4th of July - Currently

Hi there!

The last few months, I have participated in Farley's link up, Currently!  I love this idea.  I like the creative style, but I also like taking time out to reflect in order to answer the questions.  It also is FUN to "meet" some new bloggers, and visit other's pages.

If you haven't visited Farley's Blog,  Oh' Boy Fourth Grade, click on the link below!   You will be happy that you did!

The last few days,  I've been feeling a little bit under the weather.  That is almost funny, because the "weather" is what started making me feel a bit crummy.  Living here in south has it's charms, but excessive heat is not one of them. :) It's hay season... believe it or not, I'm thankful to see the hay being cut.  Last year, this time, we were in the middle of a pretty bad drought. The grass didn't grow hardly at all, which meant farmers across the country had to sell out their herds (which made prices on milk, meat go way up).  The grass in the fields in places are so tall that you cannot see the deer, and my herd of goats when they are out grazing.  It's perfect for the deer to have their summer fawns.  

Listening:  I am listening to the show Numb3rs on Netflix.  I can't believe they stopped making this show.  I like the characters, but also all of the "math" talk.   I like to play movies while I am working.  The noise helps me focus.  

Loving:  It's hard not to think about the freedom that I have living in the U.S.  4th of July isn't about picnics and fireworks to me.  I love that I can write what I want to on my Blog.  I love that I have the freedom to draw, create, and share with teachers all over the world.  I love that I have the freedom to be ME.  

Thinking:  I was thinking about all of the tasks I completed today. Not too bad!  I gave my Facebook page a mini-makeover, including re-doing the "freebie" page.  I am in the middle of giving my Blog a little face lift.  I also designed a couple custom orders.   

Wanting:  Not everyone that you will come into contact, or network with always have your best interest at heart or appreciates/likes you for who you are.  Unfortunately, I found out the hard way that not everyone claiming to be my friend really were. Nobody should ever have to apologize for being who they are, or for being too smart or funny, or for being better at something.  The friends I cherish love me unconditionally WITH my flaws, smarts, and sense of humor! So my WANTING is "to forgive" those who were unkind to me this week. The loss is theirs. A heavy weight has lifted from my heart, and shoulders. My smile has returned, and I am free to be me. Just me. ;)

Needing:  A.cabana.boy.to.make.me.a.fresh.drink! :)    Yep, the "cabana boy" has been on my Currently before.  A girl can hope, right? :)

Tips/Tricks/Hints:    I don't know about you, but I think of my Blog (or website) as an extension of me.  Just like I move things around in my house,  I also like to move things around and change the "DECOR" of my pages.  I know some may question if it's a good thing to do or not with branding, but it definitely CAN be a good thing for branding.  I try not to go more than a month or two without changing some little thing on my Blog. My customers and readers notice it right away, which is good thing!  It tells me that they are paying attention, and enjoy seeing what I have to offer!


I hope that everyone has a safe and happy 4th of July here in the States - and a fabulous SUMMER!!

Father's Day, Facebook Hop, and Faves!

Happy Father's Day to all of the Dads, including my own.  Below is a picture of my Dad.  Sssshhh....don't tell my Mom, but I swiped the picture off of her website because I didn't have one handy. :)  My Dad is 70-something years old and still gets out and does barn chores, and drives around on the tractor.  He gets more done in a day than most people.  His favorite thing to do is listen to the Cardinals on his walkman, or play poker on his electronic game.  

Some of my TPT blogging friends and I are having a Facebook Blog Hop.   If you click on my banner below, you'll be teleported to my Facebook page. After the FB page opens up, there will be a tab just under the cover image that says "Freebie tab."   Like my FB page, and download a freebie.  You can also click through and visit my friend's Facebook pages, and download exclusive freebies from them too!   Hurry!!  The freebies are available for 3 days only!

Some of my FAVES....

I went to Walmart today.  The store has been renovated and everything moved around.  In order to find everything on my shopping list, I had to stroll around the whole store.  The craft section has been enlarged, though I will blog about THAT at another time! ;)

I caught a glimpse of the office supply isle while I was looking for something else.  I saw these neat little clip tabs in bright colors.  I guess you could say that they had me at pink, purple, orange, and lime! :)   If you look closely, you'll see that they are made with little paperclips.  Just think,  somebody like us most likely made millions off of that clever idea!  I bought a pack so that I could use them on my creative journals.  I normally use post it notes (love them!) but thought this might be fun to try.  They were $2.00 a pack, and contain 24 pieces.  They had cute patterned sets, different sizes. The little tab parts are a hard plastic rather than post it. I settled on the 4 colors because they will best match my color scheme in my office.  Though I wish they had purple.  Can't have enough glitter, or purple. ;)

I also found on the next isle that the new composition notebooks for this year have a different outer wrapping.  You can't really see it real well from the picture below, but the cover is more of a plastic with texture.  I loved the colors, so I bought 2.  You can never have enough composition notebooks.  I use them for keeping my sketches, notes, doodles, and misc. other details.  

