Memorial Day Craftivity

Click HERE for printable version of instructions.


Materials Needed:

6 popsicle sticks
DecoArt Paint – Lipstick red, white
Mod Podge Glossy Coat
Blue Cardstock
Star Stickers
Red, White, Blue ribbon
Embellishments (optional)
E6000 Glue
Cardboard 4 x 6 Scrap


Memorial Day, or 4th of July, crafters around the country will be celebrating along with their families and friends. Parents are always on the look out for activities that kids can do at family functions that will keep the kids occupied, but have fun at the same time. This project is recommended for children 5 or older, with moderate supervision due to the use of the E6000 glue.


Directions:

1. Place 6 popsicle sticks onto a piece of old newspaper or paper scrap.

2. Use the popsicle sticks as a measure to trim your piece of cardboard scrap. It is ok if the top and bottom popsicle sticks overhang the cardboard a little bit. The cardboard is used to make the sign fairly sturdy.

3. Paint 3 popsicle sticks (front, and sides only) red, and 3 popsicle sticks white. Let dry.

4. Measure a piece of ribbon to use as the hanger of the sign. Glue each end to the cardboard scrap face up. When you begin gluing the popsicle sticks on, the ribbon ends will be between the cardboard and popsicle sticks. This helps reinforce the ends and prevents it from coming off after extended hanging.

5. Begin gluing the painted popsicle sticks onto the cardboard alternating red and white. Allow the glue to dry completely before attempting the next step.

6. Spray an even coating of Mod Podge Clear Glossy Coat to protect the paint.

7. Cut a small rectangle out of the blue cardstock. A scrap can be used for this. You can measure the piece to fit the upper left corner of the sign.

8. Glue the blue cardstock piece onto the popsicle stick sign and let dry.

9. Affix white or silver star stickers onto the blue piece.

10. Add embellishments (ribbons, raffia, buttons) as desired onto the ribbon of the sign.

In the example, I made a bow out of the same grosgrain ribbon I used for the hanger of the sign. I embellished it by gluing 2 buttons together to finish the piece.

*NOTE*  This activity can be altered so that it can be used for state or country's flags.

Celebrating Earth... And Mothers

Monday is Earth Day! 

How do you celebrate Earth Day in your classroom?   Do you recycle or talk about different objects that you might use in the classroom that can be re-used?  

At home, I try and find uses for containers such as bottles, boxes, and bags.  Bottles come in handy during kidding season as we use some of them to feed the babies with.  Boxes and bags are re-used year round so it's nice to have a little stockpile of different sizes.  I have saved packing pellets that have come in shipments to use for projects. Did you know that they aren't being made from foam anymore?  Some companies are starting to use soy packing pellets.  They are biodegradable and also edible!  Who would want to eat a packing peanut?  I don't know, but it's nice to see that businesses are starting to look more into using products that are better for the planet!

Did you know that you can recycle your used toner cartridges for your printers?  Staples has a program where you can earn cash back for all of the recycle cartridges that you turn back in.  There are companies online that also pay for certain cartridges. This might be a way for classrooms to earn a few bucks to put toward classroom projects. If you put a basket out for student's parents to drop off their used cartridges too, it adds up pretty quickly. If you Google "recycle ink cartridges," and look for the listings that offer buy back programs.  HP also offers a recycle program by providing a prepaid envelope to customers when they purchase ink direct from HP.  All you do is put the used cartridges in the envelope and mail it back.  HP takes care of the rest.  

 If you're looking for last minute activities to work on this week, my new Earth Day packet is on TPT.  Some of the items you'll receive are included in the previews.  Click on the images to be taken to my store!  I really like how the Earth Day Mobile turned out!   (All of my products feature my hand drawn images!!)  I have begun offering a small selection of commercial use artwork.  My Earth Day set is found here:

Click on the image to visit my store!

Mom's the word!

Mother's Day is coming up on May 12th.  Write it down! :) Every year, I receive email messages asking me for project ideas for kids to make and give their Mom's for Mother's Day.

