We’ve partnered with Faber-Castell USA for the Ultimate Back to School Guide!
I long for the days of starting a new year and all the excitement it brought. I remember the feeling of brand new pencils and markers written on crisp, clean pages. How beautiful all of the supplies looked all shiny and new. I could barely sleep knowing all of my new things were in my backpack, ready to go for my first day.
My son is about to start first grade, so I’m on the other side of things now. I get to rummage through his school list and make sure he has everything he needs, and watch his eyes light up at new pencils and erasers and notebooks. The list really amazed me. Some of these things I had never even thought a kid would need at school, let alone first grade. This was a whole new experience for me.
I didn’t love what I saw at the big chains or the grocery store, so I partnered up with one of my favorite brands Faber-Castell USA to bring you a list of MUST-HAVES to get your kid ready, whether they’re going off to elementary school or college.
They’re broken down by category so you can easily find what you need:
Pencils
Faber-Castell is known for their writing instruments, so it comes as no surprise that even their “starter” pencils for the littlest writers are of a fantastic quality. The larger barrel makes it easy for little hands to hold and navigate and is ideal for ages 5+.
These grips really make such a huge difference in control and ease of use. The colors are vibrant and the pencils are easy to sharpen. Perfect for Ages 5+.
These classic wooden barrel pencils come in a hexagonal shape. They feature vivid colors and a special bonding process that makes them break-resistant. IDEAL for High Schoolers.
Goldfaber is a new line from their Creative Studio brand, a sort of “High school/College” level line. Gorgeous colors in a beautiful tin set.
This is the ultimate pencil set. College-level – Adult Artists. Comes with various colors, including their 9000 pencils, an eraser and a sharpener.
Crayons
These aren’t your average kid’s crayons. (Adults even love them!) Fun, easy to use, and in an awesome carrying case. Ages 3+
These smooth texture crayons are made with more color pigment and less wax resulting in brilliant colors. Great for ages 5+.
These are highly-pigmented wax crayons that can be used on all types of crafting surfaces such as cardstock, chipboard, canvas, embossed and textured paper, even wood, glass and ceramic! Best of all, the unique twist-up design allows you to sharpen the crayons with a standard pencil sharpener. Ideal for Middleschoolers and Highschoolers.
The Polychromos artists’ pastel crayons contain a high level of pigment, and are free from oils and wax. They’re stable and adhere beautifully to paper. College – Adult level.
Planner and Bullet Journal
Bullet Journal and Planner Enthusiasts (including the folks at Seventeen Magazine and BuzzFeed) consider this PITT Pen to be the ultimate pen for planning. Its fine point and very lightfast drawing ink is ideal for sketches, drawings, layouts, fashion design and illustration. Great for Highschoolers – College/Adult.
This is one fun pack. It comes with everything you need to make your planner pages uniquely you. Set includes 3 GRIP highlighter pencils, a black PITT Artist Pen (Superfine Nib) and two paper stencils.
Who wants to use boring regular ol’ highlighters when Gelatos exist? These have to be my personal favorite from the entire Creative Studio line. I have never seen anything like them. They’re sticks that glide on creamy smooth for vibrant color and coverage. All Gelatos blend easily with or without water (yeah, they can be like water colors too). You can even use them on canvas or wood. The closest thing I can compare them to is a lipstick you can draw with. AMAZING. High school – College/Adult.
What other items are on your Back to School lists? Put your requests in the comments below and we’ll keep adding to the guide!
