If you’re anything like me the sight of sharpies on sale makes your heart skip a beat. Sure the back to school season heralds in shorter days, the promise of new friendships and crisp autumn afternoons but mostly it’s all about the amazing sales on school supplies.
You may not consider the back to school isle to be a treasure trove for crafters but with a closer look and you’ll see endless possibilities all at great prices. Take advantage of the back to school sales and stock up on some unexpected “back to school” items perfect for felt crafters. Here’s our top 12 in no particular order.
12. Plastic Storage Containers
Store your felt treasures in air tight comfort with a new plastic tub. Small and mid sized tubs aimed at departing college students are often on sale at unbeatable prices this time of year.
Stick with smaller sized boxes (around 6qt or less) so your items are snug and easy to sort, opt for a clear tubs to make finding ornaments and toys simple. Store your tubs in a larger plastic light tight opaque storage tub for safety and easy garage storage. For more tips on storing felt items see: How to store felt stuff
11. Rulers
Since most felt projects are rather small a standard ruler can handle most if not all your projects. This time of year you’ll usually see a great assortment of fun sizes, materials and themes. Stock up, now’s your chance to pick them up at a fraction of what they will be in 2 months.
10. Sketch Book
Stock up on plain sketching paper. 
Nothing beats a good hand sketch to get the juices flowing. Having a stack of clean white sketching sheets at the ready is a must! Interested in making these cuties here are the free tutorials Gumdrops, Snowman
9. Scotch Tape
Clear tape is the magic that makes cutting small shapes a breeze! Simply cut closely around your pattern, tape to felt and cut! 
For more tips on cutting with tape see our post on Cutting Small Felt Shapes.
8. Pencils
Take advantage of fall sales and pick up a pack or two of #2s. A good quality freshly sharpened #2 will write on wool blend felt with ease making freehand pattern making or template tracing super simple.
While #2 pencils are the industry standard snatch a set of #1s for a softer lead or if you’re really lucky you may pick up a sketching pencil (#’s 5B- 9B) for soft lead and ultra dark markings just go slow and softly so you don’t end up smearing the lead.
7. Tracing Paper
Tracing paper is a great low tech way to create pattern pieces. Trace each segment of a sketch for perfect patterns.
6. Pens
Ok this one is technically not so much for crafting as the actual craft. Treat your future self to some fancy fountain pens perfect for all those Christmas cards you’ll be firing off in a few months. A well timed back to school buy makes a bag of 24 as low as .33! INK PENS FOR EVERYONE!!!
Get the tutorial for the fancy pen of your dreams HERE 
5. Sharpies
Color your thread! Low on thread, have an odd color to match or just don’t like stopping to change thread colors? Try using only white thread and coloring your tread to match. Simply run the sharpie marker (or any permanent marker) over the exposed white thread so it absorbs the color. Carefully color the exposed thread allowing the pigment to soak in. This works best with cotton threads and wool blend felt.
Pre- test your thread and markers before use by coloring on a bit before attempting to color a finished piece. Avoid using on acrylic or synthetic felt blends the sharpies won’t absorb into the acrylic creating a marker mess.
You can also use the pens to outline areas on the felt you want to stitch over.
4. Pencil Cases
Hard sided pencil cases make great thread storage. I was able to fit over 20 in each box.
3. Chalk
Mark off your patterns standard chalkboard chalk. Standard white chalk is great for darker felts, it marks clearly and dusts off easily. When working with felt drag lightly across the felt you only want the chalk on the surface of the felt not ground into it. When you’re done simply tap or flick a few times to remove all traces. You can also remove with a wet wipe by dabbing lightly.
Need a finer edge? Run the chalk piece at an angle along concrete or chalk board to create a slanted edge, for very detailed or delicate patterns you can grind the chalk and apply with a brush. For more on chalk outlines see THIS
2. Pencil Pouch
You can take it with you! Pencil pouches make the perfect home for your work in progress. Grab it on your way out the door and work on your craft during practices, pick ups and lessons. Look for a clear pouch to make finding your pieces a snap.
1. 3″ 3 Ring Binder
The bigger the better! Store your threads in style by winding them on smaller bobbins and sticking them in clear pockets. For the full tutorial on making a sheep bobbin binder little bo peep would be proud of see our post on Storing Embroidery Thread.
Stock up on felt for all your projects at American Felt and Craft
Looking for a unique way to dress up your walls? These constellation hoops are a fun and easy way to dress up any space. Because the stars are small fusible webbing is a must which makes this project very low sew and super simple.
Remove paper backing. when cool. Cut star shapes. The iron on backing will insure even the smallest stars hold together and don’t fray. Star shapes can be cut from template or freehanded.
Share your creations on our 
Run a gathering stitch around the wand tip and pull to seal. Sew through a few times to secure.
Stuff lightsaber using pencil or chopstick to help if needed, add mini rattle near the base, more stuffing and set aside.
Sew pieces into place with a running stitch and matching thread as shown.
Fold base so outside faces inward and overcast stitch along the long side using matching thread. Turn right side out.
Stuff base and stitch bottom into place with an overcast stitch and matching thread.
DIY Ninja pouches and throwing stars
While there seems to have been an explosion of colorful Easter trees in stores and style blogs lately decorating trees or plants with eggs is practically an ancient German tradition. But they aren’t alone, the Swedish also create colorful Easter trees decorating them with ornaments including Easter eggs and even colorful feathers.
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