something special: i appreciate you

Teachers are the bomb. I know this first hand because I substitute teach and so I try to be one. A good teacher that is. It is a lot harder than it looks. They have to know and learn so much themselves, constantly updating their personal knowledge bank to keep our youngsters at the head of the line when it comes to education. And, more importantly, they love our children.

Even the tiniest of thank you's is appreciated by these hard working men and women. This year I was intent on sticking with my goal to use what you have so I came up with something simple that would allow me to use leftover papers and chipboard from a scrapbooking project the kids worked on last year.

FIRST: Gather your supplies.  FOR THE CARD: Buy some cute cheap thank you cards or create your own. I grabbed mine out of the dollar bin at Target or Michael's. You will also need some adhesive. I like to use EK SUCCESS 3D Dots but you can use anything. I also used some cute little vintage style party bag games. I bought these at my local Dollar Tree. And you will need some magnets or magnetic tape. I picked up some Kids Craft Magnetic Tape at Wal-Mart for super cheap. I also used a sheet of school themed scrapbook paper and some Crystal Clear Bags. I love these and use them for everything!

NEXT: Grab some numbers. I used recycled chipboard pieces from an old scrapbooking kit. You can use anything with a number on it, or you could print some out on the computer. Once you have your numbers, cut some magentic tape to fit and peel and stick to the back of each number, creating a miniature magnet. Next cut your scrapbook paper to fit your clear bag and slide it in, adding the number magnet on top. Seal the bag. Now adhere the party game to the front of your thank you card. Add a sentiment inside. Mine said-" Thank you for making learning so much fun!"

AND LAST: Let your child add a personal note to the card before stuffing it with a cute magnet. To your child, a teacher is a mentor and a hero. For the most part they love these people with all of their being. Let them say it in their own words. I promise you, teachers keep this stuff forever- I DO!

This is a really easy project that the kids can help with. And the best part? Your teachers will REALLY APPRECIATE your thanks!

Already have your Teacher Appreciation Gifts planned? This makes a great end of the year thank you as well!

A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops." ~ Henry Brooks Adams

Something Special: Custom Art Journal Cover

This art journal cover was created as a CUSTOM ORDER for an artsy friend. This cover fits the Canson Art Journal.

Custom orders for journal covers, ruffled bags etc. are always welcomed.  Just contact me either through this blog, Facebook or my etsy store.

currently: i am...

I am participating in Ali Edward's blog challenge.

Currently, I am:

Missing meal time. I never thought I would say this, but I am missing the fuss of family dinner. When I was cooking a big meal every night, around 7 different people’s schedules, I think I might have complained a time or two… (No more than that, I’m sure!) …but now that there is just the three of us at the table each night I am feeling a little sad… missing the banter, daily dramas and silly jokes that took place around that eight foot dinner table.

Purging  like crazy. I mean like crazy nuts. Rifling through closets, drawers, cupboards and pantries – chucking stuff left and right, getting ready for a big community wide garage sale. Last year it was a bust – only the Church Thrift Store, where I dropped twelve boxes of stuff off, made out like a bandit…BUT….I thought I would give it a whirl again this year. Besides, my local thrift store is looking forward to seeing me again!

Wondering “where the hek did the time go?” I see my “baby” climbing into the car after school and can’t believe it is the same little peanut that was just 4 pounds when I brought her home. She is still a peanut, but has entered middle school this year and has asked me EVERY SINGLE NIGHT SINCE SCHOOL STARTED to teach her to shave her legs! I tell her she can’t – she’s just the baby. She rolls her eyes and walks away…which leaves me right back where I started at 3:30 pm when she climbed into the car – WONDERING?!

Sketching a coffee table – a coffee table that I have been wanting for over a year now. Does it exist? Apparently, only in my mind, so I have been trying to make a rough (very rough) drawing of what I want it to look like so my husband can help me build it. I keep dreaming it will appear at IKEA, but so far it is just a dream.

Offering up my worries. It is tough to offer up your worries, to trust God whole heartedly, to let go, move on. I am actively offering up my worries each morning before I rise. I know that God can be and will be the only one to move me through what appears to be a tough situation. Reminding myself it is in His hands is a safe and sane start to each day.

Searching for a lost earring, STILL. I lost it two months ago. I won’t give up. It is my most favorite little earring. I don’t even know if I am searching in the right places, but just thinking I might find it makes the search worthwhile. P.S. Why are the $2.00 earrings always are favorites and the only ones we lose?

Listening to the sweet, sweet sound of my child learning to play the violin. It is fascinating to listen to her play as she seems to have a sound all her own. I want to close my eyes when I listen, that is how good it makes me feel.

Focusing on relaxing. Trying not to count while I do anything -  ok everything. Focusing on letting go and knowing I do not always have to be multi tasking. Focusing on slowing down and rewarding myself.

Photographing anything I see. I had missed this the last few months as I became busier and busier. Now I make time to do nothing but take pictures.

Learning all about Instagram and Facebook. I am terrified of social media and it has been a huge deal for me to learn it and live it as I try to grow my business. Some of this is hard folks – I actually had to take notes! I am not sure I can learn to love it.

Sewing up a storm. Lots of cool new things using reclaimed vintage quilts, funky new fabrics and even burlap. That machine definitely is getting a workout - plus the monotony of sewing calms me. The up and down of the needle, the hum of the machine, the trimming of threads, over and over again.

Loving  that my son love’s life. He is always LIVING – whittling his own bow and arrow for instance. Who does that now-a-days? He was on a mission to collect and prepare geese feathers for his flights. I drove him to a small local poultry farm and there he hunted and gathered only the most pristine feathers. I asked him why he wanted to make a bow and arrow in the first place. He said, “Because it is cool. I want to do lots of cool things in life Mom. Making my own bow and arrow is just one of them.”