As we wrap up the end of summer here, and get ready to head back to school, I have mixed emotions. While I will miss the slower pace, and the kids, I definitely will NOT miss the sibling rivalry! Shopping for all the fun school supplies has me dreaming up some back-to-school party ideas.

As the kids were sharpening some colored pencils the other day, I was inspired by the beauty of the shavings! Maybe it’s just me, but have you ever looked at the little jagged, scalloped edges with the thin strip of color at the top, and seen them as mini pieces of art? I was inspired to make some oversized “pencil shavings”, to create a back-to-school party garland! When the party is over, hang it in a classroom, or over a workspace in your home office. You could also use the individual “shavings” as place cards, or attach one to a gift for teacher appreciation!

• Tan colored paper (we used 32 lb)
• Scissors
• Sponge brush
• Apple Barrel Acrylic Paint (dark gray and yellow or orange)
• Mini hole punch
• String, baker’s twine, or fishing line

Step 1
Holding a piece of paper horizontally (landscape), roll it into a cone shape.

Step 2
Cut off the tip of the cone, and round off the top of the cone with scissors.

Step 3
Unroll the cone. Cut rather quickly, and make your cuts very jagged at the bottom of the cone.

Step 4
Repeat step 3 at the top of the cone, and then round off any corners, to maintain the pencil-shaving shape and appearance. Re-roll the paper into a cone again, and squeeze a bit to maintain the semi-rolled appearance when you let go.

Step 5
Make several sizes of shavings, until you have enough for a garland. Paint the edges of the narrow end in charcoal gray, and the top edge “pencil yellow”. It is easiest to use the edge of your sponge brush. Allow to dry.

Step 6
Use a small hole punch to punch a hole in the top of each shaving, and then string the pieces onto some twine or string. You may want to hang it using washi tape, if a thumbtack or nail are not an option.

Looking for even more back-to-school and pencil-centric DIY ideas? Make your own edible pencil treats as a cute afternoon snack with Pocky cookies! Or for LEGO-loving kids, this handmade LEGO pencil holder is an oldie but a goodie in the blog archives. And it’s not quite Halloween time yet (although it is sneaking up on us!) but these printable friendly monster pencil toppers are sure to be a hit! And don’t forget about a pencil case! We used mini gems to bedazzle these custom-sewn patterned pencil cases.

We used yellow paint for a back-to-school pencil look for this garland, but you can totally swap in some rainbow-colored paint for a more art party vibe. A rainbow version would be perfect for any creative or crafty party or event, don’t you think?

Happy crafting, and happy Back-to-School!