Father's Day Finds

Yeah, Yeah I know. Theses ideas are coming about a month and a half too late, but I thought better late than never right? Besides, these ideas I will link on the side of my blog and be there for years to come. Next year I hope to be more on top of ideas, but for now life has been VERY BUSY!!!
Here's a $2 project found from Dollar Store Crafts. I think dads would enjoy the sentimental value behind this craft idea.

Cute ideas can be found at Studio 5.

I can't remember where I found this cute picture idea, but I really think it's super cute. Of course you could always change "grandpa" to "father".

Something edible perhaps? Try these golf cupcakes from Martha Stewart.

Or even these corn-on-the -cob cupcakes from Martha.
If your man just likes a card, here is a cute card idea you can make to look like a tie. Super cute (and it includes a template), but for some reason the picture won't load, so just check it out from Little Birdie Secrets.

Cheap, Yet Cute and Thoughtful Gift Ideas

Since it seems as though most people are on a budget now-a-days, or at least trying to watch their spending, I thought it might be fun to show case some ideas that are both cute and cheap. First of all, how stinkin' cute are these Scrabble Tile Pendants? I want to make some for my daughters and myself. Next time I head to town, I plan to check the thrift store.

Wool Felted Soap. I know it has nothing to do with anything, but hey I thought it might make for a fun summer project or maybe even a teacher gift?? I know don't...just thought the idea looks cute and fun. The tutorial is found on Little Birdie Secrets.

This super cute, homemade charm bracelet from Studio 5. It's made from Shrinky Dinks (remember those as a kid?) Check out the link to see how to do it.

These cute washer necklaces. There is a video tutorial you can watch here.


The Very Hungry Caterpillar from A Wednesday Afternoon. This project seems perfect for a preschool or kindergarten teacher.

There are more ideas to come, but I am too tired to try listing any more tonight. For now...happy crafting!

Some Summer Ideas Before Summer Ends!

Like I mentioned before, I have kind of put this blog on hold for the summer and I am sorry about the lack of ideas lately. I totally skipped over ideas for Father's Day and the 4th of July, but I know that all of you crafty people out there have provided plenty of ideas. Anyway...summer isn't over yet, so I am going to feature some ideas I have come across lately.
Check out these adorable Petite Watermelons from Chocolate on my Cranium. Yummy and oh-so cute!

From Make and Takes, comes a watermelon Pie made from sherbet:

And while we are on the subject of watermelons, why not use a cookie cutter and punch out a shape and stick it on a Popsicle stick? Such a quick and yummy summer treat idea. (The star would be super cute for the 4th of July!)

Make some sidewalk chalk for the kiddos like it's done over at Skip to My Lou.

Homemade moonsand you can make with your kids. Also from Skip to My Lou.

Or check out Kinderinfo for a recipe for homemade finger paint.

Not sure what this has to do with anything, but I want it! I honestly want to make one of these handy "take along race track and toy car holder". The problem is that I think I would love it more than my son...he's more the animals kind of guy.

Try 50 summer crafts for kids over at the long thread.

I'm Honored!

I am honored...my first award. (And to think that I earned it while I was being a blog-slacker.) Hopefully I will get better at keeping up with this blog, especially during these summer months.
Thanks girls at Sisters Stuff for nominating me for this award!!

The Rules to this award:

1. Thank the person who nominated you for this award.
2. Copy the logo and place it on your blog.
3. Link to the person who nominated you for this award.
4. Name 7 things about yourself that people might find interesting.
5. Nominate 7 Kreativ Bloggers.
6. Post links to the 7 blogs you nominate.
7. Leave a comment on each of the blogs, letting them know they have been nominated.

7 Things about me:

1. My graduating high school class had only 97 kids.
2. I like watching reality TV shows; The Biggest Loser, The Bachelorette, and American Idol (to name a few)
3. I was raised in Saudi Arabia until I was 14 years old.
4. I have a horrible sense of direction. Give me a compass and I will probably still get lost!
5. I have an obsession with peanut butter. Seriously. I put it in ice cream, on pancakes and anything else that sounds like it could be good. Any suggestions?
6. I am signed up to run my first marathon in October...that's what I get for eating all that peanut butter!
7. I don't like to watch scary movies.

