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Back to School Celebration :: Michael’s Craft Challenge

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back to school party

Happy Monday! Today I am sharing a project I worked on as part of Michael’s Back to School Challenge! I’m always up for a good challenge and running around Michael’s coming up with fun ideas sounds like a perfect afternoon to me. I decided to “celebrate” back to school with a little party and a couple of easy projects using fabulous products I picked. You can create this party for 6 kids, for under $100 which includes the supplies to make monogrammed cork boards for each child, party decorations, cupcake mix/frosting and more!*

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To make the corkboards, you will need:

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Gather supplies and print the letter of your choice.

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Cut out the letter template and use a pencil to trace onto the corkboard in desired location. Use small, quick strokes to create a subtle outline.

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Use paint brush or foam brush to paint letter. (I preferred a small paint brush) Allow to dry completely before using.

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You can make these for the kids, or have them help if they are old enough! The boards come with foam squares for mounting and you can use them to display notes, schedules, you name it! These super fun little cards are made by Pocket Pages (collection is called “today”) and I found them near the scrapbooking section! The “@” notepad pages are made by Sn@p! and I found them in the same area.

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I created a few other ideas and crafts for this little Back to School celebration! I found this adorable alphabet scrapbook paper in Michael’s scrapbooking aisle which was perfect inspiration for the colors of this setup and can be used to make an easy banner.

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To make the banner, you will need:

  • 2 sheets of alphabet paper
  • grosgrain ribbon
  • scissors
  • craft knife

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Cut 4 rectangles, size 4.5″ wide by 6″ tall from each of the 12″x12″ scrapbook papers, to create 8 flags. On the first flag, make a pencil mark 1″ up and 2 1/4″ in (half way). Use the mark to guide your cut from the bottom left corner to the mark and then the bottom right corner to the mark, to create the two point flag shape. Use this first flag as a template to cut the rest of the flags.

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Use an craft knife to make slits in the top corners of the flags, approximately 1/2″ inch in from the edges. String ribbon through the slits to create the hanging banner.

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What’s a party without cupcakes? I baked chocolate cupcakes in our favorite cupcake liners and topped them with these cute flags made from 8″ lollipop sticks and these adorable Smash sticky notes!

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If you’re having chocolate cupcakes, you’re going to need milk too! I used plastic bottles and added Recollections large kraft letters to each one so the kids would know which one was theirs. Coordinating chevron straws were perfect for the milk bottles. I created the “cupcakes” and “milk” signs using kraft tags I spotted in Michael’s stationery aisle along with the cutest little alphabet stickers by Sn@p!

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These mini plastic paint cans are perfect party favors for this celebration! Fill with M&Ms or other small candy and add another kraft alphabet sticker to monogram a can for each child.

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While you’re there, grab a pack kraft cards and envelopes from the stationery aisle and you can use all of the leftover paper, tags and stickers to create adorable cards! How about making one for the teacher for the first day of school?

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A big thank you to Michael’s for having me participate in this Back to School challenge! It was so much fun to come up with these ideas and I hope you all like them and will create your own Back to School celebration!

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michaels

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A few things you may not know about Michaels

·         Michaels offers a 15% discount for teachers every day. Make sure to talk to a store associate during your next trip to learn more.

·         Need a large quantity of one back to school item but don’t see enough on the shelves? Michaels offers a bulk ordering program where you can order as many supplies as you need and save up to 20 percent.

·         Don’t forget to download the Michaels app so that you will always have the latest deals and coupons at your fingertips in case you need last minute school supplies.

Tell me…How do you plan on celebrating Back to School?

Photos by Rennai Hoefer, ten22 Studio

THIS IS A SPONSORED POST. THE TOMKAT STUDIO HAS RECEIVED PAYMENT, TRADE AND/OR PRODUCTS FROM MICHAELS IN EXCHANGE FOR PROMOTING, HOWEVER ALL OPINIONS STATED ARE OUR OWN.

*my own personal items shown not included in party budget: cupcake stand, books, scissors, craft knife

August 5, 2013

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  1. Caitlin says:

    I LOVE all of your projects and ideas. I’m a teacher in NC, and getting very excited about the new school year, and your post added to my excitement! The painted letters on the cork boards also got me thinking that I could use either letters or some cute stencils to decorate the boards with! Thanks so much! 🙂

    • Kim says:

      Thank you, Caitlin! I’m so glad you can use the idea! If you ever have a wish list for printables that would in the classroom, I would love more ideas to work with!

  2. Franne says:

    I LOVE the stand you put the cupcakes on! Did you make that or buy it somewhere?
    You ideas are as always amazing! Thanks for another precious party

  3. This is so fun!! You did a wonderful job!! Smiles, Jill

  4. Tina Dahl says:

    Just love all these ideas Kim, great job!!

  5. Wendy says:

    How very darling!!! It looks so sweet. Awesome job Kim!

  6. Ally bench says:

    I love this! I have looked everywhere for those little paint cans. Did you get them at Michael’s then? I want to use them for my craft room peg board to hold tiny things.

    • Kim says:

      Thank you! Yes! You can find them in several sizes at Michael’s! The favors were the extra small and the one holding the foam brushes was small.

  7. Kathryn says:

    I see a trip to michaels in my future. Love it!

  8. Andrea says:

    I love all of these ideas, but the fabulous cork board is my favorite! It works perfectly for all ages (in fact, I think I’d like to make one for my office!). Thanks for posting!

  9. Kristine says:

    I love each of the projects. Definitely would make going back to school a whole heap of fun for any student.

  10. Joanna M. says:

    I love this Kim! I’m celebrating back to school by setting up a home office space that is functional for school and work. 🙂

  11. Rebecca says:

    Love it! I never thought about celebrating the first day like this, but it would be such a fun tradition.

  12. renee says:

    FUN, fun, fun!!! Love this.

  13. Jennifer says:

    You are so good! What a great idea to start off another school year…

  14. So much fun – using these ideas for some of my homeschooling this year, and back to school celebrating! Thanks lots!!

  15. Ruby says:

    Great works and ideas! I’m a super huge fan on making crafts! I truly adore the professional minds of you all bloggers. I enjoy searching ideas through this blog a lot!! However.. As a secondary student from Hong Kong, there isn’t much resources for me to grant my own wish. This website absuoulutely is the most perfect place for me to get inspired. I just loved those themed parties that you upload here. I really hope that I could have a chance to create one of those like you all do someday..

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