Are you ready for some craaaafts? (That doesn’t quite work with one syllable words, does it?)
Well, we have some stuff to show you today. Let me tell you, there hasn’t been any slacking around here this week.
Let me also tell you how excited I am that more of my faithful readers are joining in our crafting extravaganzas. It is inspiring and I’m stealing finding good ideas left and right! Last week Blueberry and the Bean posted a cool paper craft idea that I promptly recognized as perfect for all of the crazy scrapbook paper scraps I have lying around. So we made flowers for all of the teachers. Addie’s were delivered last week, Em’s are getting delivered on Thursday.
I also got the awesome idea from Hip Momma for the rest of the teacher gifts. I picked up some of these frames and we doodled on the first page (only!) and put in a sunflower photo.
So thanks, Ladies for the timely help!
After the teacher gifts, I moved onto the stack of birthday cards that I had to make. We have so many birthday peeps coming up.
and some more…
They are kinda dark pics, but you get the idea. And the best thing about all of the cards (besides the fact that they are cheap to make)? I used only scraps from my scrap stash! Recycling and crafty all-in-one, gotta love it.
One of the birthdays we have coming up is my sweet niece, Madey who will be turning 6! I was planning on making her a little summer sundress, so I took the munchkins to the fabric store to help me pick out a fun fabric.
Yeah. Apparently I temporarily forgot that my two diva-liscious girls LOVE the fabric store. We walked out with not only a dress for Madey, but one for Emma, one for Addie, and even enough for a wee dress for Bear. I have a hard enough time controlling my own fabric urges, it is downright impossible times three.
Next time, they must stay home.
So while we were waiting for Madey’s measurements, I put together Em’s… (The skirt is tiny little red and black ladybugs…of course.)
And Addie’s with a matching one for Bear…all fabric and ribbon picked out by the girls, remember. Not what I would have picked, but they turned out okay.
Totally simple little dresses, that anyone can make. And Addie’s fabric was on the clearance rack (it is all shirred on the top already even!) So we got the fabric for $2.96! Add in the ribbon and I made her dress (and Bear’s!) for less than $5. They may be impossibly stylish, but at least they can also find good deals!
We also started the Chore and Behavior chart today (well, yesterday) complete with tickets and prizes!
And I made these little ticket holders (more recycles! Mocha tins and scrap paper!)…
They each earned nine tickets today. I know it is new…but wow! It really did work.
Well, almost. Notice Emma did not get a stamp for No Whining, and Addie did not get one for Listening to Mommy. But the determination to get it right tomorrow is there. They are pumped. We’ll see what happens in the next few months. Yeah, we’ll see.
And our Summer School Project ‘O9 kicks off next Monday! I have been making flash cards for our first installment (ocean creatures) and Addie and I are going to create our ocean tomorrow morning. I must say that I have been having so much fun drawing the creatures and scouring the ‘net for crafts and fun activities. I hope the girls have even half as much fun and then I know it will be totally worth it. Mmm…and maybe learn a thing or two, as well. Here are a few of my favorites…
And just a little fyi – it is VERY difficult to come up with recognizable creatures for every letter of the alphabet. But I managed to do it with the ocean creatures. I’m working on Bugs and Butterflies now…and it might be impossible. We may have to take a different tact. But let me know if you need help or want to see them – or just want the flashcards, I’m happy to share.
And hit me with what you’ve got this week. Keep me on a roll throughout the summer with some crafty goodness!
Ohhhhhhhhhhh, *sigh* crafting heaven. You are so inspiring me with your flashcards and the like. I wish I was teaching infants again!!!!!!!! Errrrr what did you do for ‘x’??? The birthday cards are really cute and of course…using up scraps…I could do that! Why didn’t I think of it? And as for the dresses…what sophisticated ladies
I wondered about the shirring. I have never been game to do that on the machine myself.
Nothing from me this week. I am still plugging away on the little cardigan when ever I get a few minutes (HA!) Maybe it will be finished by the holidays?
Wait, you drew ALL of those ocean creatures??? They look store bought! That’s a compliment by the way.
We use a puff ball jar for rewarding the girls. It has worked fantastically for a long time. They see it get filled and plan for what they want. I only do one reward when it’s filled completely.
Cute dresses. I am packing my sewing machine away for awhile cuz I haven’t used it in a long time. It’s a part of my craft room clean up process. It has to be done for the sake of the whole room.
