So much going on!

Wow, it is crazy how fast time goes :)  Well lets see I have been able to craft a bit since September but not a ton.  Once we moved my craftroom to the garage it has not left me a lot of chances to get out there because it is detached so it is COLD!  I did bring my sewing machine and Cricut inside to my small desk area in the kitchen.  Yes, I said sewing machine.  I bought it many many years ago and just started using it a couple of months ago.  I am addicted.  I am LOVING creating with it.  I thought I would just do a dump post of some sewing/crafting/anything projects I have done over the last few months :)

Thanksgiving:
I made some simple skirts for the girls, they wore leggings underneath.  I also used some leftover fabric and made a table runner.

Christmas:
I made a double layered Christmas skirt and then used my Cricut to cut out a Christmas tree.  I think my favorite part of this was that the girls LOVED them and my Mady was so proud to tell her teacher that her mom made her outfit for her.  So very sweet.

Teacher gifts:
I am working on some easy teacher gifts this year.  My DD's helped put them together (although I am sure I did most of it :)).  I ordered some little containers from 31 Gifts and put in hot chocolate, disposable cups, marshmallows, candy canes, candy and some chocolate spoons I made.  I love that the girls are old enough to help!  The girls also helped make Rudolph water bottles for their class party.

The boys are doing well but not willing to let me sew them much.  Ryan did let me sew a Thanksgiving patterned pocked on a tshirt of his but that was about it :)

Thanks for stopping by.  Happy crafting!

Snowman Kisses

I wanted to do something for the teachers for Christmas but really did not have a lot of time, I also wanted to do something for the boys orthodontists, they have been so very sweet (always but especially during Ed's illness and since his passing).  I had pinned some ideas on Pinterest and remembered a tic tac one called snowman poop or snowman kisses.  I am a little weirded out by giving treats that are called poop, lol, so I decided to go with snowman kisses.  Here are the little final products, my 4 year old helped a lot while we waited for my older daughter at gymnastics so she got to hold the final products :)

I found this very cute and easy free snowman kisses printable at Snowman Kisses

Thanks for stopping by!

PreSchool Teacher Gifts and Class Treats 2012

So like usual I waiting until the last minute for school treats for the kids...needless to say I have been busy but still should have planned ahead more!

My youngest only has 6 kids in her class (thank goodness) so I had to hurry to get them done the last day of class before break which was very early for her school for some reason.  I used a digital print from Paper Crafting World for the cute girl elf.  I wish I had time to individually cut them out but did not, I also wish I had a machine that cut SVG's but I don't :(  So this was the best I could do in a hurry.  The Elf Girl is so cute and reminds of my Mady Moo which is why I used her :)

I also needed something quick for the teachers.  I had some Christmas themed magnetic notepads from last year and I had picked up some GIANT pens from the dollar store so I knew those would work.  I just love how easy these were and how cute they turned out.  I used the directions for the paper pad "cover" from here.

Thanks for stopping by, I hope everyone has a craft day!

Back to School Teacher Gifts

Hello.it is back to school time in our house.  This year all 4 of my children will be in school.  My youngest will just go to preschool 2 days a week for 2.5 hours but still it will means lots of class and teacher goodies :)  My boys started Monday so I had to have their teacher gifts ready.  Thanks goodness for crafting time while at football practice with my boys and at chemo with my hubby or I would not have been ready.  My 4 year old starts Pre-K tomorrow so I have to get hers ready tonight :)  The same teachers gift for all of them.

I found this idea on Pinterest, here, and just thought it was so cute.  I had already picked up some apple post it notes and some other supplies so I knew it would just take the time to make and put it together.

Here is the final product.

I ended up adding a small decorated container of hand sanitizer and I wrote a note on the top of the post it pad but did not take a picture after that since it was last minute.  I love the little clip chalk board I used for the name.  I bought this in an 8 pack from the $1 section at Michael's and just used white jelly roll pen to write on them.  Worked perfect.  The school paper is a 8.5 X11 paper pack from Recollections from Michael's, I love it.  I used it last year for end of the year teacher thank you cards also (here).

 

Also, here are my handsome boys :)  I cannot believe they are in 4th and 6th grade.  Yikes!

Well I better get to work on my other 4 that I need for tomorrow! (2 teachers, the Principal and the Admin Assistant).

Have a craft day.

