Class Windchimes {Teacher Gift}

Things really get busy with 2 kids in school, huh? I'm always amazed by how much we get done by noon now.

Anyway, Finn's teacher's birthday is coming up next month and my neighbor (who also has a boy in Finn's class--YES, it's all my housewife dreams come true!) suggested we make her a windchime.

We went out and bought some metal alphabet stampers. Who knew they're sold at Hobby Lobby and only $12 (even less with 40% coupon)? Then we got some metal washers and stamped each child in the class' name on them. We went back and forth about what to hang them on, but while shopping at Goodwill, we spotted a cute door hanger and that was settled. I upcycled it by cleaning it up a bit and Mod-Podging the teacher's name to the bottom.

I added the teacher's name to it and voila! I think it was just such a great idea and a really cool way to remember the class!



I'll be linking up here!

And I'm entering this into Sew Dang Cute Crafts' Upcycled Linky Contest. Go check it out!

Happy Mother's Day! {Tiered Planters}

For Mother's Day, I made my Mom and Mother-in-law some Tiered Planters with their names and house numbers on them. It's been lovely outside, so it's nice to have a project that I could finish outdoors.

A close-up of the card I cut with my Silhouette. I slit a bamboo skewer to make a little stand for it:

I'll also be giving some homemade satchets and new pictures to the grannies.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Mother's Day!

It's All in the Packaging

I never really considered myself a good wrapper, but I am getting better. I'm going to my friend's baby shower today and it is at one of my favorite tea houses, so I'm super excited! Seriously, I never knew how girly I was until the last couple of years. The thought of getting dolled up and going to lunch with the girls is thrilling!

So, start with a homemade card (cut with my Silhouette):

I made the baby a personalized toy bucket to put all his gifts in:



And then I figured I better make one for the big brother too:

I placed the green bucket in the blue one, filled it up with gifts and then added some of the same ribbon I used on the card. Voila!

I will be linking up to the Pretty Packages Party at The Blackberry Vine on Tuesday!

Celebrate The Baby Boy

I love all the boy-themed projects going on right now. I hadn't exactly planned on making one myself, but a friend of mine placed an order with me for 4 sets of burp cloths, ALL BOYS. On top of that, she is having a boy herself, so I wanted to whip up something for her too.

I needed to restock my stash, so I spent a little time shopping for new fabrics. I think the doggies are my favorite:

But I'm most excited about making her gift! I love practical items that are also cute. It gives you a little bit of glamour while mopping up spitup, don't you think?

This is the first bib I've ever made. This is actually the backside, with few pockets for spoons, napkins, maybe some lipstick...:

And the front. I love polka dots!:

Burp cloths:

And a small taggie blanket. The back is super soft minkie:

I'll be linking up to these great parties!

Soup Can Valentine

I think will officially be my last Valentine-themed craft of the year! In fact, I might even take St. Patrick's Day off (not likely).

Today the kids and I made Soup Can Valentines for my mother. This is a really fun craft, because most people don't realize that you can reuse soup cans this way.

What you need:

-empty, clean soup can with a pull-top. You need to have opened it with a can opener on the BOTTOM of the can, leaving the pull top intact.

-glue gun

-Mod Podge

-cardstock or wrapping paper

-embellishments like ribbon, flowers, doilies, etc.

First I got out my soup cans. Once again, make sure the pull top is still intact:

I wrapped up some cookies in tissue paper to go inside:

Turn your can over and put the goodies through the opened bottom of the can:

Use your glue gun to glue the bottom shut. You should probably hold it in place for a minute:

Next measure your can. Then cut your paper to your measurements:

Measure the top of your can too. Cut a circle to fit, then cut a small scoop out of it so it will fit around the pull top:

Using the Mod Podge, glue down your paper and the top circle:

Then, embellish away! I added some ribbons, a tag...

On the front, I cut some shapes out of cardstock with my Silhouette and glued on some satin flowers (did a little stamping too):

Now go leave it in someone's mailbox! I love leaving things in people's mailboxes, it's such a nice surprise after a long day at work. And this one is extra fun, because they'll wonder how you ever got that stuff in there (until they turn it over, that is).

I'll be linking up to these great parties!



