DIY School Supply “Cake” (Back to School Gift Idea)
Are you looking for a creative way to donate school supplies to a deserving teacher and/or school? Check out this fun and easy to make tiered “cake” using school supplies!
The best part is you can use the supplies as I did in my example, or you can use what you have in your stockpile. What a great way to take advantage of all the amazing back to school deals here on Hip2Save.com!
How to Make a School Supply “Cake”:
Supplies Needed:
- 3 Tiered Paper Mache Boxes
- Craft Paint
- Large Rubber Bands
- Decorative Tape or Ribbon
- Mounting Tape
- Various School Supplies I used: {11 Crayola Crayons 24-count packs, 13 bottles of Elmer’s School Glue, 2 Kid Scissors, 49 Sharpie Markers, 4 Hand Sanitizer Bottles and 1 Disinfectant Wipes Container}
Directions:
- Paint the boxes if desired and let dry.
- Place two rubber bands around the middle of the largest bottom box and then place desired school supplies around the edges – under the rubber bands.
- Stack and attach the middle box using heavy-duty mounting tape, and repeat the steps of using rubber bands to hold school supplies.
- Do the same with the top box. Note: I decided to not use the lid for the top tier so it can hold the wipes and hand sanitizer inside instead.
- Lastly, cover rubber bands with decorative tape or ribbon.
This craft turned out so cute! I hope you’ll give it a shot, too!
I was given a back to school cake as a welcome gift from my principal when I started teaching at a new school. It was such a wonderfully thoughtful and useful gift! Any teacher would love to have one. Thanks for keeping us teachers in mind, Collin! 😃
That’s so great! Thanks for stopping by!
Super cute! I love this. Thank you for sharing.
Sure! Thanks Sarah 😀👍
Love this idea. Thanks for all your ideas. I made the Candy Bouquet and the birthday boy loved it. Please keep sharing these wonderful DYI’s.
I’m so glad!! Thanks Dawn for sharing. 😀
This is great! Thanks for all your ideas Lina!
My daughter and I made one similar to this for her teacher last year. She loved it so much that my daughter wants to make one for all of her teachers from now on!
I would love this as a teacher!!!
I made one for the daycare my son attends. I work at a school and have the summer off and I don’t have to pay to reserve his spot.
Wow! Such a clever idea!
Do you put anything inside the boxes, other than just the top box? I’d feel like I was wasting all that space if it’s not filled up
Well the top box is filled and has no lid. The boxes are just to make it looked tiered. You could fill them? 😀
That’s a lot of sharpies and expensive–I would use something else like glue sticks and then trade the top glued for something else. Also I would definitely fill up the boxes with “something” useful–is have to think–or use something different in the first place because the boxes themselves would be more expensive and no purpose afterwards. I’d probably use a rectangle plastic lidded box from Dollar Tree and make a rectangle cake with tiers instead of circles as I think there is more out there for cheap. Thx for the initial idea!
Excellent! Yes customize it for your budget for sure. 😀👍
Also I think Crayola markers would be a less expensive route because they are thicker.
I saw a post on pinterest where they used kleenex boxes in the middle. That would be a good option too.
Great idea! Thanks Lexi 👍
OMG so cute where’s Collin/Mrs. Hip???
Hi Jenny – I post the recipe and craft content, while Collin still shares deals and more 👍
Thanks for stopping by! 😀
Would anyone know the measurements of the boxes ? Just curious
8, 9, and 10 inch is the set I used in example. Craft stores may have more of a selection 😀
Love this idea!! Too cute!! 😊
Must say though that I’m hesitant to try and gift these individually to a new teacher.. Last thing I want is for it to seem like I’m trying to gain their favor/goodwill for my child.. 😬
Really? Teachers don’t think like that, we appreciate things like this. We only work 10 months so coming back on August is a hard time on most teachers when we haven’t had a paycheck in 2 months. Treats like this are awesome when we can’t afford it for our classes
Thanks for the great idea!:-) As a teacher, I would love to receive this from a student., especially the sharpies!
