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If you ask my mom about my organizational skills… she’d probably laugh. I’ve never been organized. While I appreciate a nicely organized closet, and drool over a perfectly arranged workspace, I always struggled with implementing it in my own life. I was always losing things (clothes, toys, glasses…ugh) and was in a constant battle with containing the chaos! If you ask my husband, you might get a different answer – I’m happy to report I’ve gotten much better in the past few years 🙂
Despite my lack of organizational skills, I’ve always been a little obsessive about making lists. I have master lists, sub-lists, and everything in between. It’s the only way I can stay on top of things! With it being back-to-school season, where schedules start to get crazy and responsibilities begin to pile up, I figured I would create some cute printables to help make life easier.
It’s no secret I am a fan of laminating things, and with to-do lists, it just makes sense! There’s no reason to keep printing out the same list each week, am I right? For this project I used my Scotch™ Thermal Laminator and the accompanying Scotch™ Self-Sealing Laminating Pouches, paper (card stock works best!), and either scissors or a paper cutter. You’ll also need a dry erase marker for the to-do list, and some type of fastener for the chore chart (I used Scotch® Fasteners).
Start off by printing off these freebies:
To-Do List
Chore Chart/Daily Checklist
Chores – 1
Chores – 2
Chores – Blank
For the chore chart, I provided 2 pages of different chore ideas and also a blank list, so you can write in your own ideas!
Once you’ve got everything printed, cut out the chores, and prep everything for the laminator. The full sheets are simple – just stick them in the 9 x 11.5 pouches, making sure you leave at least 1/8 inch around the edges. For the small chore sheets, you’ll have to line them up inside a pouch, making sure you leave plenty of space around each one. Remember, you need at least 1/8 inch around each thing you laminate!
To operate the laminator, turn it on and wait for the blue light to come on. Then feed the pouch through the machine, making sure the sealed end goes in first. Lay your newly-laminated awesomeness on a flat surface to cool, and it’s ready!
Cut apart the individual chores, and attach a fuzzy velcro dot in the center of each one. Then stick a scratchy velcro dot in the center of each gray rectangle on the daily checklist.
And just like that, you’re done! Hang up your to-do list on the fridge or wall, and use a dry erase marker with it. For the chore chart, just stick the chores up, and let your kiddo move them to the “done” side as he completes them.
Need a laminator? Head to Walmart and find the Scotch™ Thermal Laminator in the Back-to-School section (see below) or back with the small office supplies. I found mine right at the front of the store with the school supplies.
And be sure to check out these other fun DIY ideas for back-to-school and home organization! There are so many fun things to do with a laminator, I already have a list of future projects to work on 🙂 What kind of things would YOU laminate??
This is such a great idea! I’m definitely going to use this. Do you take requests? The only thing that could make it even more awesome is if there was a version of the daily checklist with a little more room at the top so I could write my kid’s names, that way they could each have their own. Don’t worry though, I can still squeeze it in. 🙂
I didn’t even think of that! That’s a great idea. I’ll see if I have time to add it in 🙂
These are so practical but so cute too–a big win/win! Plus I think kids would love moving the tasks from side to side with the velcro so that’s a great trick, too! ~ client
Thanks Nicole! My kids certainly love anything with Velcro 🙂