I’ve always been kind of a geek when it comes to school supplies. I’m not saying I was one of those kids who couldn’t wait for September to roll around again, but there’s just something satisfying and exciting about that neat stack of fresh new school supplies, waiting for the start of a brand new year.
Tee’s starting Grade 1 this year, and we’re already stocking up on school supplies and getting in a self-laminating label frenzy for all her lunch and school supplies. I just need to pick up the perfect Harry Potter backpack for her!
As part of my own back to school prep, I knew I needed a planner for the upcoming school year. Between two kids, work, and blogging, there’s something happening pretty much every day, and I need all the help I can get to remember it all and organize my time. I found a free printable planner template online, and Avery sent me everything else I needed to make the perfect organizer.
I had plain 3-ring binders when I was a kid, but why carry a plain, boring old binder around all year? Avery sent us these pretty patterned binders in chevron, plaid, or damask print, and I claimed the chevron one for my planner. Avery also has lots of choices in dividers, with both write in and printer-friendly tabs. I picked these colourful reversible dividers to complete my handy dandy organizer.
The sturdy dividers keep everything organized. I love that I can keep my to do lists, blog editorial calendar, school calendar, and menu plans all in one place. Keeping the pages in a 3-ring binder will make it easy to add, replace, and reorganize the pages as the school year progresses.
But it’s not just about school! Avery’s best known for making printable labels in pretty much any style you can think of. I actually used their round ones to make our wedding favours way back when – 10 years last month! We gave our guests thank you tins of chocolate flavoured tea with rose petals, labeled with our names and the date of our wedding. All I had to do was download the template from the Avery website, fill it out on my computer, then print them out. Back then we only had an inkjet printer, but these labels work with both inkjet and laser.
You can use Avery labels to make your own stickers for pretty much anything you want. Wouldn’t they be great for a potty chart or reading chart this summer? Since our wedding, they’ve come out with tons of different styles, like these chalkboard labels and these fancy silver embossed ones.
#AveryGivesBack Campaign
This year, Avery has partnered with 13-year-old blogger Hannah Alper and Michael “Pinball” Clemons on the #AveryGivesBack campaign to provide 7500 back to school kits to under-resourced students from more than 20 schools across Canada. Until September 15, Avery will donate $1 to the Michael “Pinball” Clemons Foundation for every share of the Avery Gives Back video on the Avery Facebook page, up to $5000 CAD. Go check it out and share, share, share!
Win an Avery Back to School Prize Pack!
Are you ready for school yet? One of my readers will win this prize pack of school supplies from Avery worth $150, including a pack of kids self-laminating labels, no-iron clothing labels, a binder, various dividers, a package of dark T-shirt transfers, HI-LITER pens, and assorted printable labels. (Basket not included.)
Enter in the giveaway widget below. This giveaway is open to residents of Canada, 18+. All entries will be verified.
Click here to check out my other open giveaways and be sure to like me on Facebook!
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We have not done any back to school shopping yet. YIKES
I have only purchased paper to date for Back to School. I will take the kids out this weekend to get their binders and pens. I can honestly say that I do not try to spend tons of money on back to school supplies because they seem to get lost or stolen and I am forever replacing the stuff.
We will be doing the School supply run on the weekend!
Usually start shopping mid August. It is exciting to buy cool & colourful back to school items for my niece & nephew.
BTS shopping is going great — the tardis is nearly full and definitely the best part of school is seeing friends!
Haven’t started the back to school shopping yet but with 6 grandkids there is a lot to get!
We haven’t even started yet, we usually wait till last minute
I take the grandchildren for new footwear for back to school.
I have some of my back to school shopping done , haven’t completed it yet .4 kiddos to buy for this year , So much school supplies to buy this year and new clothes needed still . So much to buy its exhausting on the wallet lol
I haven’t started yet but will soon, I look for great deal and buy a few items to donate to the Radio Station Back to School Drive stuff a bus. They do that at the end of the month before school start.
I help my grandkids get ready for school
We start our school supply shopping mid summer just because we can’t help ourselves 🙂 We just finished up 2 weeks ago. We have everything but one item…a new pair of headphones.
