These back to school crafts are easy, useful, and fun to make! All of them use Mod Podge, and there are 40+ projects to choose from.
Skills Required: Beginner. All of these ideas are easy beginner to more advanced beginner, but some take longer than others. Just make sure you observe dry times and you’ll have great success with these projects.

I can’t believe it’s almost that time again. Summer just started, and now it’s almost over. What is going on around here? I don’t know how it is in your neck of the woods, but around here, school shopping gets pretty crazy.
I feel like I can’t go into the back-to-school supply section of a store without worrying about losing a leg. There are so many people!
In terms of strategy, I like to buy school supplies all at once. I figure one visit is enough, assuming I can remember and/or find everything. Then after I buy supplies, I add my own personal touches with Mod Podge (what else?).
To help you out, I put together a collection of over forty projects to get you inspired. Are you ready to personalize your back-to-school items and make some new things for your (or your child’s) study space?
Check out these tutorials below and let me know which are your favorite – and which ones you’ve tried – in the comments.
Back to School Crafts
Get ready for a new school year with these great DIY projects!
DIY Organizer Bins
Gussy up some Dollar Tree organizer bins with Mod Podge in this easy dollar store craft! This project is great for using up small pieces of fabric, and perfect for sorting school desk drawers.
These Backpack Charms Are Too Cool For School
Use your favorite patterns of Duck Tape to make these easy backpack charms. Kids will love assembling these in a matter of minutes!
Decorate Your Notebook Cover with Pretty Paper
One of the easiest back to school crafts is decorating notebooks! Students love personalizing their supplies and here's how you do it the easy way.
DIY Desk Organizer
Use old cereal boxes and toilet paper rolls to create a unique DIY desk organizer! This craft organizer is perfect if you're on a budget.
DIY Personalized Pencils
Who doesn’t want a set of pretty personalized pencils to start a new school year? These also make great gifts – and are easy to do with Mod Podge!
DIY File Cabinet
If you have multiple students in your home, you might need space for lots of papers! This filing cabinet is easy to makeover from a thrift store find.
DIY Mouse Pad
Learn how to make a mouse pad using a cork circle. This back to school craft is inexpensive and really easy!
Make a DIY Cord Organizer on a Budget
You can make a DIY cord organizer for back to school using this tutorial! This cable organizer can be made in minutes – we even provide a template.
Decorate an IKEA Magazine Holder
Want an easy craft idea? Grab an IKEA magazine holder and paint it for decor in a home office or student's work area! Add your favorite Duck Tape to personalize.
Five Ideas for Personalized Backpacks
Why buy a new backpack when you can get creative and makeover the one you already have? Kids will LOVE these unique ideas for personalized backpacks!
Decoupage Chair Covered with Maps
Need a new desk chair to make your student feel engaged? This one with maps is easier than you think. Even better if you can find a used school chair to re-do!
Vintage Globe Revamp
Learn how to customize a vintage globe with your favorite images from children's books - this is such a unique home decor project and perfect for a desk or study area.
School Pouch Painting
You don’t need painting skills to create these beautiful abstract painted zipper pouches – with a custom DIY gem charm that you can make!
DIY Dry Erase Board and Chalkboard
This dual DIY dry erase board and chalkboard makes a lovely teacher’s gift, but is also perfect for anyone that wants to get organized for back to school!
Easy DIY Travel Mug on a Budget
Depending on the age of your student, he or she might like a hot beverage on school mornings. Maybe that student is you. This travel mug is easy to personalize with paper.
Decoupage Desk
Learn how to decoupage a desk with postcards, or paper that looks like postcards. This is an easier project than you think, and it's a fun way to make over a student's desk at home.
Decorate Scissors with Washi Tape
Learn how to decorate scissors using your favorite patterned tapes and a little creativity! This is SO easy; anyone can do it.
DIY Phone Case
Start the school year off with a few new accessories for your electronics. If you want to decorate a phone case with glitter, I'll show you how in a few easy steps!
