It's Been a LONG, LONG Time- We're Ready for the New Year

It's been a long, long time since I last wrote anything.  Partially because we moved from Iowa to California in the summer of 2013 and partially because I know there are TONS of blogs out there.  I don't want to get lost in the vast sea of blogs available today, and I sometimes wonder what on earth I have to offer that isn't already out there, so I have been hesitant to keep up with this.

Well, today I will make a stronger attempt to post some of my creative ideas/projects.  I don't have a 'focus' medium, but I like to do it all: scrapbooking (really any paper crafting), sewing, painting, refurbishing items, and of course, digital work.  I'm probably missing something, but if I have an idea about a project, I'll figure it out!  Anything that boosts my creativity is open for me to try.

So here's what I was busy crafting today- New Years photo props for my 2 kids.  We'll be celebrating at home tomorrow night, but that doesn't mean we're not going to have fun.

I was inspired by props posted in a post on www.classyclutter.net.  (The direct link wasn't working at the time of this post).  They are cute and fun and perfect for a 7 year old and 2 year old.  I used my Silhouette Cameo cutting machine (the best thing ever!!!) to cut glasses, a hat, crown, and the lips.  All of the shapes are in the Silhouette online store.  However, I did transform the glasses to include 2015 in the lenses and added the year on the hat and crown.

For my Mr.                               For the little Miss

 

I still have to add the lollipop sticks to the glasses, mustache, and mouth.  I'll probably use elastic for the crown since my very strong-willed daughter will insist on wearing it all night.  The hat will probably get a lollipop stick too.

Materials used:

• Silhouette cutting machine
• 2 12x12 pieces gold glitter cardstock
• 2 12x12 pieces black glitter cardstock
• Lollipop sticks for handles

If you have a Silhouette cutter, here is a great video showing how to weld 2 objects together.  I used this feature to weld the numbers in my glasses so that they wouldn't be cut out in separate shapes- but rather 1 continuous shape.

I can't wait to see our kids with the props!  (Maybe I'll get a few pictures of us too...)
Happy New Year!

Everyday Teaching: Science

Here is my ABSOLUTE favorite science unit to teach: Life Cycle of a Butterfly.  This is truly amazing to teach in a classroom- most of my students knew that a caterpillar changed into a butterfly, but they never saw how it did...until this science unit.  Little caterpillars arrive and the magic begins!  My students always loved watching them grow and fatten up, go into J-shape, molt into chrysalis, and finally come out as a butterfly!  Here is my SMARTBoard file for the entire unit!

Life Cycle of a Butterfly SMARTBoard File

My son's daycare (my son in blue shirt) had caterpillars too a couple of years ago...his excitement (x24) is the excitement I always saw in my classroom!

Everyday Teaching: Science

I LOVE teaching science.  I love hearing the questions of curiosity from my students and seeing them test their thinking with different science studies.  Today I was going through some files and ran across 2 science units that I really enjoyed teaching- Balls & Ramps and Pebbles, Sand, and Silt.  Balls and Ramps is all about testing how different characteristics of balls affect the way they move.  Pebbles, Sand, and Silt is all about discovery the properties of different earth materials.  Both units are very hands on and interesting to teach!
I taught this unit before my school had SMARTBoards, so right now I only have the journals.

See my journals on Teachers Pay Teachers!

Balls and Ramps on TPT

Pebbles, Sand, and Silt on TPT

What is it?

This weekend I am working on another project for my daughter's room.  Here's a picture of the partially finished project.  I'll post the whole project when it's complete!  (Hopefully tomorrow when I don't have school, but the kids do!)

Hair Bow Holder

Things I post under everyday cute are items that I've created for my 9 month old daughter.  I don't think you have to wait for a special occasion to make your little one cute- it can happen everyday!

It's amazing how quickly one can collect a multitude of hair bows and flowers for a little girl.  I wanted to have them displayed in her room so I could quickly grab one in when getting her dressed in the morning.  So of course I scoured the internet in search for the perfect bow holder, but came up with nothing that I thought was perfect.  So I made one.  I spent a whole $2.97.  I used an empty frame from my garage, some left over fabric from her baby blanket, extra ribbon, a stapler, glue gun, and gold hooks (the major purchase for this). Here's what to do:

1. Paint frame a color of your choice. My frame is wood, size 16x20.  You will not need the glass so use it in another frame or recycle.
2. Use the back of the frame as the base for your fabric.  Stretch your selected fabric across the board, pull tight to wrap over the edges, and staple on the back.
3. Next is the ribbon.  I used plain black ribbon and only had enough for 5 lengths but you could certainly add more.  I used a glue gun to secure both ends on the back of the board.
4. Put the fabric board back in the frame and secure it.
5. Now it's time to add the hooks.  I bought small gold screw hooks to be used along the bottom of the frame to hold headbands.  Since the frame is wood, I  was able to twist the hooks in by hand- no drill needed (even though I love using mine).  I spaced 11 out evenly along the bottom.
6. Voila- functional wall art for your little one!

I LOVE the way this looks- it matches her room perfectly and easily holds all of her bows (up to this point in time at least)!

Welcome!

Welcome to my digital work space.  I love being creative in all aspects of my life- as an instructional coach and teacher, a wife, and a mom.  I wanted to start a space where I could share the things I've created for my classroom, my kids, or my home.  So Everyday Christi was born because creativity happens everyday!