Gumball Rulers Back to School Craft

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For some reason, the end of June makes me start thinking about the upcoming school year.  Maybe it’s because we finally have created a summer schedule that works.  Getting into a daily routine makes it easier to look ahead.

Or perhaps as the summer days linger on, my mind shifts to the next change.  Dreamy thoughts of overstuffed backpacks, ready to eat lunches and freshly sharpened pencils start to dance in my head.  

Whatever it is, I love to celebrate the start of the school year with a back to school craft.  Usually, my back to school craft ideas, though, focus on the teachers.  We’ve made these creative teacher thank you cards to thank them for all of their hard work.  And, one year, we created these washi tape pencil packs to give them a pretty stationery accessory to start the year off “Write”.

So for this back to school season, I created a craft that the kids would enjoy making (and eating).  This gumball ruler craft is a delicious and fun way to welcome the first day of school.  You can easily make them with your kids as a back to school craft or feature as the activity at a back to school party. 

I’ve even had readers use it to ease kindergarteners into the classroom for the first time.  Gumballs are magical that way.

To make your gumball rulers, you will need to start with an round candy tube (affiliate). 

Do you remember candy tubes?  These magical little clear plastic tubes became quite popular about ten years ago thanks to Amy Atlas and her amazing dessert styling.  

They come in an assortment of shapes and sizes.  For this back to school craft, you will need the 8″ round candy tubes.  The best part about this size of candy tube is that they are the exact width of a gumball.  So the gumballs slide in perfectly. (affiliate)

Each candy tube holds 8 gumballs.  I used black number stickers to make the ruler marks.  

Free Printable School Rules Tag

If giving this back to school craft as a party favor or first day of school treat, you can add the Free Printable School Rules tag to your gumball rulers. 

And this tag is such a fun way to let people know how awesome learning is.

This free printable tag measures 2.5″ circle.  To make your tags, download and print on medium to heavy white cardstock (you can find my favorite white cardstock here).  Then, punch out your tags using a 2.5″ circle punch.  This will keep the edges crisp and give them a professionally made look.  (affiliate)

Need some printing tips?  Be sure to check out our digital designs printing guide.  It’s full of tips and tricks to make printing and making your digital designs easy and fun!

You Will Need:

8″ round candy tubes (affiliate)

Yellow Gumballs (affiliate)

Black Number Stickers (affiliate)

Free Printable School Rules tag

2.5″ Round Circle Punch (affiliate)

Baker’s Twine

1. Fill the candy tube (affiliate) with 8 yellow gumballs (affiliate).

2.  Add on the black number stickers to resemble a ruler.  The black stickers I used measured about a half inch.

I also used the black dash mark stickers in the pack to look like the ruler measurements.  If your stickers do not have these or there aren’t enough of them, then you can also make the dashes with black permanent marker.

Start with number one at the bottom of the candy tube.  Place in the center of the first yellow gumball.  Then, add the Number Two in the center of the second gumball.  This should be about an inch up from the Number One.

Continue adding numbers up the gumball tube until you get to Number Eight.  Place each number in the center of the gumball.  You can also measure inch out increments if you prefer.  

3.  Seal your gumball ruler with the top.  Download our Free Printable School Rules tag.  Punch out with a 2.5″ Round Circle Punch.  Attach the tag using baker’s twine.

Make these gumball rulers as a back to school craft, a first day of school activity or even leave one at your child’s place setting on the first day back.  It’s a fun way to celebrate the start of an amazing school year ahead.

Looking for more back to school crafts?

We love crafting to celebrate back to school time.  One of my favorites is this Apple Garland Craft.  It’s fun to make and a great addition to decorate for your back to school party.

Happy Celebrating,

Natalie