Time for Back to School....

In preparation for Back to School time,  I have created this "Telling Time" freebie!   (Featured on page 12 of the Back to School Common Core Math Ebook.   If you haven't had a chance to download it yet, hop on over to TPT to download my freebie.  

Does it feel like this summer flew by?   I spent most of my summer working on new materials.  Some days though it doesn't really seem like work.  I spend a lot of time illustrating, and working on new ideas.  

Did you know...

All Crayonbox Learning materials feature original artwork that I have illustrated?  It's one of the features that makes Crayonbox Learning resources unique.  I begin with small sketches, and then I develop the theme on paper.  The images are hand drawn with special non-bleed, acid free, pens.  I then scan them in at a high DPI and alter and enhance them on the computer.

ALL of the pages in products are assembled from templates that I also draw out. Each page is put together individually rather than using a program that slaps it all together. :)   The process takes a little bit longer time, but the end result is that the pages are crisp, with clean lines.

August Currently...

Happy first day of August!    This is my birthday month.  Yep, you might have already guessed that I am indeed A VIRGO!!! :)  My birthday is the 26th,  and yes, I think there will be some sort of celebratory fun here on my Blog.  :)    

Be sure to hop on over to Farley's page (click link above) to show her some Bloggy love. I enjoy reading her Blog and seeing her project pictures. :)

What a day this has been already.  It actually started last night. I was up late because my Mom called me about 8pm to let me know her mare was going to foal.  She is a big mare, and was having a little trouble breaking her water.  TMI?  I am normally called in because my Mom isn't always strong enough to pull the babies by herself, and so I am the muscle. :)    As soon as I made it up the hill to their farm,  the mare had laid down and had her foal.  See pics below. He was quite a big baby.

His name is Zeus.  He's a registered Missouri Foxtrotter.

This morning,  I was given the O'dark 30 wake up call (I went to bed at 3am) to go run some errands and go to the store.  So I hopped in the truck and went on my way.  Um.. yea, road construction!  Both directions, resurfacing the roads.  Here in the south, instead of using asphalt, they use gravel mixed with this oily glue mixture.  After the vehicles drive over it enough, it makes it hard like asphalt, only grittier.  I guess it's cheaper, but it's something they do about every year or so.

So there were 2 delays there about 20 minutes.    I pull into the gas station, thankfully it wasn't too far from where I was. HA!   Gas station computer is broken, I can't use my card. HA!  No checks. I use just my cards so I had to get back in the truck and head to Walmart.  Did I mention, I am not a fan of Walmart?

Went to Walmart, realized that the list of things my Mom gave me to pick up for her was for items for a store clear across the county. :)  HA! Nice.   So after I toodled through the store, helped a nice ol' couple that couldn't find sheet protectors....I was out the door.  Oops.  Not. so. FAST!   The girl at the check out didn't scan my dog and cat food.  I was the 4th person in line that had to have a re-do.   The poor gal says to me... I don't think I'm having a very good day. :)  I laugh and say, oh girl, you don't even know the half of it. :)  I told her it would be alright, and to keep smiling. :)

I get to the truck... PHONE ... My Mom wants to know where I am and why it's taking me so long.  I laughed and said can I call you back.   Road construction again.  

After I got back, unloaded groceries, poured a nice tall glass of sweet tea and sat here under the whirring of the air conditioning I realized....  It's really not so bad.  I am blessed to have a home to come to, air conditioning, post it notes and other misc. school supplies in my bags,  and a smile on my face.  There are so many people out there that don't have a home, and stresses on their shoulders that are unimaginable.  The whole time I was driving I was thinking to myself my Mom says..."Patience dear.... "    lol   I don't know who Patience is, but I didn't think she was with me in the truck today. :)

LOVING:  I am loving the teal, purple, and pink colors featured in the B2S section at Walmart.  I couldn't help myself but purchase another handful of post it notes.  Surely there is a support group for that. :)

THINKING: I have been blessed this summer with a lot of custom illustration/design jobs.  Custom work is a little different than what I normally do in that generally a customer has specifications for color and design.  This year though, my customers have put it in my hands to create what I wanted to, and it's been nice to be a part of their classroom decor this year. :)

WANTING: Hahaha...  My first thought was to write down, "A hug!"  but then I thought about how nice it would be to have sand between my toes, a smoothie made by Gordon Ramsay, and not really have a care in the world. :) A girl can dream.... 

NEEDING:   Refer to wanting.  A. cabana. boy! :)    Applications are being accepted now.    I know that I have mentioned a cabana boy before, but I heard somewhere that if you say it enough, it's bound to come true. :)

B2S MUST HAVES:  On my list is more ink for my printer, a new Tablet, and more colorful binders.  Ink is a must have so I can print out some examples of projects.  A tablet, so I can try my hand at making some fonts, and colorful binders.........well because I want them, silly! LOL   No really,  I use binders for putting my illustrations and designs in, and I also use them for projects. 

Have you had a chance to sign up for "MY FAVORITE THINGS" Giveaway?  Yep,  it's going through August 8th.  Every day I put a *NEW* super cool free item (school related) in a box.  The winner will be drawn on August 8th.  To find out more about it, click HERE.

An apple a day...and My Favorite Things Giveaway... :)

Click the photo to download the booklet

When I think of going back to school,  I think of apples.  I am not sure if it's because apples tend to be synonymous with school or if the color red has more to do with it.  