Thanks Gindy! Yes my older child’s teacher was asking for Sharpie donations last year so I think they’ll appreciate 😀👍🏻
I wonder if there is a way to use tissue boxes as the bases. Maybe 3 rectangle ones for the base, a set of 4 square for the second layer, and 1 square for the top. I will have to try this since our teachers are always asking for more tissues half way through the year. It will probably be larger, but I am thinking of putting a few of these in the teacher’s lounge on the first day of school for kids who do not have supplies. I would like to keep the markers in the boxes which would help fill up space.
How well do you think the crayons stay in place? I could see them falling out/sliding all over if I atempt this!
If you use a purple rubber bands it’s pretty secure! Thanks!
Awesome Lina! Love this idea, I want to make one for each of my kids teachers! How many each of the crayons, glue and markers. I’d like to have an idea when I’m out seeing all the great school Supply desks. 🙂
The last item listed in the Supplies needed had exactly what I used 😀 – This is so fun – enjoy!
Thanks I guess I didn’t see it. When I’m looking on my phone it’s hard to get the whole post sometimes.
It’s ok! 😀
If you didnt want to use the smaller boxes, you can substitute for a square box of tissues. You could also use take-home plastic containers from the dollar tree. Teachers store all sorts of stuff in those tupperware knock-offs in their rooms, and they come in multiple sizes and stack, so you can give them the whole set or just one.
WOW! That’s just gorgeous, Lina! Well done for sure.
You can be creative and use anything for the center. Be creative. It’s very fun.
Yes and actually I was thinking of painting the boxes with chalkboard paint so the teacher can use them and label. They are actually very sturdy 😀 and reusable
Ohh thank you Lina sorry for the misunderstanding!!!!!! 🙂
I’m always trying to get the perfect teacher gift. This idea is great. I wish I did this when my kids were in elementary. Very nice!!!!!
Thanks Deanna!
I was looking for an idea that our church could do in the community instead of a fun day with free backpacks! I LOVE this idea and am sending the proposal that we make a “cake” like this one for every classroom at our local school. LOVE it!
Oh my goodness- how wonderful 😀 thanks Gloria!
As a retired kindergarten teacher, I know how this gift would be appreciated! Make it even more special, and stick a Starbucks or Hobby Lobby gift card in one of the boxes!
Great idea! Thanks Bonnie 😀
I like the idea but I would gather square boxes that is a much cheaper way. Just get three boxes that are staggered in size and do a square cake. those round boxes can be pricy
My staples had sharpies 13 pack on clearance for 2.00
You could use a giant roll of paper towels, like the Costco Kirkland size, and then glue womething for the top on the top of the plastic covering of paper towels.
I love Helen’s idea of paper towels. Even if it’s just one big roll, it’s smaller around so it would be less pricey for supplies to go around a large roll of paper towels instead the bigger boxes. Cute idea!
Just an fyi, Walmart has thicker/better 97 cent plastic storage boxes that are much better than the ones at dollar tree! And even pennies less!
This is a great idea!!! I’m going back to teaching full time this year 😁 after staying home with my twins for a few years and I would LOVE to receive this! Actually, any donations for classroom use, (made to look cute like this or just in a bag from the store) are SO appreciated.
Aw good luck and thanks for sharing!
Amazing! Thank you for sharing such a good gift idea.
Aw thanks for stopping by today!
This is a fantastic idea!
Thanks so much
Great idea
Keep the creative ideas coming! I like to send things in that are useful and fun! thanks
Thanks for stopping by! I agree ❤️
Any teacher appreciates stuff like this! Don’t forget your friendly music and art teachers! We go through that stuff too. Another idea is to put pencils and erasers inside the boxes.
Great idea!
Does anyone know where you can get boxes like this
I am a Nana to 5 grandkids and am also former teacher. Every year get a gift bag and fill it with markers, dry erase markers, crayons, glue sticks, blue tacky stuff, emergen C, skittles,starburst, ticonderaga pencils, lysol wipes, sharpies, post it notes, index cards, etc for each teacher. They are sooo grateful for the bag!!!
That is so wonderful that you do that Kathi!