{Fun Teacher Gifts}

This year I decided to be crafty for teacher presents! It all started out to be fun and relaxing until I put it off til the end!!! I am sooo much a procrastinator it isn't funny. But in the end it all turned out to be a success!

For Mr VonMoos, Taylor's classroom teacher, we gave a loaf of Pumpkin Bread with Craisins and pecans baked into it. We also gave him a tin filled with homemade fudge...yes you read that right...I did bake this holiday season!!!

To Mrs. Houtz, Tay's Open Door teacher, we gave a loaf of the Pumpkin Bread along with a tin of Fudge. We also gave her a clipboard which we covered with scrapbooking paper and some magnets. We didn't add the clipboard or magnets to Mr. VonMoos' gift because Tay thought they were "too girlie." I figured they were her teachers she could make that decision. :)

For Ms. Parker, Tay's Guitar teacher, we made some magnets and put them into a covered Altoid can. (Forgot to take a pic of that one too.)

Ryan's teachers all got decorated Clipboard and magnets...but I forgot to take a picture of them all. I will have to wait until the New Year and take pics with them in use. :)

We had a fun time putting our love into each gift for our teachers this year. I hope they love them as much as we did!!

Many of these could work for teacher gifts too!!

Been Up To My Elbows In...CRAFT

I can not tell you how many people have called asking where I've been! I didn't realize so many people logged on each day looking to read the next crazy story about our "OOooHH So Normal" Family!

So, no we haven't fallen off the face of the earth. I have just gotten lost in a few...okay MANY different craft projects in the last week or so. It all began when I found the wordle website. I had so many different ideas floating through my head that I was trying to keep up with all of them. BAD IDEA.

Then on Monday I ran up to Craft Warehouse...once again...BAD IDEA. I came home with so many things I didn't even know where to begin. Which is why I found myself doing multiple projects at once. As one was drying I started another and when I got frustrated I moved on to yet another...Poor Will came home to a house that looked like Santa's Workshop after a MAJOR hurricane! (I know there aren't hurricanes in the North Pole! But you get my point.) ;)

I started by making magnets with the flat decorative clear rocks. I found some fun scrapbook paper stamped a few letters on it, used Mod Podge to glue them together then added a magnet to the backs and taadaa I have fun little gifts for people. I ran acrossed some ribbon I had and decided to try to make bow magnets. I think they are VERY cute!

Next, I started on something that is going to end up as a prize for this Friday's Bunko Party. I bought a glass block, a jack-o-lantern face rub-on, a small strand of white lights and a bag of small autumn leaves. I transferred the jack-o-lanterns face on, stuffed the leaves in through the hole in the back and then began the pain-staking process of getting the lights shoved into the block as well. The hole was not large enough to get the light through at the same time as the cord so I ended up taking a finger nail file and filing the hole until it was just big enough to shove the light strand through. It will make a GREAT Bunko gift and a wonderful Halloween decoration!
My final projects were started this morning. I have been looking at this post on TipJunkie which shows how to take a tin container (Altoids box) and decorate it so it can be used again for fun. After searching and finding a couple tins (in the back of the pantry) I decided what the heck! So I gathered the supplies and followed the instructions. It really was very, very simple! As I was almost finished I realized that the tutorial only had you decorating the top of the container. HOW BORING! SO, I added my own ideas and flare. I decorated and covered the ENTIRE canister. I am soooo in love with these two containers it is not even funny. The rectangle box I did first and then decided to give the round container a go. I can't wait to find more containers. Will asked me "Does this mean we will be buying Altoids and emptying them into Ziploc baggies so you can have the tins?" He is catching on to my way of thinking...I knew he would come around eventually!!!!!!

These fun containers can be used for ANYTHING. But it dawned on me as I was finishing up, that the containers are metal (duh!)and that the magnets I made the other night would fit in them nicely. What a wonderful gift to give anyone! Tonight I also thought how perfect a Starbucks gift card would fit in the box!!!!! A creative wrapping for a gift card instead of the little paper envelope.

So, long post-short...I have not been ignoring all of my wonderful readers, I have just been crafting and designing things to show you. I spoiled you all a few weeks ago doing multiple posts in one day. I will admit we are a wacky family but even we take a break from the wackiness every once in awhile.

SuRVivAL KitS

Knowing that my three good friends were gearing up to go back to work in a few days I was trying to think of something to give them to start their year off GREAT. After doing some Googling and creative design I came up with putting together Survival Kits for them. Anyone who has ever taught knows that the first week or so can be very stressful on a teacher. So, hopefully their little kits will at least give them a giggle or two on those first nervous days.

Here is what they found inside those fun little bags:

Survival Kit

Lifesavers: for when you’ve had one of THOSE days
Jingle Bells: There are 4 total symbolizing each of us. Just ring when you need help and one or all of us will be there!
Eraser: to remind you that everyone makes mistakes-That is okay…we learn from our errors
Alieve: to make you “All Day Strong!”
Wiggly Eyes: for days when really wish you had eyes in the back of your head
Hugs & Kisses: to remind you everyone needs a hug or compliment every day
Gum: reminds you to stick with it and you can accomplish ANYTHING
Paperclip: to help you hold it together when everything seems to fall apart
Band-Aid: to remind you to heal hurt feelings: yours or someone else’s
Chapstick: for you to put on, instead of saying something you might regret
Hand sanitizer: to keep the extra germs from getting you sick
Deodorant: for days you are running late and forget to put on OR just need a little extra
Magnet: reminds you to do EXACTLY as it says!
Loose Change: for a day you might need a bit more caffeine than planned
Lotion: to help you smooth over those rough patches in your day
Shout Wipes: reminds you to “Shout Out” your messes not your students
Kleenex: to wipe away the tears
Stress Ball: squeeze this instead of someone’s neck
Sticky Tabs: you are leaving your mark on each student you teach
Snowflake: when all else fails…pray for a snow day!!!

It was a lot of fun collecting the items and coming up with little sayings for each. But the part I really enjoyed was putting the entire thing together, decorating the bags and the Survival Kit page. Amazing the kinds of things you can do when you don't have to go to work! The office has been transformed into the "Craft Room." At times this week it has looked like a tornado had struck in there. But in the end, it is all about the fun I am having!

Here is to you three beautiful ladies...GOOD LUCK this year-and remember:

"We're not primarily put on this earth

to see through one another, but to see one another through."

~Peter DeVries