PS:  I am linking this up over at Sarah Hamer Designs so stop by and link up too!  http://www.pinkcricut.com/2012/08/link-party-8/

End of Year Teacher Gifts From My Boys

Today is the last day of school for my boys (5th and 3rd grade) so I had to get those teacher gifts done!  I always do one for each homeroom teacher and the Principal and school Secretary.  I also did one for my older sons religion teacher because he has her every day.  They are almost the same as I did for my daughters preschool teachers except for these I had cute wicker bags I found at Target for $2.50.  I bought them probably 2 months ago and luckily used them (most things I buy just keep sitting here :)

I added a beach towel, two puzzle books, a pen and pencil, sunglasses, a water bottle and a spray bottle to each bag (most items were from the $1 store or $1 section).  I printed the tags on the computer and then cut the suns from Create a Critter.

I also used some cards I made using the One Sheet Wonder like I did for my daughters teachers.  I used Pink By Design stamps, Our Teachers and Big Thoughts, for the sentiments on the cards.

The school has been so wonderful since Ryan (my oldest-11 years old) started in kindergarten when he was 5 and they have especially been so caring and generous over the last few weeks since Ed received his cancer diagnosis so this is really the least I could do for them.  My 8 year old Kyle even told me last night that he did not want school to end because he would miss his teacher so much and that she is like a second mom to him.  I really could not ask for more. :)

Thanks for stopping by and have a crafty day!

End of the Year Teacher Gifts from my Preschooler

Wow, has it been a long time!  Things have been very busy around my way and I just have not had time to craft.  They have also been tough.  We found out last week that my husband has Colon Cancer, which has spread to his abdomen and liver (he is only 37, can you believe it).  We are gearing up for the fight of our lives but I know in my heart he can and WILL beat it.  We have so many people praying for us that I know it is impossible for him not to make it through.  He started chemo this week and has had so many appointments so I decided to get my craft supplies together so I am able to craft while I wait (crafting while waiting is what I call it).  I am working use one of those One Sheet Wonder (OSW) templates to make some thank you cards to have them on hand since people are being SO generous with gifts and food to try to make things easier for us (we are so blessed with such caring friend and family).

Although this is all going on I did not want to neglect my daughters teachers and her last day of preschool was today.  I bought some cute little summery tote bags at Target in the $1 section and filled them with a beach towel, a water sprayer, some sunglasses, word find and soduku books, a pen and a pencil.  I used a card from the OSW set I am making to write a note for each teacher to put in their bag also and then I made a cute little tag for the bag.  I find a similar tag online for the inspiration but I changed the words a little.  I wish I could remember where to share but that was months ago.  If I find it I will post the link.  Anyway, here are the final products.  I hope the teachers enjoy them this summer!

 


I used my Pink by Design Our Teachers set to do the Thank you teacher stamp and then used an old creative memories punch to punch out the star.  It worked perfectly!  The I love school paper was from a cute 81/2 X 11 paper pack I got at Michaels a couple of weeks ago on sale.  It has school buses, apples and a chalkboard with letters type paper in it.  I plan to do some with the apples to have on hand or give to the teachers as gift set too.  The one sheet wonders are amazing.  

I also included my baby on her last day of school (not really my baby because I have an almost 3 year old but they are all my babies :)

Well, I will be back (soon?) with some pictures of my baby girl Mady's 3rd birthday invitations (Mickey Mouse) and I will need to do the other teachers for my boys in June so hopefully I will be back sooner than later.

If you don't mind, say a prayer or two for my husband.  We could use all we can get these days :)

Thanks and have a crafty day.

PS:  I am linking up to Sarah Hamer Designs, so stop by and link up too!  http://www.pinkcricut.com/2012/05/link-tuesday-7/

Valentine Treats for the Kids Classmates and Teachers

I think I went back and forth on what to make for the kids classmates and teachers for that matter a 100 time.  I find way TOO many ideas on Pinterest that I always want to try.  Then of course February 13th comes and I have nothing made yet, LOL.  So here is what we ended up with.

For the boys their classmates go a hug and a kiss (or two or three)

I just printed the sentiment on my computer, cut it out and rounded the edges.  I did the same with the red paper. I then tied the bag closed with some ribbon and the tag (the boys signed their names on their tags for theirs, this was an extra).  I came up with this idea after seeing a squeeze and a kiss on Pinterest.  I remember these little hugs juice barrels from when I was a kid and thought they would be perfect :)  Whats a little more sugar on Valentines day, right!