My back to school shopping for me is like a mission,I check sales,online deals,I go to discount stores like Dollar Tree and Dollar General for supplies,clothing shopping is the same way,I’m always trying to get the best deals.
in good shape so far. been watching all the flyers etc. for sales and purchasing all summer. thanks
I use back to school shopping time as a good time to stock up on household stationary supplies. Have bought a couple of things and need to find some pens. It is on my list to keep my eyes open for what I want as I do other shopping.
I enjoy how excited my nieces & nephews get to tell me their stories once they go back to school. Always fun doing a little BTS shopping for them.
I mostly pick up small stuff for the grandkids for BTS, things that their parent’s forget
I have done most of our back to school shopping. I have a few odds and ends to pick up.
Meeting new people and making shopping a fun adventure.
My children are grown but one of my granddaughters who starts kindergarten this year was showing me her new backpack and school supplies and is very excited to be going. Way back when I went to school the highlight was always my new package of pencil crayons. I loved to colour and by the end of the year they were always very short with the exception of a few colours.
the kids back to school learning
This year my daughter’s middle school has decided not to give out the list until after school is back in session. I do NOT understand this… last year by mid August we couldn’t find a good third of mandatory supplies on our list. This wouldn’t be that big a problem except that they even include brands which means that we can’t just guess.
I enjoy buying all new supplies … full of the promise of learning!!
I haven’t done any back to school shopping yet lol. we still have 3 more weeks right?!?! I am not sure what my daughter needs for grade 3. They never gave a list. I am waiting for the weather to change to see what clothing she might need for fall/winter.
We’ve started rounding things up and figuring out what we need to get and what we already have enough of.
I am travelling to visit the granddaughters right before the start of school. I have bought a few things for them and hopefully my visit will include a lot of shopping.
I don’t have any back to school shopping this year but when I did I really enjoyed it, other than the expense!
All new and shiny stuff!! but I will pick up a few things for my granddaughter, she starts jk this year!!
It has been so hot here, I plan to start my back to school shopping next week. If the heat continues, It will be done in a day or two at the most.
My back to school shopping is doing okay. I have done most of it online.
I am done my back to school shopping. I have 4 going to school again this year (grades 1, 2, 4 and 12). I bought the last of the school supplies yesterday. All that is left is before school starts to buy their lunch snacks and get all that organized!
Starting kindergarten! Clothes are done except winter stuff, as for supplies I haven’t gotten a list from the school yet!
We’re in the process of picking up clothes and new shoes now.
BTS shopping is going great
Well so far its not going very good, only got my son a new pair of shoes, hes in need of so much but things keep coming up, should be done before the end of the month tho , thanks for the giveaway
We are so nowhere near ready for back to school. This is the entry into grade one I really have zero idea what we are supposed to be supplying my daughter with. We did get a new lunch bag and water bottle, and a few new back to school clothes. But otherwise… nada :O
Back to school shopping is almost done. I just need to get a new backpack.
I think we are prepared for my daughter to start school in the fall. She didn’t need too much.
Only thing for me is for my niece and nephew and I always buy the pencil crayons, a great binder (special one)drawing paper and the new pens and pecils for the year, lunch containers and back packs!
I haven’t really started yet, but I’m looking forward to it.
i haven’t started but have started planning
I haven’t started shopping and my kids start in less than 2 weeks!?!?!
Besos, Sarah
Journeys of The Zoo
I like seeing the grandchildren show off their new clothes.
Even though I’m not going back to school myself, I still enjoy stocking up on pretty stationery, and other supplies at this time of year.
I love back to school season, because even though I am not in school its a great time to grab a bunch of things that I need and are on sale because of back to school season!!
I always enjoyed school for the experience of learning new things!
I don’t have to buy school supplies but doesn’t the smell of a pencil being sharpened take you right back to the first days of school?
I haven’t started back to school shopping yet. I better get on that…
I love to learn new things and meet new people at school!
we have a few last minute things to buy – the biggest being a knapsack. And maybe some new shoes!
My great grandchildren are now going to school-One in Grade 3 and one in Kindergarten.
What I like most about school now is not having an ache in the pit of my stomach all that first day, until all five came home and told me they ‘liked’ their teacher.
I can enjoy the successes of my younger granddaughters, one in Junior high and one in University.