Halloween Candy Bar Wrappers

I love how fun these candy bar wrappers are from Skip to My Lou!  Head over there for the bat template download and the Happy Halloween tag.

Halloween Party Idea - Games

Looking for some Halloween games for your party?  Of course you are because what is a party without games?!?  One Charming Party has featured some great Halloween games, including spider toss, skeleton says, pin the face on the pumpkin and costume dress up.  Don't forget to search through my list of games for parties too.  When you do, it will take you through all games and not just Halloween.

Halloween Party Idea - Crafts

Here are some craft ideas for your party...including the sucker idea I featured a few days ago.  I have seen this TP idea before on Family Fun, but never thought to do it for a Halloween party.  This would be a fun things for kids to make and then they would also have something fun to take home.  You could ask for toilet paper donations ahead of time if you are planning for a large class/group of kids. 

(Ideas from One Charming Party...head there for more details.)

Halloween Party Idea - Food Creations

So you are planning a Halloween party for next week?  I came across this site, One Charming Party, that has some great ideas!  I love these owl cupcakes.  I think they are so cute and look just like an owl with those big {Oreo} eyes.    And if you are planning an adult Halloween party (kid party would work too), check out this great centerpiece.

Thank you Creative Crate for allowing me to come across this site through your blog!

Simple Halloween Suckers

I am really liking these cute and {simple} suckers!  Somewhat Simple featured this idea on how to make these ghost, pumpkin and Frankenstein suckers.  She has also included a free download for gift tags.  These would make great gifts for your kids to give to their friends or think of how easy these would be for kids to make at a Halloween party!   

Back to School Survival Kits

 Even though school has been underway for several months now, this idea is one that I want to keep on hand for the future.  Therefore, I am choosing to feature the idea now.  I know a lot of teachers who would think this idea is great (including myself).  This project scores an A for creativity, thoughtfulness and usefulness.  Super cute!  Thanks Bee in our Bonnet for the idea!!

Teacher Appreciation - Music Teacher Door

I realize this post doesn't necessarily go along with the whole Halloween time of year theme, but this is what you get when I check my e-mail after a very long time.  Sorry to anyone who may have tried e-mailing me and got the impression that I didn't care.  Anyway...this idea came from one of my readers, Valerie.  I love to see how other schools and room parents decorate the doors to celebrate the teachers.  All I know is what I see at my own school.  (Speaking of, I took TONS of pictures last year and have TONS of ideas, but those will have to wait for another post.)  Anyone who thinks they have something the rest of us would like to see, please let me know so that I may feature your creativity here also.  Thanks for sharing!

Halloween Cookies in a Jar

I love the whole cookies in a jar concept.  It's something that is easy to put togehter and looks super cute.  Living Locurto has this idea, with Free printables to go with your gift.  All of the hard work has been done for you...all that is needed now is an assembly line.

Free Halloween Drink Labels

Interested in using these FREE drink labels at your upcoming Halloween party?  Check out Centsational Girl for the download.

Halloween Story Countdown

I love this idea of a Halloween story countdown.  What a fun way to bring on the holidays!  Although we are already a few days into the month of October, just add as many books to your basket as there are days left until Halloween.  Check out the idea from Brown Paper Packages...she has even included a list of her favorite 31 Halloween stories.  LOVE IT!!  

Halloween Treats

Here are a couple of Halloween ideas for treats.  Whether you are throwing a party for your child's classroom, or throwing one at your house for friends, here are several treat ideas I am sure you will love!
I came across this idea sometime after Halloween last year, but held on to the idea to share with all of you.  These Frankenstein cones are just too cute!

For directions on how to make your own click HERE.
Or you could try the Franken-pops from Little Birdie Secrets.
Some creepy treat ideas come from Simply Red.
These brownies look super easy, fun and scary for kids.  I love anything like that for Halloween.  Check out Chasing Tomatoes for more on these Ghoulish Brownies.

I Must Appologize...

I really have good intentions of keeping this blog updated more regularly.  I have had a lot of fun creating this blog and keeping things going and I don't want to lose it.  Life has been super busy lately with working full time again, the loss of a family member and now my sister-in-law discovering she has Cancer.  I guess it's true...when it rains it pours.  I realize that my Facebook page is not what I intended...I need time to figure it out.  Thank you everyone for hanging in there and being patient while I try to find the balance with my crazy life.  I will finally be sitting down to go through my e-mails this week...so hang in there.  Thank you for being so understanding.

