Spring has sprung, and Memorial Day is almost here! Getting back into the swing of school after a nice three day weekend can be very much welcomed by parents, but not so much by the kiddos. This is especially true if you happen to spend some time vacationing, or just spent some good ol’ fashioned well-deserved lazy time at home. A great transition to get kids back into “school mode” after any type of break is to give them something to get them excited about. For some reason, kids love nothing more than to organize their school supplies at the beginning of the year. Getting your backpack ready, clothes laid out and binder all set up is such a big part of the excitement. So, we thought why not give them a pick-me-up with DIY Pencil Boxes? It’s super fun and easy, and your kids will love it!
DIY Pencil Boxes
When we saw this video of DIY Pencil Boxes, we knew we had to recreate them and put our own Pacific Play Tents spin on them. If you are looking to get your child back into the school mood and out of vacation silliness, then this DIY is for you!
What You Need
- Cereal Box
- Paint
- Paint Brush
- Googly Eyes
- Velcro
- Scissors
- Ruler
- Box Cutter / Exacto Knife
- Marker
How You Make It
- Measure 3.5 inches from the bottom of the box
- Using the marker, make a mark around each side of the box so that you know where to cut and fold
- Use the ruler to then make a line all the way around the box at the 3.5 inch mark
- Measure the box side and use that measurement to create a second line on the front panel of the box
- Use the ruler again to make the line all the way across
- Add a third marking 3.5 inches above the second line to create a third line on the front
- Again, use a ruler to make the line all the way across.
- Sketch your animal on the front, taking into account where the box is going to fold
- You may want to make cuts so that ears pop up on the fold. (Use your imagination!)
- Cut the box out
- Watch this video from Shaun and Kyra if you are confused at all on where to cut and where to fold!
- If you want to embellish your box at all by adding a tail or wings, now is the time to use scraps of your box to draw and cut out
- Attach parts using tape, glue or a stapler
- Paint your box!
- Once dry, add your googly eyes.
- As a final step, add a piece of velcro under the front flap to keep the box secure when closed
- Get to organizing your pencils and enjoy!
Me Too Play Tent
Not all tents are created equal. This primary colored Polyester Taffeta tent is so durable, it can be used indoors or outdoors. At 48 in X 48 in X 42 in, it is perfectly sized for group play or the classroom. Use it alone or combine it with the item #20409 “Find-Me” connecting tunnel! Connect several tunnels and tents together to create a whole city maze, perfect for the classroom!
This tent comes with “mesh” ventilation panels at the top for airflow on hot days, as well as for easy viewing. The durable, washable floor made of polyethylene keeps spills from ruining the carpet, and keeps you dry from the wet grass. Great fun for an outdoor backyard, perfect for hiding from the sun during soccer games and much more! When you’re done, just fold it up and keep it in the included bag for travel or storage.
More Pencil Box Fun
These pencil boxes are so cute, you know that we had to find more ways than just keeping pencils to enjoy them. Keep on reading for more ways you can use these adorable boxes!
Snacks
Use these boxes for your kids to carry snacks in throughout the day! Perfect for dry snacks like cereals, snack bars or fruit snacks, it fits easy in a backpack and keeps messes to a minimum. Since they are so easy and inexpensive to make, it won’t matter if it gets banged around in your child’s backpack, or if it gets ruined by spills.
Accessories
These cute boxes can also be used for storing small accessories. You can put a command strip on the back and have one for hair ties, one for bobby pins, one for jewelry and more. They can even hold small cars or action figures to keep your purse or diaper bag organized! You can also put a magnet strip to hang it on mirrors, the fridge or more!
Utensils
There’s probably not much worse than sending some utensils along with your child for lunch, only to have them make a total mess inside their lunch pail. For some reason, they don’t quite fit inside Ziplock bags, either! A great way to curb this madness is to keep your utensils in these little boxes so that you don’t end up with a totally messy lunch pail. Then all you need to do is simply dispose of it once it gets too dirty. You can also line the inside of the box with plastic wrap to make it easy to wipe!
Let Us Know!
How are you getting your child back into “school mode” after the break? Did you and the family go on any fun vacations? How did your DIY Pencil Box turn out? Let us know in the comments below, or reach out to us on social media. Simply tag us in your photos so we can see them @pacificplaytents on Instagram!