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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Haven’t started BTS shopping yet. Still have a few items from last year, but lots to pick up between now and September!
Back to school shopping can be expensive for us. So we space out our purchases and shop sales to keep it a stress free experience and fun for the kids
I am doing all of my school shopping online from the comfort of my easychair. Putting in a little time to search around will find loads of deals on everything!
I don’t have any shopping to do, but my boyfriend needs new clothes for his internship teaching in a private school so maybe I’ll give him a hand with that.
We are almost done our back to school shopping. I keep me eyes open for sales before I shop.
Back to school shopping is going so well this year now that we have the 2 major chain dollar stores to bring down the prices, and have cool items.
I like the routine and being able to see friends. Great giveaway! 🙂
I still need to look for a lot of things for my son & I am trying to look for sales.
I just started so I have quite a bit left to buy.
It’s all finished thank goodness!!
My grandson has most of his supplies but he does need new shoes and some clothes yet.
We are about 3/4 of the way done back to school shopping, although there are such specific colour requirements on the list for things like duo-tangs and I haven’t been able to get all the colours. So maybe the teacher would say we are about 50% done, based on all the colour substitutions we’ve made… Anyway, aside from a few more supplies from the list, my daughter also needs new basketball shoes, a new winter coat and new rain boots. We are waiting as long as possible to get those though, in case of a growth spurt at the end of summer.
The kids have backpacks but I haven’t gotten a supply list from the school yet :/
I haven’t got many things yet.. nothing like leaving it til the last minute!!
Shopping is going well. I buy things on sale year round so I don’t have too many new items to pick up, just replenishing some items.
We haven’t even started our back to school shopping!
My boy is doing his own shopping this year, he’s well old enough at 18 lol. My girl just needs a backpack…..totally procrastinating.
The back to school shopping is pretty much complete; I just have to pick up a tablet and a notebook computer, along with a pair of athletic shoes for my oldest.
I work in a private school in the business department so I’m removed from the front desk area… but i love the back to school energy and seeing all the kids in the hallways… It makes all the behind the scenes work raising funds for the school worthwhile when you see them arriving.
I have to admit, I love new school supplies. Fresh notebooks, new pens! It’s always fun for me checking out all the new stuff. I have to stop myself from buying more things we already have LOL
My back to school shopping is going just fine, slow but fine.
We are definitely last minute shoppers! We usually stick to the basics until the kids have met all of their teachers and brought home the lists of required supplies.
I like to shop as soon as school is out because often there are great sales on clothes shoes and school supplies.
I find this really saves me money and the stress of doing everything last minute.
no shopping for school any more but we use a lot of supplies in our own home such as pencils/pens/note pads/ printer paper etc. labels also.
I have 3 kids in school, and I am happy to say that all we have left to get is shoes!!
We are in the mist of back to school shopping. We are still looking for backpacks and lunch boxes.