Back to School Treats--TWO Free Printables

TWO posts in one day!!  Wowza!  Click HERE to check out the A&W root beer teacher treat--free printable.   Like I said earlier, the first day of CC is this Wednesday!!  I am excited to meet the kiddos who will be in my group (Apprentices).  I made them a little something, too:

Suggestions:  print on white card stock (scroll to the bottom for printable) and cut out, put a few Starburst candies in a little bag, hole-punch card, tie ribbon around bag, and attach card.

Suggestions: print on white card stock, cut along the dotted lines and thread a pencil through the center.

[8X10 printable]

 [8X10 printable]

Linking up:  Hip Homeschool Moms

Teacher Treat--Free Printable

It's that time again--time to start another school year! Although my kiddos are homeschooled, we attend Classical Conversations once a week.  Wednesday will be our first day and we are SUPER excited! Typically, I make something for the girls to give their tutors and/or caregivers, but this year I am AG's tutor so that makes things a little different.  Easy fix:  I'm taking a little treat to my fellow tutors (one being Edy's), and Joy's babysitter.

When I was a public school teacher, I loved a little treat now and then.  Those Snicker bars and Dr. Peppers really came in handy on that first week of school!!! 

There are tons...and tons...and tons of teacher gift ideas floating around Pinterest.  Here's another one to add to the mix...

[8X10 printable] It's going to be an AWESOME year!!!  I just know it! Linking up: It's Overflowing, Hip Homeschool Moms

from mirror to chalkboard

I promised a craft post...

Years and years ago, my grandmother gave me one of her old mirrors.  I think it was gold, I painted it brown (because everything was painted brown in 2003), and hung it above our bed.

Eventually, I updated the mirror a little with another coat of paint.  This time, I went with a metallic satin nickel.  

But along with everyone on pinterest, I'm in love with chalkboards, chalkboard art, typography, etc.  The wheels of change started to turn and I decided to transform the mirror once again.  This time it would reflect thoughts, art, typography, etc.

First, I dismantled the mirror.  I sprayed the frame a risky coat of cream. I decided to paint the back of the mirror instead of the mirror itself in case I decide to change it back later.

I gave the back of the mirror a quick coat of black spray primer/paint.

Next, I sprayed the mirror with several coats of chalkboard spray paint.

I searched images of chalkboard art because I lack creativitiy.

love simplistic chalk art most of all

so pretty.

I googled the pros and cons of chalk pens and regular chalk.  Several bloggers suggested using the tried and true Crayloa white chalk over the pens.  I went with the chalk, but I'm thinking the pens may have been a better choice for me (more precise).

You should know that I'm not an artist and I don't have pretty handwriting.  This project left me a tad frustrated.

I wanted to draw something semi-permanent on my board.  Not gonna lie, I'm a little disappointed, but I fought off the urge to erase a ton of times.  I like my branches, but my "H" is crooked along with a few other add-ons.  It'll change eventually, but it'll do for now.

 There you have it--a mirror turned transformed into a chalkboard.

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Linking up: Craft Dictator 

Castle Fun

Uncle Corey, you outdid yourself.  The girls L-O-V-E the castle...

AG has meticulously colored her chosen spots and has been super supportive of Edy in her scribbling endeavors. (That's really hard for AG and I understand completely.)

 

 

 

The girls call it Shrek and Fiona's Castle.
AG drew Shrek and Fiona on the front door...

...and here are their three little ogre babies.

 

 

They've been at it for about an hour and are still going strong.  I'm looking forward to their finished product.

Thanks, Uncle Corey.  What an awesome bday gift for Miss Edy and treat for AG.

hymnal page wreath

For some time, I have been wanting to make a book page wreath.  There are a million and one different kinds and tutorials on Pinterest so I won't bore you with another tutorial. 

There are lots of great styles, but I went an easier and seemingly quicker route...

Instead of book pages, I used pages from one of my old hymnals.  It is fitting for me because I love music and I love great hymns of the faith.

I made a overlapping leaf style wreath.

 

Super easy, ridiculously cheap, and a great way to lighten up my mantle.

$6 Chair Make-Over

About 6 months ago, I came across a great wooden chair at Goodwill.  $6.00=SOLD!  Of course, I bought it in hopes to do something great with it.  And...

It sat....and sat....and sat....and sat....until I finally got around to "doing something great with it."

The $6.00 chair taped and ready to be painted.

I painted the seat and back of the chair with some paint I had on hand.

Next, I printed off a stencil from the web.  There are plenty to choose from and I tried to find my exact one, but couldn't.  I printed it off on paper and then traced it onto card stock.

Once I had my stencil, I traced the pattern on the chair seat.  Then, I carefully taped along the outside of my pencil markings.  *Make sure not to cover the pencil lines so you can paint over them.  

After taping, I painted the pattern.

Then, I carefully removed the tape. *I spot some lone pencil markings.

There you have it!  A $6.00 Goodwill chair turned into something GREAT!

Contact Paper Love

I should be finishing the last bit of wrapping I have left, but instead I'm crafting/decorating! 

**So thankful for the swing set. My girls don't ever want to come inside!**

In my kitchen, I have some cabinets with pane glass doors.  I like them, but my dishes, glasses, mugs, etc. just get lost in the sea of white.  For some time, I have been looking around (mostly Etsy.com) for some inexpensive contact paper to hang in the back of the cabinets   Today, I struck gold!  I found some vintage-y floral paper in colors I love.

[before]

[before]

[
[during] 

*Quick tip:  I have a pewter bowl that I like to display, but it's too big for a plate stand and too heavy to rest on its own (notice skid marks on shelf).  I placed a wooden skewer in front of the bowl and taped it down.  Works like a charm and is hidden because it's on the top shelf!

[after]

 

 

 

I love my busy print and the good thing about using contact paper is when I don't love it anymore (which will happen), I can just peel it right off!