Are you in the mood for Back To School yet? I know in some places, the kids have been back for a couple of weeks already, but here we don’t go back until after Labour Day. I’m ready for it!
I love this time of year. It’s like a mini New Year celebration and a chance for fresh starts, big plans, all that good stuff.
Just for fun, and for a little decorating project for Kennedy and I to do together, we decided to put together this little fantel display. Fantel is short for fake mantel, for those of you just joining us around here.
All the back to school cliches are there! Apples, rulers, bright yellow pencils, chalkboards, books, a globe. We’ve got them all covered.
One day when I grow up, I hope to be one of those moms who have the whole back to school celebration planned out to a T for months in advance. Cute lunch pail printables, back to school outdoor decor, special back to school dinnerware, you know the type!
For now, this is a fun little baby step to try to make this time special for Kennedy.
The little chalkboards were 33 cents at Michael’s! The yard sticks were found in a closet when we moved into this house. We find the best things around here!
Apples. Kennedy doesn’t get why there are so many apples in this display. I guess the reference is too old school for her. Ha! Get it? Old “School”!
When there are kids involved, there always needs to be a craft. And 99% of the time, that craft needs to involve paper towel rolls taken out of the recycling. Or sometimes the trash. Almost daily, Kennedy comes to me holding one and asking what she can make with it. Almost daily I have no idea. Luckily this time I had this cute little apple garland idea in my back pocket!
I really think this turned out super cute. Leave me a comment if you want help making one too!
Since nothing escapes my “sticking things to the wall” phase lately, I made this little old-fashioned school house and bell cut out and filled in a blank space. I used the same technique as I used here for the fabric, only it’s paper! I love this option for quick holiday decorating! Just make sure the steam on your iron is OFF!
So that’s how we’re trying to make back to school a little more FUN!
Kennedy’s in equestrian camp all this week, so I’m getting a chance to get all my ducks in a row a little bit early. This is going to be a great year for both of us!
Courtenay Hartford is the author of creeklinehouse.com, a blog based on her adventures renovating a 120-year-old farmhouse in rural Ontario, Canada. On her blog, Courtenay shares interior design tips based on her own farmhouse and her work as founder and stylist of the interior photography firm Art & Spaces. She also writes about her farmhouse garden, plant-based recipes, family travel, and homekeeping best practices. Courtenay is the author of the book The Cleaning Ninja and has been featured in numerous magazines including Country Sampler Farmhouse Style, Better Homes and Gardens, Parents Magazine, Real Simple, and Our Homes.