Princess is SUPER excited about starting middle school this year. She moves to a new building and is on her way to being a teen–something that she thinks is going to be the most awesome thing ever (as much as I tell her that most of us wouldn’t be teens again for love or money). One of the things she is really looking forward to is her first honest to goodness locker.
She thinks having a locker is going to be awesome, and she’s spent part of the summer thinking and dreaming about how she is going to decorate her locker. So when Walmart asked me to come up with a new and original back to school craft I KNEW I had to do something for her locker. So I created a custom, one of a kind magnetic locker set! 
Here’s what I picked up at my local Walmart for this project:
The key “customization” item here is the really fun chevron patterned Duck Tape! It was so fun to see all the different patterns and types of Duck Tape that Walmart now carries.
The first thing I did was to empty out my metal spice tins. I just dumped each one into a zippered baggie and labeled it for future use. Then I popped the top off the tin and made sure it was completely cleaned out.
Next I started to cover each tin with the patterned Duck Tape. I made sure that I had enough going up over the top of the tin so that I’d be able to fold it inside and have a nice clean edge. The pattern was pretty easy to match up-I just cut the next piece longer than I needed to make sure I had room to match it.
I folded the tape over the bottom edge, and then I cut a piece to cover the bottom. They have full size lockers in the middle school-tall and narrow, so it’s possible that the tins might be placed where someone can see the bottom. Since I had plenty of tape I wanted to make it look nice.
Once I had all the tins covered it was time to add the magnetic tape.
I just cut it and stuck it to the back. If it doesn’t stay on well once she starts using it I’ll use the E6000 glue and re-stick it. That’s my favorite glue ever.
Now on to the mirror. I considered making the mirror itself magnetic, but then I remembered how HARD most kids fling their locker doors shut. I could almost hear the glass breaking. Instead, I decided that we’d have Princess use a Command Stick Hook and attach it to her locker, then hang a mirror off of that. Of course we couldn’t just go with a plain mirror–since this is a custom set I had to make the mirror match!
I cut off small pieces of the patterned Duck Tape and carefully fit it around the mirror. When I hit the handle I just cut a small slit to help it fit around.
When I had the front edge all done I then went and covered the back with tape as well. Going with the theme I also wrapped the handle of a brush with the same Duck Tape. Now she has a pretty matching set! And as a bonus-since it is all coordinated and very individual, no one else is going to walk off with her brush or mirror and try to pass it off as their own.
Check out how it all looks in my “simulated locker” set up! When I called up Princess to take a look she was so excited–this should help her keep a few odds and ends organized in her locker while being suitably “cool”.
Of course if you were helping a male organize his locker you could ditch the mirror and brush, and use one of the more masculine Duct Tape patterns like flames, black and white check, dragons or skulls.
What do you think? Would the teens or tweens in your life use a set like this in their locker?
****This is a sponsored post****
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post I am participating in with the Walmart Moms. Walmart has provided me with compensation for this post. My participation is voluntary and opinions, as always are my own.
Im loving all of the duck tape crafts that I’ve been seeing around the interwebs lately. They even have skully ducktape which, I’m sure you already know, rocks!
I would have loved this in my locker when I was a kid.
Please do not sent that mirror in to school. They do slam lockers. I’m a teacher, I know this! That mirror is adorable, but it will get broken, and someone will end up getting cut. Even if nobody gets cut, the shards end up all over her books and on the floor. It’s a mess to clean up. They sell, rather cheaply, magnetic locker mirrors that do not break if dropped. Perhaps you can buy one of those and trim it with the patterned duck tape.
I AGREE WOOOHHOOOOOOO PARTAYYYYYY UP IN DA HIZ HOUSE <— JK but I REALY agree 😄😄😀😊☺😉
Cute! What you can also add to your locker some matching wrapping paper and stick it in your lockers wall and door.(if your school allowes that)
I dunno about your school but my school allows wrapping paper on the inside of the door and no exception of any decoration is allowed on the outside door part. =/
I agree with nancy cause up in dat hiz house JK at school that will break <–lol
Good to have some feedback from someone who would know! Thanks Cathryn
Found this while searching images for DIY locker deco. I didn’t think of the spice containers. Great Idea. We found that sliding pencil cases make great pencil boxes for the lockers (with the snap at the bottom using ad-lib petals around the snap). We also found some index card cases that have a pocket in front that can hold pics. 🙂
We found some cute curly fur that we’ll be using for the floor of the locker. Once we get the dimensions; I’ll cut some cardboard and glue the fur to the cardboard to keep it from shifting. the same will be attached to the top of the shelf that we bought.
Dollar stores carry plastic mirrors that are better quality than the typical locker mirrors and gems are great to glamourize it.
We chose only to apply a boarder (applied with removable Glue Dots “Dot N Go” Removable Adhesive Dispenser) to the locker so that paper/fabric would not get in the way of the magnetic hold but; the locker was pristeen. We attached magnetic strip to a small pencil sharpener to keep it handy. Cut the stem off of a cute silk gerber daisy (flush) and hot glue a magnet to the back then; add a gem to the center or do like me and add a tuft of feathers (I find it less abrupt and free flowing). Avoid pricey lights and opt for a battery operated closet light for less and split a package of 4 with four friends.
Great Ideas Peggy–Thanks for sharing!
🙂
YATZ OLD BAY RULE WOOP WOOP Yum yum chesapeake crabs! Anyways, I am impressed by some on how easy they are but some like the mirror or rug still means going to the store. TOO LAZY
-From 6th grader