Pre-Teen Gift

Clockwise from top:

Store-bought pink headband with silk flower attached

Store-bought headband, wrapped in fabric (secured with hot glue) with rolled fabric rosettes attached

Store-bought stretchy band with silk flower attached

Coordinating knot and bead necklace

Hope she likes to accessorize!

Teacher Appreciation

My first child started school this year and I admit, I've been a little overzealous when it comes to participating in school activities. One of the other moms even told me that I'd soon be burnt-out if I keep going like I am. I'm not quite there yet, but I am glad that Christmas break is coming up and I can have a little downtime from the school.
The latest thing I've done is volunteer to co-chair the Teacher Appreciation Luncheon. I really have absolutely no recollection of signing up to do this (although I don't doubt that I did). I'm sure I must have thought I was signing up to HELP with the luncheon, because I would have to be out of my right mind if I consciously signed up to help CHAIR it.
Anyway, no worries. Despite the fact that I've never done this before, have no idea what I'm doing and it's on the one day a week that I work, I think I've actually pulled it together. The other co-chair didn't realize what she was signing up for either and said that she couldn't actually even be there, BUT she works for a great fast-food chain and can provide all the food. Score!
Therefore, I've had to put together the rest of it. This means: calling mothers to help volunteer (out of the hundred or so parents at the school I've gotten 5. FIVE.), buying tableware, getting together some sort of gift for each teacher and making decorations. I've had 2 months to do it, so it isn't exactly awful or anything.
Here's what I came up for for the gifts:

Aren't these the cutest mugs? You probably can't see, but they say "Write your own story" "Take some time" "Shine" and "Discover." They were only a dollar at Michaels! Each one is filled with candy and a gift card to Sonic (we are deep in Sonic country 'round here).

I wrapped them in Christmas gift bags (hard to find much else this time of year) and added a homemade gift tag.

And finally, I made a banner for the room.
It should be a nice luncheon, and thankfully, hubby will be around to help me clean up!

Teacher Gift, Part 3

I finished Mrs. Ancik's birthday present, and just in time! I did not feel well yesterday, but I HAD to get some more of that polka dot paper to finish her wish list, so I trucked up to Hobby Lobby with the kids in tow, probably looking more than a little green.
The "Wish List" was another find at Ponytails & Fishscales. I got a tin sign from Hobby Lobby, mod podged cute paper and ribbon on it, and made some apple magnets. Now, whenever she needs some kleenex, copies run, or anything else, she can put it up on the wish list so that one of the parents can help out. I got her a gift card to Barnes & Noble as well, packaged it up, and voila! (those are Kiki's little hands in the picture) Another thing I wanted to make for Mrs. Ancik were these adorable apple cupcakes. I baked the cupcakes, got sick and decided that nobody would want my possible tainted cupcakes (I'm 99% sure it was the fish I ate for lunch, but there was still that 1% of doubt), so I threw them all out. However, I kept one to decorate. They would have been so cute! It's just a white cupcake, white icing, dipped in red sugar, then a tootsie roll for the stem and an icing leaf.

Teacher Gift, Part 2

This idea came from Ponytails & Fishscales, another awesome blog. It's a chalkboard initial! However, this is the first time I've ever chalk-boarded something, and I think I should have added another coat. Which of course means that I will be ripping that ribbon off and trying again. But, I figured I would go ahead and show it off anyway!

Teacher Gift, Part 1

I feel like I don't even come up with original ideas anymore, I am WAY too busy trolling the blogs so that I can recreate everyone else's cool crafts. But that's okay. It keeps me busy (although I am coming dangerously close to the edge of burn-out).
Here is a great idea that I saw at eighteen25. It's a teacher emergency supply box. You get one of those plastic craft boxes for around $1 and dress it up with a little scrapbook paper and whatever-else-you-wish: And on the inside you fill the little cubbies with all sorts of supplies a teacher might need (including chocolate!). My hubby joked that what Mrs. Ancik really needs is a taser to chill out my son when he gets too wild, but, well...it wouldn't fit.

Pre-teen Birthday Gift

I will be linking up this post with Tea Rose Home's Wednesday link party!

It's easy to make gifts for babies, but for 9-year-old girls? I went for a purple & black memo board, personalized, of course!