Back to School Craft Ideas for a Colorful School Year

First things first; every student needs a backpack for toting around their books and school supplies! Even if they’re learning from home right now, they’ll still need a backpack for study dates or when they head back to the classroom. Give last year’s bag a whole new look with mega sparkle from Tulip Dazzling Glitter Paints. It’s a great way to cover old stains or just to add some extra personality with dimensional glittery designs. Not into glitter? Try Tulip Puff Paints instead!

Jeans are a staple in ALL of our wardrobes, so this back-to-school outfit idea shouldn’t come as a surprise! But you can give them a totally unique, one-of-a-kind makeover with Tulip Soft Fabric Paints. Splatter and sponge your way to all kinds of awesomeness for a pair of jeans that’ll be a new go-to for any day of the week. Soft Fabric Paints dry soft, flexible and machine washable to keep up with your kid’s busy school day.

For those days when nothing but something comfy sounds good to wear, this back-to-school outfit idea wins extra points. Your child can throw on a bright & colorful pair of leggings and get right to tackling those math lessons! (And it’ll be even easier to transition from school lessons to sports practice without skipping a beat.) Personalize a pair of leggings the quickest and easiest way with stencils and ColorShot Instant Fabric Color. Just a few spritzes of color and your kiddo has a totally cute, comfortable new school outfit.

Shine like a star in glitter-painted kicks that’ll give any outfit a cosmic boost! This back-to-school outfit idea is seriously easy to recreate on any pair of shoes. You can come up with your own designs, or fill in just the toe or heel of your shoes; the creative possibilities are endless! Try something new, have fun and let your personal style sparkle with Dazzling Glitter Paints or Tulip Dimensional Paints in cool glitter finishes.

You may or may not have figured out by now that we’re big fans of tie dye here at Tulip, so of course we’d throw in a back-to-school outfit idea involving tie dye! If tie dye is in short supply where you live right now, did you know you can put a whole new twist on it with ColorShot Instant Fabric Spray? That’s right! Fold, swirl or crumple a T-shirt and spray on this user-friendly fabric spray paint for instant, colorful tie-dye effects. Try tie dye in a whole new way, PLUS you get a new favorite T-shirt out of it. Make one for your whole crew!

It happens to all of us whether we’re a student in school or the CEO of a company: the dreaded bad hair day. That’s why having a hat that looks great on you (and is great for covering up unruly hair) is a MUST. Plus it’s perfect for covering up under the sun during sports practices and other outdoor activities. Have each of your kids decorate their own hats just the way they like with Tulip Fabric Markers and stencils. They can make colorful designs, words and inspiring quotes – whatever they’ll feel good in when it’s time to wear their hat! 

A denim jacket is one of those clothing items we can wear almost year round. It’s great for chilly classrooms or layering with sweaters when the weather gets cooler. Not to mention its versatility – a denim jacket goes with EVERYTHING. Take this back-to-school outfit idea and make it your own with Tulip Brush-On Fabric Paints. Use stencils to create an inspiring quote your student will love to sport around campus, pretty floral designs or whatever goes with their personal vibe. No matter where the new school year takes our kids, they’ll be able to take it on with their own personal flair with a little help from Tulip!

The 90s are back in a big way, and we’re all about it! Head back to class in stand-out style with Puff Paint jeans customized with retro flair. Abstract and geometric shapes aren’t just for math class, they’re perfect for back-to-school fashion too! Get out your Puff Paint and get creative with a pair of jeans you already have, so you can save that spending money for after-school fun.

If you’re looking for back-to-school outfit ideas that pack a powerful punch, it’s Tulip Fabric Paints to the rescue! Personalize a pair of shoes with your favorite superhero – or super villain – for kicks that kick your style into out-of-this-world awesomeness. PS. This is a great way to cover old stains or shoes that are starting to look dingy but still have lots of life left.

Back to school shopping can get tough when your kids can’t find anything that lets their personality shine through. So, why not let them create their own back to school looks? Tulip Fabric Markers makes it easy for them to design and create the shirts they want to rock at school. Let the kiddos fill their shirts with their favorite colors and doodles for a one-of-a-kind tee! Not only is this back to school craft idea full of fun and creativity, but it’s super easy for kids to do themselves!

Speaking of notebooks, check out this back to school craft idea! Notebooks don’t have to be boring, so ditch the boring composition book this year and opt for this colorful craft instead! This custom floral notebook uses Tulip Brush-On Fabric Paints for its delicate designs. Not a fan of flowers? No worries— you can paint anything your heart desires!

These delicious-looking donuts are a fun and colorful way to decorate your binder! Any student with a sweet tooth will appreciate a back to school craft idea like this. It’s so simple—just grab a pack of Tulip Puff Paints and paint those delectable desserts directly onto your binder! (And maybe stop by the donut shop afterwards too, because why not?)

Maybe you’re not a notebook and binder type of student— after all, laptops and tablets have made learning so much more convenient in the last few years! This back to school craft idea is perfect for the college kids who head to class with only their laptop (and a spare pencil) in their bag. Decorate your device with colorful clings made with Tulip Puff Paint! Unlike stickers, you can peel and re-stick these laptop clings as many times as you want!

How are you going to haul your school supplies around? If your answer isn’t “in an adorable matching tie-dye backpack and pencil pouches,” you should reconsider! This back to school craft idea uses Tulip One-Step Tie Dye for its bright and vivid colors. Create cool patterns with the glue resist technique for a one-of-a-kind design!

What other back to school craft ideas will you create with Tulip? Share your colorful creations with us on social media and tag us @TulipColorCrafts!