Every year my regional PTA does a basket auction to raise money for scholarships. Each school PTA donates a basket, and for the last two years my school has done a gift card basket. I use the term basket loosely because gift cards are much more creatively displayed not in a basket. Last year I put them in a flower pot; this year I strung them across a frame. It didn't come out quite as I expected since we had so many cards. I felt like it was kind of crowded; however, it was still nice and was one of the top money generators at this year's auction.
My original idea was to make a bunting type banner, but there was no way to display that at the event. So then I thought I could drape cards on a string in a frame and layer the strings that way. Right before I was heading to a thrift store to look for a frame to turn into such a masterpiece, I popped into Marshall's (for kitchen stuff of course) and found this frame. For $12 I got a cute frame that was already filled with a pinnable surface and muslin. Sweet!
I used hat pins I had on hand, plus linen thread to make the swag lines. Then I used a small scallop envelope die to cut envelopes for the gift cards. I sealed them and cut off one end to make a pocket. I then used various embellishments that were on hand, such as pearls and ribbons, to jazz up the envelopes.
After clipping the gift cards on with mini clothes pins, I punched paper scalloped circles in paper I had on hand (to make the flowers) and a few butterflies too.
I ended up using some pop dots on the back of the envelopes to keep them from sliding around. They'll be removable enough to still use the frame afterward.
I also make a card (forgot a picture) that matched in style to let the bidders know what cards were included and the amounts of each.
I'm pretty sure all of the materials I used were Stampin' Up! except for the papers. Those were from a stack I got at Hobby Lobby from Paper Studio. The stack design was called Olivia.
All in all, I think it came out pretty good for 1 hour of work!
My 1st grader's teacher's birthday is today and she's my favorite teacher ;) She decorated her room with owls this year. Really cute owls with purple and teal and pink and white and grey. I noticed a few things (ok, more than a few) while out and about in stores, but I restrained myself and picked up this a cute mug and stamp on the cheap!
I made this quick tag to put on a bag we already have. Score 1 for a time saver.
Pretty much everything that makes up this tag was scrap. The Birthday Wishes is a branding strip from some paper by Glitz. The rest is scrap that I cut or punched. The colored rhinestones I got on clearance somewhere (probably JoAnn) a while ago.
This is the mug I got at Marshall's for $2.99 and the stamp was half off at Hobby Lobby!
Every year the PTA area luncheon has a silent auction. Each PTA provides a themed basket, it goes to silent auction, and it raises money for scholarships in our local area. This year, my PTA decided to do a gift card basket. And then of course I was charged with making it into a basket.
I'll admit my mind was stuck for a while. I was thinking I could fold a bunch of origami boxes and put a card in each one...or make an envelope album with a card in each...I always came across a problem with my ideas.
I finally settled on a flower bouquet, with gift cards attached to the back of each flower.
Please excuse the lack of correct photo set up and props. I barely remembered to snap a quick photo before taking off to drop it with our president.
So I got out some old Stampin' Up! Designer Series paper and started using my large scallop circle bigz die for the Sizzix Big Shot. I cut a bunch of the flowers, folded some, folded others more, and hot glued them all together. Buttons and brads and smaller punch scalloped circles covered the centers.
I put floral foam in a flower pot and covered the top with Spanish moss. Then I glued the flowers to bamboo picks (the kind you use for making kebabs). On the back of the each flower and pick I glued a clothes pin to clip the card into. I had everything already on hand except the floral foam!
That little envelope holds the gift card. I couldn't be at the meeting where they were being collected so I stuck the sticky not on there so everyone would know what to do with this thing. ;)
Have any stellar ideas for silent auction baskets? I'd love to know so I have an idea for next year. Leave a suggestion in the comments below!
I had a problem this year. I normally make something cute, but not necessarily expensive, for my kids' teachers. This year I haven't been in my craft room. I got a late start in January, and then my MIL had construction done on her house (where my craft room is), and what was supposed to be a month in construction turned into 4 months. Now my kids are out for summer so I'm not sure I'll get over there until September. Arg!
So this year I had to go the gift card route (pricey with 3 kids) and pick up something to make them cute.
