Cuteness is Coming to the Classroom

During the summer I catch up on all those little things in the class to make it cute and homey.  A few years ago I found some floral fabric I absolutely loved at Hobby Lobby.  Originally I bought it for my kitchen curtains, but I really didn't like it in there, so I didn't make them.  I just held onto it until I thought of a good place to use it.  The opportunity came--my classroom!  The past few years I've used the Poppin' Patterns calendar set, borders, the whole shebang.

I love it, and so I added my fabric for different things, like my Ribbon board and countdown board (I remade it as the year went on). I also made curtains from ones I had for another classroom.  They happen to match wonderfully!

This year I am putting my whole morning meeting on the SMART board.  I am so excited!  So all of the things on the chalkboard will be digital, mostly.  I am keeping the fabric things I've made because they are too cute.  I made a 100 day count too.

The 1 is somewhere in my classroom--I'll find it when I get back to school.  I love how it turned it out.  So, now I think I am going to try to make borders out of the fabric for the bulletin boards, a little lamp shade, and maybe a calendar.  We'll see about that.  When I figure out the borders I'll show you how!

My Lofty Summer Goals

Hey There!
We are into the second full week (for me) of summer, and I'm finally ready to get this show on the road.  I am determined to not waste my summer!  Here are some of the things I want to do this summer:

• Ukulele Practice.  I received my little jem for my birthday in September.  I've picked it up a few times and had some good practice, but not as much as I would have liked.  Most of the year I would see it sitting there, and I would just sigh and wish I had a little time to visit.  So now I will!  I'm learning chords and how to read Tab.  I use this ukulele tuner to make sure I'm in tune, and am slowly learning songs from  the website Ukulele Tabs.  Loving my little thing!
  
• Craftiness.  There are so many things I have put off until the summer!  Suncatchers, brush holders, candle making, sewing.  Lots of things.  
• School projects.  All those things I didn't have time to do during the year--organizing folders, finding new activities, making worksheets, etc.  Keeping myself in check so I don't do too much.
• And last, but most certainly not least, PLAY WITH MY GIRLS!!  They have been patient all year, so we are trying to get in as much time together as possible.  Lots of laughter and fun ahead!

Not too many goals.  I think it's gonna be a great summer!

Ribbon Bulletin Board

This is something that I've wanted to try making for a long time.  I think these boards are beautiful, and they can be simple or fancy, and functional at the same time.  At the end of the school year, I had important papers (like checking out lists, etc.) that I needed to keep track of.  I had them in one spot, but there are eight other people who spend the day in the classroom with me, and they were accidentally lost.  I eventually found them in the recycle bin! (It sits right next to my desk.)  That is when I realized that I desperately needed a bulletin board-just for me for all those little papers I need.  What a good opportunity to make a ribbon board! So I did.

I absolutely love this fabric!! I originally bought it for curtains for the house in Woodward, but that just didn't happen.  Now I'm glad it didn't.  It gets to go to school with me now. Anyway--

Here are the materials:

Bulletin board

Batting

Fabric

Ribbon (I used grosgrain)

Upholstery tacks

Hammer

Staple gun

Tape measure

Pins

Hot glue gun

1. Cut the batting and fabric large enough to cover your board and wrap around the back for a finished edge.  I left the fabric a little bigger than the batting so I could fold it over the batting when attaching it to the board.  Use enough batting to give your board some puffiness when the ribbons are attached.  I think I used four layers.  This is the part I fumbled.  I didn't put enough batting in, and it wasn't padded enough.  I had to start over.

2.  Fold the fabric and batting around to the back edge and using the staple gun, staple it to the board.  I did one or two on each side so I could get the fabric tight and smooth on the front.  Once I did that, I went all the way around.  I left the corners for the end.  I trimmed the batting and fabric a little because it was super thick.  Then I folded the fabric like a present and stapled it.  The back turned out to look fairly neat.

3.  Figure out where you would like your ribbons.  I think I did mine a little differently, but I like how it turned out.  Make sure they are parallel with each other.  That was hard with this fabric, but I accomplished it!  Pin the ribbon down on each end until you get the upholstery tacks on.  Also, leave enough ribbon when you cut it to wrap around the back.