Keeping School Papers Organized

Since the school year is under way, I thought that now might be a good time to feature this idea.  If you are anything like me, I like to keep my kids' most important work from school, but I really don't like all the clutter that could come with that idea.  Sam's Great Ideas offers one filing solution to this problem.  I currently have my kids' work in a scrapbook binder, but think I might prefer this way.  Another idea, if your child has an art project that you really like, take a picture of it to keep the memory instead of storing a large art project that your child will probably end up one day throwing away anyway.  :)

Back to School Gifts

I'm sorry for my long leave of absence.  School has started back up for my children, which means back to routine and figuring out life again after a kick-back summer.  On top of that, I have returned to work teaching 1st grade full time.  I forgot just how busy and tired I feel by the end of the day!  I hope you will be patient as I gradually add ideas and update this blog.  Recently, on Studio 5, there was a segment that featured some clever and darling back to school gifts. 

These gifts could be given to your child's teacher or some may even work to surprise your child.  Check out the link for other cute ideas, but I LOVE the one I have pictured.  I think it would be so cute to do something with it for Teacher Appreciation Week! 

Summer Ideas

Make your own Guess Who game using real family pictures!  This very clever idea comes from The Madsen Times.

I really liked this idea, of creating a summer bucket list...you know...a list of things to do with your kids for the summer.  Think up what there is in your area or what interests your family has to make it work for you!  I found the idea at Mommy Guru.

I love this idea of a handled towel.  So cute and so much easier for a child to carry their own towel.  These would be a great birthday gift!  Thanks Salty Pineapple for the tutorial and idea!!

Melissa from the Polkadot Chair shared a great idea for making a zipper pouch bag (for wet swim clothes) out of a shower curtain.  The tutorial was featured on 30 Days.  Seems like a very handy thing to make for the summer!

Sister Stuff featured a list of 100 things to do in the Summer.  Check it out for some fun ideas to do with your kids!

Money Shirt & Tool Belt Filled with Treats

I just came across a fun new blog called Craft Critters.  They featured 2 really cute and creative ideas for Father's Day.
1.  A Money Shirt...really people...who doesn't like to get money? 

2.  A candy tool belt pouch.  I love how this project turned out and how she made the paper look like leather.  Much better looking than just throwing some treats into a gift bag.  Very cute!!

M&M Tie

I saw this cute, creative (and inexpensive) Father's Day idea from Sugardoodle.  This idea was used as a gift for the dads at church, so it would be a great idea to use if you had a lot of gifts to give!  Here are the directions and a variation of the poem to be used.

DAD Pictures

Since pictures seem to be a popular idea for Dad's/Grandpa's on Father's Day, here are a few ideas that you might want to try out too...

From Sister Stuff:

And from Mommy Guru, here is the same idea but a different approach:

Just a thought, but I made something similar to these ideas for my mom one year for Mother's Day.  The mat of the picture frame said Grandma and I had 7 different grandchildren pictures to fill in behind the letters.  You could try something like that for GRANDPA too! :)  I love pictures...especially creative ones!

And speaking of pictures, try out this fun {FREE} site (Be Funky)...it allows you to edit your pictures in fun ways!  Check it out...could be fun!

Dad Keychain Ideas

With Father's Day around the corner, I hope to be sharing some ideas with you to motivate you to try something new for your dad or husband this year.

From Creative Itch, here is a mini tie keychain idea:

Here is another clever {washer} keychain idea from Helping Little Hands.  Love it!

Thank You Ideas Using Candy

Here were some other cute gifts I received on the last day of school. A candy gram:

A thank you card using candy:

End of the Year M&M Gift

Summer is here and that means that I am back. Ok when I said that I was returning to work full time, I had no idea just how crazy my life would become and how quickly too. I apologize for my long absence...full-time job, ball games almost every night of the week, an unexpected death in the family, still serving in the PTA and everything else life has to offer can sometimes put you a little behind. I did take lots of pictures of doors during teacher appreciation ideas and I hope to get things going on here again. Thanks for being so patient with me.
School ended last Thursday for my kids and I and I am in much need of a break! I received this super cute and clever gift on the last day of school from one of my students. If school hasn't ended for you yet and you are looking for an easy end of the year gift, here is one:

Fill a jar with M & M's and attach this note:

Green is for the inspiration you give me each day.
Blue is for your patience in showing me the way.
Orange is for the warmth and caring style.
Yellow is for the way you always make me smile.
Red is for my life that you have touched this year.