Here's what I ended up with:
I went armed with my coupons to the local Michael's to see what card kits or other cute but cheap items I could get to jazz up the cards a bit. I ended up with these economical gift sacs that were on clearance. The Happy Day stickers were already assembled and on clearance as well. (The last day of school is always happy!) I used the coupon for the chalkboard garden markers. The twine I had in my garden stuff. The tags and burlap flower I paid full price for, but they were cheap.
The variety you see above was just because I couldn't make up my mind. ;) I also had to buy foam adhesive dots to get it all sticking together.
I used the backing cardstock the Happy Day stickers came on to keep the insides stiff enough for the gift cards.
I just glued on torn strips of copy paper to cover the bar codes and such on the thicker backing and attached the gift cards to one side. I wrote a message on the other side.
Two of them had Michael's gift cards, because those teachers like to craft and scrapbook. One of them had a Target gift card because she's not crafty and loves to shop at Target.
And there you have it, how to make three cute crafted gift card holders in less than 15 minutes!
I always have a list, every year, of stuff I want to do. It's a completely unrealistic list. Really. Crafting, baking, outings, etc...I thought I'd share a few with you this year. Just a few, because the whole list would go on and on and on... :)
Fall is my favorite season. It makes me sad every year that we really don't have it where I am. :(
Crafting & Decorating:
-I want to make a 30 Days of Thankfulness album for November. This would be like December Daily but for fall and thankfulness. This one I really plan on doing this year. But my December Daily album is always a lot of work. I love it, I love creating it, but I want something a little more low key for what I'm thinking. I've decided I'm going to do fairly simple pages all ahead of time (I better get on that), and leave a space for the picture and a few words. Then I'll fill in the word space each day, print the pics all in black and white either twice during the month or just at the end, and add them in. That way all the time consuming work is done ahead of time, when November hits hard and heavy.
Did I mention that we have 3 family birthdays in November? My middle child's birthday is actually on Thanksgiving this year. Busy month.
-I'd like to make fall potpourri a little more often. Real stuff, like this recipe on Pinterest.
I normally do it about once a year, but this year I want to remember it more often. I want the house to smell like fall for a lot of the season. It's just hard to match the scent with the season in my head when it's 102 degrees outside.
-Glitter up some pumpkins - I actually have the pumpkins from clearance last year. I just need to do the craft.
- Make cute baggies and fall treats for the teachers at my kids' school. These ones I pinned on my Fall board look easy and adorable.
- Make these velvet pumpkins:
-Decorate the front door area. I say area, because it's a weird corner door situation with no real porch to speak of. But there is a small flower bed right in front that has space to add a hay bale or pumpkin to.
Baking:
-Of course, pumpkin spice lattes. I really want to find a recipe I like. I might have to try a bunch to get one that remotely resembles Starbucks. I think I'll start on this one today. :) If you have any you think I should try, link it in the comments!
- Pumpkin spice latte bark:
-Caramel apple cream cheese bundt cake:
- And a million more recipes - but today those are my top 3. Today.
Outings:
-Apple picking and a picnic. I think I'm going to plan this one this weekend since our soccer games are early. Then we can spend the rest of the weekend making apple sauce, maybe the bundt cake above, etc....
-Pumpkin patch - There's one near my kids' school. We might stop there on the way home one day.
-I'd love to go look at leaves, but around here they don't really turn until January. We'll see. If I can find a copse of turning trees somewhere we might go just there.
Thers's a new thrift store about a mile from my house. I have been waiting for the perfect opportunity go look through it without the kids distracting me. I went one day last week and got some great finds! I will go back another time when I have more time. I was on my way to pick up kids from school and had to limit the time I spent perusing. I was really surprised at the selection since it's kind of a smaller shop.
Here's what I scored, spending a grand total of $8 (including tax!).
By the way, please forgive the messy background and grainy shots. I was using my iphone in my office right after I got the items. I was separating them between my office and home and wanted to get pictures before I forgot.
The two baskets I got because I love the liner and the handles. Baking season is almost here (even though it's still in triple digits where I am) and I plan on using these as I give jars of jelly and holiday goodies. They were 50 cents each!!! That's a great price for giving away!
Some glassware here. The two clear crackled class bowls have a slighly unusual shape. I got them to sort some small scrpbooking embellishments into for my Project Life station. They were 50 cents each. The fall plates I got two of. One of them I am leaving here in my office to put scrappig embellishments on and the other I'm taking home for some cookbook food staging pictures. Those were $1 each.
