Made it Monday 8-5-13

Last week on Instagram, I shared a snippet of something I was creating. I have an overage of scrap booking supplies in my storage room and I am determined to use up some of the supply before my big move. (This is a “small glimpse”, I am too afraid to show you the whole thing. (Oh My Goodness!! Sorry for the mess… I have been digging through my inventory looking for more B/W paper. Plus that adorable German Shepard my son adopted and brought home thinks my storage room is his “safe haven”. He finds comfort sleeping with my craft supplies and shoes.)

Last year, I created those adorable glittered clothes pins you see popping up everywhere! I added a strip of magnetic tape and my kiddos used them to hang their behavior sticker charts. Well, needless to say they drove me insane... Yes, I addict I am a bit (ok very OCD) about things staying in tact. Those clips were everywhere and every which way especially when one of my sweeties shut the locker or walked past with their ginormous bags. ( BTW when did those bags get so big?) This summer I was determined to come up with an idea... I thought about mini chalkboards ( too expensive and too heavy) pieces of wood ( hmmm will have to paint) then the idea hit.... BINGO- scrapbook paper.

Everyone knows I love black and white. It has always been in my classroom decor ( except for the one year -I had a pink/brown fetish)

 

I knew I wanted to use black and white and pops of color!!

I gathered my paper. I opted for dots and stripes.

I measured my reward charts. (Standard size 5x6) I started out by making a template. (Yes, I am old school.) It's all about trial and error right!

After I had everything mapped out size wise, I began cutting!! It was done in less than 5 minutes. Next, I warmed up the laminator while I began tacking the pieces in place with a small dab of glue. ( I used a glue stick. I was only wanted to tack the pieces in place to hold during lamination.) Then, I went to town laminating.

 

I had some extra space so I added my birthday tags to the button. ( I hate wasting lamination) you can head over to my TPT shop to snag up the birthday tags for free.

( They are editable so you can add your name or your kiddos names!) Next, I cut, hot glued a black clothespin, and added a wide strip of magnetic tape to the back.

 

I am super excited about these reward chart holders for my lockers.

 

This week I also made my BTS welcome gift.There seems to be some controversy about B2S gifts. I am a giver- do not receive as well as I give. I have always been that way. (Guess years of growing up watching my momma!) I saw these smencils at Michael's.

(Yes, I am one of those scent infatuated people!)

I whipped up a round label

and grabbed some ribbon from my stash. (Yes, I have a stash of ribbon too. Maybe I should post a picture of my “store room” literally looks like a mini Michael’s.)

 

Bam- I have an adorable gift for the first day!!

 

I just added these to my TPT shop  if you want to snag them up!!

Well, the creating has just begun from me... Stay tuned for more Fun, Fresh and Polka Dot Ideas!! Don't forget to follow me on Instagram or bloglovin'!!

 

Five for Friday (8-2-13)

Good Morning Everyone!! I am super excited to be linking up with  Doodle Bugs Teaching for the “famous” Five for Friday Linky Party!! It’s back after a short summer hiatus. I am in love with the new button!!

1. Project Deck:

Oh My Word!! My son had one of his “great” ideas about “restoring “ our deck. Have you heard about RESTORE??? Well, basically it is  a tint base that you apply to your existing deck.  It states right on the bucket that it is “Concrete and Deck Restore is a durable flexible 100% acrylic coating that will resurface most wood and concrete surfaces. It provides lasting protection against moisture and the damaging effects of the sun”. My son stated that it is going to give me the effect of my dream deck “timbertech”. This is a “slow process” for us!! I hope to be back soon with before and after pictures!!!

