Back to School Crafts For Teenagers
Fun Teenage Crafts To Make For School
Too old for construction paper, but too young for dorm décor? These fun back to school crafts for teenagers will fill the gap for crafty teens, not to mention saving some money on school shopping.
Here you'll find craft ideas for DIY school supplies, homemade book bags, locker decorations, back to school fashion and more.
Whether it's a simple notebook cover, a homemade pencil pouch, or a custom locker chandelier, this master list of high school and junior high craft projects has a tutorial that fits the bill.
Intro photo by author.
Books and Notebooks - Make your own notebooks for school
Even if you've outgrown cartoon characters, there's no reason you can't have fun, individual school notebooks. Check out these easy back-to-school craft projects for cool ways to personalize your notebooks, textbooks, and three-ring binders.
- Covered Composition Book
Give a plain composition book a complete makeover. - Altered Composition Notebook
More ways to alter a composition book for school. - Composition Book Cover
Want something more permanent? Follow these instructions to make a fabric notebook cover. - Woven Map Notebook
Cover a composition book with a woven paper pattern. - Personalized Spiral Notebook
This craft tutorial on creating a new cover for spiral memo books will work just as well on school notebooks. - Lace Patterned Notebook
Decorate a plain notebook with a beautiful lace pattern. - Binder Cover
Make over a beat-up three ring binder by crafting a new cover. - Waxed Paper Book Cover
If you're tired of grocery bags, try covering your textbooks with translucent waxed paper. - DIY Notebook Pocket
Repurpose an old shirt and never lose your pens again with this easy craft project.
Pens and Pencils - School pens and pencil crafts
Fun pens and pencils are a back to school essential (at least until we achieve the paperless classroom), but you don't have to be content with boring ballpoints and overpriced pencils. Here you'll find a bunch of different ways to customize your pencils and pens.
- Striped Pencils
Paint cute candy stripes on plain pencils for a fast and fun back to school craft. - DIY Pretty Pencils
How to decorate your pencils with Japanese washi paper. - Toadstool Pencils
Follow these easy instructions to make a cute pencil with a colorful mushroom topper. - Paper Pencils
For a truly hardcore back to school craft, create your own pencils out of decorative paper. - Duct Tape Rose Pen
Fold a floral pen topper out of colorful duct tape. - Marbleized Pen
Use polymer clay to decorate a unique pen for school.
Bags and Cases - Essential back to school crafts for teens
With all these DIY school supplies, you'll need a way to carry them. Fortunately there are a whole slew of craft tutorials for book bags, DIY backpacks, pencil cases, and even reusable lunch bags.
- T-Shirt Hobo Bag
With the weather cooling off, transform your T-shirt into a cool bag for school. - 5 Minute Tank Tote
Make your own school book bag in no time flat! - Woven Duct Tape Tote
For a no-sew craft project, make a book bag tote out of duct tape. - Duct Tape Lunch Box
Not quite that ambitious? Start by making a school lunch bag from duct tape instead. - Oilcloth Lunch Bag
A more traditional DIY lunch bag alternative. - Sandwich Box
Create a set of cool, eco-friendly, reusable snack and sandwich containers from juice cartons and milk jugs. - No-Sew Pencil Roll
A stylish way to keep your writing tools together. - Duct Tape Pencil Case
Make your own zippered pencil case from duct tape. - Bicycle Tube Pouch
This industrial-look pencil case upcycled from an old bike tire is a perfect back to school craft for boys.
Recess! Time for a poll...
Locker Swag - Cool ways to decorate your locker
Decorating a school locker is one of the fun parts of heading back to school. Here you'll find just a few ideas for magnets for school, as well as magnetic organizers and other locker decorations.
- Glitter Glass Magnets
Make these glittery locker magnets for instant bling. - Tiny Polaroid Magnets
For more of a hipster vibe, decorate your locker with these tiny faux Polaroids. - Starbucks Magnets
Or create your own locker magnets from Starbucks Frappuccino bottle tops. - Container Magnets
Turn the inside of your locker door into one big organizer with these DIY magnetic containers. - Easy Magnetic Clip Tutorial
How to make cute and fun magnet clips for your school locker. - Covered Clothespin Magnets
Another cool craft idea for magnetic clips. - Whiteboard Locker Organizer
With a little sewing, you can make your own fabric locker organizer with pockets and a mini dry-erase board. - Dollar Store Locker Décor
Use decorative tape to dress up dollar store merch, and inexpensive magnets to attach it to your locker. - Locker Chandelier Tutorial
Light up your locker with a funky mini chandelier, made from duct tape and beads. - DIY Crystal Locker Chandelier
The perfect fixture for a teen queen -- if the royal treasury is short, try recycling old costume jewelry for supplies.
Back to School Fashion - DIY fashion ideas for teenagers
Create your own back to school styles by upcycling last summer's clothes, decorating your own shoes, and more.
- T-Shirt Shrug
Turn last summer's T-shirt into this fall's cute shrug with a minimum of sewing. - Jeans Skirt
Transform your old jeans into a new denim skirt with this easy sewing project. - DIY Missoni Sneakers
Paint your own pair of trendy chevron sneakers. - Armwarmers
Learn the basics for making your own arm warmers or fingerless gloves out of socks.
Ready to start back to school? - Good luck!
Az 123 on August 06, 2015:
This I great! I can't wait to do some of these!!!!!!
DanceMomOnline on August 01, 2014:
So many clever ideas! Wish I'd found this at the beginning of summer to have time to make all of them. Thanks for sharing.
steadytracker lm on September 05, 2013:
A great lens with so many wonderful ideas to choose from. Thank you for taking the time to share.
damoiselle (author) on August 28, 2013:
@anonymous: Thanks Erni :) If anyone knows a good way to decorate a locker without magnets, I'll be sure to look into it!
anonymous on June 09, 2013:
@anonymous: Thanks, but I thought it was kinda helpful. You don't have to hate on this person who made this web page.
opatoday on February 14, 2013:
Great Lens thanks for sharing
anonymous on November 04, 2012:
So ready to sing and be famous I have a voice ima contine to pray finsh school with jesus.
anonymous on September 04, 2012:
I would love to go back to school.
Aleayah on September 04, 2012:
Wow! interesting lens :)
anonymous on September 03, 2012:
i did not find this very useful if only you could give us fun easy crafts that we don't have to buy something such as magnet backs, and i would enjoy more locker decoration ideas
flycatcherrr on August 29, 2012:
This is a terrific resource - thanks!
Elyn MacInnis from Shanghai, China on August 29, 2012:
I like your selection of duct tape. Cool!
mumsgather on August 28, 2012:
Thanks for posting the links to so many ideas. I like the pencil crafts. Blessed.
Liz Mackay from United Kingdom on August 27, 2012:
Great ideas. Blessed.
justmelucy on August 26, 2012:
Super lens to share with my twin girls graduating this year. Where has the time gone? PS. I had to wear the Real Saddle Shoes as a cheerleader back in my day. 1969 DuPont Dragons
Maurice Glaude from Mobile on August 24, 2012:
Great fall back to school lens. SquidAngel blessing to you.
anonymous on August 01, 2012:
awesome stuff :)
anonymous on June 29, 2012:
Oh my goodness! Thank you so much for this! I will be sure to do a bunch of these crafts over summer vacation. Thank you for taking your time to put this together!