My daughter took some goldfish crackers:

I had seen a few versions of this on Pinterest and knew I wanted to try it.  I used Art Philosophy for the bag toppers (scored them in the middle), I bought the bags with hearts on them at the party store, I printed the sentiments on the computer and just used my Creative Memories circle punch (1.5 inches) and my Fiskars scalloped circle punch (2 inches).  She also wrote her name on the back of the bag topper but I did not get a picture of that :(

For the teachers I just did this cute idea I saw on Pinterest and that I wanted to do for my boys but my husband was not too keen on the idea of sending glass bottle so I did three 6 packs and put them in the teachers lounge at my boys school, plus made specific ones for their teachers and then I made 3 for my daughter to give to her two preschool teachers and the secretary there.

The hardest part was finding the strawberry Crush which I have to thank my friend Steph for letting me know they were at Walmart and my mom for picking me up so many that I had left overs, LOL.

The teachers loved the sodas and the kids loved the Valentine goodies.  This is probably the last year I will do these for my oldest (I will still do for his teachers) so that was bitter sweet but at least next year I will have my other daughter to make for also since she will be in preschool :)

Thanks for stopping by, have a crafty day!

Teacher Appreciation Day!

Today is Teacher Appreciation Day at my boys school.  I just wanted to do something simple and seen the idea of using Extra gum a while back (probably on Pinterest, LOL).  I decided to make a little goodie bag with the gum in it and I wanted to make a cute apple topper.  

Here is what I came up with:

I made the sentiment on my computer and printed it on white card stock and then  used green card stock as a base for it.  I then just stuck it right on the pack of Extra gum :)  I welded two hearts from Doodlecharms (Cricut) in Cricut CraftRoom to make the bag toppers.





I welded two apples from Doodlecharms (Cricut) in Cricut CraftRoom to make the bag toppers.  

 I used Pink By Design Our Teachers stamp set for the sentiment (it is we appreciate you teacher) and I altered it by not inking the teacher and then used the Principal from the You put the PAL in Principal from that set.  I then used December stamp of the month set and die for the little tag and tag frame stamp.  I added a heart to the principal one but was unsure if I liked it so I did not add it to the others.

I also used Doodlecharms to cut the  leaf from that cartridge also.  I hand cut the stem.  I embossed them both using my Cuttlebug (for the first time), using dots for the leaf and wood grain for the stem.

I know it is just a pack of gum but I think it is the thought that counts (we also do a gift to each teacher from the entire class, so this is just a little "extra", HAHA).  I did one for each of the 4 teachers my boys have and for the principal and school secretary.

Thanks for stopping by.  I hope you have a crafty day!

PS:  Since I used my Pink By Design stamps (again :)) I am linking this up over at http://www.pinkcricut.com/ to the 1/31/12 Link Up party!  You should stop by and take a look!

Easy Hot Cocoa Teacher Gifts

Hello all!  I made these cute hot cocoa holders using the same theory as the gum advent calendars from Pink Cricut.  This time I just sort of free handed it in terms of measurements.

Here they are:

I added two packs of hot cocoa, then I closed it, punched a hole and tied a ribbon through, I also added two small bags (I had the bags on hand) of marshmallows and put those through the ribbon and tied it closed.  I then made a small tag and stamped it with my Pink by Design December Stamp of the Month set.  Lastly, I cut out a gift card holder that I made using Cricut CraftRoom and Art Philosophy and put it on the back of the little hot cocoa book.  Easy!  The teachers loved these and I already received one thank you card for them!  I have made 5 of these so far (my 3 year olds two teachers, my co-teacher for Sunday school and our two high school helpers).  I plan to do at least 6 more once I get some more hot chocolate for the teachers at my sons school.  I probably will not add gift cards to those because we do that as a class.  Instead I think I may add two chocolate spoons.  If I do I will add that in another post.  Thanks for stopping by today!

