Baskets containing items that all relate to a theme are popular at silent auctions, and people bid on them well. Fill a large wicker basket with items emblazoned with your school logo for a team spirit basket, or create a "new baby basket" with toys, clothes and hand-knit blankets. Other popular baskets include local sports team memorabilia, a movie night basket with gourmet popcorn seasonings and a fleece throw, or a spa basket with luxury bath products.
The self-publishing industry has made creating professional-looking books easy and cost effective. Collect student works like poems, short stories and essays throughout the year, or have each student submit a piece, ensuring that you're featuring all students. Have the students' work professionally printed into books separated by grade or class, and auction them off.
By middle school, students' artistic abilities become apparent. Unlike artwork created by smaller children, which tends to be primarily purchased for sentimental value, junior high students have the potential to create art that parents would be proud to frame. Assign the students to draw a self-portrait, or create a picture with a holiday or seasonal theme. You can then have the artwork bound into books, or framed and sold individually or in sets.
You can purchase simple, inexpensive furniture at discount or department stores. Students then contribute to decorating the furniture, creating a one-of-a-kind piece. For example, Fundraisingmom.com suggests that each student paint a ceramic tile, which is then used to cover a table or bookshelf, mosaic-style. Students could also paint directly on furniture, with each person taking a separate section for an eclectic look.