The bright colored file folders.. love them!   They were $1.00 per pack and contain 3 folders.  That might be a little more spendy per piece than a case from Staples, but let's face it... they were cute, brightly colored, and I wanted them. LOL ;)  

The item below isn't something I picked up while shopping today, but it is one of my favorite things.  Many of you may recall that I live on a farm and raise dairy goats.  My hands get a little dry working with the animals, and because I wash my hands A L O T.     I really love Bath and Body Works products in general, so when I found this product I was eager to try it. 

The tile on the bottle says it all... "Hard Working Hand & Body Cream".... It is scented like strawberries!  I like using Bath and Body Works products because of my skin allergies too.  It's one of the only companies on the planet that I can use the majority of topical products from without having an allergic reaction.  This particular lotion has shea butter, cocoa butter, avocado butter, jojoba oil, coconut oil, almond oil and safflower oil.   Just from the description, you might think it would be greasy but it's not.    It soaks right in and  keeps my "hard working hands" soft and no lasting residue.  The scent is really nice too.  It's not over powering or overly sweet. It's just right.   $8.00 at Bath and Body Works..... and yep, it's time for me to order some more! :)

And.............last but not least... another one of my faves!  :)

Click to Visit...

If you love glitter, 2nd grade, and Sugar and Spice...Hop on over to my friend, Christina's Blog!  She had a little "face life" to her Blog this week, and it looks FABULOUS!!!   I love the glitter, the colors, everything!!!  Christina is one of the most cheerful and sweet people I have met since I joined TPT.  I'm really happy for her, the new blog design is SOOO her! :)

Well friends,  that's it for now.  I hope everybody has a great week... I will be working on my Blog this week, so don't mind the glitter dust.  

Your friend...

Thank you friends... and summer is near!

This week flew by so fast.   It was a bit of a blur.  I enjoy being busy, especially for something as important as raising money for the teachers of Moore, Oklahoma.  The Teachers Care for Oklahoma fundraiser ended on June 3, with an amazing result.  Together, we raised $39,575.00 !!!  100% of the funds are headed directly to Moore, and will be dispersed evenly among the teachers of both schools (Plaza Towers, and Briarwood Elementary) destroyed by the May 20th Tornado.

I was amazed at how many people came forward to donate products, and help for their fellow teachers.  I am humbled by the generosity and kindness that everyone displayed. I am proud of the TPT Community for supporting this event.

THANK YOU!!!

Summer is around the corner.  Here in Arkansas, the weather has been different than years past.  We tend to get a bit of the residual from Oklahoma as well as from hurricanes that come up from the Gulf or Florida.  It's been cooler this year, which is quite nice.

I wrote last week in my "Currently" post that I needed to work on my house.  That is still true. LOL    I kept thinking if I wished for it, and was super good, maybe a cute Cabana boy would show up on my doorstep.  Not only to provide me with freshly blended fruity drinks (ok.. margaritas), and dust and do the windows... Alas... that just didn't happen. :)     I figure if I took one day off from work and got to it, maybe I would get done so I can get on with enjoying my summer. :)  Maybe.

I was perusing my files to find a summery freebie to post today, and realized that I don't really have anything super fun that I wanted to post.  So I am posting this Cat and Dog sorting game, and promise to post something summery next week!  Yep, you can hold me to it.   I have a lot of new drawings for the "ocean" theme that I'd like to share....

This sorting game is basic, it features cards of common and proper nouns.  The object is to sort them into 2 piles.  I did not have a recording sheet in this packet, as the person who asked me to make it didn't want one.  The game pieces are provided in both full color and BW.

Oh yes,  I forgot to mention that June 6th was my TPT birthday :)   I have been selling on TPT for 1 year.  As of tonight,  I just reached 700 followers!!!   I am so excited for what the future holds.  Thank you to everyone who is following my Blog, FB page, and TPT. The best is yet to come!!  

On the drawing board this week,  new classroom decor materials!    I've been working on custom orders.

Have a great week....  !!!

Its CURRENTLY June....