PS:  Don't forget to keep up with us over at Cooking with Cricut as our 25 days of crafting fun finish up this week :)

So Thankful M&M Tubes

I purchased these clear tubes from SRM months and months ago with the best intent to use them...but they just sat on the shelf :)  So I decided I wanted to make something small for my childrens teachers and admin school staff so I thought an M&M tube would be perfect!  I of course decided to get started on it last night around 9:30pm...needless to say I was up LATE!  I tried to make it as simple as possible.  Here they are:

I saw a few templates online but I just decided to make my own.  I used solid paper for the "holder", then added patterned paper to decorate it.  I used patterned paper for the scallop circle and for the little circle to put on the lid as well.  I used the Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge to cut the scallop at 2.25 inches.  I used a creme colored cardstock to print the sentiment on (which I just came up with because I have NO Thanksgiving stamps for some reason).  I used a scallop punch I had, I believe it is 2inches, to cut out the sentiment.  I replaced Principal with teacher for that one and for the admin assistant I just put So THANKFUL for you.  I also hot glued ribbon (I had some ribbon that said so thankful-perfect right and when I ran out of that I had some with leaves on it).  If I had more time I probably would have added a turkey or something...maybe next time :) 

If anyone is interested in the template I made, let me know and I will post it :)  TFL!

I entering this into the following challenge(s):

1. More Than Favors-Wacky Wednesday
2. Whimsical Wednesday Challenge "Happy Turkey Day"

Halloween Goodie Bags for Preschoolers and Teachers :)

Hello.  I saw these adorably decorated crayon boxes over on a My Creative Time designer's (Cathryn) blog http://inthepinkcathryn.blogspot.com/2011/07/my-creative-times-july-stamp-release.html back in July and immediately bought the stamp set with the intentions of doing this (a similar version of it) for my daughter's preschool class.  Then a couple of weeks ago I was in Target and saw cute little Halloween notepads in the $1 section (6 in a pack) so I bought those also.  I decided this week to put them in with the crayons to make a goodie bags...of course that meant I needed toppers.  I also decided to make some goodie bags for her two teachers using an idea I had seen around on Pinterest and other sites. 

Here are the bags for the kids:  For the crayons I used the My Creative Time all around Halloween set, some plain paper from AC Moore and some patterned paper from K&Co.  For the bag toppers I used Art Philosophy to cut the square in 2 sizes, then I scored it in the middle.  On the top layer I added stitching via gelly roll pens, either a ghost from Paper Doll Dress-up or a pumpkin from Create a Critter.  Of course they needed a cute little Peachy Keen face :)  I printed the names all one piece of card stock on the computer then cut out using the center point feature and one of the cute tags on Art Philosphy.  I then used the Happy Halloween sentiment from my Pink by Design Guess Who set to add the sentiment.  Lastly, I used the bonus stamp that came with Septembers new order stamps from My Creative Time on the back of the bags :)

 

Here are the bags for the teachers:  I used the same process for the bag toppers as above but I printed the sentiment on orange paper first, then cut the square using Art Philosophy.  I then cut the ghosts from Paper Doll Dress-up and used some cute Peachy Keen faces on them.   I plan to make some of these for my office staff as well this weekend for Monday.

I hope the kids and teachers enjoy their goodie bags!  TFL!

Crayon Wreath (my first attempt so please be nice :)

Wow, I had seen these crayon wreaths all over and knew I wanted to try one but I had no idea how hard it would be (for me at least).  Getting the crayons to line up was not very easy and needless to say mine did not come out perfect but I think it is ok for my first attempt.  I bought a cardboard/wood circle from Michaels for the base (it was 99cents).  First I covered it in just regular old school paper from my kids pile, just to give it a background (I just traced the cirle and cut it out).  Then I already had tons of crayons but for this size it took a little less than 2 boxes.  I added some school ribbon I had for the hanger and also on the inside on the circle just because I wanted it there, it really did not need it.  I used Locker Talk (because I do not have the Recess cart :( to cut the apple (I embossed the leaf), glue (I used my gelly roll to add some white glue to the top and outline the letter) and ruler (just used a black marker to outline the #'s and letters).  I had previously purchased a 3 pack of these little chalkboard ornaments at Joann's because when I needed them last year I could not find them so that worked out great.  I wrote on the chalkboard with my white gelly roll pen.  I also had one little open Bible left from a pack I bought for a teachers gift last year so I added that as well since it is for a Catholic Preschool.  All in all I think it turned out fine and I hope the teachers like it.  I am not sure if I will do another one soon but if I do I will know going into it that it is not as easy as I thought, LOL.  TFL!