It’s hard to believe it’s already time to think about getting the kids back to school, but here we are. It can be hard to switch gears from fun in the sun to back-to-school items, but one way to get you and your child back into the swing of things is to personalize some favorite school items with rhinestones.

Take the lead, but don’t be afraid to let your child get hands-on. After all, if she’s taking an interest in her school supplies, she’ll probably be more excited about school itself. And these projects aren’t just for kids—any rhinestone addict who’s in school or needs to stay organized will have fun with these projects. Here are a few ideas for rhinestone creations for the new school year.

Water Bottle

It’s important to stay hydrated, which is something a lot of kids (and adults) have a hard time doing. Carrying a water bottle with you is a great reminder to drink more water, but let’s be honest, water bottles look a little boring.

Grab some of your favorite rhinestone shapes and colors and go to town! The lid can be a great place to embellish, and you can even add some sparkle to the main section of the bottle. Remember that when you work on rounded surfaces, the smaller rhinestones adhere a little more securely.

Bookmarks

This simple little project is fun for everyone, and ultimately, it helps you remember where you left of on your book. You’ll first need to get your hands on some paper clips (preferably the larger ones) and some larger rhinestones.

The short and sweet version of this project is to take a singular rhinestone and glue it to the end of the paper clip that doesn’t have the “clip”. For more intricate designs, glue a rhinestone pattern to a small piece of stiff felt and glue the whole piece to the paper clip. Instant bookmark!

Hair Clips

This is another simple project that is easy for everyone to help with. You’ll need assorted bobby pins and rhinestones, and with a little bit of glue, you’ll soon have fun new hair accessories to go with your new school clothes. Carefully glue a rhinestone or two on the closed end of the bobby pin and suddenly you have a new accessory!

Lunch Box/Bag

This is a great embellishment project for anyone in the family, and this is a particularly great way to upcycle a lunch bag from last year. Once you have your lunch box or bag picked out, choose rhinestones in coordinating colors and make your plan. Lightly trace out a shape or an initial, or simply embellish parts of the bag like the handle or the edges.

Headbands

If you or your child are obsessed with accessories, headbands are a great, easy way to add something new and sparkly to your wardrobe. Embellishing a headband is easy, but it helps to have rhinestones that are the same approximate width of the headband.

Find a plain headband from your stash or invest in a couple of inexpensive headbands and choose your favorite rhinestones. Plan out a pattern or use novelty shapes like hearts or skulls to create something fun and festive! If you like holiday themes—headbands are a great way to celebrate!

Pencil Case

Every organized student will benefit from a pencil case to keep erasers, pens, pencils, and other assorted school accessories. And like a lot of school tools, they can look a little dull. Use a pencil case or a pencil box as a blank canvas for all of your favorite rhinestones. Choose contrasting or coordinating colors and create unique patterns or shapes.

Personalized Backpack

Everyone needs a backpack, and who wants one that looks just like everyone else’s? It’s time to personalize your backpack! Traditional backpacks often have a nice flat space near the top of the bag that’s the perfect spot for an initial or a special symbol like a star or a heart. If you’re particularly deft with rhinestones, you could even recreate a favorite animal. Other parts of the backpack to bling are the zipper pulls and straps.

Keychains

Is your child old enough to carry a house key now? A key is an important step in teaching responsibility, and a keychain is a helpful tool for identifying and finding a key from the depths of a backpack.

Work on a rhinestone keychain with just a few simple supplies: small pieces of leather, rhinestones, glue, and a keyring (available at craft stores and online). Use the leather as the base for your rhinestone design, and trim the leather to fit once the glue has set. Attach the rhinestone piece to the key ring with a small strip of leather and either glue or stitch it in place.

Bling Notebooks

Everyone needs a notebook or two, so why not make them a little more fun? Notebooks are incredibly easy to embellish, and it’s something that everyone in the family can get behind.

If you have different notebooks for different subjects, use different colored rhinestones for each subject, or make a different theme for each notebook. Everyone will have fun customizing their school supplies for this project!

Desk Organizers

At school, you have lockers, backpacks, and desks to help you stay organized, but you need something at home, too. A great way to help keep everything tidy at home is to use different desk organizers like file trays and pencil holders. And if there’s one true thing about office supplies, it’s that they are definitely lacking in sparkle.

Add some rhinestones to your desk at home and make doing homework a little more festive. If you like the DIY approach, transform old cans into pencil cups. Paint the can or cover it with decorative paper, then add your rhinestones to make it brilliant.

We hope the start of your school year is off to a great start and that your child will happily stand out from the crowd with some delightfully bling items. Grab some rhinestones in your favorite colors and get to work!