And last but not least, my favorite piece of the day:
This was a whopping $3.50 but I fell in love with it. I don't know why. It's not my usual style. It is meant to be a vase but I am going to use it for juice I think. ;)
So $7.50 in purchases plus tax came out to just over $8. I think I did well!
Some day in the future, if I remember, I'll post a picture showing the glassware in my scrapping space.
I know it's the end of the year and I'm just now posting my teacher appreciation gifts, but these are totally do-able for the end of the school year too. Speaking of which, my youngest ends preschool next week, and my other two the week after. I have no idea what I'm doing for end of the year gifts yet! Probably something simple like chocolate or a Target gift card. ;) This past spring has been madness!
So I made door signs, etc...for teacher appreciation. On the day we sent in a little gift this is what my kiddos brought to their teachers:
My son's is the one in front. It's slightly more "grown up" since he's in 3rd grade (for a few more days at least).
The tops of them, under the tags, have little pieces I cut from some old Stampin' Up! school paper. I think the paper was called Story Time but I'm not totally sure. Most of the paper on here is from that set.
The tag says "hugs and kisses for the teacher" from The Christian Family. And of course there are hugs and kisses inside.
I can't believe that I will have all of my kids in elementary school in the fall. It's bittersweet for me. I think I've done a good job of "embracing" my time with them lately (see how I worked my one little word in there?!), but I am also looking forward to getting some quiet time to myself. I am looking forward to doing chores alone. Is that weird?
I'm also looking forward to having more time to work at home on my Teachers Pay Teachers stuff. The items I have in my store are selling very well and have great reviews, but I need more in there. It's been a blessing that's surprised me in the income I've received and we've needed.
And I'll be honest, I'm hoping for some scrapbooking time too. I'm trying not to be too optomistic, but I do want to take a little time for myself.
So summer plans around here...if you've read my blog in the past, you know I plan out my summers really well. I usually ask the kids ahead of time about stuff they want to learn about and plan a week for each thing I can fit in. I'm pretty anal and detailed.
This year I'm going a little more relaxed. My kids didn't really have broad topics like "insects" and "housing" like in the past and pretty much everything they wanted to learn takes a little more time. I also have a few things of my own I'm throwing in there.
Since that's the way it's going this year I decided it would be better to plan a little bit of everything once a week. For example, they want to learn about homesteading, so we'll do a little something each week. I'm taking them to see a friend's chickens one week and learn about those, we're gardening, we'll make our own condiments one week, our own toiletries another week, etc...
I also want to get them doing more of the chores around here. It's been hard with school and sports to take the time to teach them to do more, so I'm using the summer. We'll have a detailed lesson each week about a new chore for them to take over.
We'll be making a lot of fun drink recipes from Pinterest. What better way to try those than to dedicate time to it each day, right?! I'll also be giving them mini cooking lessons throughout the summer too. Josiah had them last summer. I'll be extending his and doing starter lessons with the younger girls throughout the summer.
I'll also be working on my cookbook. I planted a bigger garden this year so I'll have a lot to work with while creating!
Also, I'm trying out a "back to eden" garden along a new area. I'm also trying to turn the hardpan on my side yard into dirt for a fruit orchard using this method. I'm hoping it'll be ready by next spring. I wish I had seen this before I planted my main garden. I did go ahead and heavily mulch my garden after watching the film, and it has cut way back on my watering. Since we're in a drought around here, that is fabulous!
As for the blog, I'll be posting mostly stuff of life this summer. Maybe a few recipe sneak peeks here and there, some more crafting when I get time, as well as fun ideas and updates with my kids as we progress through the first summer with my husband crazy busy is school.
My friend Kristina had a birthday friday. I wanted to give her a little something 'cause I love her, she's so awesome, but we're on a very strict budget. Lucky for me, Kristina loves everything I bake. :) I remembered her loving some peanut butter cup rice crispy treats I made a while back so I whipped up a batch to take to her.
Of course the best way to make a baked item look more special than just a baked item is to package it up all pretty. Kristina also likes pretty things. :)
I put these in an old Stampin' Up! box. I can't remember what came in this but I save boxes like this for just such occassions. I wrapped up the treats individually in parchment and tied a cute pink string around each one.