I nominate:

Lesson Plans Plus
No Time For Flashcards
SMMART Ideas
Cute Valentines - Only good for Valentines, but definitely worth the look in February.
Little Hands Big Work
Let's Play Math!
Nap Time Journal

Some of these blogs I have only recently discovered, but I can't wait to follow up on them. There are so many talented people out there, I wish I could name you all!!

Math Games with a Deck of Cards

I must apologize. First of all, as promised, with summer here I have done very little with this blog. My kids are out of school, which means my mind is also off from school thoughts. (Along with the fact that I feel I haven't been near a computer as often as I am use to!)
Yesterday I decided to check out my blog when I discovered that I was given my first award. I am totally flattered and excited about such a nomination. The best part was that the girls (Sisters Stuff) who gave me the award left a comment so that I could check out their never-seen-by-me blog. It is such a fun blog with terrific ideas. Yeah for blogging!
Anyway...the reason for rambling is to point out their super great math ideas using a deck of cards. Included are ideas for addition, fractions, greater than/less than, etc. Check it out! I also came across Let's Play Math with even more ideas for a deck of cards.
A few years ago I went to a math & literacy training and was given a stack of great ideas. I will be sharing those games/ideas, as soon as I can find which box they are in. (After moving last year, I still haven't unpacked my teaching things.)
More to come soon!...hopefully. If not, it's SUMMER and you have been warned.

"I'm Bored" Jar

Every summer it seems like at least one of my kids comes to me {daily} and tells me they are bored. This is especially true when my kids' friends can't play or they can't think of something to do. Recently, on Studio 5, Kristine McKay featured an "I'm Bored" jar. Today when my daughter told me that she was bored, I decided to try out the idea. I used a plastic peanut butter jar (Jiffy) and added a few more ideas than what was provided to the jar. My kids are already dying to try it out so hopefully this is our cure for summer boredom. Hope the idea helps someone else out too.

Free downloadable 10 page booklet with GREAT summer ideas found HERE, including the "I'm Bored" Jar, or you can follow the link above.

Graduation Ideas

Right now I am playing catch up on this blog and on things I have found recently. HERE are some simple Graduation invitations, announcements and card ideas.
HERE are some more great ideas that could be used for graduates. I think this card is very cute and a clever way to give the grad some money.

And HERE are some more...

I love these cute and yummy looking graduation caps. Aren't they adorable!?!

Teacher Thank You Gifts

Doesn't this look like fun? A beach towel, suntan lotion and an Oprah magazine. Looks relaxing to me! The idea was featured on Tip Junkie, along with some other great ideas.

Here are a few more teacher appreciation ideas that were found on Studio 5 in case your child's school year isn't quite over and you like all these cute corny sayings.
• "Thanks for being an AWesome teacher!" (A&W rootbeer wrapped up with candy)
• "We've got to HAND it to you - you've been a great teacher!" (a pair of "Gloveables" - one of Oprah's Favorite Things)
• "Thanks for giving me a HANDS on experience this year!" (handprints stuck on a bottle of hand sanitizer)
• "Teacher, you ROCK!" (candy rocks)
• "LEI back and enjoy your day - you deserve it!" (Hawaiian themed candy bag, tied with lei)
• "Thanks a BUZZillion for BEEing a great teacher!" (bee themed cellophane bag with gift inside)
• "A child's mind is a lot like JELLO - you have to add all of the ingredients before it sets." (package of JELLO)
• "Thanks for working hard to plant SEEDS of knowledge in our classroom this year." (a mini pot filled with candy and a packet of flower seeds with flower balloon attached)

This movie gift basket looks super cute if you have some time to spare. If you want to tutorial on how this was done, click HERE.