I created this original card idea as freebie to celebrate MOM's last year and it was such a hit I thought I would share it with you today.  The teapot is actually a foldable card.  The tea cup has space to write on it. Add a nice tea bag (and maybe a gift card for a mani/pedi or favorite restaurant?)  and it makes a nice keepsake gift!

Click on the image to go download the freebie! 

Up next,  Tuesday I will be featuring a product from The Fun Factory as part of the S'more Product Swap event.  I am excited to share with you the cute packet from The Fun Factory.   Also, stay tuned for some exciting news.... A little HINT:  My favorite bloggy friends and I have put together a super FUN event for teachers appreciation.  My lips are sealed as to what it is just yet. All I can tell you is that you won't want to miss it! :) Have a great day....!!!

Autism Awareness Winner, TGIF!!!

We have a winner!!!   First off I would like to THANK everyone who participated in the Autism Awareness Linky!   We had 733 entries, and that is AWESOME!  Not only did we make new bloggy friends, but together we spread the word about Autism!

Second,  I would like to congratulate Wendy M, from California!  She won the Autism Awareness Giveaway!   She was really excited to win!  Thank you Wendy for your kind words, and the shout out on your page!   I am glad that you can put these goodies to use with your autistic student!  If you need anything else, be sure to let me know. 

Stay tuned for some FUN new events coming up! YAY! :)

A special thank you to the ladies that participated in the Autism Awareness Linky - Cynthia from 2nd Grade Pad, Arlene Manemann (TPT),  Teresa Williams - 2nd Grade Pig Pen, Cyndie Dunn - Chalk One Up For the Teacher,  Christina from 2nd Grade Sugar & Spice, Martha from Primary Paradise, Christi from Ms Fultz Corner, Mel from Graphics from the Pond, Lesley from Practice Makes (Almost) Perfect, Kathy & Susan from The Fun Factory, Wendy from Teacher's Toolkit, Samantha from Ms. Smarty Pants, and Merinda from Pirate Girl Education Invasion, Karla from Life in Special Education, Laureen from Teach with Laughter,

Also a thank you to Peggy from Special Education, and Amber Fernbach author of Jenna's Brother has Autism.


This was a wonderful event, and I am so glad that each of you were a part of it.  Have a great weekend!

Find the Leprechaun's Gold Blog Hop

Yay!!   Are you ready to find the Leprechaun's gold?

I've teamed up with 15 of my bloggin' buddies to have a little contest for St. Patrick's Day!   On each of our Blogs, you'll collect a gold coin with a word written on it.  When you have collected all 15 coins, the words spell out a special phrase! :)

At the end of the Blog Hop,  you'll write the complete phrase into the Rafflecopter for a chance to win $100 in TPT gold!

Are you ready to get started?

My Blog is the....

If you'd like to start the Blog Hop from the beginning, click on the Start button below and visit Cynthia's Blog.  While you're there, pick up the freebie she has for you and show her some Bloggy Love and if you aren't already...follow her Blog! 

If you click on the link "Find My Freebie"  below to download my freebie!!!

The next stop from here is Laureen's Blog  "Teach with Laughter" to show her some Bloggy love and find another gold coin! (And freebie!)



After you've visited all 15 Blogs, and collected your freebies (and gold coins), you'll stop back by Christi's(Ms. Fultz's Corner) Blog to enter the contest.  The freebie and coins will remain up on each of the Blogs until the drawing on March 17th.  Be sure to tell your friends, and thank all of the ladies who have made this Blog Hop possible by following their Blogs and TPT Stores!!!

Good Luck! :)

Happy Valentine's Day

I hope that everybody had a great day today.  I think I've had enough chocolate to sink a ship today! :)  As many of you know,  it's kidding time here on the farm.  I've been up at my parent's barn checking a doe that is due.  We were hoping for some Valentine's Day babies... nothing yet!