Make a Cell Phone Holder from a Lotion Bottle
School requires lots of devices that constantly need charging, and then of course there's your phone. Keep it near the outlet and charging with this phone holder!
DIY iPad Case Made for a Dollar
This DIY iPad case started as a $1 find from the dollar store! I then decoupaged a fabric scrap to the outside, making it a custom case.
DIY iPad Case with Wood Grain Duck Tape
Use woodgrain Duck Tape to make this DIY iPad case. It’s no sew, lined, and assembles in about 15 minutes. Perfect for school or office!
Easy Magnetic Chalkboard Made with a Canvas
Use magnetic paint and chalkboard paint on canvas to make a surface with two personalities! You can use this for writing on and hanging important notes (plus pictures to keep you motivated, as well!).
Revamp a Clip Lamp with Scrap Fabric
Give an old, beloved clip lamp a facelift with fabric and Mod Podge! It's a very easy and budget friendly project that you can do with scraps. And it adds a little bit of flair to your desk!
Decorative Push Pins Using Mod Podge Melts
Make your space too cute to boot this school year with these decorative push pins! Great for a dorm room or office, and SO easy to make.
DIY Bulletin Board For Your Wall in Ten Minutes
Looking for a DIY bulletin board idea that takes about ten minutes? This is just the project for you! It’s really easy to do and is budget friendly.
DIY Door Hangers with a Chalkboard Surface
Use a clear chalkboard finish to decorate these modern DIY door hangers for back to school! Make them in any pattern and color palette to match your decor.
DIY Pen Cup Using Vintage Comic Books
Fun desk accessories always make me feel more engaged and motivated. If your star pupil likes comic books, this is a perfect craft!
DIY Wall Organizer from an Embroidery Hoop
This cute no sew project allows you to take an embroidery hoop and fabric to make a wall organizer! It’s so easy that anyone can do it, and it only takes a few minutes to make.
How to Decorate a Wood Crate with Mod Podge
Use adhesive stencils and sand to decorate a wood crate. It's perfect for holding books, school work, folders, or anything else you need to store.
DIY READ Letters for a Colorful Book Nook
Make these colorful and unique READ letters for a kids' bedroom, book nook, library, study area, or anywhere else that people will hang out and read!
Basket Labels
Learn how to make these DIY basket tags with simple supplies so you can easily keep track of where your school stuff is at. SO easy, anyone can do it.
Decorate Notebooks with Scrapbook Paper
Linda shows you how to decorate notebooks by using Mod Podge and your favorite scrapbook papers. This is the perfect budget craft idea!
Decorative Corkboards with Scalloped Tape
Use scalloped painter's tape to make decorative corkboards with a pattern! Choose your fave paint colors and let your imagination run wild.
DIY Perpetual Calendar (with Free Printable!)
I don't know how many other students like to know the date, but I always did. This perpetual calendar is perfect for a desk, and there's even a free printable provided.
DIY Magnets with a Fun Theme
Do you like to hang stuff on magnet boards? Like homework, inspiration, important ideas, things to do? Make your own magnets to dress up your space a little.
Photo Magnets
Learn how to make DIY picture magnets using photos you'll print yourself! These are easy and inexpensive to make, and perfect for keeping on a magnet board at your desk.
DIY Pencil Holder
Learn how to make a DIY pen holder with a glass jar and Mod Podge - it's the easiest craft ever! It's the perfect back to school craft.
DIY Pencil Case Covered in Fabric
Want to make a DIY pencil case? Grab a dollar store surface and some fabric Mod Podge and get to work - these are so versatile!
Clothespin Magnets Are Easy to Make
Here are some additional magnets, but this time they also hang things easily since they're clothespins! Easy to make and so cute for decorating a dorm room or other space.
No-Sew Tote Decorating
Does your student like taking a tote to school instead of a backpack? It's easy to personalize your own with your favorite fabrics - here's how it's done.
If you enjoyed these back to school crafts, you might also like these other unique ideas:
Walter Silva
Thursday 25th of July 2013
Love the Globe! Great tutorials here!