I almost forgot that it was June 1, and that it was time for the next Currently to come out.  This is a fun little "thing" to fill out and share at the first of each month.  Hosted by Farley from "Oh Boy, 4th Grade!."

LISTENING:  Some thing that many people may not know about me,  I like to have noise on in the background while I am working.  One of my favorite series' to listen to is The West Wing. What a great show that was.  I think its' one of the best shows that Martin Sheen, Rob Lowe, and many other actors/actresses were in.  It's interesting to me how similar some of the topics that they cover in that show are still applicable today like gun  control, farm subsidies, health care, and natural disasters.

I also have 2 dogs asleep at my feet snoring.  Maggie tends to sleep under my desk with her head resting on my foot.  She is a Beagle/Pointer cross. When she was a pup, it wasn't a real big deal because she was small. Now she barely fits under there, and will wiggle around until she is comfortable.  Jake, he's a big boy.  He's a cross between a Red Heeler, and an Australian.  He has real thick fluffy hair, so he gets pretty hot in the summer and prefers to be under the air conditioning.  He snores and runs in his sleep.

LOVING:   I received 2 phone calls this week from friends from back home.  Chris and I have been friends since Jr. High.  He heard the news about the tornadoes and bad weather and had to make sure I was ok.  It's nice to have friends after so many years that will pick up the phone just to say hey are you doing ok.  He's a good guy.  Craig is also a friend I've had since Jr. High.  Same reason he called.  He tends to be a little more freaked out about the weather.  I laughed when he asked me how I could live in Arkansas where there are tornadoes.  My answer to him was... well Craig "How can you live in Washington with earthquakes, volcanoes, and flooding..... :)      All in all, it was very nice that my besties thought of me during the last cycle of storms went through. :)

THINKING: This past week has been really busy working on the Teachers Care for Oklahoma fundraiser that I organized with Viki  with Teachers Pay Teachers.  Combined total, we've raised over $30,000.  100% of the funds raised will be going directly to the Moore Public School Tornado Relief Fund and divided among the teachers of Plaza Towers and Briarwood Elementary Schools.  This means that every dime is going to be in the hands of the teachers!!!  To learn more about the fundraiser click HERE.

There are 2 more days left of the fundraiser, ending on Monday (June 3)!

WANTING:  I've been thinking about re-organizing for what, a month?   :)  It really would be nice if there were genies in a bottle that could come clean with a flick of the pony tail or wiggle of the nose. :))

NEEDING:  Oh boy, my house looks like a train wreck. It's been this way for a couple weeks because I've been busy.  I really do like a clean house, and so it's a matter of putting the pen, and glue stick down long enough to actually get started.  Maybe Sunday will be THE day.  I feel much better when everything is tidy and in it's place. :)  Plus if my parents come over and walk through, they don't make fun of me for needing to hire a housekeeper. :)


So dear friends.... I figure in the grand scheme of things that a little bit messy house pales in comparison to what our friends in Oklahoma are going through.

Thank you for stopping by.  Be sure to go visit the other Blogs that were linked up on Farley's page.  You can get there by clicking on the link below or click on the Currently!!! ;)

What are you doing this week?


VACAY ESSENTIALS: I almost forgot to add this.  Yikes!  I am not sure that I will get a vacation this year.  Some people may think I am always on vacation. lol    I think if I were going to take a vacation it would be with a couple good friends, find a destination that we've never been to, and  just GO without really stressing out over it.   Maybe if things go well for back to school, I can take a late break this fall. :)

And now for a little freebie....

Father's Day is coming up on June 16th.   I created a unique Father's Day Card pattern last year that I'd like to share with you.   The idea was that the foldable card would look like a fishing "Creel" or basket that fish is kept in.  The paper fish attach to it and the card itself folds out so that it can be written on!!!

The download includes the pattern, instructions, and a photo for reference. Yep, the fish, and design for the card were hand drawn by yours truly! :) If you like it, please be sure to leave me some feedback love! ;)   

I am hooking this post up to Manic Monday so more people may get to see it and print it off for their Dad's. 

After the storm...Teachers Unite

A huge thank you to everyone who has generously donated their products, talents, time to put together Teachers Care for Oklahoma.  This has been a huge team effort to raise much needed funds that will directly help the teachers in Moore.  To read my original Blog post of this fundraising effort, click HERE!

Special thanks to:  Viki from Special Teacher for Special Kids, Amy from TPT,  Mel from Graphics from the Pond and Wendy from Teacher's Toolkit for your support and help this past week.  

You can help by purchasing one or more of the bundles that have been put together in part by generous donations by amazing teachers like you.  There are 4 bundles, each valued at $150-180.00.  100% of the donations are being sent directly to the Moore, Oklahoma schools.