4.  Once the ribbons are pinned, gently tap in the upholstery tacks at the intersections of the ribbons.  Make sure the tacks are in straight lines vertically and horizontally.  Take out the pins.  Be careful that you don't hammer the tack all the way through the board.  I did this a couple of times.  This is when the padding will really start to look cool.  

5.  Take the ends of the ribbons and hot glue them to the back of the board.  I tucked mine under the fabric if I could. 

6.  Add your mounting hardware.  At this point, I added a ribbon to hang it from.  I think it might need a frame to go around it, so this is still a work in progress!

I was amazed at how easy this was. I will probably make one for the girls also.  They will be able to do a lot of this project on their own.  

Oh! Here's a little side note.  When you've got a cute board, you need cute tacks, right?  So I made some!  I had some large head thumbtacks and some of those glass beads on hand.  I drew flowers that matched my board with a sharpie on the head of the thumbtack, hot glued the bead on, and voila! Cute tacks!

 

Semester Calendar

As you are probably noticing, I have a thing for calendars. Small ones, big ones, flippy ones, I love them all. There are many times when I find myself needing to see a month or two in the past and a month in advance for the same task. Just a quick glance-something that drives me crazy to have to pull out the big planner for. I decided that I would like to have a semester at a glance calendar in my room. And--why not make it awesome? That's what I did.

I just took an extra frame, fabric, and styrofoam from a package that I already had at home to make this. I cut the styrofoam to fit the frame, wrapped it in fabric, and installed it in the frame, using the original backing to hold it all in. I was going to put the months directly on the fabric, but it got lost in the pattern. So I put the calendars on a piece of black scrapbooking paper and it works. The calendar is pinned on with straight pins. It will be easy to change out the calendars or even change the format if I like. Just print and pin.

The "In" Box

This past year I finally found the perfect inbox for turning in papers.  I was using a wire stack-able letter tray for turning in work, but it just wasn't fitting what I needed.  That's when I found this.

The lid fits underneath, and the student's completed work fits nicely in it.  The best thing is--when I need to take papers home to grade, I just snap the lid on! And--It was just $3 at Wal-mart.  Score!

Now, as I sat at my desk, thinking about how I could make my classroom look and feel better, I realized I could cover it.  This is how it looks.

I cut my fabric the width of the sides and Mod-Podged it to the inside of the container.  I really didn't need to do the bottom (I was afraid papers would stick to the fabric if I did), but if I covered the lid, it would show right through the bottom.  That's what I did.  I measured and cut out a piece of fabric that would cover just the top of the lid.  I used Mod-Podge to adhere the fabric to the inside of the lid.  I did a little bit at a time, and I used a straight edge, a plastic putty knife, to push the air bubbles out and make sure I got the corners stuck tight.  I love how it turned out!!

Perpetual Calendar

My students are getting in the habit of writing the date on all of their papers.  I have seen the flip calendars with the month, day, and year spiral bound on an easel.  I didn't want that.  I wanted something I could hang on my chalkboard where the big calendar is.  So I made a calendar the way I wanted it.  I made the months one color, the days another, and the years yet another.  Then I laminated, cut them out, and punched holes in them for rings.  It is such a help in the classroom!  Last year I didn't know what to put it on, so I found something on hand--half and curtain rod and fishing line.  I didn't like it, but it worked.  I figured out something even better.  I put it on a hanger!  Then of course, I had to cute it up.  I took off the hook part of the hanger off because I didn't need it, but it would be just as cute with it on.

The Comment Box

There are many things I would love for my classroom.  Some of them are crazy expensive, some take time, and some are simple and easy.  This one falls under simple and easy.  I found this idea on Pinterest and I knew I needed it!  I have a student that can never stay on the subject, and I hate to tell him he has to wait to tell me or not at all.  Enter the comment box!  Now my students can write notes or draw pictures to my assistants and I without interrupting class, and do it without the rest of the class hearing if they choose.  I will set it up on the counter near my desk with paper and pencils.

Materials:
unfinished wooden tissue box
acrylic paint and brushes/sponges
paint pens (optional)
Mod Podge sealer (optional)

First, cover your surface.  I couldn't find a wooden tissue box cover, but I did find a box with a hinged lid with a wire mesh inlay.  I took out the wire and it's perfect.  My classroom is done in black with multicolored dots, so that's what I painted it.  I painted the box black then used different size circle templates to make my circles.  I used a pencil to lightly trace them on.  Then I colored them every color of the rainbow.  I wrote "comments" on the lid with a paint pen.  Done!