Thank You Ideas for Classroom Helpers

One more thought before the school year comes to an end. As a room mom, I don't expect anything from the teacher...I did it so that I could help out and be involved with my son's class. However, when I was a teacher, I liked to give a little something to the parents who helped during the school year to let them know how much their help meant to me. So...If you are a teacher looking for a way to thank your room mom, parent helpers, etc. here are a few suggestions:

* Thank you for all the EXTRA help this year! You have been such a LIFE SAVER to me! - Extra gum & Life Savers
* Thanks for giving me a HAND this year! - lotion
* Thanks for CHIPPIN' in to make this year a success! - Bag of chips
* Don't UNO you have been a huge help to me this year?!? - Uno candy bar or card game
* Thanks for all your hard work. It has MINT a lot to me!
* You have been out of this world with all the help you provided this year! - Milky Way

Summer Vacation

I am still alive, just a little busy these days. The warm weather is here, summer is well on its way and school will be letting out soon, not to mention everything else we have going on these days. This post is to let you know that I may be starting my summer vacation soon. When I come across some fun ideas this summer, I will be sure to post, but until then...Enjoy your summer break and I will see you back here when school starts again!

Simple Teacher Gifts (with sayings)

Since NEXT week is teacher appreciation week, I thought I would share some simple gift ideas for the teachers.

*There are many REISENS why we think you are a great teacher! - Reinsen candy
*We think you're NOTEworthy! Have a stuPENdous day!
*You make life a little SWEETER! - candy/something sweet
*You are the APPLE of our eye! - caramel apple suckers or anything apple related.
*You're one in a MELON! - Watermelon flavored anything (candy, drink, candle scent, etc.)
*You really measure up! I am so glad that you are my teacher - ruler tied to a box of fruit by the foot
*I've got to HAND it to you, I think you're great! - lotion, nail polish, manicure gift certificate
*We are BERRY glad we had you as a teacher! - Berry flavored anything
*You are the CREME of the crop - Creme Life Saver candy
*You are a class ACT! - tied to a box of popcorn (Act brand)
*There's MUFFIN like a teacher like you! - muffins/muffin mix
*To a SCENTsational teacher. - Attached to a candle, lotion, or a scentsy candle warmer and a package or two of wax. (I have seen the non-name brand scensty warmers and wax bars at Wal-Mart. I believe that the warmer is from $10-15 and the wax bars are $1.88...this is what I plan on giving this year.)
*We have had MOUNDS of fun in your class this year! - Mounds candy
*As the year CLIPS along, we want you to know that you are the HIGHLIGHT! - paperclips and highligher markers.
*You have been a FANTAstic teacher! - Fanta pop

**In the past I have done a movie basket, where you attach some of the candy mentioned with cute sayings, a box of (Act) popcorn, bottles of pop, and a gift certificate to a movie rental place. I have also done gift certificates to a favorite restaurant.

Ideas for the PTA to give to teachers:
*One year, the PTA had large stars with the teachers' names on them attached to the walls that lined the halls of the school. On Monday morning with the teachers arrived to school, their desk and floor had Hershey kisses scattered with a note that read: We KISS the ground you walk on! We appreciate you! Another treat given out that week was a (red) fruit by the foot attached with the following saying: We're ROLLIN' out the RED (as in carpet) for our Celebrious Staff!
*Thanks for CHIPPIN' in to make this school year great! - chips
*You always RISE to the occasion. Thanks for being willing to help when we KNEAD you! - loaf of bread
*We're NUTS about having you at school! - attached to a small bag of Planters Peanuts
*Attach the following to a bag of assorted mint candy:
Thank You Assort-MINT
1. Thanks for your commit-"mint"
2. Thanks for your encourage-"mint"
3. Thanks for your involve-"mint"
4. Thanks for your invest-"mint" of time
5. Thanks for making each day an enjoy-"mint"
6. Thanks for helping to create a nice environ-"mint"

Decorating the Classroom Door

HERE is a link to Tip Junkie with ideas for decorating your child's classroom door. My son's teacher (who I am the room mom for) is currently pregnant so I think I might use this idea?!?


The idea came from this blog. The door is decorated with flowers, binkies and other baby things. Cute and useful for a pregnant teacher. *As an update, I did end up using this idea for the door this year, but also including mini Baby Ruth candy bars taped to the door. You could also use Sugar Babies candy.

Three door ideas came from HERE. Super cute ideas including gifts to match the door decorations.

