Throwback Thursday - Back To School Edition
Turning faith-filled creativity into custom supplies for the new school year
Welcome to Throwback Thursday! Once a month, we’ll pull one of Kelly Bangs’ older collections off the shelf and give it new life. It’s our chance to “shop our stash,” get creative, and remember that these kits aren’t one-and-done—they’re full of possibilities waiting to be reimagined.
This month, we’re putting a fresh spin on the oversized tag kit, Won’t He Do It?!, by creating personalized back-to-school supplies for anyone heading back to class. From kindergarten to grad school, this collection offers countless opportunities to make something special.
This week was a milestone in our house—our daughter started kindergarten. For the first time, she’d be away from me all day, and we had all the feelings. I poured myself into this project, not even realizing that focusing on making her school supplies beautiful kept me from dwelling on my nerves about her being gone for such a big part of the day.
And that’s when God whispered. Isn’t it amazing when He does that? As I read the verses Kelly included in the kit, I realized: what did I have to worry about? Don’t I trust God? Don’t I believe He has great plans for my daughter? Won’t He Do It?!
I meditated on those promises as I worked on Angelina’s supplies. We chose a small Christian school because I want her to keep cultivating the beautiful light in her spirit and grow her relationship with Jesus daily. These creative touches weren’t just pretty—they became daily reminders that He’s in control.
What’s Inside The Collection
The Won’t He Do It?! collection is packed with bold, joyful pieces that practically shout encouragement. You’ll find:
The original oversized tag book
Patterned papers in funky fall tones
A Words & Alpha set for titles and names
Loads of extra ephemera—tickets, verses, florals—that spark creativity and meditation on God’s Word
It’s a kit that keeps pointing us back to God’s provision and faithfulness while giving us tools to express that truth in creative ways. It’s broken down into four parts, so if you don’t already have it, you can purchase just what you need or pick up all four parts in the Illustrated Faith Print & Pray Shop.
How I Repurposed the Kit
I knew right away that I wanted to turn the oversized tags into dry erase flashcards. On the backs, I printed the matching patterned papers and added the scripture tags so Angelina can see God’s Word each time we use them. This might be my favorite project from the set—something I know we’ll use often throughout the year. These cards are perfect for practicing letters, math problems, and sight words, while also grounding us in God’s promises, including some of my favorites like Psalm 36:7.
“How precious is Your loving kindness, O God! And the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.”
Next I created custom name labels for notebooks, pencil boxes, and more. One of my favorite things about Kelly’s PNG files is their flexibility—you can size and design them digitally before printing. My Cricut made it easy to cut and attach them.
The possibilities are endless! A quick trip to Five Below turned up tons of coordinating pieces. Don’t be afraid to check unexpected aisles—office supplies and even the arts section can spark inspiration.
Notebooks & binders got custom subject labels.
Assignment notebook & daily planner were dressed up with florals and accents.
A mini composition book (slam-book style!) turned into a place for prayers and junk journaling throughout the year.
A stainless bento box got a little flair for lunchtime encouragement.
Oversized paperclip bookmarks became quick, colorful placeholders for whatever she’s reading.
On that first morning, we packed the backpack, sharpened the pencils, and yes—played her favorite worship song on the drive to steady our nerves. Watching her step into her classroom, brave and bright-eyed, reminded me that as much as I long to guide every step, her future is already safe in God’s hands.
I could let her go because I was confident that God would do it. And honestly? I may not have landed in that headspace if I hadn’t spent this time reimagining a kit from my stash and letting creativity become worship.
So here’s my question for you: What’s in your stash that could be reimagined? How could you take a kit you love and turn it into something functional, faith-filled, and fresh for this season of life?
We’d love to see what you create the next time you look at an older collection and think outside the box. Be sure to tag @kellybangscreative and check out all of her collections in the Illustrated Faith Print & Pray shop for inspiration.
