It’s back-to-school time! Are we happy or sad about this? Mixed emotions over here. But I’ve started by shopping and in an effort to get the kids excited about hitting the books again, I’ve partnered with ZINK Imaging to share my creative back-to-school organization tips.
Let’s face it: with the start of a new school year brings the start of a hot mess of papers all over the kitchen counter. I dread the thought. Organization isn’t my forte, and though I’ve mostly used my ZINK hAppy for crafting projects (Instagram Photo Tile Craft, Thanksgiving Photo Craft, Holiday Card Display), it’s a FANTASTIC organizational tool that’s perfect for labeling every. little. thing. Here’s what we spent the weekend doing!
Creative Back-to-School Organization
My kids have lost plenty of school supplies so we label everything. Usually that happens with a permanent marker but this year we’ve gotten creative and are using the ZINK hAppy to make fun labels.
My kids had SO much fun with this. They were easily able to create their labels all by themselves and really enjoyed picking out all the customization options.
The ZINK hAppy app is free, and allows you to design your labels with a huge selection of backgrounds, font options, and art, plus you can add your own photos from the gallery on your phone or other albums like Instagram and Facebook pics. So easy to access your favorites to print!
Leo chose the bananas to go next to his name on this label. haha! I love this kid.
For his notebook, Leo made this adorable label with a dog on it. The cool thing about the ZINK hAppy is that it requires NO INK. Zero ink = ZINK. Get it? It’s magic. For real, I think it might be.
Pop the zRolls (the printer paper) into the machine, design your label and hit print, and it comes right out. There is never any ink to replace, only paper as you run out. And the zRoll paper comes in a variety of widths for all of your organizational and DIY projects. The app and printer talk to each other via WiFi so it’s super easy to sit right on your couch and create your project. How cool is that?!
After the label pops out of the printer, just peel the back off (yes, it’s a sticker!) and attached it where you want it. I’m thinking this kid is going to have the coolest folders in 2nd grade. 😉
I keep a folder for each one of my kids, too, so I designed these with a couple of my favorite pictures of the kids. I keep them in my kitchen so important papers that come home (report cards, permission forms, passwords to online sites they use) go right in there for easy access.
My daughter Lily labeled some of her folders too but the most fun we had with her stuff was with the things we got to decorate her locker! We made a ‘hello beautiful’ label to put on the little mirror I got her.
She designed this collage of her favorite photos to place on the top of her white board. One of our cats is very mad that she didn’t make the cut, by the way. But my son Leo is happy his face is on there… twice!
The coolest part of our back-to-school organizing endeavor were these white boards. Actually, Lily’s is purple and Leo’s is blue, but they come in all colors now. You write on them with a dry erase marker just like a white board, so same thing basically.
We made them into weekly schedules to help the kids keep track of what is coming up each week. Library books, soccer practice and games, play dates, tests, homework, etc. You get the idea. I LOVE that this gives them the responsibility of being prepared and it’s such a cool board that they are excited to do it!
I used the 2″ zRoll to create the label at the top, and then we made date labels with the 1/2″ zRoll. The kids designed these on their own too.
I’ve just propped them up for now but when my husband gets home tonight they’re going to get hung on their bedroom walls where the kids can reach them and be in charge of keeping them up to date. Fingers crossed this keeps all of us more on top of things this school year!
What other things would you label for a more organized school year? The possibilities are endless with this printer! You can grab a ZINK hAppy for yourself or anyone on your list (because I honestly think EVERYONE would love one of these!) on Amazon.
Learn more about what makes the ZINK hAppy so unique and simply awesome on their website. Follow along on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest for product announcements and inspiration, too.
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