I'll admit, I haven't made THAT many things this summer.. ahh! It has really flown by! But, I still have many other things I want to make before going back in just one. short. month! So this week, I made a teacher toolbox!
I have to say I am late to the teacher toolbox train. Like…3 years late! Haha! But I finally decided to make one for my desk! I am a bit OCD, though… I want it to match my classroom decor and not be totally random and different from everything else I have on my desk and in my classroom!
We have so many little things that take up so much space in and around our desks as teachers. A teacher toolbox is a perfect solution to giving all of those items a new home! So I purchased a toolbox and got to work! You can get one on Amazon right HERE! They also sell them at Lowes or Home Depot.
Here's all you need and the simple steps to make one of these organization must-haves for your own classroom!
Teacher Toolbox Materials
- Toolbox- I like the 26 drawer toolbox with small and large drawers, but there are many different sizes to choose from on my Amazon page
- Spray paint color of your choice
- Teacher toolbox labels
- Laminator
- Scissors
- Double-sided tape
STEP ONE: PAINT THE TOOLBOX
I spray-painted my toolbox to match my classroom, but this step is completely optional! Painting it really does take your toolbox to the next level, though. I bought a matte gray spray paint. This goes nicely with my classroom, and I knew it would make my bright labels pop! Spray painting is literally the easiest thing ever! Sometimes, I mess whatever I'm working on up when I spray paint, but this spray paint luckily went on SO smoothly with just one coat! It is the perfect dark gray color.
STEP TWO: ASSEMBLE THE TOOLBOX
While the toolbox was drying, I got to work making my labels! I made many different options so that I could switch them out at any time! Then, I printed them on card stock, cut them out, and laminated them.
I love my at-home laminator so much! It is perfect for classroom projects like this! If you don't have one, I highly recommend it. After the labels are laminated, the color really POPS off of the page!
Once I had the labels all cut out, I used double-sided tape (straight from the heavens above!) to attach them to the front of the drawer. I wanted them on the front because they weren't as bright when I put them behind the drawer. The laminate and the double-sided tape keep them in place really well! I am not worried about them coming off really at all.
I am super excited to get this in my classroom and organize all my fun teacher supplies! (We all need a place for alllll those paper clips, am I right?!)
Teacher Toolbox Labels
2 different versions of ready to print labels! There are many labels included in this pack as well as a powerpoint file to be able to add your own! There is also a printing tips page and a how to video.
If you want to grab the labels for yourself to get to work on your own teacher toolbox, you can get them here!
I hope you have a great week!
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Holy cow how I love those tool box labels!!!! LOVE them! Thanks for linking them up:) Too cute! May have to be making a purchase;)
4th Grade Frolics
Thank you so much Tara! & Thanks again for always hosting my favorite linky party!!! I need to get to work on next week so I can have more than 1 made it! 😉
-Ashley
I always want to join this linky, but feel like I have never made anything worthy of posting! Haha I better get my booty in gear making stuff for my classroom since I go back a week from today!
I LOVE your labels! I already have some, but I might have to get these! (I'm hoping to win them! :)) So pretty!!!
Fervent First Grade Frenzy
Thank you so much Delaney! I can't wait to see what you make!!
Too cute! Those labels are precious.
Thank you so much!!!
Love the labels! Entered to win but wanted to see them in store…your link is going to just a picture not the TPT store.
Thank you Alli!! I just fixed it 🙂
Love your labels. They are so bright and colorful! Super cute!
Alison
Rockin' and Lovin' Learnin'
I made one of those a few years ago, only my spray paint did not turn out as well as yours…jealous 🙂 Nicely done!
Stephanie
Tales of Teaching in Heels
Love your style– nice labels!
My Bright Blue House
I love love love the clipart you used for these! Would you mind sharing where you got them? Thanks!
I love the Teacher Toolbox labels are they still available in TPT? Can't seem to find the right link! Karen
Love these. I'm super late to the teacher toolbox party, but I have mine and am working on it today. I bought your labels and love that I have the option to make my own. There are a few labels I have to make for myself. Would you mind sharing the fonts you used? I have all of the kg fonts downloaded and I figured out how to do the off set text affect, but I'm still in search of the other two fonts.
I don't know why I can't get my name to post, but I'm Adele. :o)
I love this idea! But is it just me or is anyone else running into this problem too? I started making my Teacher Toolbox only to find it's not deep enough to actually hold regular size pencils!!!???
I realized the same thing today when I started to make mine 🙁
Thank you for posting this. I was really excited to make this for my classroom, and I keep seeing pencil labels on them, but the measurements for the drawers just don’t support the claim that pencils can actually go in these drawers. I need something for pens, pencils, and markers. Bummer!!!
I put them diagonally in the large drawers, and it works just fine, but it is all about preference!
These labels are the bomb dot com. I've been thinking about you beautiful. Hope all is well.
((HUGS))
Tiffany