Monday Made It: Aug. 5

I can’t believe it’s already August!  Where did the time go?!  This is probably my last Monday Made It post for awhile.  It’s time to get all my previous projects together and set up my classroom.  Hopefully, I’ll have some classroom pics to share soon.

New project…
I made shelf markers out of paint sticks.  I got this idea from Mrs. Jones Teaches and I’m hoping it will help keep my classroom library more organized. I assign my students numbers each year.  The plan is for the kids to use “their” shelf marker when selecting a book. Not only will the kids know where to put their books when they are finished, but I will also be able to tell with a quick glance who has a book checked out.

Mrs. Jones’s shelf markers are definitely cuter than mine but I’m starting to feel the pressure to finish up with the crafty stuff so I can get the room put together. 


Another new project…
Lots of people have been adding READ signs to their classrooms.  I LOVE every single sign I’ve seen.  However, I decided to be a little different.  I created a TRY sign.  I want my students to remember to keep trying.  Sometimes things get difficult but you can’t succeed unless you TRY.


Old project…
I made this last summer but I’m sharing it anyway.  We do A LOT of cutting and gluing in my classroom.  That causes A LOT of trips to the trash can and that causes A LOT of commotion.  Last year I solved that problem by putting mini trash cans at each table.  It worked really well for me.  These are cheap pots that I bought at Walmart and decorated by adding fabric.


I can’t wait to check out what everyone else has been up to.  Have a great week!

5 comments Classroom Decor, classroom management, Monday Made It, organization

Another Monsteriffic Monday

Welcome back for another monsteriffic Made It Monday!

One of my teaching buddies shared a cute dragon quote with me.  Of course, I had to change it to fit my monster theme.  Click on the picture below if you would like a FREE copy for yourself.  I can’t decide if I’m going to frame mine or make it into a poster.


I like having a special place just for homework.  In the past my homework tray has been b-o-r-i-n-g!  I used a plastic letter tray that was a different color than my other paper trays.  This year I’m doing something a little different and, of course, I had to make it to fit the monster theme. 

I added the speech bubble to give the monster a little personality.  I made extra speech bubbles that I plan to switch out from time to time. 


If you have any suggestions for what my homework monster could say, PLEASE, PLEASE let me know!

Here’s a plant that I monsterfied for the occasion. 



I give my new students a water bottle at the beginning of each school year as a way of letting them know they can drink water in my class.  I typically create labels for the bottles on the computer.  This year I did something a little different.



These water bottles were much more time consuming than the ones I’ve done in the past.  I think next year I’m going back to designing the labels on my computer.

If you haven’t entered my Mastercard giveaway, click here.  Time is running out!

Also, be sure to check out all the other Monday Made Its at Tara’s blog.


Have a great week!

14 comments classroom theme, freebies, Monday Made It, monster theme

Customize Your Own Tervis Tumbler

Happy Monday everyone!  I’m back with more monster ideas for Monday Made It!  Actually, I’m cheating.  I’m not actually making this one – I’m letting the professionals handle that.  I’m just designing.

Let me back up a little.  I recently discovered that I drink more water if I use my Tervis tumbler.  Not only does it keep my water cold all day but having a straw helps.  I don’t know why, but it does. 

I might be pushing this classroom theme a bit far, but I decided I needed a Tervis tumbler with monsters on it.  I know there are people who can add vinyl designs to the outside but then the tumbler needs to be hand washed.  That’s not my style.  I did some searching on the Tervis website and discovered I could create my own design.  The design is put between the two layers of the cup which is crucial for me.  I don’t hand wash anything.  I created several designs and now I can’t decide which one to order.  Please help!!  I have it narrowed down to these two:

   

Is choice 2 too busy?  Is choice 1 too plain?  Please help me decide!  BTW, the graphics for these cutie monsters comes from Prettygrafik Designs.

Which Tervis tumbler should I buy?

If you want to try your hand at customizing your own Tervis tumbler, go to http://www.tervis.com/customizer-ldg.  It’s super easy.  Here’s a glimpse at the customizer.



I missed my 1 year blogiversary but I’ve been thinking about having a late giveaway.  If I can work out the details, I think it would be fun to give someone the chance to customize their own Tervis tumbler.  Whatchya think?  Do you want to give it a try?  Would you customize a tumbler with your…

class theme?
class colors? 
school mascot?
dog’s picture? 
grandmother’s picture?
The possibilities are limitless.

4 comments Classroom Decor, classroom theme, fun, Monday Made It

Monday Made It–Monster Style

I’m back with another monster edition of Monday Made It.  It might take me all summer, but I’m determined to get my room monsterfied.  This week I worked on some of the basics – a clip chart and desktags.

I adore Krista Wallden’s graphics and when I saw her Put on a Happy Face clip art, I HAD to have it! 


In the past I’ve used a toddler pant hanger to hang my clip chart onto my closet door.  It wasn’t pretty but it worked well.  This year I turned my hanger into a fuzzy green monster.



Here are my desk tags:


I’ve really been wanting to buy a cute bottle of handsanitizer from Etsy.  You know the ones…cute vinyl stickers that say “Germ Juice”.  The only problem is that all the decorated hand sanitizers on Etsy are little 8 ounce bottles.  We go through waaay more germ juice than that in my room!  Here’s what I came up with instead:



I like how my little cyclop hand sanitizer turned out.  I'm off to work on some more monster projects.  Have a great week!

6 comments classroom theme, Monday Made It, monster theme

Monster Pillows

Once again it’s time for Monday Made It!  This week I decided to make some pillows to keep my monster wreaths company.  I’m really getting a kick out of all this monster stuff.

