Cheers to Another Birthday

I absolutely LOVE my Cheers to You stamp set. In fact, I'm running out of ways to use it! Below is Linda's birthday card. Happy Birthday, Linda!

To Make: Stampin' Up colors: Pumpkin Pie, Rose Red, So Saffron; Tools: scallop edge punch.

Can you believe summer is almost over?!?! I don't know what I'm going to do without my extra "card making time." Happy crafting!

Cookie Cuteness

I got the keys to my classroom back today! YAY! And I only worked for 3 hours! Tomorrow will be a different story, though. So I told our Administrative Assistant (the one holding my keys hostage for the summer) that I would trade her cookies for my keys. Below is Sandi. "Hi Sandi!"

I had some leftover cookies and decided to share them with the Youth Leaders at my church. I spent a week at camp with them as a high school counselor. (Don't worry. I had a badge that told the kids I was an adult. No need to act like one.) Anyone who can put up with me for a week deserves cookies, for sure! Below are Steven and Jon. Steven likes cookies.

And Jon plays guitar.

Happy crafting!

Cheers to Turning 21!

Today is my cousin's 21st birthday. Happy 21st Birthday, Deirdra! Her favorite color is green so I started with that. (Remember the green scarf I made at Christmas time? That was for Deirdra!) Of course, I had to use my Cheers to You stamp from Stampin' Up!

To Make: Stampin' Up colors: Wild Wasabi (cardstock and stamp pad), So Saffron (cardstock and stamp pad), Rose Red (cardstock and stamp pad), Pumpkin Pie (cardstock, ribbon, and stamp pad); Tools: 2" round punch, scallop scissors.

Happy crafting!

Flower Fairies

Okay. So as you read this post, imagine my voice getting higher and higher pictched as I get more and more excited about the cute flower fairies. I saw this idea who knows where and just about fell out of my seat due to cuteness! EEEH! I was able to use my fabulous Awash with Flowers stamp set to make the petal skirt, then added arms, a head, and legs using my All in the Family stamp set. TOO CUTE, right?!?! This one is for Raina. Happy Birthday, Raina! I hope she likes it!

I'll have to try making flower fairies with other flowers from my Awash with Flowers stamp set. No more little girl birthdays for a while, though... Maybe I'll have to do another giveaway! Genius! Happy crafting you all!

Classroom Planning

I'll be using one plan book for both 7th Grade and 8th Grade this year. My classroom is mostly apple themed, so I'll be color-coding the two grade levels green and red. I'll place one green and one red file folder in my plan book to separate the two grade levels, as well house the course calendars for each grade levels.

To Make:

1/2" Binder

File Folders

Lesson Plan Pages ( I can't figure out how to link mine... will do once I figure it out)

Happy organizing!

Classroom Organization

Instead of using filing cabinets to store the handouts, lessons, and worksheets I use throughout the year, I keep only one copy and store them all in one handy dandy binder. I keep each of my copies in sheet protectors and then place them in chronological order. I also add and label Post-It Tabs for quick and easy reference. Below is my Handouts Binder for Physical Science. I'll actually be teaching both Life Science and Physical Science (7th Grade and 8th Grade) this year, so I'll put the new binder together throughout the year.

To Make:

2" Binder

100+ Sheet Protectors

Post-It Tabs

And the Post-It Tabs I use match the tabs I've placed on my TE.

I honestly never have trouble finding anything. It's great! Happy organizing!

Navy Silverware

For Daniel's Navy Party, I wrapped white silverware in navy napkins and tied them with a nautical knot. I'm seriously rocking these knots! They were pretty easy and didn't take too long. However, I attemped to do this while at Daniel's with his new kitty. Apparently kitties like string. Go figure. This definitely slowed me down a bit. I ended up tying most of the knots above my head, out of reach of kitty. Haha. It was prettty entertaining.

I used the same Knot Tutorial that I found helpful for my Navy Knot Board. Like I said before, it's amazing. I'll probably make a string of knots to adorn the food table, as well. Happy crafting!

Classroom Can

I'm not quite sure how I want to use this one, but I'm definitely not giving it away. It's way too cute! And stay tuned because I'll be making a matching sign soon.

 

To Make:

Aluminum Can (this one was artichoke hearts, I think)

Black Cardstock

My ABC's Stampin Around

Stampin Wheel

Whisper White Ink Pad

Measuring Tape Ribbon (5/8" wide)

Any thoughts or ideas for use of this one?

Homemade Pizza

Tonight I made pizza for dinner. But this wasn't my usual pizza. This pizza was entirely homemade! (Well, except for the cheese.) I started earlier this afternoon by making Homemade Pizza Dough and Homemade Pizza Sauce.

Next I went out back into our garden and picked some Home-Grown Vegetables. I chopped them up to use as Toppings. We're growing Basil, Eggplant, Tomatoes, and Zucchini. (We also have green bell peppers, but there weren't any to pick today.)

So I took my Homemade Pizza Dough, Homemade Tomato Sauce, some mozzerella and parmesan cheese, my Home-Grown Vegetable Toppings, and layered them to make one fabulous Homemade Pizza. I baked. Then we ate. (I was thinking, If I got a cow, then I could make my own cheese. And have really fresh milk. However, I'm not really okay with killing and eating the cow in the end. I guess I'll stick to store-bought cheese and milk for now.)

