It seems like summer just got here, but, incredibly, back-to-school is right around the corner.
For the parents out there, that means two things: you’ll be sad to see the summertime go, and it will be a bit of a relief to have those energetic kiddos keeping busy six hours a day!
Still, before school starts up again, parents have one last challenge ahead. It’s time to shop for school supplies.
From the coolest lunchbox to the perfect Trapper Keeper, it’s a big chore for parents with exacting kids who know exactly what kind of image they want to project in the new school year — this little girl of “I’m not a princess!” fame comes to mind.
Some crafty parents might want to consider trying a bit more of a DIY approach, especially when it comes to backpacks. These accessories have an unfortunate way of falling out of favor even when they still have plenty of wear left.
With that in mind, check out a few of our favorite backpack makeovers, designed to give new life to knapsacks that have lost their luster.
Thumbnail Photo Credit: Flickr
Most of us can't afford to simply throw out a perfectly good backpack just because our third grader isn't into it anymore.
Instead, avert a major meltdown by incorporating her absolute favorite thing (Frozen, unicorns, puppies, etc.) into the design of a totally revamped knapsack.
This elaborate Tangled design comes from the pro artist the Enchanted Brush, but a crafty parent could easily do a simpler design at home.
Take, for example, this beautiful lotus design.
It's available on Etsy for a pretty penny, but all you need to recreate this effect at home is a floral stencil and some outdoor fabric paint.
With a steady hand and a couple of spare hours, this design would be a simple way to revamp a plain book bag.
Parents with solid drawing skills may even be able to venture into freehand patterns.
This pretty underwater scene looks like it probably took some time to complete, but is well worth it to pacify a little one who is totally into mermaids.
Even better, a flat scene like this can easily be painted over later.
We love this cool metallic wings design, which was probably created with metallic spray paint and a stencil.
To create a similar DIY effect, you could even buy iron-on patches — much cheaper than a whole new backpack.
Plus, depending on the type of patches, you may be able to remove them again if your child hops from trend to trend quickly.
Naturally, we're still obsessed with these classic Disney scenes!
Since most of us grown-ups grew up with Fantasia, preserving a design like this one might be well worth it.
We can see plenty of current elementary schoolers wearing this knapsack happily, then revitalizing it as a cool, "retro"accessory in their teenage years.
This intergalactic pattern is also incredibly versatile.
Better yet, something like this is easy to create; you just need a knack for swirling together cool shades of blue and purple for a "spacey" look.
Even better, your child might be able to do this one with just a bit of adult guidance, if you want to give her an arts and crafts project while you get other things done.
Of course, we saved this option, which was uploaded to the image-sharing site Imgur, for last.
This complex scene features Ariel and Flounder from The Little Mermaid.
It's a gorgeous scene that would be the ultimate coolness coup for a super-artsy parent with an eye for illustration.
There's even a hidden surprise on the side of the backpack!
Plenty of Little Mermaid fans have a soft spot for the stylishly evil villainess, the sea witch Ursula.
If your kiddo loves Ariel's victory over the creepy Ursula, adding this motif could be extra special!
What do you think of these adorable backpack designs, and back-to-school prices in general? Weigh in below, and don't forget to SHARE these awesome ideas with fellow parents and grandparents!