 

2. Project Birthday:

I have been “slowly” gathering supplies to fill my birthday bags for my kiddos. I have been finding some pretty good deals at my favorite “hot spots” {Target, Michaels, Jo-Ann’s, Dollar General, Dollar Tree, Wal-Mart, etc} I decided I wanted to add a little “glitz” to my birthday tags from my polka dot birthday decor packet and created these. I posted them for “free” on my tpt site. PS They are editable so you can either add your student’s names or you can add your name like I did. Now to get stuffing my bags…I think I may have to buy biggie cello bags!!! Houston I believe we might have a slight problem!!! (P.S. Sorry for the grainy pics-- arggghhhh)

3. Project Group Signs:

Last year, I taught in a tiered Reading Group. I had the intervention group, but I still tiered my kiddos by level. Since my room had a peace theme my groups names were Peace, Hippie, and Groovy. I used colored baskets to differentiate my group papers and etc. {pink= Peace, Blue= Hippie, Green=Groovy) I will not be teaching a tiered style Reading group this year (YEAH) therefore after trying to figure out how to reach all levels and learning modalities, I decided to keep my kiddos in groups within my room. I created these glitter signs to hang in my classroom this year.

4. Project Lamination:

I saw this picture on my facebook news feed and it made me giggle. (So True!!)

Yes, this is me. I get excited to laminate!! There is something very exciting about seeing a project get that “thick” clear coating to make the colors “pop”. Okay, I will stop!!! Here is a sneak peak at a project I am working on (I had some extra space on the bottom so I opted to laminate my birthday tags). Thankfully, I have a circle punch to make cutting these circles a cinch. P.S. Be sure to follow my on my blog or FB for more details about the polka dot/striped project!!!

5. Project PRINTER

My old printer went belly-up while printing my behavior reward cards (YIKES) and I needed something fast. My sweet bloggy friend Erica from Erica Bohrer’s First Grade posting about her printer and I knew I had to check it out. After reading several reviews and weighing my options, I decided to hit that famous “add to cart” button on my amazon account. Well, it arrived yesterday and I am in LOVE!!!! I put that baby right to work after setting it up. Now, as soon as I get off here I am heading to LAMINATE. Seems like a pattern [Create, Print, Laminate, Cut, REPEAT]

Looking forward to seeing you all next week: A glimpse of some things I have in store… B2S Shopping, Freezer Stock-Up, Classroom Set-Up and getting ready for a Me-Cation!!!!

Always, Melissa

Super Sunday Sales

Well, I have to admit after my Broncos lost, I stopped worrying about the  Super Bowl this year. However, I did get excited when I heard that TPT was having a Super Sunday Sale on February 3rd.

Regardless of who is playing in the biggest football event of the year, we all want to save an additional 28% off incredible packets, clipart, and etc for so many talented teachers.

I have been super busy, but I am so honored to be using a button that a fellow teacher and incredible artist whipped up for the sale! Thank you Ashley Hughes for this super cute super sale button!!!

I have been asked by several people about my weekly sight word assessments. I finally had the opportunity to put the word lists and sentence assessments in one big file. (Well almost all of them.) I just uploaded it to my tpt store for free.

Here is a sneak peek

Now head on over and shop till you drop or at least until “kick-off” time.

Always, Melissa

Blogger Linky Mixer Party

Head on over to Yearn to Learn for the Blog Mixer Linky: Here are my submissions.
1. A blogger who is a "New Kid on the Blog" (Let's say someone who has blogged 2 months or less and has less than 200 followers)
Oh my goodness, just too sweet- Krissy’s blog is new and it is a MUST SEE!!!! Click on her button below:

2.  Post a blogger in your same grade level
I am a Special Education Teacher Servicing Students in K and First so I am adding a link for Donna Glynn’s Kinderglynn (Love her work and her site- She is absolutely amazing)

and

Anna Brantley’s Crazy for First blog is just too cute for words (I love the colors) 

3.  Post a blogger in a different grade level
This is completely “different” Amy’s blog “Science Stuff” is SUPER for the high school science teachers!!!


4.  It's all about the button. Find a cute blog button and post it.
I have a Dr. Seuss “secret” fetish and I love Mrs. Dillard’s Blog and Button