Other ideas I have seen or received were:
*You're one in a "melon"! - Glue a die cut of watermelon (one for each student) and have them write their name or reason why their teacher is the best. You could also attach a bag of Sour Patch Watermelon candy, or other melon flavored candy.
*A BUNCH of us think you're GRAPE! - Blow up purple balloons and tape them to the door in the shape of a bunch of grapes. (The balloons may not last the whole week though!!)
*We think you were MINT to be a teacher! Love your little JUNIORS - Glue little boxes of Jr. Mint candy to the door.
*Let's Party with Mrs. _________ - Tape 5 gift bags to the door and have a surprise inside the bags each day for the teacher. Monday's bag might have a candy bar. Tuesday's bag might have a gift certificate, etc.
*We're NUTS about having you as our teacher! - Have each child write their name on a die cut of a peanut and attach little bags of nuts to the door.
*"Here's the 'Scoop'____ Grade Is A Real Treat". - Give each child a blank scoop of ice cream and have them decorate it and tell why they love they grade/teacher.
*We think you are a Marvelous and Magnificent teacher! - Do an M&M theme. Cut out circles (write the letter M on each one) and attach to the door. Can also glue on bags of M&Ms or M&M Amazing bars (is that what they're called?) to the door.
*Donut you know you're a great teacher? - Die cuts of donuts with each child's name written on them. You could also include a gift certificate for donuts or leave enough to share with the class on the teacher's desk.

**If you are in the PTA and need to do something for all the teachers, HERE is a website that offers custom wrappers for candy bars. The downside is that you have to buy them (they are super cute though!) Maybe you could get ideas and make your own!?! OR HERE is a FREE pattern for how to make your own candy bar wrapper. It turns out really cute and there is a saying you can download that reads: A teacher...takes a hand opens a mind touches a heart shapes the future. Just one of those fun things to show you care.

Kool Aid Play Dough

Today it is snowing for the 2nd day in a row. You would think that since I have lived in cold, snowy places before I would be use to it by now. The truth is, I probably would be if I had lived in the snow more recently. For the past 9 years, up until this last summer when our family moved, I have been living in almost 365 days a year of pure warmth and sunshine. I will get use to the change in weather, but for now I am going stir crazy.
I decided to try out THIS recipe for Kool Aid Play Dough. (I am sure there are TONS of these recipes out there, but this is the one I decided to try. It was super easy and super fast! It is suppose to smell good too, but I can't really smell too much from it. (I used pink lemonade kool aid though so maybe pick a more potent smell.) It turns out really soft too and my 2 little kiddos are having a blast playing. YEAH~no fighting! Anyway, if you too are longing for warmer outside days and looking for something to do (indoors) try out this recipe.
From a teaching stand point, you could turn this into an educational tool too. Try having your kids make letters or words with the play dough.

Also, if you have cookie cutters, you could have the kids cut out shapes and name them for you. (My 3 1/2 year old is having fun making triangles and telling me all about them.)

You could also try doing a little math. Make numerals or try story problems such as rolling out 4 balls/snakes/whatever and take away one. What are you left with? 3! You can even have your child practice counting the objects you/your child makes.

Teacher Appreciation Ideas

Here are some sites and ideas I have come across from the web. With teacher appreciation week not far from now, I thought that I would start thinking of ideas now.

Tip Junkie of course always has great ideas!

From Sugardoodle:

For a gift to the teachers, use a clear cellophane sack with one package of graham crackers, Hershey candy bar and marshmallows on top. Then include a note that it read "We need s'more teachers like you!"

Sundae Bath Salts


Get some fortune cookies and dip them in chocolate (dip just one side). Put them in cellophane bags with a pretty bow and a card attached that will say "It's been our good fortune to have you as our teacher".

Attach this poem to a small sponge with a ribbon tied around it:Children are like sponges.They absorb your knowledge,they sap your strength,they soak up your resources and drain your energy -but with one big squeeze,they give it all back.

(From the PTA to the teachers) Attach the following poem to a 100 Grand candy bar:"To our million dollar teachers, we appreciate you a lot.You're worth a million dollars,But our budget's almost shot.We scraped together 100 Grand Please accept it as your pay.Keep up the great teaching And have a Happy Day!"

Creative sayings from Skip to My Lou.

I will have to dig through some of my files from the past and add some of my own ideas later.

Handwriting Help

Looking for a way to help your kid(s) with their handwriting? This site allows you to type in the words that you want your child to practice, up to 10 words. You can also choose between print and cursive, the size of font and how you want the lines the words are on to look. How cool is that? Anyway, thought I would share.