End of Year Teacher Gifts

 

 As the school year came to a close, I was asked to take over the planning of Tessa's end-of-year class party. This meant coordinating the teacher's gift too. We had such a diverse class this year, so I thought a bouquet of gift cards and notes of appreciation would be nice. I started with an inexpensive clay pot (Home Depot), wrapped it in twine, and embellished with a few fabric flowers.  For the "bouquet" I used wooden dowels inserted in green foam blocks, and on the dowels I glued clothespins to hold candid photos of the kids, as well as the gift cards (most of those were added later on the day of the party) and notes. I also used some buttons, bookpage flowers, and leather die cut butterflies. And there you have a Gratitude Bouquet!

 

For the many wonderful "specials" (PE, Art, Music, etc.), I bought key fobs (www.mythirtyone.com/ch31), added a tag (printed the words on notebook paper which fed nicely thru my inkjet printer), and a skeleton key (I found these at Home Depot in a 2-pk. for less than $2 per pk.)

 

Teachers work so hard and I love finding ways to thank them for all they do!

My One Word for 2013...

Early in 2013 I read a wonderful book, My One Word by Mike Ashcraft and Rachel Olsen. I took about a month and chose FOCUS for my word this year. I have many reasons for choosing FOCUS.

1. I need to focus on Christ, and God's will for my life, choosing to spend my time and resources in ways that bring Him glory.
2. I need to focus on the many projects and activities I start but often do not finish.
3. I also need to focus on gratitude and being thankful in all circumstances. I am learning to count my gifts/blessings and focus on those things. I am thankful for another wonderful book I read this year that is helping me with this: One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp (about 10 ladies are joining me in the DVD Bible study to learn and fortify our practice of daily gratitude.)
4. I need to focus on my family, church, and friends, and try not to allow my focus to shift to worldly temptations and technology.
5. Focus reminds me of perspective and seeing others as Jesus sees them, looking at the world through God’s lens.

 

 

 

To help me remember my one word for the year, I had it embroidered on one of my Thirty-One tote bags. I also plan to find other ways to keep it in front of me throughout the year. I posted my word over at the My One Word site and will be receiving monthly reminder emails... I need accountability to stay focused this year!

 

I encourage you to read this book! I plan to re-read it every year in January as I select a word for the year. I've never done very well with New Year's resolutions. I think the practice of focusing on one word (allowing God to teach me through it) and writing down scriptures, life lessons, and gratitude gifts will help me be more of the woman that God wants me to be. I hope to be more joyful, more productive, and more of a blessing to others.

It's Been Too Long...

I have not posted in a long time. I have not scrapped in a long time. But I still create. Banners... decorations... recycled T-shirt necklaces...and a few other things here and there. I've even taken one knitting class (and trust me, the result is not worthy to post yet... but maybe one day, if I keep practicing!)

The most "creative fun" I've had in a while is the "Thrift-themed" table I hosted for our church's "Calendar Coffee" back in January. I re-purposed or made most of the things on my table. The "tablecloth" is a queen-sized sheet. Almost everything was purchased at Goodwill, Freedom House Thrift, or some other local thrift/consignment shop.

I loved making little favor neckaces (tied around the water glasses) from leather swatches a dear friend gave me, and Scrabble tile pendants. The silverware pockets are just that, pockets cut off jeans (I cut around the pocket with a rotary cutter) embellished with denim flowers I made from scraps, crocheted flowers I cut from a crocheted sham, and glued on buttons. Goodwill plates and candlesticks glued together make the centerpiece tiered stand. Twine wrapped around cans, bookpaper modge-podged to the back of clear plastic plates, and Big Shot cut shapes from bookpages and denim are a few other things you see. I used a black Sharpie marker to make the initial cups (all different, all less than $1); I baked them at 400 degrees for about 15-30 min. to help set the permanent marker. This didn't work on all the mugs I found and I'm not sure how permanent it will stay, but they made nice favors for the evening.

 

 

 It was such a fun table and I hope it gives you some ideas you can use!