If you have any questions about this fundraiser, please email me HERE.

TEACHERS CARE FOR OKLAHOMA - BUNDLES

K-2 Bundle 1

K-2  Bundle 2

3-6 - Clipart Bundle 1

3-6 - Clipart Bundle 2

I was going through my files today and found this cute Apple Compound Words Learning Center.  I am making it a freebie.  I know it's a little early to think about back to school, but I have a thing for the apple theme.  There is just something about it that makes me smile.  When I was a little kid, I had one of those toys that was shaped like an apple that had a cute face on it and when you shook it, it made this chiming music. It was called a "Happy Apple."  One of my first websites was named after that.  Bright red, cheerful apple pictures remind me of what is good about going to school.   

I chose this activity in part because of the happy feelings that I have when I think of apples and the connection to the newness, and the excitement of being in school.  Why would I post something like that in the bottom of a post about the aftermath of a destructive tornado?    Because I believe what people need most to recover and move forward is hope.  Most kids often really love going to school, not only for what they will learn and the friends they will make but also the stability and security that comes from being in school.  For these children who lost their schools, and even some classmates, there will become a new normal.  With a little help from each of us, we can make that possible.

So my freebie this week is featuring Apples.  With the thoughts and prayers that the new normal that our friends in Oklahoma will be restored soon and the smiles in the hearts and on the faces of those who go to school there will be restored.  

Teachers Care for Oklahoma - Fundraiser for Tornado Victims

On the afternoon of May 20, 2013, the town of Moore, Oklahoma was hit head on by what has now been classified as an EF5 tornado. Wind speeds were estimated between 200-210 miles per hour, with forces said to be greater than that of the Atomic Bomb that hit Hiroshima, Japan in 1945. Two of the elementary schools in Moore, Plaza Towers Elementary and Briarwood Elementary, were leveled while students and teachers were still in the buildings resulting in the loss of life of young children. Many businesses, medical centers, and residences were also destroyed or severely damaged.

Actual photo of Moore, OK tornado!!

Not long after the news broke, teachers from all over the world began discussing a way to raise funds to help the teachers in Moore, OK that have lost all of their resources (and classrooms). Within a few hours, this fundraising effort was aptly named Teachers Care for Oklahoma. A plan was soon put into motion, and within a few short days Teachers Care for Oklahoma is on it's way to raise much needed funds to help the teachers in Moore.

Because of the overwhelming, generous support of TPT Sellers, we have have been able to put together 4 separate bundles of learning resources. Materials range in subjects, with the majority meeting Common Core Standards. The bundles are separated by age group. There are 2 bundles for K-2 age group, and 2 bundles for the 3-6 age group with clipart as well. Each bundle is valued at well over $100.00, and will be made available for a $25.00 donation. These bundles will be available for a LIMITED TIME, beginning Friday, May 24 through Monday, June 3rd, 2013.

100% of the proceeds for this fundraising event is being collected by TPT, and will be distributed by check to the appropriate Moore Oklahoma School District Representative earmarked to specifically aid the teachers as they begin the process of rebuilding.

Teachers Care for Oklahoma is on a short timeline so that we may better help those who need it the most. There isn't a limit on the number of bundles you may purchase. Below the description, you will find the direct links to the other 4 bundles available.

Below, please find direct links to the Fundraiser product pages which detail the products offered in each Bundle, and images of the covers from all of the materials. There isn't a limit to the number of bundles that you may purchase. It's a good way to receive top quality resources, while helping fellow teachers in need.

TEACHERS CARE FOR OKLAHOMA - BUNDLES

K-2 Bundle 1

K-2  Bundle 2

3-6 - Clipart Bundle 1

3-6 - Clipart Bundle 2

If you would like to help spread the word about this fundraiser, you are welcome to use the logos below. A special thank you to Mel from Graphics from the Pond for creating them.  I also would like to thank Wendy from Teacher's Toolkit for designing the covers.

A special shout out goes to Amy from TPT, as well as Paul, John and the whole Tech Department for pulling out all of the stops to help with this venture. To V from Special Teacher for Special Kids, for working with me a lot of sleepless nights sorting through files, organizing, and communicating with donors, the list goes one. I can speak for everyone involved, it has been well worth it.  To help just one person, we've succeeded.  Thank you so much everyone for your kind, and generous support and contributions!

If you have any questions about this fundraiser, please contact Dani at crayonboxlearning@gmail.comcrayonboxlearning@gmail.com.

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.