More Teacher Ideas...

I've found a few more cute Teacher ideas that would make adorable little end-of-the-year teacher gifts that were WAY too cute not to share! I think I'll keep them handy for next year as well. I know from experience that it's always nice getting little things like this from students :)

Below is a "TEA"cher Card. I'd probably print a cute message to post on the front of the tea cup as well...

This idea came from Family Fun. Instructions here..."Tea"cher Card

The next two fun ideas came from The Domesticated Lady. How cute are these water bottles? And what a refreshing idea for all the wonderful teachers out there now that the weather is warming up around the country...those classrooms can get HOT!

Here is the link... TEA-riffic Teacher Water Bottles

And then there's this sweet treat... We definitely do need S'more great teachers!

Link with template...s'more Teachers Like You



Hope your little ones are enjoying the end of the school year & looking forward to summer vacation!

Enjoy! s.b.

End of the Year Teacher Gift

M1 is officially done with 3 year old preschool this week. Just in time for her 4th Birthday on Monday. According to her, it just wouldn't be right to be in 3K as a four year old!!! Fortunately, in her case it works out that the finishes just days before her birthday :)

I wanted to share the picture frame I crafted for her teacher. She was a nurse for years, stayed home with her kids for many years & then went back to get her teaching degree. So... this year is her first year as a teacher. I wanted to make something special for her. She's a terrific woman & has taught M1 oodles of things throughout the entire year. I'll be delighted for M2 to have her as a teacher in another year.

Supplies- Unfinished Wood Picture Frame, Mod Podge, Craft Paper or Ruled Paper, Hole Punch, Paint Brush, Paint, Alphabet Stickers.

1. I began by painting the frame a dark barn red color & allowed a few min. of drying time.

*I got this frame from IKEA. It was a cheap pack of 3 unfinished picture frames that really come in handy when I'm looking for a quick Mod Podge project. I also regularly buy the unfinished wood frames from Michael's Arts & Crafts. Can't go wrong... they're only $1.00!!!

2. While the frame dried, I went ahead & traced the frame onto my piece of craft paper. (I found a piece of paper @ the craft store that looks like a ruled piece of paper. If you don't have one you could just use a plain ruled piece of paper.)

3. Cut out the rectangle & made it just a bit smaller than the face of the frame so some of the red paint would show around the edges.

*Below I layed it out just to be sure it fit correctly.

4. Use the Mod Podge and apply a layer to the entire face of the frame.

5. Lay the craft paper on top of the face of the frame over the Mod Podge glue. Be sure to press down around the entire frame to get any bubbles out & get it flat.

6. I usually go over the entire surface with Mod Podge one more time once the paper is down to give it an extra layer to secure.

7. Allow an hour or so to dry completely.

8. Use alphabet stickers to apply a message to the frame.

I chose "My First Year" since it's her first year as a teacher. I thought it would make a great memory. Other messages could include "World's Best Teacher" or "I Love My Teacher." You get the idea!

(Also, if you don't have stickers you could use various letters from magazines cut out & glue onto the frame.)

9. Once you've got your stickers in place, apply another thin layer of Mod Podge over the stickers to secure them as well. Allow to dry.

And you're done! What a cute gift... I certainly hope she enjoys it.

I was able to print a picture of the class as well, so it's a finished deal.

M1 is so anxious to give it to her this week & I am still in awe that she's turning 4! Where does the time go??!!

Enjoy! s.b.

Healthy v.s. Not Healthy Food Cut-Out Activity

A fun activity to get the little one's minds thinking about food. I feel like all my kids want to eat lately is JUNK! So this morning, the girls & I did this activity. Very easy & it was a great way to spark a good conversation about what foods we should be eating throughout the day!

Supplies-  Paper Plates, Scissors, Magazines, Markers, Glue Stick

 1. On one side of the paper plate write the word "Healthy."

M1 wrote it herself, I wrote for M2... it all depends on your child's age.

2. On the reverse side of the plate, write the words "Not Healthy."

3. Begin searching through magazines for pictures of healthy & not healthy foods.

4. Once your child finds a food, cut it out for them or have them do the cutting. (Again, depends on age.)

5. Glue the picture of the food to the correct side of the plate. 

Here is M1 gluing a picture of milk to the side that reads "Healthy."

6. Repeat steps 3-5 until you reach a desired amount of food pictures on each side of the paper plate.

And here she is holding up her finished product...I was happy she chose to show the "Healthy" side.

She did tell me that the foods on the "Not Healthy" side looked soooo delicious!

Enjoy! s.b.

Spring Flower Picture

We are still having WAY below normal temperatures here & are anxiously awaiting some warmer weather! Today we got the feel of a warm spring day by crafting this bright flower picture.

Supplies- Colored Construction Paper, Patterned Scrapbook Paper, Glue, Scissors, Colored Buttons

1. Cut eight-ten small strips (about 5-6 inches long) to be used for the flower pedals.

2. Repeat with two other colored papers as pictured below.

3. Place a small dot of glue at the end of the paper strip.

4. Bend the strip of paper around & pinch it closed to form a circle, as pictured below.

5. Repeat with all of the strips of paper.

M1 loved doing this & it was GREAT for her fine motor skills. It took a few for her to get the hang of it but once she got going, she loved it!

Here are all of our paper circles...

6. Glue a button to the base piece of paper. (We used blue "like the color of the sky" says M1)

7. Begin gluing the paper circles around the button to create a flower.

8. Repeat steps 6 & 7 with the remaining two colored flowers.

9. Use green paper to create long stems for each flower & glue them underneath each blossom.

10. We added a few extra green buttons for the leaves of each flower & M1 insisted on a yellow sun button as well.

Turned out pretty cute. I may have M1 write Happy Mother's Day on the top as a gift for one of the grandmas this weekend. Hope some of you are enjoying warm weather this week!

Enjoy! s.b.