Adorable!! Adorable!! Adorable!! Pardon my repeating myself but every bit of those crafty things were so far beyond what I could even think of that I am speechless!! It sure sounds like you are on the right track for the summer. Someday those girls of yours will realize what an awesome Mom they really have. Until then, we will tell you at every opportunity.
So much here today it will be hard to comment on it all! Love your teacher gifts, firstly. I’m sure they are going to be so pleased with them.
Those dresses are super cute! Did you do any of the shirring or were they all that way? Such fun and simple dresses for summer and I’m sure your niece will love hers, too. I can’t take my kids with me either, because they start picking out stuff they want to throw in the cart. At least they are interested in it, right?
And…you drew all of them?? What a great job! Hope you can keep all of this up for the summer because your kids are going to have an awesome time learning and having fun.
Today, I just have a sorta tutorial for how I made stencils on my drawers in the kitchen.
That was all in one week? Did you sleep somewhere in there? Man, I am tired after reading that post. I love everything you created. Thank you so much for my birthday card. I loved it too.
Arizaphale – X-ray fish! I know, stretching a bit, but it does exist and I think there may even be one at the aquarium, so I can do a fun find-n-seek A-to-Z sort of thing! The worst one was “I.” The only thing I could find was Isopod? A very scary looking prehistoric sort of crabby thing. Of course my drawing he is much cuter and not nearly as menacing!
Melody & Stacy – I did draw almost all of them – in Illustrator. I’m a much better artist on the computer than I am in real life. There were a few that I already had some stock art for (harbor seals and dolphin) that I used and then I drew my creatures to coexist with the others nicely. Thanks!
Stacy – Nope – I didn’t do any of the shirring…Ad’s dress came all one piece like that (nice!) and Em’s & Madey’s are just the 12in. (maybe?) shirred strips with the cute ruffle on the bottom already. Again, need a serger, don’t I?
and Jen – yes, all in one week! I almost saved some of it for next week because surely I’m going to crash and not do anything for weeks now, right? But if I didn’t put it up now, chances are it would get lost in the shuffle!
Wow – busy busy girl!!! I love the projects. Do share the directions for the flowers, please! They are adorable. I’m thinking they’d look great as decorations on some plastic “canister” jars that I might use as a gift for dear daughter when she goes off to college…fill them with paper clips and other fun office supply type things.
Don’t you love using scraps?
I made a couple of sets of cards as graduation presents (complete with stamps)
and while I start out using scraps, I was able to make coordinating cards using bits and pieces of the same few sheets of paper. I loved the result and felt so proud of being thrifty and not wasteful.
AWESOME! now, I suppose I could get that much done in a week if I didn’t park it at the computer for so long!
BYE!!!!
Umm…wow. You. Make. Me. So. Tired.
Very cool stuff. Those dresses are amazing!
Madness!! I can’t believe you did all that! Whew, you do deserve a break, or two, or three…
Love everything…Em’s dress is so stinkin cute/ladybugs are some of my favorite.
It’s so nice to see how much you love your kids, you are a hard working momma
~Dawn
i think bean may have an alphabet book that has a bug for every letter of the alphabet… if you get suck on a letter let me know, i just might be able to help you!
i’m going to try to get something up today…. (famous last words, huh? ha ha!)
WOW! What a load of awesome stuff! I love those ticket jars – sooo cute! maybe after I finish my doctorate in November, I can FINALLY get around to doing some crafty stuff – I love it, but NEVER have time!
Each piece was even more impressive than the last. Love the teacher gifts. And the chore chart system is beautiful. And those dresses! Wow! Great post.
Wow. That’s a LOT of crafty! Each item is so cute, and then to think of you doing ALL that in a week?! Wow. Very impressed by your artistry, too. With all these professionally designed accessories, you could sell your summer learning program! I think I need to start a behaviour chart like that, too.
Once again, I am totally amazed and envious of your incredible crafting skills!
Sometimes Carrie,,,,,,,,,,, there are no words.
You ARE amazing . Your creativity blows me away, and all that you do IS so inspiring.
Enjoy your time away. You are fantastic,
The card made my weekend,
Love,
Michelle
I am in awe of you. I can’t even find the time to type up a blog post… or read blogs for that matter. Can you teach me how to be you?
: )