• 0 items$0.00
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Hands Occupied

Colorful knitting, crochet, latch hook and macrame from craft book author & designer Heidi Gustad.

  • BLOG
    • Knitting
    • Crochet
    • Latch Hook
    • Macramé
    • Punch Needle
  • ABOUT
  • Shop
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • TikTok
    • YouTube

50 Back to School DIYs

August 20, 2014 3 Comments

50 Back to School DIYs at handsoccupied.com

It’s that time of year, dudes. Every other ad you see is for juniors’ clothes at the department store, backpacks on sale at the other store, and every other craft is pencil or apple related. I don’t mind, though. As a librarian, I’ve always appreciated the bookish things in life, so here are 50 of my favorite back to school DIYs from around the internet.

How-to: Simple Stamped Pencils | Hands Occupied

pencil & eraser DIYs + DIY pencil cases

1. simple pencil roll -club chica circle
2. woven pencil pouch -lovely indeed
3. color block pencils -the crafted life
4. monogram pencil case -maritza lisa
5. hand sewn pencil case -diy candy
6. colored pencil coasters -crafts unleashed
7. add a pencil loop to a notebook -clover and dot
8. DIY pencils -the merrythought
9. simple stamped pencils -hands occupied
10. fabric scrap eraser grips -le idee della vale
11. pvc pipe pencil case -jade and fern
12. oilcloth pencil pouch -say yes
13. triangular pencil case -a spoonful of sugar
14. crochet pencil shaped pencil case -one dog woof
15. DIY erasers -babble dabble do
16. apple pencil holder -smart school house

DIY Summer Reading Log for Grown-ups at handsoccupied.com

books & notebooks

17. mini-albums with vintage books -make and takes
18. homemade anthropologie style journal -henry happened
19. embroidered notebooks -on my honor
20.glitter polka dot notebook -hands occupied
21. duct tape notebook makeover -live laugh rowe
22. Reading Rainbow-inspired diy notebook -hands occupied
23. geometric hearts notebooks -a bubbly life
24. how to make a text block notebook -damask love
25. chalkboard notebook -making home base
26. how to cover a notebook with fabric -by Wilma

Glitter Polka Dot Notebook at Hands Occupied

organization

27. wooden supply organizer -the kim six fix
28. duct tape + cereal box organizer -aunt peaches
29. monster pencil caddy -hydrangea hippo
30. notebook paper pencil cup -madame citron
31. teacher appreciation tote -tater tots & jello
32. personalized binder clips -cheltenham road
33. washi tape clipboards -lia griffith
34. embroidered locker caddy -mrs. greene
35. faux copper desktop organizer -freutcake
36. giant framed household calendar & whiteboard -yellow brick home

How-to: Ruler Clutch Purse | HandsOccupied.com

gifts, etc.

37. ruler clutch purse -hands occupied
38. eraser-inspired gift wrapping -oh happy day
39. number 2 pencil gift box -lines across
40. diy apple jars -the 36th avenue
41. pom pom apples pie topper -oh happy day
42. notebook page tote -say yes
43. vintage style pennant -hands occupied
44. pencil piñatas -jacks and kate
45. paper cup apple wraps -willowday
46. school supply inspired zipper pouches -melly sews
47. vintage poster library tote -hands occupied
48. duct tape fox backpack -ducktivities
49. diy pencil drink stirrers -studio diy for the sweetest occasion
50. chalkboard paint and ruler planter -she knows

How-to: Vintage Style Pennant | Hands Occupied

Filed Under: Inspiration Tagged With: apple crafts, back-to-school, crafts, diy, eraser, pencil, Ruler, school crafts, teacher gifts

About Heidi

Heidi Gustad is a craft book author, designer & creator specializing in yarn crafts like knitting, crochet, latch hook & macramé. Her first book, Latch Hook: 12 Projects for the Modern Maker, is out now.

Previous Post: « Red Hats for Newborns + A Free Pattern
Next Post: Picks of the Week »

Reader Interactions

DID YOU LIKE THIS POST?
Visit similar articles...

  • How-to: Duck Tape Tablet Case & Foldover ClutchHow-to: Duck Tape Tablet Case & Foldover Clutch
  • Best Back to School DIY IdeasBest Back to School DIY Ideas
  • How-to: Easy Vintage Style PennantHow-to: Easy Vintage Style Pennant
  • DIY Pencil ClutchDIY Pencil Clutch

DON’T MISS ANOTHER UPDATE

Comments

  1. Jennifer Patricia Priest

    August 20, 2014 at 11:14 am

    Thank you so much for sharing my pencil caddy project!!!!