Once it dried, I looked at it and realized that I probably should seal it, since some of my students have a hard time keeping their fingers clean.  I gave it a quick coat of Mod Podge and we are set to go.  I decided to just paint/glue the lid shut since the opening is wide. I hope this will be effective at school.  If not, it's darn cute!

Fabric pine cones

Many years ago, I received an ornament from a family that I taught three of their children. To this day it is my favorite ornament that I've been given.  It was home made and looked difficult to do.  This past Christmas I wanted to make gifts for our family instead of purchasing them, since I was on a budget but had a surplus of time.  I remembered my ornament and found how to make them online.  I absolutely loved how they turned out, and how easy it was to make them.  Now I'm obsessed!  I found a pretty iron bowl at Hobby Lobby and knew that it was just what I needed--to put pine cones in all year round.  Now each month I am making three seasonal ones to put on my coffee table.  Here's how to make them:

Supplies

1/4 to 1/2 yard of fabric (I found small prints work better than big ones)

Straight pins with the flat head

Styrofoam ball (I like the 3 inch size)

Scissors or rotary cutter and mat

Ruler

First, you need to cut your fabric into 2 inch squares.  I used a rotary cutter and self-healing mat, which makes it crazy fast and easy.  I cut four layers of fabric at once.

 

 Once you have the squares cut, you are ready to put it together.  First, take one square of fabric and pin it flat to the ball.  This will be your starting point. Then, take a square and fold it in half then in half again.  When you attach it to the ball, make sure the folded ends are facing upward with the double-folded side on the left, like this.

Attach the square to the ball on the left corner (right where my thumb is), overlapping a corner of the flat square you've already attached.  Fold another square and overlap it's left corner with the right corner of the already pinned square, securing the first square down on both ends.  Do this all the way around until you meet back up with your first square.  You will pin both corners of the square when you finish each row.

When beginning a new row, stagger your square so it covers up the pin you just put in.  The trick is to keep all the pins covered so you don't see them.  Sometimes that is really hard to do.  Keep pinning and adding rows until you get to the top and you can't put any more on.  Finish the top with one final folded square.  I like to take that last one and fold all four unfinished edges inward and pin it so there are no fray-able edges showing.  Then, if you want, you can add a ribbon to make it an ornament.  For Christmas I did, but for the seasonal ones I didn't.  This one is my favorite.  I think we will use it like mistletoe. I just love how they turn out!

And here is my February bowl:

The Jack Lamp

I wanted to make something for Allen with his empty Jack Daniel's bottle. I love how the bottles look--the contrast on the label, with the simplicity but fanciness of it. So I thought about it for a while, and voila! the idea came. A lamp! I wasn't too fond of the lamp he was using at the time and wanted to do something we would both like. So here's how I did it:

First, I assembled the things I would need.
I went to Lowe's and found a bottle lamp kit .
I already had the bottle (1.75 liter)
I used the lamp shade we had, and then
I went to Michael's and got oval glass marbles that were the color of whiskey (about 5 bags).

I filled the bottle with the marbles to give it some weight, and to make it look full. Then I followed the directions on the lamp kit package. I assembled the main screw into the cork I needed to fit my bottle, put the cap then the bottom of the switch housing on it. Then I had to put the correct wire on the screws and tighten them for good connectivity. (I thought that was the hardest part) All that was left after that was put the top of the switch housing on and put it in the bottle. The cork was a tight fit, but there was some movement when you would turn on and off the light. That wouldn't do, so I got out my trusty hot glue gun and put some glue right around the top of the cork and put it back in. Worked like a charm! Now Allen has a cool lamp we both like.

Crayola hearts

A couple of years ago I read in Family Fun about how to make crayon heart valentines. We made them for Anna and Lauren's classes, as well as mine. They were a hit!

When we moved, the girls found the molds. Since it is summer and we like to do things on the cheap, we made some for ourselves. First, the girls peeled the paper off of the colors they wanted to use and broke them in pieces.



They arranged the pieces in the mold, and then we put it in a 250 degree oven. I don't exactly know how long it was, since we watched it. I'm guessing around ten minutes. We pulled them out when they were completely melted.






We let them cool completely and popped them out. That was the hardest part of the whole process! And now, the girls have their own custom crayons.



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