Teacher Appreciation Gift Ideas

When I went to school back in the day, the extent of teacher appreciation was putting a shiny red apple on the teachers desk and ..... staying out of trouble.   

Today appreciation is shown for our dear teachers, the one's that tirelessly give their heart and soul into educating our children, in a variety of creative ways.

 I am on the PTO at my son's school and was the first to raise my hand to help coordinate Teacher Appreciation week this year. In addition to a kickoff breakfast and a lunch during the week, we are passing out a few goodies along the way to show how much we appreciate our teachers and staff.

 Keep in mind, small school, small budget.

 "Thanks for Making This Year So Sweet". 

We attached a Target giftcard to a candy bar with the 

thanks tag on top.

"Thanks for being the highlight of our year!"

For this one we took paint chip cards, affixed a label and a 

couple of Sharpie highlighters.

"Thanks for planting the seeds of knowledge"

Because every teacher loves to garden on their weekends..... right???

We stuffed these cute little painted clay pots with garden gloves, both purchased at the Dollar Store.  We also included a variety of seed packets.

The pots were wrapped in a plastic bag, tied with some jute and attached with this cute tag that we printed on cardstock.

I think they will love all of these ideas just as much as

 we love them! 

And to all you teachers out there, I applaud you for all of the hard work and dedication that you give each day to our kids.

Grateful for~

Teachers 

PS-  If you looking for more ideas I have collected a whole bunch more here .

PPS- Some of these ideas would be perfect for Mothers Day too!

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Spring Mantle

Do you ever have one of the moments when you have something to say, yet can't find the words to say it?

One of the days weeks when two of children both decide to get a severe stomach bug ( cause the third one decided to go first two weeks ago) and you feel like you have been cleaning up vomit and poop all day week month?

 Do you ever wait till the last minute to put your mantle or Easter decor up because you are too busy taking care of everyone else and the kids think the Easter Bunny won't come unless there are eggs and green grass all over the house?

This is one of those moments.... this is one of those days.... and this is one of those mantles. 
Besides, I figured it was time to share my Spring Mantle before it was 4th of July and I was draping an American Flag over Old Peter Rabit.

So I will leave you with a few words, my mantle and the bunny.

PS- I got the chalkboard art work here.

Grateful for~

My niece graduating the Police Academy 

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I am quite sure and Some Easter Projects

A few things that I am quite certain of today  ......

1) Easter is 3 weeks away

2) You better get moving on those projects

I am also quite sure that if we were BFF's this time last year, like we are now, you would have known about some of my favorite Easter /Spring projects, but since we just became close sometime between the summer solstice and today there's a good chance you did'nt see them. So I have taken it upon myself as any good friend would do, to bring them out and share the details.

Details for the bunny wrap can be found here

Details about my Easter Cake Pop/Hostess Gift can be found here

 Details about this Spring Wreath can be found here

And so BFF, since we are in the spirit of sharing and all, I should also probably tell you that the summer solstice this year is
 on June 21,2013... but you probably already knew that.

 Grateful for~ Friends  BFF's like you!

PS- I would love it if you told your friends, who tell their friends, who tell their friends, about my blog and what a great BFF I am!
Sharing at:y 
Crafty Scrappy Happy
Mom4Real
Tatertots and Jello
It's So very Cheri
Between Naps on The Porch
Under The Table and Dreaming

Eclectically Vintage

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Weekly Wow's

Happy Weekend!!  I don't know about you but I am counting down the days till the end of winter is here. This doom and gloom has got to stop, along with all of the running noses! 

Today I am painting, but not my house......my son's school library. Yes, someone found out that I paint a "few" walls here and there and asked if I would help painting a few walls over there. 

 Anything for our kids...right!

This weeks Wow's are Spring and Easter focused with a St.Pats thrown in for good luck!! 

Sweet birds nest vase made from grapevine wreaths 

from Jennnifer Rizzo

Lucky Petits fours from Celebrating Everyday Life. Don't you just want to grab the one in the picture and eat it?

Cute bunny art from Clean and Scentsible. I love that fluffy tail!

Twigg Studio shares these adorable Easter Bunny Donuts. What a great idea for breakfast or brunch Easter Morning.

Well gotta grab my paint brush and head on over to the school. I sure hope the weekend is a good one for you and that you will do something that you love to!

Grateful for~

Opportunity to help others

PS- If you are not already, I would love for you to follow me on my facebook page to get all the latest and greatest that I got!! 

Click here

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Clearly.... I am not Irish

Well that'll be the last time I have a few Irish spirits and then head on up to the craft room to work on an Irish Craft....