Then I set out to decorate the box top itself. I only had about 3 minutes to do this and my 5 year old was with me so I turned to my scrap bin of patterned paper and started taping.
I tied a ribbon around it all and pulled a card from my stash. I didn't even try to find a birthday card. I went with this one that says "Life is a matter of moments" and wrote "I am thankful for the moment you were born!" on the inside.
And viola! There you have an inexpensive, but from the heart, gift, packaged nicely and quickly.
My mom's birthday was earlier this week. She's a Master Gardener and loves vintage stuff so I made her some of those junky faucet flowers that are all over Pinterest.
They're made out of a fork, a faucet handle, and a button, all put together with e6000 adhesive.
I didn't like any of the forks from my local thrift store and they weren't any cheaper than Target, so I got them there. Target has a 4 pack for $2 in my area. The faucet handles I got at both Lowe's and Home Depot. At Lowe's I only got 2 because I had to buy the whole fixture. Then I went to Home Depot and they have just the replacement wheels for $1.60 each so I got a few of those. The buttons I got at JoAnns. The e6000 I had on hand.
I wrapped them in bubble wrap and sent them off with the first pic above and a note that said, "I made you a few low maintenence perennials. Fell free to plant them in singles all over, in a bed together, or even give them away as floral picks in those potted plants and boquets you're always making people."
I also put this card in the box. I wanted to make her a new one but haven't had access to stamp room so I pulled this one out of my stash.
I think I wrote something like "here's to a few more years of plans" on the inside.
The weekend of Nov. 1-2, I went to a math conference in Palm Springs. It was fabulous! It was also the last time I was among the living. :)
I got sick. I don't mean the sniffles. I mean on my butt, can't think straight, barely got laundry and dinner done and that's all (and not always that) sick! Hence my recent absence.
While I'm still fighting coughs and sniffles, my energy and brain are starting to return. That means I have a game of catch up to play. I've had to GREATLY ammend my plans, both for life and for blogging.
Here's the updated scoop:
-I'm dropping the 30 cookie reviews in 30 days. Everything works out better this way. If I pick up where I left off I'll be testing recipes too close to Christmas and my whole plan was to have things done ahead...ya.
-I'll just be posting my holiday baking as I do things, which will have more than just cookies. Some recipes will be tried and true family favorites, some will be new and will include a review.
-I'll do a post soon to catch you up to where I am in Project Life. I'm almost caught up, but haven't posted here in a while. That post will likely be a single shot each of several weeks in one post kind of post, rather than a several shots of one week kind of post. You can always ask questions in the comment section if there's something you see that you want clarification on.
-I'm prepping for my December Daily! I am super excited this year! I'm doing it a little bit different this year. The first year I made my album (2010) I did most of it ahead of time and filled in as the month progressed. In 2011 I didn't get it done. :( Last year I put a bunch of supplies togehter to draw from but didn't do anything ahead of time. I really wanted to work more organically last year. This year is a bit of a compromise. I'm prepping some stuff, but in a way that leaves it flexible.
I'm making an 8x8 this year. I am using Stampin' Up!'s divided 8x8 page protectors. These are a super good deal and I think they're on sale right now too. Love them!
For the album I just purchased a chipboard one today. I really wanted a ring album, but all I could find in 8x8 was post bound. Who knew? I've been searching high and low. I'm not a fan of the Stampin' Up! holiday 8x8 so I finally resorted, after searching many craft stores, to getting a chipboard one online. It should be here soon.
-I'll do a post soon about how I'm preparing for December Daily. I've set aside some purchases for paper and embellishments, I've created an "inspiration board", and I've started thinking about what'd going to go into it. I'm not sure how I'm decorating my album yet, but I'm not too worried about it. It's not going to stress me out if the album cover is the last thing to get done.
-I've also, in the past, worked on my album at the end of each week because my craft room is not at my house. This year I've decided to bring my main items here to my house so I can work each night after the kids go to bed. I can't bring my whole craft room, so I still anticipate having to finish off the pages once a week there, but I won't feel behind. I'll be using a lot of sticky notes. :)
-I am still planning on creating a separate blog for The Elementary Professor. That way those of you who visit for teaching ideas only and don't care about my homemaking fun can access just that. :) I was planning on making it a while ago, but alas, I thought it better to wait until I could think straight again.
So that's the update for now. I'll be back soon with happy stuff!
