Birthday Card

I have finally had some time to get back into my craft room and get some things done.  I am trying to catch up on my Project Life, and I have two and a half months left in 2016 to finish.
My sister's birthday was this month, so I decided to make her a card.  I pulled out a Stampin' Up! set called Sprinkles of Life along with some inks and created this card.

I used the Stampin' Up! colors Melon Mambo and an oldie Lucky Limeade.  I also used Lawn Fawn's Quinn's 123s for the numbers and Simon Says Stamp It's No Secret set for the happy birthday greeting.  I have hoarded this Mambo Melon pom-pom trim for a long time, and this card needed something.  The trim added the perfect little touch to the cupcake.  I just used a sponge dauber to add the ink to the stamped images before I cut them out.

I pulled out an old Technique Tuesday set called Turn 29 for the inside sentiment and I really like how it turned out.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a good summer!

Small Group Notebook

I am linking up with Tara for Monday Made It over at 4thgradefrolics.  I used a composition book last year with my small group students.  I kept notes regarding their reading progress, any difficulties that I noticed while reading/working, and their progress.  It worked out great to use during parent-teacher conferences.  The only problem that I had was that it was not easy to flip through and I had a difficult time finding the pages for each student.  I decided to re-vamp it this year and I came up with this.

Here are all the supplies that I used:

I started with a $0.50 composition book from Walmart.  I took the cover off and unbound the book by cutting the strings in the binding.  I then cut down each page to 7" wide just to cut the binding part off.  I used my Zutter binding machine to punch the holes for the spiral.  By having a spiral on it, I can fold the pages over which will make it easier to jot notes in.  I pulled out some old double sided paper from my stash and made a front and back cover.  I used the Paper Studio vinyl (Hobby Lobby's brand) to create the title for the front of the book.  That vinyl worked out very well.  It's not the best quality vinyl because it is really thin.  Since I wanted to laminate the covers, the vinyl didn't add a lot of bulk which was perfect!  

After I had it all put together and bound, I punched out tabs from some coordinating cardstock for the tabs.  I also stamped numbers on each tab for each student.  I number my students, so these numbers will correspond with the student numbers.  I divided the notebook by 5 pages since the composition notebook comes with 100 pages each.  I am hoping that it will be enough for each student.  If I need to, I can cut up more pages and add them later to the book.

I really enjoyed this project.  I hope that it holds up well for the whole year.  The best part was that it only cost me $0.50.  Everything besides the composition book was in my stash.  I'm glad that I was able to use up some old supplies.  Thanks for stopping by!

Christmas Card

I used another one of my new Stampin' Up! stamp sets, Holiday Home.  I also tried out a few new techniques.  I've always been inspired by Kristina of KWernerdesign.com.  I used my distress markers to create the background on the Ranger watercolor paper.  I also tried my hand at some Copic coloring.

I also pulled out the Liquid Applique that I've been hoarding for a couple of years now.  This card took me way too long, and it is not one that I would do multiples of, but it was fun to create.

I attempted a night sky with this card.  I also sprayed it with some Perfect Pearl mist and dotted some "snowflakes" on the background with Liquid Applique.

Thanks for looking.

Fall Card

I got some new Stampin' Up! goodies and I had some time this week to play, so I thought I'd share what I created.

I used the Stampin' Up! sets For All Things and Gorgeous Grunge.  Gorgeous Grunge is quickly becoming one of my favorite stamp sets.  It's very versatile for adding texture or creating a background.

I used Always Artichoke, Cajun Craze, Pumpkin Pie, and More Mustard inks on the leaves, and I also sponged the edges with Chocolate Chip. I used Crumb Cake for the dots on the leaves.  I love the new gold baker's twine too!  

I hope you have a wonderful fall!  Thanks for looking.

Last Monday Made It 2014

Well, its back to school time here so this will be my last Monday Made It for the year.  For more great ideas, visit Tara at 4th Grade Frolics.  On with the creations.......

I wanted a new, stylish clipboard for all of my important teacher stuff (and mainly to be able to clip things to a place that I won't loose them the first week!)  So, off to Walmart I went and picked up this clipboard for just under $4.

Well, you know I can't leave well enough alone, so, I added my touch!  I pulled out some trusty vinyl from my stash, got my cameo all set up, and went to work.  I got the inspiration from this fabulous teacher blogger HERE.  She was even so kind to tell me what font she used (because it was perfect) so that I could copy her.

