Pouches and Birthday notes

I'm finally settling down after relaxing all summer but now I'm feeling a bit stressed out!  I haven't been working on ANY school projects for the upcoming year!  For once I actually put it all away and tried to just relax. It was nice. But now it's crunch time. 

The first thing I wanted to change from last year were my Daily Communication Folders. I've never had a year where folders came in so crumpled. torn. literally falling apart in the tub each morning. New fix. This year I'm going to use 1'' binders to see if that makes it easier, for all of us. Although I'm hesitating a bit on being able to store them somewhere. Guess I'll worry about that later? 

The second part of the DCF was a zippered pouch to hold lunch money, behavior slips, you know, anything valuable that shouldn't fall out. Shouldn't being the key. Once again though, so many broke, zippers fell off, some even cut off? Yeah, I don't know. New fix for these... Duct taped Ziplock pouches. At least they'll be easier to replace and I made sure not to have a zipper that could fall off. So here's a brief explanation on assembling them. Pretty simple. 

Duct tape Ziplock pouch:

Supplies: Duct tape & Ziplock bags. I chose Gallon size because I wanted them to be about the same length as the binder.

At first I taped the bag onto the table so it wouldn't move but after doing a few I realized it didn't move much once I started with the duct tape, so just do whatever works best!

I trimmed off about a third of the end of the bag to fit within the binder.

I then tried to 'eye' where to lay the duct tape. I covered about half the ziplock and half off. Later the other side of the duct tape will stick to it. I also had a bit stuck to the table to help hold it. Later this will get tucked.

After that turn the ziplock over so the sticky side is up. Again try to 'eye' overlapping the next strip. I started above the strip underneath so it'd stick once it was tucked over.

Once you cut the end leave a bit of extra to tuck over and stick back onto the duct tape.

After both sides are tucked over you can check to see if you need to trim any from the end. Sometimes I didn't line mine up the best and there was duct tape sticking out. I didn't want it to stick to things.

Lastly, I three hole punched the end. At first I tried using a 3-hole punch but it didn't come out and I tore it trying. Maybe mine was dull?  Instead I used a single hole punch and that worked better. I did notice again, sometimes it didn't punch all the way through so I trimmed it off with scissors. Again, maybe my hole punch was dull?

Finished pouch!  I hope the duct tape will hold. If not, I can trim off the end and just re-punch them. That's my plan anyways.

Almost ready to go into the Daily Communication Folders... the last thing I need to do is put a label on the front explaining what goes into the pouch. These will either be a label stuck on the front or something taped on.

I also started working on birthday goodies. In the years past I've created little notebooks, certificates, and just last year I made the curly straws that were floating all around Pinterest. So this year I wanted to do something different. Of course I browsed through Pinterest and various blogs looking for something to make. I started noticing a lot of pencil toppers, cute cupcakes and such. I decided my 'gift' would be a pencil this year. Last year it seemed like my kiddos were always running out of pencils. Lost. Stolen. Used... I don't know. So I ordered some personalized pencils that say Happy Birthday from me. I can't wait until they get here! Any day. To go with the pencils I decided to make a little note card for the pencil to slide through. It was a simple design I created on word and glued onto some scrapbook paper I've had for years. Here's another brief explanation. Again, very simple!  And on a side note, I have NO idea why they're coming up sideways?  I'm not tech savvy enough to figure it out so just turn your head a bit okay!

Birthday Note card with Pencil slot:

I created a Word document and used a 'talk bubble' and added text. I downloaded the cute fonts online. The Happy Birthday is in jack story and the signature is a gentle touch. Again if I was tech savvy I'd try to add a link. Sorry.

Used some old scrapbooking paper I had. The 6 1/2 x 4 1/2 size worked really nicely too so I didn't have to cut it to size.

Once I cut out each of the bubbles I used a glue stick and glued them onto a coordinating piece of colored paper.

Used a utility knife to cut slits for the pencil.

Personalized pencils

Well, I guess I'd better get back to finishing more projects!  Hope to have more soon!

Holiday Spirit & a little Wanderlust



The holidays are upon us!  In the last couple weeks I finished some Christmas gifts as well as putting up decorations around the house.  My Pandora has been set to Christmas music since Thanksgiving... but it officially feels like the holidays when you can come home to see the lights on the house, in the windows, and the glow from the Christmas tree... ahhh, the ambiance of the Christmas decorations!  Only one week before it's Winter Break... but it's going to be a BUSY week filled with student-led conferences, our first home gymnastics meet of the season, and all the planning to prepare for January (so I don't have to, fingers crossed, take all the planning home over the break).

 

Here's a peek into just some of the holiday spirit around the house.  Also due to the burlap craze... I switched out the usual red ribbons for burlap.  Tied ornaments on the tree with twine instead of the traditional hooks.  Still need to complete the tree skirt in burlap... that's still on my to do list with a few other things!

 

Hanging Christmas cards we get...

Burlap bows

changed the decorations on the burlap wreath

REAL Christmas tree this year!  That's a first! 
Still need to finish decorating...

go figure Koda's stocking is as big as ours?!

and that Lilly's is bigger than Mishka's...

Okay... not a Christmas decoration... but SO TRUE! 

 

 



There's still so many little things to finish.... so I'll leave today with some quotes I've pinned on Pinterest about traveling.  Still not sure if we'll take our usual trip during Spring Break due to national boards.  I might need that time to finish?!  But as usual I browse through looking at what's 'out there'...

 

 

 

So many places to explore!  Maybe one day my journey will continue throughout the world... and not just on vacations...

