Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Sharpie-like DIY Mugs


Sharpie-like Mugs. So I've seen on Pinterest the DIY Sharpie mugs that you can create. Cute quotes... initials... the ideas are endless. My sister-in-law's birthday is tomorrow and my younger sister's birthday get-together is this upcoming Saturday so it gave me the perfect opportunity to try out this DIY craft! I'd make one for myself but Ty would kill me if I bought another mug that was going to somehow cram into the already overflowing cupboards. :/ So here's the inspiration idea I found on Pinterest:


Supplies:
mug (bought at Walmart)
stickers (you should choose a wider 'font' style... mine are pretty thin)
porcelain art pen (this was leftover from a Starbucks' mug I decorated)

Here's how I put them each together:

Place your stickers on your mug

Start 'dotting' around each letter. You'll notice I left more space around each letter because my stickers were so thin. Start close and then spread out.


Peel off the stickers

Since it's my sister's 30th birthday I decided to put a small 30 so she'll remember what year it's from. :)

I saw this quote near the '30's' cards and thought it was fun.
Outlining my sister-in-laws name...again leaving space around the stickers.


She enjoys different teas so I saw this idea on Pinterest and decided to keep hers simple. Less is more sometimes you know?



Once your designs are completed wait an hour (these are the directions on the porcelain pen/Starbucks instructions). After an hour you'll put them in the oven at 450' for 20 minutes. I place the mugs on a small cookie sheet to make it easier putting them in and taking out of the oven. Let them cool for 1-2 hours and you're done! Supposedly they should still be microwavable and dishwasher safe... guess I'll have to wait and see what they say?!

Now I just have to put together each mug with some goodies. I still need to gather up the goodies for my sister's mug (I'll update with pictures once I have them) but my sister-in-laws was simple because she's trying to save to buy a house! Yea! So I took a tea bag and cut a little slit and emptied the tea. I carefully tucked in some money. A much cuter way to give money... instead of just in the card don't you think!
Money tea bag:
I'll secure the bag with a little tape inside the mug and on the outside for the piece hanging off

Back to School Display Case


Display Case. With the beginning of the school year just around the corner it was time to update and decorate the Display Case at my school. I'm so lucky to have the help of my Mom and Sister in decorating the case throughout each year! They're the best. So we brainstormed some ideas to start the year and here's how it turned out:

The inspiration found on Pinterest:
We used the phrase from this bulletin board but because we're decorating a display case instead we had to change it up a bit. My Mom and Sister decided on a picnic theme... filled with ants!

It's a bit hard to see the finished product through the glare but the up-close pictures show more. Don't you just LOVE those ants! 

'Ant'icipate a Great Year!
A little ketchup that squirted out...

...some left over potato chips...

...and a chocolate chip cookie to nibble on...



The ants have taken over the picnic and are cleaning up the crumbs!

All ready for a GREAT year to start!

 

Saturday, August 16, 2014

Welcome Back Goodie Bags

Welcome Back Goodie Bag. For a few years now I've put together a little goodie bag for the 1st day of school. I searched around on Pinterest for ideas and found a few poems that incorporated little candies and supplies. I've re-typed mine a bit and added some things. I also changed it a bit because I loop with some of my 3rd graders (will be 4th graders) due to teaching a 3/4 combo and I didn't want it to be exactly as the same as last years'. It's just a little something to surprise them as they find their desk on the 1st day of school and relieve any jitters!

Needed Supplies:
'Welcome Back' poem (search online or create your own)
Stationary (Dollar Tree)
Clear bags (Walmart)
Ribbon
Erasers (District supply catalog)
Smarties candies
Crayons (District supply catalog, 16 ct.)
Pencils (District supply catalog)
Sharpeners (Dollar Tree)
Starburst candies 

 











Once you have all your supplies create a mini assembly line filling each bag. Use a small piece of ribbon to close each baggie and you're set!  I'll set each bag on top of the Welcome Back poem on top their desks. **If you're interested in the poem just message me. I'm trying to learn how to turn it into a file/link or pdf that someone else could use!

While I was out picking up the last bit of supplies I found the cutest stickers!! And they were only 88 cents!  I'm decorating my classroom this year with bright colors and 'school supplies' so these will go great on little notebooks, picture frames... who knows?! I might have to go back and get more?!

SO CUTE! Look at those tiny pencils and scissors! Aww makes my heart melt! I was always that weird one who could walk into the school supply aisle and fall in love... and walk away buying notebooks, markers, crayons, post-its... Even when I wasn't in school anymore. Or teaching?! Ha! Maybe I shouldn't admit that... but I know there's others out there that share this same passion. Totally normal!
 