I did place the vinyl on the back of the clipboard so that when I write on the clipboard I don't have lumps and bumps.  I forgot and cut my name out in pink regularly, but I went back and flipped the text horizontally so that the sticky part would be on the front and I could place it on the back. (not pictured correctly)  

I also use drywall tape to transfer my vinyl.  Its not as sticky as the transfer tape and I can see through it better.  I don't do a ton of vinyl work, but this roll has lasted several years so far.

And here is the finished product.  I did also add some black vinyl circles.  I used Cricut brand (black and white) and Silhouette brand (pink).  Both cut great on the machine, but the Cricut vinyl is thicker and more opaque than the Silhouette brand.

Since the machine was out, I decided to add my name to this caddy to use at my group table.  

Thanks for looking.  If you have any questions, please let me know!  Thanks!

Monday Made It #4

 Wow, I have been busy getting ready for my new classroom this week!  I have another Monday Made It for you.  I'm linking up with Tara at 4th Grade Frolics.  This is my last "official" week of summer, but I will be heading into my new classroom to start getting it ready!  I tried to finish up the last little bit of projects I had before this week.  I still have a couple more to go, but that's ok!  Here's what I finished up last week.

I went to one of those painting events with a friend about a year and a half ago.  I painted the owl on this canvas then.  When I was finishing it up, I thought it was too plain and I'd add something to it when I got home.  Well, I got busy and never added anything to it.

Several years ago I saw this quote on Jennifer McGuire's blog.  I loved it and thought it was appropriate for a classroom.  I decided to paint it onto the canvas.  Out came the cameo (I'm loving this more and more!).  I used the cameo to make a template out of contact paper.  I used the font Things We Said for the white letters and I used a bold font for the rest.  I painted the white letters with a paint pen and they came out very neat.  I painted the bold letters with acrylic paint.  They seeped a little under the edges so I used a black sharpie marker to line the edges and give it a finished look!  I LOVE how it turned out!  I can't wait to hang it in my new classroom!

This was inspired by all the Monday Made It's I've seen this summer.  Here is my version of the 'No Name' board.

I think it goes well with my owl theme! All the supplies are from Walmart.  I loved that the wood piece was black chalkboard so I didn't even have to paint it black!  I used vinyl for the words, attached the painted owl and clothespins, and called it done!!

This last project is something that I wished I'd had done years ago.  I've never had a classroom set of clipboards and I thought that now was as good a time as any.

 I picked up the clipboards at Walmart.  They are $1.44 each there.  That was about $.44 more than I wanted to pay, but after finding cheaper ones online and paying shipping, it would have come out to be about the same price per board.  I also used this paper pad from Walmart and some Mod Podge.

I Mod Podged one paper to the back of each clipboard.  I did two of each pattern.  I figured that I could use this to group students also.  I'd have them all select a board and then tell them to find their partner by finding the person whose pattern paper matches theirs.  

I chose the flat clip clipboards so that they would nestle nicely into this container.  I bought this container two summers ago to use for my sister's baby shower.  I'm glad I have an official use for it now.  I used some black vinyl to label it up and called it finished also!



Thanks for looking.  I'm off to enjoy the last little bit of summer with my little guy!!!

Monday Made It #3

I am so glad that I've joined up with Tara at 4th Grade Frolics to get so classroom projects completed this summer!  I am back with my third week.  I actually completed more projects that I'm showing you this week, but this is all I've had time to photograph.  I guess I save the rest of my goodies for next week's fun!!

I have had this chair floating around the house for years and I decided it was time for a makeover.  I spent less than $5 on this project.  I only had to purchase the fabric because everything else I had on hand.

Here is the Before---->

I found the really cute owl fabric at Hobby Lobby.  I did injure myself in the making of this project! :(  I know the owls on the bottom are facing the wrong way, but after all those staples, I was NOT about to pull them all out again!!!  Maybe next year!! LOL  It will still look great behind my group table!

Here is the After------> 

On to the next project.......

My mom found this owl chalkboard on one of our summer Michael adventures.  It was too plain so I decided to dress it up a bit!

Here is the Before----------->

I added some vinyl that I had on hand, took a couple of paint pens to the eyes, and added some ribbon!!  What do you think?

Here is the After------> 

Thanks for looking!! Let me know if you have any questions!!