When I am not in the barn, I am busy creating new learning materials.  I am SOOO looking forward to Spring.  I love everything about it.  The bright colors, smells, and the newness of the little babies being born on the farms.  I've often though that the outdoors was the best kind of classroom.  Just think of all of the sorting, classifying, and counting (just to name a few) that you can do!

Start of Lent...

Today is the start of Lent.

If you are looking for materials to use with your students regarding Lent, Lesley from Practice Makes (Almost) Perfect has created this packet: It includes 2 booklets and a craftivity to help children become closer to Jesus during Lent.  There are very few quality products available for Lent, this is one of the reasons I was so happy to see this publication that Lesley created.

Click the Cover to view the Product 

The end of Lent is March 30 which is the Saturday before Easter Sunday.

The 14th day of the 14 Days for the Love of Teaching Blog Hop has been posted:  It was posted a little early so everyone would have a chance to download before Valentine's Day.  Click on the link below and you will be able to visit Martha at Primary Paradise to pick up your freebie.

If you've missed any Blog posts from the 14 Days for the Love of Teaching Blog Hop, you can click on the links below and visit the individual pages.

A HUGE thank you to each of the wonderful ladies that participated in this Blog Hop:  Samantha, Cyndie, Cynthia, Lesley, Christi, Merinda, Karla, Christina, Mel, Laureen, Teresa, Wendy , and Martha!   This was such a FUN Hop.  Stay tuned for future events !!!!

Tomorrow,  I will be adding some new pages to this Blog as well as changing a little bit of the format.  I will be adding more content on the Blog including photos and tutorials.

I hope that you have an awesome day tomorrow,  Happy Valentine's Day!

14 Days for the LOVE of Teaching FREEBIE Blog Hop!

I can't believe how fast January has flown by! Valentine's Day is right around the corner! 

I have teamed up with 13 fellow teacher bloggers to bring you the 14 Days For the LOVE of Teaching FREEBIE Blog Hop!

We are hoping to make your planning a little easier, and as well as bringing some some educational fun to the classroom!

The Blog Hop will begin on February 1, at Ms. Smarty Pants's Blog!

Each of the 14 days, you'll visit another Blog and pick up a new Freebie.  At the end of the Blog Hop, you'll have 14 different freebies!   How cool is that?

Valentine's Day Freebie

As you can see,  I've been busy this past week updating my Blog.  I hope that you like the new look.  I still have several articles and photos to add to the page section, but I hope you will continue to come back often to see what is new!

Valentine's Day is my favorite holiday. I am not sure if it's because it's a great day to show people that you care about them, all of the chocolate, or the color PINK! (or all of the above!)

Each year, I host a Valentine Card Exchange with my followers/fans.  It's pretty fun.  I start collecting names and addresses for a few days, and then I send out lists to the participants.  I usually split the names into groups so that there aren't more than 20 names per list. (Roughly a book of stamps).  Friends from all over the world sign on to send Valentine Cards.  It's open to teachers/classrooms, daycares, homeschool families, and individuals.

Valentine Card Exchange rules are pretty simple: 

1.  If you sign up to participate, please be prepared to follow through.

2.  Cards can be hand made or store bought.

3.  Cards need to be mailed no later than February 8th.

4.  Send 1 card per name on the list you receive.


I am taking names for the Valentine Card Exchange this year until Friday, January 25th.  I will make the lists up and send them out on Sunday, January 27th.  If you are interested in participating, please email me at CrayonboxLearning@gmail.com  ASAP!

I whipped up the freebie below tonight.  I had it sketched out for a few days.  My friend, Mel from Graphics at the Pond made the scalloped border for me. :)  I thought it added a sweet touch to the cards.  There are 3 different designs, and 6 cards on each page.

Click on the cover to download the freebie!
                                            

 

 

 

Feel free to print off pages for your students.  You are welcome to share this freebie with your friends at school or you can give my URL to them. 

As always, if you have any questions or comments... please leave me a message or email me!  I love hearing from you!   Have a great day!