It's BACK to SCHOOL time!

 

Yes, I know it's been a week or so now, but it's a busy time of year so I didn't post earlier.  Both my kids are happy back at school, Year 5 and Year 3 (oh no, it's DOUBLE NAPLAN this year)

I have also cleaned off lots of SD cards from my camera, and uploaded some pics - here's a couple of the "Teacher's Survival Kit" gift I made for one of my kids' teachers at the end of last year:

I 'upcycled' an old cricut cartridge box and used some mixed media type tricks to paint and alter it with patterned papers, paper napkins, shimmer sprays and more (Lou Nelson and Kate Mason would be proud of me I hope!)  It had a magnetic closure already, but by the time I added linings and layers of paper napkin, it wasn't working too well anymore!  So, I turbo charged it using a pair of incredibly small, incredibly STRONG magnets designed for holding corsages in place on clothing or glass vases.  I hid the one on the outside, using a Filigree designer brad (sadly retired now), and the partner was hidden away on the inside.

For the box contents, I drew upon my experience as a student teachers, and added the following:

Bandaids

Panadol

Vapordrops

Merit stickers

Erasable pens

Whiteboard markers

Opaque Marker for drawing on glass, desks, whiteboards etc  (removes with water!)

Rubber merit stamp

Stampin' Spot for inking up the stamp.

I also made a matching ornament using the same colours and papers:

 And the teacher in question liked it all :)  I guess it makes a nice change from mugs and chocolates?

Hope you like it!

In other news, I have set the date for the next Stampin' Crop - Saturday 23rd February from 10am-5pm.  Call 9484 9447 or text me 0403 175 790 to book your spot.

Hand made gifts for some very special teachers

 My kids had some very special teachers last year, so I wanted to make some special gifts to thank them for their hard work.  Mr 10's teacher was able to appreciate his quirky character, like his useful ability to remember collecting notes and classroom organisational type stuff, while conveniently forgetting things like how to spell and times tables.  So, together we made Mr M a noticeboard to keep track of paperwork!  I built a deep rebate frame with some chunky moulding.  The insert is a piece of "Wonderwall" noticeboard stuff I chanced across at Spotlight one day, it is like the wall panel stuff that velcro sticks to, but with a thick EVA foam backing attached so it can be used with pins as well.  We used a papier-mache type technique to cover the frame with the school colours, using little bits and bobs of all kinds of patterned paper, some from my stash and some from now retired DSP prints packs.  The ribbons are Purely Pomegranate and Blue Bayou Stitched Grosgrain from in colors a couple of  years ago, and they are attached on with Build-a-brads and Corduroy brads.  I gave the frame a good coat of glue varnish to make it nice and durable.  I hope he finds it a useful tool, and remind him of one of his more challenging students!

 Miss 6 had a pair of teachers last year, in a 3/2 jobshare.  Mrs W was lovely, and I only found out that she is actually the sister of one of my lovely customers when I gave her this crafty gift - a very small world it is indeed!
I made a covered clipboard with some interesting adhesive fabric paper, and a wide variety of ribbons to match the colours.  The fabric paper isn't SU, but the colours were so perfect for Pool Party, So Saffron, Calypso Coral, Regal Rose and Chocolate Chip  The tin to match has a Calypso Coral and So Saffron ruffled flower on the top, and contained a stash of erasers, merit stickers, and some owl santa chocs.

Mr Mc was quite charmed by Miss 6 I think, and she had a ball in his class.  As Mr Mc moves about the school in his dual role as Deputy Principal, I thought he might find it useful to have a tote tray for some of his most needed supplies.  It's an MDF caddy, covered with some DSP in newsprinty style papers, and some lettering and a crown cut from some offcuts of black core gold matboard.  Mr Mc uses a crown avatar for the class blog, and is definitely king of his little charges, so that explains the decoration!  I sponged gold shimmer paint all around the seams, and added some erasers, merit stickers and Santa Owl chocs.

I had lots of fun making these, and the thinking cap is on again already for this year!  I'd love to read your comments and ideas for teacher gifts - always helps to start early with inspiration!