You're a very special teacher
just like this jar, that's clear.
You place knowledge in our children's hands
and melt into their hearts and lives forever.
You're a "Magnificent" & "Marvelous" teacher.
Thank you for being my M&M.

POP-ular Cookies

These have to be some of the cutest cookies I have ever seen! Check out Bake at 350 to see how to create your own.

Teacher Appreciation Card

Looking for a cute and free teacher appreciate card? Check out Cut and Create to download your own.

Some Bulletin Board Ideas

Here are a few pictures on bulletin boards I have taken recently.
For this, the students wrote a story and glued it inside a flower. They then illustrated a part of their story and glued that on a piece of white paper to the front of the flower.

A March bulletin board:

This was done for a Kindergarten class:

*Don't forget...next week is Teacher Appreciation Week. If you have any great ideas you want to share, let me know so I can feature you!

Earth Day Ideas

I recently got an e-mail from someone asking for some Earth Day ideas.  For those of you that don't know, Earth Day is April 22.  How do I remember you ask?  It happens to also be my hubby's birthday! :)  Here are some ideas I have come across...

Letter of the Week - Earth Day (E) from No Time For Flash Cards

Earth Day Muffins from No Time for Flash Cards

Earth Day poems from Classroom Jr.

Butterfly Feet

Construction paper
paint (any color)
black pen

Paint the bottom of the child's feet. Make imprints of each foot with the big toe facing outward and the outer edge of the feet touching each other. You will notice the results looks like a butterfly. It helps to clean one foot before you paint the other. 

Ocean Cups With A Twist

blue jello mix
gummy fish
crushed graham crackers
Teddy Grahams
gummy Lifesavers
Sea creature crackers
paper umbrellas
clear plastic cups

This is the blue jello ocean cups with a little twist. Mix the jello according to the package. Pour the jello in clear plastic cups and add in gummy fish (you may want to wait until the jello starts to firm up a little so the fish don't all sink to the bottom). Let the jello set in your refrigerator. Once set, take finely crushed graham crackers and sprinkle along one side (on the top) of the jello cup to resemble a beach. Next take a Teddy Graham and insert half way in a gummy lifesavers. You may want to pre-stretch the lifesaver so the bear will fit in easily. Then, stick the feet of the bear in the jello. This should look like a bear with a float around it's waist floating in the water. Then, add a bear to the sandy area with a few starfish crackers. Last, insert the umbrella at an angle in the beach area.

OR

Rice Crispie Earth
rice crispy type cereal

marshmallow cream
butter or margarine
foil
pizza pan
food coloring
water
small container
new children's paint brushes
plastic baggies

Prepare a rice crispy treat mixture by combining rice crispy cereal, butter or margarine and marshmallow cream according to the recipe on the box of the cereal. While the mixture is cooling have the children place baggies on their hands and coat the baggies with margarine. Now that the mixture is cool enough to handle have the children press the mixture onto a foiled covered pizza pan. Mix food coloring and water into a small container. One container with blue color and the other with green. Have the children "paint" the ocean blue and the land green. When the earth is complete cut and eat.

Where Have I Been?

Some of you may be wondering if I have disappeared off the face of the earth or if I am on vacation in some remote location where Internet cannot be found. The truth is, life has been crazy busy for me lately. (Not that it wasn't before!) I think that I have mentioned this before, but this is the first year I have returned to work...part-time, working at my kids' school. It's been great for me! For half of the day I have been able to be part of my older 2 kids' life at school, come home at lunch and spend the afternoon with my 2 younger kids.
About 3 weeks ago I got a call from the principal who said that one of the 1st grade teachers just found out she had a brain tumor and wanted me to fill in for the rest of the year. I agreed to the job and have loved being back in the classroom. The problem is that it hasn't left me much time to do some things I am use to...blogging...cleaning the house...etc. Thankfully I have a great family who has been helping out and forgives me when I slack!! I will continue to post on this blog, but since I am still getting into a new routine, please be patient if it isn't as often as I was able to before! Thanks!!

