Send kids back to school after the holiday break with some DIY Pocket Folders to keep them organized in the new year!
January is always a hard month for my kids. After enjoying lots of play time in the company of family and friends and having no homework for weeks, it’s hard to get back to the grind of school work!
We always make the most of our time off together, but I like to make sure they begin the new year with attainable goals in mind to really get off to a great fresh start!
My third grade daughter has always struggled with organization. She received lots of praise from her teacher at parent/teacher conference sessions a little bit ago, but one of the areas of improvement noted was that she could work on keeping her papers in her backpack and desk in order. I couldn’t have agreed more with her teacher.
Every day she comes home, I cringe and hesitate to even open her bag, because I always see a mess of papers, crumpled and strewn about between the other contents of her bag. She’s failed to turn in a few homework assignments because I didn’t even know she had them, they were so lost in the black hole of her backpack.
So I knew it was time for some change and became determined to help her stay organized in the new year. It’s really an easy fix. All it requires is a simple, but set system that she can follow to keep her paperwork in order.
So I came up with a plan of action and then ran to Staples to grab some supplies.
I knew these colorful and bold, fine-tipped Sharpies would be perfect for labeling and embellishing my pocket folders. I wanted to make them cute and fun in order to give my daughter the greatest chance at keeping up with this new system. 🙂
Guess what? During the week of January 3rd you can grab Sharpie Fine and Ultra Fine Sharpie 12 packs for just $6 and Sharpie Fine and Ultra Fine 24 packs for just $10 at Staples! Be sure to look for a buy 2 get 1 free deal on all Newell writing instruments too! While supplies last.
I also gathered some heavy 12″x12″ cardstock, both patterned and plain, from my craft closet and the white sticker labels I’d gotten at Staples. Later I decided to add in woven yarn to keep the folders together.
You’ll also want a glue stick and scissors.
Start by getting one piece of plain heavy cardstock for your backing and one patterned piece for the front of your folder. Place a standard-sized piece of paper on top and make a marking where you’ll trim the cardstock, leaving 1/4″-1/2″ extra on all sides. Trim both pages to that same size.
Now grab your top piece and use a ruler to draw a diagonal line down a little more than half of the page, stopping in the center of the page and then continuing straight over from there. Cut.
Now line up your two pieces of cardstock and glue them together first to make punching easier. Punch holes around the sides of the patterned piece, about 1″ apart and making sure to have a punch on all the corners. Now thread your yarn through the holes and tie it to itself in the back. Trim the excess. Place a white sticker label on top and label it with Sharpie fine markers in coordinating colors.
I added some fun designs to the lettering and around the borders of the sticker and folder.
Repeat the process for your other folders. I made three-one for “Homework”, one for “Graded Paperwork” and one for “Class News & Permission Slips”.
I just had to add adorable little butterflies with an orange Sharpie in keeping with the theme and pattern on the cardstock. I later decided to fill in the butterflies with a yellow Sharpie.
Here’s the last pocket folder. Now you’re ready to separate and insert the school paperwork.
My favorite part was watching a pile of disorderly, crumpled papers turn into this…a cute system of organization. My daughter loves her new folders and is excited that all her papers have a special place now. I know this will also help her turn assignments in on time, now that she can easily find everything. 🙂
I just love fun craft projects that also serve a specific purpose and reap great results!Be sure to follow Staples on Instagram and Sharpie on Instagram for more great ways to use your favorite office/school supplies!
This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and Newell Rubbermaid , but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #stockup4schools http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV
Chelsea
www.lifewithmylittles.com