Yumm! So I won't lie, the pizza dough was not quite as good as what I would normally buy from the store. However, my pizza dough was made today and I know exactly what went into it. The pizza dough I would normally buy at the store would sit there for days after traveling probably halfway across the country.

Happy cooking! And happy crafting!

Classroom Cuteness

One thing I learned last year was that middle schoolers won't do much without a bribe. Usually the bribe is their grade. However, on occasion, I ask them to participate in some sort of activity that does not DIRECTLY effect their grades. I say directly because it's usually a review that will INDIRECTLY affect their test grade... Of course, they often don't see this (or maybe they just don't care). In these cases, the motivation becomes candy. (I know, I know. I HATE it, too!) So this year, I'm starting the year prepared with a couple Cute Candy Containers...

 

To Make:

Plastic Container (mine originally housed snacks from Costco (Chocolate Covered Almonds)

Black Cardstock

My ABC's Stampin Around

Stampin Wheel

Whisper White Ink Pad

Red Ribbon (7/8" wide)

Happy Crafting!

Ocean Snack

I know probably every parent and teacher across the country has made this snack, but I thought I'd share anyways... crushed graham crackers, blue jello, gummy fish.

I work in my church's nursery on Sunday mornings and yesterday was the theme "God made Fishies". So of course, we made an ocean snack. It was so cute when we started putting our oceans together.

Staff: "What do you think the blue might be?"

Child: "The ocean!"

While staff serves the first child, Another Child: "I want some ocean!"

Haha. And earlier when we were talking about how God made each of us...

Staff: "And did God make Miss Erin?"

Child: "Oh, totally!"

But then he repeated himself and it was a little clearer: "Oh, turtle!" (holding up a toy turtle)

HAHA! I LOVE KIDS!

Owl Old Are You?

Ha! I crack myself up! Today is my Uncle Rich's birthday. Happy Birthday, Uncle Rich! He's a wise old owl (It's okay, I can call him old). So I made him an owl card. This is the uncle that when I was young and would complain about being hungry (who are we kidding, I still complain about being hungry!), he would say "nice to meet you, Hungry." He's a funny guy.

To Make: First, stamp two owls (Punch Bunch stamp set from Stampin Up!) onto white cardstock. Carefully cut out one entire owl, then just the wings from the second owl. Next, cut wood patterned paper to 4" x 5 1/4', punch out a 2" circle using a circle punch, then glue it onto white cardstock cut just a smidge bigger than the patterned paper (4 1/8" x 5 3/8" ). Glue the owl into the white portion of the circle and layer the wings. Using a scrap of kraft carstock, punch out a 2" circle and cut (or use a slightly larger punch) around the scrap that now has a 2" hole. Glue to outline the hole on the wood patterned paper, then glue the entire piece onto kraft cardstock. Last, tie a knot using green ribbon... Does anyone else feel like I just wasted my breath? Oh, well. Happy crafting (if you're still reading)!

Sports and Birthdays

I have two second cousins that have birthdays coming up... Kaj and Harrison. (Remember Langdon's 1st Birthday Card? Harrison is Langdon's older brother.) So I decided to FINALLY use my sports balls stamp. I'm pretty sure I've had this stamp for at least 5 years and have never used it! Every time I clean out my craft stash, I debate on tossing it, but I keep telling myself I'll use. Well, the day has finally come! Happy Birthday, Kaj and Harrison!

To Make: Stampin' Up colors: Baja Breeze (cardstock), Chocolate Chip (stamp pad), Kraft (cardstock), Pumpkin Pie (stamp pad with blender pen), Real Red (stamp pad with blender pen), So Saffron (cardstock), Wild Wasabi (cardstock); Stamps: sports stamp.

Fudge Recipe

I make fudge ALL the time because it is SUPER EASY. Ready for the recipe?

Chocolate Fudge:

1 (14 oz.) can Sweetened Condensed Milk
3 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

Heat sweetened condensed milk and chocolate chips in a pot over medium heat, stirring continuously. When smooth and pulling away from the sides of the pot, remove from heat. Add vanilla and stir. Move to a 13"x 9" pan layered with wax paper. Refigerate for at least 6 hours. Seriously. That's it! I found this recipe on the back of an Eagle Brand sweetened condensed milk can. You can also get it from their website.

Happy baking! And happy crafting!

Cupcakes for Jan

So it's the boyfriend's mom's birthday today. Happy Birthday, Jan! I thought I would make her a card using one of the stamp sets she's given me. Problem. She's given me almost half of my stamp sets! So I just sort of closed my eyes and picked one. Create a Cupcake was my blind choice and I LOVE how this card turned out! It's definitely one of my new favorites.

Seriously! How cute is that?!?!

I'm once again OBSESSED! And instead of making her cupcakes, I made her fudge...

Yumm. Happy baking! And happy crafting!

Navy Knot Board

You know those nautical knot boards you see? Well I decided I wanted one as a table decoration for Daniel's Navy Party. I did a lot of research and watched a lot of tutorials, but I finally finished. Below is my Navy Knot Board.

(Ignore the white glue. I was so excited that I took pictures before letting it dry.)

Did I mention I watched A LOT of tutorials? Well most of them were totally unhelpful. Here's a link to the best tutorials I found. They had so many knots to choose from and used a sequence of pictures as a tutorial so you can go at your own pace. VERY HELPFUL.

Animated Knots: the best knot tying tutorials ever

Serioulsy. They were awesome. Happy knotting! And happy crafting!