CVC Egg Puzzles

I had good intensions to get this posted before Easter, but since it is still spring I guess this idea could still work.  I found this CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) Egg Puzzle at My Montessori Journey.  Click on my link, and it will take you to the post where you can print yours off for FREE too!

In my picture, the eggs had not been cut apart, yet but you get the idea.  I thought this would make a great literacy center or teaching activity for a child learning to read.  Who doesn't love puzzles?

Easter Egg Nest Treat Idea

Last week I was in charge of making the Easter treat for the Young Women of my church. My mother-in-law helped me come up with this idea:

You may have seen a similar ideas for making nests using Chow Mein noodles?!?  These were made with scotcheroos.  Make a batch of scotcheroos (see below for recipe) and press them in a muffin tin.  Melt chocolate (I used melted chocolate chips) and pour over the top. While I was waiting for the scotcheroos and chocolate to set up, I colored some coconut with green food coloring for grass and added 3 jelly bean eggs to each nest.  Next, I popped the treats out of the muffin tin and individually wrapped each nest with a note that said...Hope you have an EGG-cellent Easter!

Scotcheroos Recipe:

1 c. light corn syrup              6 c. Rice Krispies cereal
1 c. sugar                             1 c. butterscotch chips
1 c. peanut butter                 1 c. chocolate chips

Measure corn syrup and sugar into large saucepan. Cook over med. Heat, stirring frequently, until sugar dissolves and mixture begins to boil. Remove from heat. Stir in peanut butter. Mix well. Add Rice Krispies. Stir until well coated. Press mixture into greased 9 x 13 pan. Set aside.
Melt chocolate & butterscotch chips together in small saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly. Spread evenly over cereal mixture. Let stand firm. Cut into 1 x 2” bars and serve.

Have I mentioned before my LOVE for peanut butter and chocolate?  Oh my...these things are addicting!
Here is another very similar idea using no-bake cookies from All Things Heart and Home.

Easter Egg Matching Activity

I recently made this matching activity for my younger kids out of Easter eggs. I bought a pack of 18 eggs from the dollar store and knew I wanted to do something with them, aside from using them for only Easter.
First, I made a set using numbers (1-10). My 4 year old had to match the number to the correct number of dots for a match.

An easier version, was to match the same shape for a match. Circle with circle, triangle with triangle, etc.

I separated all the eggs and put the halves in a basket. The kids had to dig through the basket to find the matches. My 9 year old son came into the room awhile later and decided to turn the game into memory. The kids then set up the eggs in rows with the numbers and shapes facing away from them. One at a time, they took turns picking an egg and seeing if it was a match.

*When making this activity, make sure to not let the eggs match up in colors! Separate all the eggs first, put them back together with a non-matching color and then write on the eggs.

Come See Me!

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT! I AM SO EXCITED!! I was recently contacted by someone who wants me to have a booth at the upcoming Utah Valley Women's Expo. My thoughts on this...I am both excited and totally freaked out of my mind! I have sat on the idea for a couple of days and came to the conclusion that what is the worse that can happen? Plus I think this could be such a fun experience and adventure. I am already planning things out and will be having several ideas and features there to display and show. The event is April 23 & 24 (Fri and Sat) from 11 am - 8 pm.  I will let you know more info as I find it out.
Also, because of the exposure this event will bring to my site, I have added a link at the top of my blog for those who are interested in advertising on Room Mom 101. 
If you live in the area or are planning to attend, please come by and say hello. I would love to meet you!

Displaying Your Child's Artwork

I am LOVING this idea from How Does She?

I know for me, there are times where it is hard to throw away some of my children's artwork. This is the perfect solution and also a fun way to keep it on display without making my house look too cluttery. I will definitely be trying this project out!