 

Creating a signature

So I left with the intention of working on national boards 'stuff'.  And I did!  But I couldn't stay focused for long.  I wanted to figure out how to create a 'signature' for my blog.  After browsing through many how-to's I was able to figure some things out.  I also learned how to create a new font! Two for one!  I still want to take some time making it better but for now this is what I've created:

 
 

Already back

Wow.  I didn't even search yet.  Back here to post a few more things I'd worked on.  Quite a bit happens in a year?!  I'll try to keep it simple.

30th Birthday.  Created these treats for Ty's 30th.

 

 

Mother's Day tags.  Created these for a graduation/mother's day celebration.  We hooked each tag to flowers for the 'moms' to take after the graduation party.

 

 

Found the idea on Pinterest.

Volunteer Gifts.  Searched around on Pinterest and found this idea to create cups for the volunteers that helped in the classroom all year.

 

 





End of the Year Gifts.   At the end of the each gymnastics season I create booklets for the gymnasts with the season stats/info.  I decided to create a similar booklet for my students that would be a mini 'scrapbook' of their year.  I started in September and saved any 'craft' (or artsy items I figured a parent might want to keep )we worked on throughout the year.  Each booklet was put together with items from Sept to June.  All year they looked forward to receiving their 'Memory Book'.  When the last day of school arrived you would have thought I handed them a $100 bill!  They were also looking forward to receiving their framed Wordle I put together for each student.  Students filled descriptions for one another and I simply created a wordle and printed and framed them.  On the last day we all sat around and I read off the descriptions before saying who it was.  Again.  $100 bill. Their faces were beaming as they walked up to receive their frame.  They felt proud and truly enjoyed hearing what their classmates thought of them.  It was also fun to hear them all guess who I was describing!

Memory Books

Wordles for each student

Student Journals.  So I created these over the summer to use as our reflection journal.  After reflecting about the use and time of these journals they are now being used as each students' Book Club journal.  Each student was able to pick out their own and each journal is different.

State Testing treats.  I always look forward to putting together some type of treat for my students after they finish their state testing. Can you blame me?  They work almost 5 hours a day for 4 days!  And they work hard! So this year I found some cute ideas on Pinterest and make a treat for the end of each testing day.  I kept each treat a secret until the end of the test so they were always looking over to 'the basket' to see a glimpse of what they were in store for!

I don't like to do a lot of candy so I tried to keep them 'somewhat' healthy. 

Classroom Library.  Some of us had to do some shuffling between classrooms at the end of the year to make space for a new kindergarten room.  That meant I had to pack up the room and move next door.  Yes.  You read that right.  Move 20 feet down the hall... give or take.  And unless you're a teacher, you will never understand having to move.  On the bright side, I was able to re-organize EVERYTHING.  Especially my library.  For years now, okay only 4, I've wanted to level my library.  Each year would come and go and it always seemed like too much work.  It was a lot of work, but SO WORTH IT!  I packed up my car on the last day of school and books lived in our office for the summer.  I should have taken a picture of the room at home because it was filled to the brim with tubs of books.  You had to follow a careful path just to get around!    I spent the first few weeks of summer leveling my books (lexile level) then printing a label for the book that matched the label of the tub.  In my classroom the saying goes "there's a place for EVERYTHING. Make sure it's in it's place"!  Luckily the June weather was crummy and it was raining a lot.

Mishka jumped in the car as I was unloading.
Wasn't much help.

...and this was taken before I was done loading them up!

4th of July.  Last but not least I have the goodies I made for the 4th of July.  Spending most of the summer at the lake means the 4th of July is as special as say Christmas. Really.  A lot of work goes into getting ready for this holiday.  

Clockwise from top left: 
Star containers filled with candies for our parents. 
Polka dotted straws.
Glow sticks. 
Extra candies put into a jar.

  Okay.  I think that's enough.  For now.  I REALLY need to get some national boards work started.  Lets hope I'll be more successful this time around.  I still want to google how to put a 'signature' at the end of each post though.  That and learning how to have the layout look MUCH more appealing.  That might have to wait until another day...

Until then...

M.I.A. continued

Experienced some computer hiccups... so I'll continue here.

Wreath.  Burlap EVERYTHING has been the craze.  So I had to join.  Here's the wreath I made.

I was surprised how quick & easy this was! 
I look forward to switching out the
decorations for each holiday/season.

Halloween 2013.  I had to 'do my time' with Jury Duty this October and was inspired by law enforcement.  Plus it was super easy for the dogs!



Digital frame re-decorated for the classroom.  I'm trying to take more pictures this year and I thought it'd be even better to have them circulate on a digital frame.  Much cheaper than always rushing off to get them printed.  Like I tell my 'kids'.  Work smarter not harder.

Open House Goodies.  Found this idea on Pinterest and added a little more 'cuteness' to it.

Birthday Treats.  This year I had to jump on the wagon with the birthday balloon/straw idea swarming on Pinterest.  Just in time to finish before September too. 

Our Girlfriends.  Last but not least.  Enjoying our time with these three crazies!

Koda girl.

Mimi

Lilly

Well.  I need to get back to getting some national boards work done for tomorrow.  To be honest. Not get back to, but actually start.  Eek!  I guess I've got to bite the bullet here.  Or google some tips for blogging first.  Just for a few minutes.  Promise!
Until next time.

M.I.A.

Seeing as I originally started this blog as a goal to journal more and now noticing the last post was from LAST summer. huge. failure. oops!  A lot has happened since then but too much for me to have the patience to write about.  So I'll pick up where I left off, posting about the 'arts & crafts' I've been working on.  The endless ideas found on Pinterest. And the occasional pictures of our animals too. Enjoy!

Decorated clipboards to use for Student Led Conferences

 

 

National Boards Organization

These materials and I are working to be BFFs.  Hence the 'working'!

 

 



 

Christmas gifts for our neighbors.  Brownie mix in a jar with a snowman ornament.