, but it also gives those often-discarded pencil erasers a valuable second life, proving that resourcefulness can save the day and your favorite pair of earrings.
Source/Tutorial: realsimple
16. Craft Exquisite Colored Pencil Jewelry with a Rustic Charm
Transform your collection of leftover colored pencils, especially those too short to sharpen, into unique and stunning pieces of jewelry. This creative project allows you to showcase the vibrant spectrum of colors hidden within each pencil, giving them a beautiful new life. The process involves carefully cutting the pencils into small, bead-like segments. Then, with a tiny drill bit, create a small hole through the center of each segment, allowing them to be strung onto jewelry wire or cord. The finished pieces, whether necklaces, bracelets, or earrings, boast an undeniable artistic appeal. Their natural wood grain combined with the distinct color core gives them a charming rustic aesthetic that is both modern and timeless. It’s an imaginative way to repurpose school supplies into wearable art, making for truly distinctive accessories or heartfelt handmade gifts.
Source/Tutorial: designmom
17. Whimsical DIY Post-It Note Pinwheels for Creative Decor
While children might rarely have Post-it notes leftover at year-end, teachers and home offices often find themselves with a stash of colorful squares. Instead of letting these handy notes sit unused, transform them into charming and whimsical pinwheels! This simple craft is a delightful way to add a pop of color and playful energy to your workspace or home decor. The process involves folding and cutting the Post-it notes in a specific pattern, then securing them to form a spinning pinwheel shape. For an extra touch of repurposed charm, you can affix these mini pinwheels to the erasers of your leftover pencils, turning a plain writing tool into a cheerful ornament. These decorative pinwheels are perfect for brightening up a desk, adding a festive touch to a party, or simply bringing a smile with their playful movement, proving that even office supplies can become sources of joy.
Source/Tutorial: smartschoolhouse
18. Endless Fun: DIY Rubber Band Bouncy Balls for Kids
Transform those surplus rubber bands, often accumulated from school projects or mail, into fantastic and surprisingly bouncy balls that will provide hours of entertainment for children. This simple yet captivating DIY project is an excellent way to repurpose a common household item, giving it an exciting new life as a toy. The more rubber bands you have, the larger and bouncier your creations can be! Kids will absolutely delight in the process of wrapping and building their own custom bouncy balls, and the satisfying spring they possess is truly impressive. This activity is perfect for keeping children engaged and active indoors, especially on rainy days or during scorching summer afternoons when outdoor play isn’t an option. It’s a testament to how creativity can turn ordinary items into extraordinary sources of fun and play, fostering resourcefulness in young minds.
Source/Tutorial: naturalsuburbia
19. Fashion Forward: Create Colorful Colored Pencil Accessories
Extend the life and beauty of your colored pencils beyond the art desk by transforming them into unique and vibrant accessories. This innovative repurposing technique allows you to create an array of stunning jewelry and decorative items without even needing to cut the pencils. The key is to carefully drill small holes through the pencils at desired points. Once drilled, these pencils can then be strung together on jewelry wire or elastic cord, acting as distinctive, elongated beads. Imagine crafting an eye-catching statement necklace, a pair of playful earrings, a multi-colored bracelet, or even an unexpectedly stylish belt. The natural wood combined with the varied hues of the pencil leads offers an incredibly artistic and personalized touch to any accessory. It’s a fantastic way to celebrate creativity and sustainability, turning ordinary school supplies into extraordinary fashion pieces.
Source/Tutorial: brit
20. Smart Storage: Upcycled Binder Ring Organization Clips
Maximize your home organization with a simple yet incredibly effective hack using upcycled binder rings. While old binders might wear out, their metal rings often remain perfectly intact and ready for a new life. These sturdy rings are fantastic for decluttering and creating smart storage solutions throughout your home. Carefully remove the ring mechanisms from discarded three-ring binders. Once separated, these rings can be screwed directly into a wall or the inside of a cabinet door, instantly becoming versatile clips. Use them in the kitchen to hang frequently used utensils, dish towels, or aprons. In the closet, they’re perfect for neatly organizing belts, scarves, or even ties, keeping them visible and tangle-free. This ingenious repurposing trick is a testament to how small, discarded school supplies can become powerful tools for an organized and efficient living space, proving that sustainability and tidiness can go hand-in-hand.
Source/Tutorial: upcycleus