Calling All Jell-O Experts

For St. Patrick's Day I decided to whip up a green meal.  Not green like:

Green like these really yummy, tempting looking pancakes (slight sarcasm there) and green Jell-o

Now I will be the first to admit if I have a problem.  And to be honest people, I have a problem.  A real problem.  I can ride the New York New York roller coaster in Las Vegas (I am terrified of heights), run a marathon, live overseas on my own, count to 10 in 5 languages and earn a college degree, but I CAN NOT MAKE JELL-O.  (Glad I got that off my chest!)  I feel that I am a pretty decent cook for my family, but I have recently had pointed out to me by my husband realized that Jell-O is something that I can not do well.  Sadly, I think Jell-O falls in the same category as boiling water.  Jell-O, especially green Jell-O is somewhat of a staple here in Utah.  How am I suppose to fit in, when I can't offer to bring it to any social function?!?  I'm not sure how a person can mess up Jell-O, but the last 2 times I have tried, it always seems to have a rubbery texture, especially on the bottom of the pan. 
Please make me feel better and tell me that I am not alone here.  What is the solution and how do I pull out of my Jell-O making slump?  Any advice is GLADLY taken (for my family's sake).
Sincerely,
The only person in America who can't make Jell-O

Rainbow Cupcakes

Last night I made these super fun rainbow cupcakes for my kids (for St. Patrick's Day). If you are interested in making some too, I found the idea at Family Fun.
1. Use a box of white cake mix and make as directed.
2. Divide the cake batter into 6 bowls, evenly and add food coloring. (For an exact on the food coloring, visit the Family Fun link above.)

3. Put the cake batter into the cupcake cups, starting with purple and begin layering the colors. Purple, blue, green, yellow, orange and red. This does take some time to do this to each of the cupcakes, so if you are short on time, make a rainbow cake instead of the cupcakes.

4. Bake the cupcakes as directed on the box. Here they are when they come out:

5. Finally, add some frosting or cool whip and dig in!

Quick & Easy St. Patrick's Days Snacks

Here are a couple of quick and easy ideas for serving up a snack this St. Patrick's Day.  Remember anything green works!
*Green fruit such as grapes, kiwi, green apple, and honey dew melon, served with yogurt dip
*Raw green vegetables such as green beans, celery and cucumber, served with dip.
*Cheese sandwiches or quesadillas cut with a shamrock cookie cutter.
*Green Jell-O.  Pour the gelatin into clear plastic cups before chilling so the kids can see the green.  Can top with marshmallows or whipped cream if desired.
 
Tonight with dinner, I plan to serve lucky lime drinks.  I have never tried one before, but it looks like the same idea as the root beer float.  If you want to give it a try too, here's what to do:

LUCKY LIME DRINKS:
Put one, or two small scoops of lime sherbet in a clear glass ice cream cup. Pour 7-Up over the sherbet. Add a spoonful of whipped cream, green sugar sprinkles and a green maraschino cherry!

Teacher Appreciation Door Idea

Staci at Designing & Motherhood, let me post this super cute door idea that she recently did for her 1st grade daughter's teacher.

Staci has a lot of fun ideas, so take a minute to look around her blog.  Thanks again for sharing.  If anyone else has a clever idea or 2 for teacher appreciation week, feel free to let me know so that I can feature your idea too.  Also, don't forget to grab an "I was featured" button if I have posted one of your ideas!

St. Patrick's Day Games

End of the Rainbow Treasure Hunt
Make a rainbow using markers and poster paper.
Hide a pile of chocolate or plastic gold coins with the rainbow.
Create fun Irish clues that the children will use to find the rainbow.
Variation:
Use a permanent marker to write a number on each coin. The number will correspond to a prize that the child can collect after the hunt is complete.
Prizes can be small such as candy bars, a box of Lucky Charms cereal, green bubble bath or nail polish from your local dollar store.

Hot Potato
A traditional game of hot potato using a real potato. Play a CD of Irish music while the children pass the potato around the circle. The player holding the potato when the music stops, will be in charge of the CD
player for the next round.
Variation:
Play the same game using a "Blarney Stone" ( a regular old rock).

Also look through some of the recent posts at SMARRT Ideas for some fun ideas to do with the kids!  I love this idea for shining your pennies with ketchup!?!  Who thought to try that out for the first time?  Anyway, if you want to see what to do...check it out HERE.

Teacher Appreciation Door Decorations

With teacher appreciation week quickly on the way, here are some ideas to get you thinking. These {2} pictures were taken last year at our school and I am just getting around to posting them. I will share more as I get them. Don't forget to visit all my other teacher appreciation ideas for more suggestions and tips.  If you have any ideas, tips, pictures or suggestions to share, let me know so I can feature your ideas too!