    Reply
  2. Rachel | The Crafted Life

    August 20, 2014 at 11:25 am

    Yay, thank you so much for including me in this awesome roundup! I love how you broke everything down into categories. So good :)

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Back To School? Give the Teacher a Monster Pencil Caddy! | Hydrangea HippoHydrangea Hippo says:
    August 20, 2014 at 11:15 am

    […] 50 Back to School Projects […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Heidi Gustad from Hands Occupied / Craft Book Author and Knitting, Crochet, Latch Hook and Macrame Designer

Hi! I’m Heidi (she/her/hers), a craft book author & pattern designer specializing in knitting, crochet, latch hook & macrame. Really anything with yarn! ❤️  My work combines vintage and modern design elements, featuring bold colors and graphic motifs.

EMAIL NEWSLETTER

Never miss a tutorial with these short & sweet monthly updates.

Find Me on Social Media

  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • TikTok
  • YouTube
Latch Hook by Heidi GustadDiscover Unique Items

Footer

INSTAGRAM

handsoccupied

Helping yarn crafters untangle various techniques on the internet since 2010
🧶 Really into intarsia
Stay up-to-date 💌 & shop the latest patterns ⤵️

Heidi Gustad 🧶 knitting & yarn crafts
How to convert a closet into WIPs storage with jus How to convert a closet into WIPs storage with just a few supplies ✂️
.
When I was a librarian, we would use these hanging bags to circulate books with audiobook CDs. They came to mind when I wanted to develop a filing cabinet-like system for my differently-sized WIPs. To fit in my studio closet, a standard bedroom closet, they just needed custom hangers. 🤙🏻 
.
HOW TO MAKE THE HANGERS
1. Carefully cut approx. a 9” (23 cm) length of flexible 3 mm aluminum wire.
2. Near the end of a large knitting needle or dowel, wrap the wire around it as you would a twist tie. 
3. Bend the other end into a hook shape, perpendicular to the circle shape you just created. 
4. Hang like a hanger in a closet, as shown. 
.
#handsoccupied #handmadelife #knitting_inspiration #craftcloset #craftroom #craftroomorganization #craftroomstorage #craftroomdecor #crocheter #latchhook #knittersofinstagram #wip #wips #hangingstorage
It’s time for the monthly review and giveaway! T It’s time for the monthly review and giveaway! This go around, get to know two new sister yarns from @manosyarnsusa, Marla and Sami, and enter to win a skein of each to try for yourself. 
.
What makes these yarns sisters is that, while dyed differently, they’re the same weight and come in intentionally coordinating color palettes. For my review, I opted for a sky-inspired combo of Sami in Natural and Marla in Nube. 🌧️ 
.
Check out the full review & enter the giveaway at the link in my bio. 
.
#handsoccupied #yarnreview #manosdeluruguay #knitting_inspire #crochet #yarngiveaway #knitters #yarn #crochetersofinstagram
If only knitting a whole project took 39 seconds… 😮‍💨 
.
In this video, you can see how the Intarsia Flower Pillow pattern knits up - two flat panels, one with intarsia, both are blocked, and then they’re seamed. Find the pattern on @hi.ravelry & my website, just search Intarsia Flower Pillow. 🌸 
.
P.S. I’m really smiling in this video while seaming the pillow, so I guess I’m proving last week’s claim that I truly enjoy that sometimes-dreaded task. 😆🫣
In knitting, a Left Lifted Increase (LLI) lets you In knitting, a Left Lifted Increase (LLI) lets you add a stitch in between two columns of stitches that leans to the left. Similar to an M1L, LLIs allow you to increase nearly invisibly.
.
To learn more about lifted increases, including when to use them and how they differ from Make 1s, head to the 🔗 in my profle. 
.
Have you ever used lifted increases? I used M1’s almost exclusively for a long time when I needed to inc between stitches, but when I designed the Intarsia Flower Pillow pattern, I needed something that would allow me to increase a lot near my cast on, and M1’s resulted in edge curling. The more you know! 🌈 
.
Yarn: @lionbrandyarn Wool Ease from my Stash / Neddles: @boyeyarncrafts - Just remembered these are the needles I learned to knit on at age 8. 😂
.
#handsoccupied #knitting #learntoknit #howtoknit #sweaterknitting #knitinspiration #knittersofinstagram #liftedincreases
Last week I got to hang out with my family & helpe Last week I got to hang out with my family & helped babysit my red-headed niece and nephew. So here’s some plane knitting, and a couple pictures (shared with permission) of my babysitting adventures.
.
Lessons learned: 1️⃣ Trying to knit around 2 toddlers, 2 cats & 2 large dogs is pretty hard. 2️⃣ I learned during water color time that pink and black make “colorful black.” 🩷🖤 3️⃣ Toddlers do NOT care about your rainbow sorting of their toys. 4️⃣ Toddlers are very good at finding mischief in a very short amount of time, what a surprise. 😂
.
#handsoccupied #knitting #placesyoucanknit #knitters #knitinpublic #handmadelife #knitting_inspiration
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2023 / Foodie Pro Theme On Genesis Framework / Branding by Ink + Mortar
All Site & Shop Policies / Privacy Policy / Cookie Policy