Because clearly..... I am not Irish.
I mean come on, what was I thinking??? I guess listening to "Danny Boy" or "When Irish Eyes are Smiling" on my ipod does not count as membership into the Irish Hertiage Club. 

Perhaps if I were thinking, then my homage to the Irish tradition for St. Partick's Day would better resemble that of a feathery shamrock that I was going to hang on the front door, and not look like a confused fluffy, green shaped alien that may even scare the kids.

 But as luck would have it, and with a few of those chocolate coins, a simple snip with the scissors and magically a Shamrock began to appear, just as my non-Irish eyes had envisioned.

So I say to all you Irish men, woman and Leprechans around the globe that may or may not visit this non-Irish household this St.Pattys Day....

Top of the morning to you. And the rest of the day to yourself.

irish translation:Mora na maidine dhuit. Agus cuid eile an lae dhuit fein.
Look who's non-Irish eyes are smiling now!

Grateful for~

Gold coins that make everything better.

Sharing at:
Fox Hollow Cottage
Tatertots and Jello
Funky Junk Interiors
Savvy Southern Style

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A Late Bloomer and My Tissue Paper Flowers

There, I said it. I am a late bloomer..... but my reasons have nothing to with puberty. You see, a late bloomer is a person whose talents or capabilities are not visible to others until later than usual.  

Take for instance Maya Angelou. Did you know she was in her 60's when her poetry and books became popular. And there is Mozart, who composed his groundbreaking Concerto No.9 when he was 21.

Claude Monet got discovered for his creations in his 40's. And although Dr.Seuss wrote his first book "And To Think I Saw it on Mulberry Street" in his thirty's he didn't start writing successfully until his later 40's.

 Vincent van Gogh didn't start painting until his late 20's. 
And then there's my tissue paper flowers that I did not attempt to make until my mid 40's.

Clearly my skills in  tissue paper flower making came a bit later then usual.
So to celebrate this moment and in case you are a late bloomer too, I wanted to share this easy tutorial with you. 

Supplies: 

• 10 sheets of tissue paper
• String or thin ribbon - length depends on how long you want to hang or suspend your flower.
• Scissors

Step 1: Take your 10 sheets of tissue paper and fold back and forth like an accordian. Carefully press down each seam  and create flat folds. The flatter the better.

Step 2: Take your scissors and cut each of the tips in a v like cut creating a point. You can also use a rounded tip cut.

Step 3: Tie your string or thin ribbon in the center of your folded paper. It is key that the string is pulled tight.

Step 4: Begin on one side and carefully lift up each sheet of paper towards the center of the flower. You want to be gentle with this step or your flower paper will tear. 

Step 5: When one side is complete, follow this same process on the other side going the other direction until all sheets have been lifted towards the center.

Step 6: Sit back and rejoice that there is one more person on this planet who can make tissue paper flowers. 

Now if only I can get the training wheels off my bicycle!
Any other late bloomers out there?

Grateful for~

Knowing that there is always hope regardless of your age!

Sharing:
tatertots and jello
Funky Junk Interiors
twelveoeight

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Weekly Wow's

Happy Weekend Friends! You made it through another week.
This week as I am preparing for my son's birthday party I am reflecting quite a bit. 
Before  my children were born I couldn't fully grasp the comments that people made related to children growing up so fast. Comments like "don't blink, they'll grow so fast" and "they will be out of the house before you know it", I thought to myself how fast could they grow- we don't!  But now it is all making way too much sense and the reality of  my first born turning 7 this week  just doesn't seem right. I wonder, did I blink to much ?  And as much as I want him to grow up to be a loving, caring man, I also want him to be the little man that just loves on his mama and is not to embarrassed to say "I love you Mom" when he get's out of the car everyday at school or holds my hand walking through Target.
 I think I will slow down the blinking.... just a bit.
Speaking of love, it's all over the place  and I just adore these cute creations that are screaming I LOVE YOU!

Confessions of a plate addict  shares her Pottery Barn Inspired Love Pillow tutorial. I just LOVE her projects.

LilikoiJoy  doesn't have to twist my arm to try her white truffle cupcakes. You may also want to stop by to look at some of her other mouth watering treats.

For all you coffee and hot tea drinkers, how about this sweet little cup sleeve from Setting for Four.

Valentine Pancakes anyone? How awesome to express your love with breakfast this weekend. The Lily Pad shares how simple it is to create this and other cute sentiments.

I hope you have a great weekend and whether your working on a project you love or spending time with the people you love, I hope it's a good one!

Grateful for~
The same BFF for 32 years. 
This is us in 2007.

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