Interactive Journals


Interactive Journal... Thinking Journal... Reading Journal... whatever you call them, I'm sure teachers everywhere use some sort of journal throughout the year with their kiddos. For the past couple years I've created journals that we called 'Our Thinking Journals'. I divided them into sections. Math, reading, and writing. Last year I even made a section for Book Club.  Each summer I would purchase composition notebooks, scrapbooking paper, and cute ribbon to decorate each of the journals so they were one-of-a-kind for each student and ready on the 1st day of school! After a couple years now I finally got smart! Imagine that! Instead of buying the composition notebooks myself, I put it on the supply list. I provide a lot of the supplies within my classroom so I figured it was a simple addition to an already short list.  Unfortunately, I can't have the journals ready on the 1st day of school, but I do have the paper and ribbon already cut and ready to assemble once I collect all their notebooks. I can't wait to put them together!! I show each student the selection of paper and they get to choose their color. They get excited knowing they will be the only one with that cover. Someone else might have a similar color, but not pattern!

This is an example of a past journal I've created. After students have selected which one they want I put a label on each one with their name


 
Each year I choose a different ribbon. I couldn't find any cute 'school' ones at Hobby Lobby so I went ahead with this one... plus it'll match each of the colored papers.

I cut each piece about 12 inches. I ended up using 2 rolls of ribbon. This will give me some extra journals for any new students throughout the year.

Scrapbooking paper. I used a 40% off coupon but usually these paper packs are 50% off at Hobby Lobby. Since it's a 180-pack I use the paper for my students' End of the Year Memory Books as well as other projects... maybe even the journals I'll make next year!

I select a different design for each student. I used 9 different colors, and 3 designs for each color. I can't wait to see which design they each pick!


Now all I have to do is wait another 18 days (eek! Is that all that's left?!) until the students arrive!  I'll update with pictures of how these new journals turned out.


Friday, August 8, 2014

A Mix of Randoms


Wedding Fun. One of our good friends was just married this past July. So of course I had to do something crafty. Plus, I got the chance to do some chalkboard designs which I've seen all over Pinterest! Thanks for the opportunity Sarah!

Bachelorette goodies. Saw this frame idea on Pinterest and tried to re-create it. Added some girlie treats and her favorite, Fireball!

We went in with Ty's dad and step-mom for their Wedding gift. They were registered for some fun kitchen goodies so I  went with a kitchen theme. Found this little Recipe for Love phrase on Pinterest and personalized it for them. I also used the same paper and ribbon as their invitations.

Bad picture... can't really see...but once it was all put together I tied the tag onto a HUGE mason jar. Too cute!

They set up a table for Anniversary Wishes. Such a cute idea!

One of the chalkboards I created.

Another chalkboard. I love the idea of sitting on either side!


This last chalkboard I created was a bit of a rush?! The photographer told me there was another large one if I wanted to write something. Only problem... guests would be arriving in 15 minutes! Eek. Also, I wasn't told by the bride to write anything. Double Eek. I quickly threw this together and it turned out perfectly in front of the area where most of the reception took place. Phew!
All in all it turned out. The chalk was a bit hard to write with. Especially when in a hurry. They kept breaking and I was constantly having to blow the dust away. I used a mix of the regular size and fat chalk. Next time I'd love to experiment with chalk pens!  Since these chalkboards belonged to the location of the wedding I didn't want to ruin them, in case the chalk pens didn't erase well.  I need to keep my eyes open for some to use here at the house!


Tutu Skirts. So my sister asked me to join her and her husband in an upcoming color run. Of course that meant we needed to make a fun tutu skirt to run in. Game on! After watching some simple tutorials I created one for myself as well as Mimi. Of course she only wore it for the picture. Oh well.

Can't you tell how happy Mishka is to wear her matching skirt?

I forgot to take pictures while we were making the skirts but it was so simple! Once you cut the tulle into pieces it was a simple process of folding over each piece like a scarf around the elastic and pulling it tight. Then alternating colors. Over. and. over.


Gymnastics. This year I created treats for the Regionals competition again. I decided to decorate water bottles this year thinking maybe they'll actually use them again?

I painted their name as well drawing stars on each one. Green is one of our school colors as well as yellow/gold.


This is just one side of the ribbons I puffy painted as well. They had their name on one side and S.P. Gymnast on the other.

Teaching. This past school year was extremely busy. Filled with not only the day-to-day requirements of teaching and coaching but having my 1st student teacher, piloting a new evaluation system, and pursuing my National Boards. To say I was busy seems an understatement. It's funny looking back. Or not. But we all survived!


Of course I had to make my student teacher her own supply toolbox to take back home and filled it with goodies. The class also took a picture outside holding signs that said We (heart) You Miss K. and each student signed the matting before framing it all. It turned out darling! The class was excited to present all their gifts on her last day.

This year's Memory Books for each student. I used various scrapbooking paper again and ran them through the printer this time so each one had the same schoolhouse design. Not sure I like that. I'll definitely do something different next year.

End of the Year gifts. I like to put something together for each kiddo for the last day of school. I start to give them hints within the last few days and they get so excited to see what they are. It's cute. I ordered some inexpensive tote bags and puffy painted them. I wanted to fill the bag with a mix of things that would keep them thinking as well as staying active throughout the summer.


So there's just a bit more of what kept his past school year busy. As I finally load pictures onto my computer from my phone and iPad I'm sure I'll find other projects that I tinkered with.