Here’s pillow #1:




And, the other one:



I have a bright red futon in my classroom that the kids get to sit on during DEAR time.  These guys will be our new couch buddies.



I also made a set of rules to post in my room.  We are required to post the school rules in our classroom so, I change mine out each year to fit the theme.




Of course, I also needed to make another one of these signs.  This sign is just too important to leave out.  The idea for this sign was borrowed from Pinterest.  I can’t find the original pin so I can’t give credit to the appropriate person.



If you need a monster themed reporting vs tattling sign, click on the picture above.  It’s FREE! 

I’m sure I’ll be back next Monday with some more monster décor.  Have a great week!

10 comments freebies, linky, Monday Made It, monster theme

Monster Wreath

It’s been awhile but I’m back with another Monday Made It post.  I get a lot of ideas from Pinterest but the Monday Made It linky is what gets me motivated to get stuff done.  Thanks Tara! 
It seems like I just got out of school yesterday but I’m already working on my theme for the next school year.  After seeing all of Amanda’s (Teaching Maddeness) monster themed posts last summer I caught the monster bug. 
I saw this monster wreath on Pinterest and decided to make one myself.

I had so much fun making this one that I decided to make another.

I plan to hang these critters in the hall with students’ work but I need a really good slogan.  Anyone have ideas I can mooch??
These wreaths were super easy to make.  I cut about 75’ of tulle into 12” strips and tied the strips into knots around a foam wreath center. The teeth are made from craft foam that I attached using sewing pins.  The eyeballs are stuck on with toothpicks.
I’m off to plan next week’s Monday Made It!

3 comments classroom theme, Monday Made It, monster theme

Font.My for Android Users

I don't know about you, but after seeing so many iPad users/bloggers create their own fonts, I've been green with envy.  I wanted so badly to make my own fonts but I don't have an iPad.  However, I DO have an android tablet and this past weekend I discovered an amazing new app in the Play store. Drum roll, please...

The trial version is free and you can make and download 1 font (lower case letters only).  It didn't take me long to decide I needed, okay, wanted the full version. I was able to get the full version for $2.99 which I thought was a good deal.  

This is an example of the first font that I created.  It's pretty basic but I still love it.  I'm sure I'll be creating plenty more.  This app is so simple to use that my children were zipping right through it creating their own fonts too.

Even though this isn't the typical Monday Made It post, I thought I would link up any way cuz I'm just so dang happy about my new find!!  I want to make sure all the Android users out there find out about this one!!

Have a great week!

Leave a Comment classroom tools, Monday Made It, Technology

Painted Teacher Stool

It’s another edition of Monday Made It!  I’ve spent a lot of time on Pinterest this summer drooling over all the cute ideas.  I know, we all have!  Well, I finally got away from my computer and got something accomplished.  I was originally inspired by this:

Source: lauriecoledesigns.com via Deirdre on Pinterest

There is no way I could do all of that painting.  I’m not artistic enough and I’m certainly not patient enough.  Even though I love the stool, I was intimidated by it.  Then I came across this stool:

Source: thecraftingchicks.com via Deirdre on Pinterest

This stool has fabric mod-podged onto the top.  I love to sew so I’m more comfortable working with fabric.  The tutorial for this one can be found on The Crafting Chicks website and is super easy to follow.
Because I felt safe with trying the technique in the 2nd picture, I decided to make a red version.  One thing led to another and I ended up with a mixture of the 2 pictures. 
Here’s what my stool looked like before I began.

I started off by spray painting it red.  Then I traced a plate to make a template for the fabric circle.  I used my handy dandy sewing tools to cut out the circle and I printed a D from my computer to use as a template.


Here’s what the top looked like at after I glued my fabric on.  I punched holes out of construction paper so I could see what it would look like with added details.  I ended up painting larger dots around the edge.
Once again, I decided to add fabric instead of painting.  In this picture I’m wrapping fabric around each leg brace.  I applied a liberal amount of Mod Podge and it looks like it’ll hold up pretty well.

Ta-da!  The final product:

I think my next project will be to make new curtains for my classroom.  I like my old ones but I’m tired of them and I would like a new look.

Update:
I'm linking up with with Mrs. G at Teach on a Limb for her Mod Podge Mania linky.  If you have a Mod Podge project, go link up.  The big question is...How do you prevent bubbles when working with Mod Podge?  Inquiring minds want to know!  I must admit that I also ended up with bubbles, but only on the top of the stool and not on the leg braces.  Hubs seems to think my big butt will flatten them out when I sit on the stool.  He is so not funny!!

12 comments Classroom Decor, Monday Made It

Painted Desk

 

I'm linking up with Tara from 4th Grade Frolics with my Monday Made It project.  

School Project

Have you seen those adorable painted stools on Pinterest lately?  A friend of mine, our very talented art teacher, painted this nasty old desk for me and I LOVE the way it turned out!!  Of course, our school mascot is an eagle and the desk is painted with our school colors. I wish I had a "before" picture, but if you look inside the desk you will get an idea of how yucky this desk was.

My job is going to be to paint the inside which I will gladly do!  Painting the inside won't take much talent!  I'm currently trying to get the guts to paint my teacher stool in a similar style.  If I don't totally muck it up, I'll post a pic when I get through.

Personal Project
I created this shopping list organizer using this tutorial from 2 Little Hooligans.

I really like the way the inside of this is organized.  There is a plain pocket, a zipper pocket, a place for a pen, and the notepad.  If you're into sewing, you should check out 2 Little Hooligans.  She has some awesome tutorials and they are easy to follow.

I'm going to be missing in action soon.  I'm getting geared up to spend the end of week at a 3 day science academy.  It sounds like fun and I can't wait to learn some exciting things to do with my kiddos.

6 comments Classroom Decor, Monday Made It