I created this printable booklet to be used with an apple theme last year, it was used in a publication that I wrote for.  I thought it would make a fun freebie to give away this week.

It won't be long before kids will be heading back to the classroom.  Have you started getting your classroom set up, or is it all ready to go?  I have spent most of my summer designing custom classroom decor sets for teachers that are heading back this week!   If you're looking for a unique decor that not only fits your likes, but will also engage your students, let me know!  I have a variety of options available, as well as artwork and color schemes to choose from. Even if you think it's funky or weird, let me know.  I have taken on some pretty wild requests, and have loved every minute of it! :)   

Who LOVES a good GIVEAWAY?

Anyone that knows me,  KNOWS, that I love being different and not necessarily following the status quo! Though, sometimes there are some pretty cool ideas that can be embellished on or created with a new twist. I thought long and hard about what I would like to giveaway and I came up with a box. :)  WOO HOO!  A box!!!  I know, right? :)   It isn't just any box.  It's a box that is going to hold some of MY favorite things! 

I used to love watching Oprah's My Favorite Things show, to see what her "picks" for the year were and how excited the audience was to receive all those goodies!  The best part was the suspense of not knowing what was coming next!

My Favorite Things Box might include a roll of duct tape (colored of course), super cute sticky notes, or even some of my favorite gel pens, or favorite curriculum book. My Favorite Things Box - August will be given away on August 8th.   Starting on Monday, July 29th I will be adding something to the box.  I will be adding something new to the box each day until August 8th.  I am not going to tell anyone exactly what will be inside until AFTER the recipient has received it. :)  That way the person receiving it and you will be surprised!

Everything that will be included in the "My Favorite Things" box will be brand new, sealed in packages, and can be used either for yourself or in your classroom! :)  Check back each day this week while I drop hints as to what is included in the box! :)  Are you excited?  I know, I am!!!

*NOTE* Because this giveaway involves shipping via postal service, it's open to U.S. and Canadian fans only. I will be holding a digital giveaway on my Blog and FB page soon so that friends around the globe can participate too.  I appreciate your understanding.

The contents in the MY FAVORITE THINGS box will be valued at AT LEAST $75.00 (before shipping!)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!

Update 7/29/2013 -   Thank you so much to everyone who has participated so far in my lil' Giveaway!  I have already had to get a bigger box because one of my "favorite things" would not fit into the box I had already designated!!!   Who'd like a hint?  Ok.....It can be used for more than one purpose, and can be found hanging around in most classrooms!  Teachers can never get enough of these... :)

Check back tomorrow for the next update!! :)   

Update 7/31/2013 -  I am loving all of the comments on color!  It's amazing to me how different everybody's answers are!   I have added a new item to the box today.... Hint?  There is no WRITE or wrong way to use these! :)   Get it? :)

Be sure to share the link to my Blog post so that everyone can join in the fun!  Who do you think is going to win My Favorite Things for August?

Update:  8/2/2013

I am so excited for this giveaway!  I have added 2 more items to the box.  It's going to be the biggest Flat Rate box, and I may have to include a 2nd box to fit one of the items so it doesn't have to be folded.  Have you shared this giveaway with your friends?  If you have, and are following along - leave me a note.  Thank you for playing along!   6 days left until the winner will be chosen! :)

Did somebody say WORD WALLS?

As I write this post, I can hear the buzzing and whirring of the lawn guys weedeating around my front yard and horse barn. Nothing says "good morning" like strangers in the yard and my Dad on the tractor!

Good morning! :)

Nope, no coffee for this girl. I cut out caffeine about a year ago. (I know, right?) I'm thinking about it seriously. I am not exactly the poster girl for "morning people." I stay up late at night working on my newest creations. A gold star for the first person to guess what I have been working on. :)) How about a gold star with GLITTER on it? :)

Yes, indeed friends, I have been working on Word Wall card sets! A requested item, that I wanted to make to coordinate with some of my classroom decor sets.

Here's a peek of some of the sets I've made:

Each of these word wall sets include BOTH the 340+ word cards AND matching headers (A-Z).  The bee theme has honeycomb header cards (to be different!) and the farm theme has barn headers. :)  The remaining themes have cute circle headers.  I will have more sets in the series by the end of the weekend.  I am working on a few different shaped pieces!!

Word Walls are a fun way to practice and reinforce words with your students.  I have used word wall sets to play learning games with too. The kids have so much fun, they don't realize that they are learning.  Their confidence grows as they are able to seek out the words, and use them in a sentence.  Word wall sets can also be used for writing practice activities!  

Are you gearing up for Back to School?  I will be hosting a "Giveaway" this week,  stay tuned for details!  I did not celebrate a few of my milestones for various reasons, so I decided to have a giveaway "just because."  I hope you'll come back and celebrate with me! :)

P.S.  I am participating in a Bloggy Friend linky party hosted by A Teacher's Idea.  Click on the graphic below to visit her Blog and check out the other blogs also linked up!!

Have a great weekend!!

Back to School with Bloglovin'

Hey everybody!

I hope that you're enjoying the start to your weekend! I stumbled across this cool Bloglovin' Blog Hop sponsored by Teaching is a Gift and A Teacher Without a Class!!   A Teacher Without a Class is having a giveaway to win a free laminator on her blog!!!  (How fun?)

What is Bloglovin'?   You may have heard the buzz all over the teaching blog community the last week.  Bloglovin' is a way you can follow all of your favorite blogs, and be notified of their updates. Bloglovin' takes the place of the Google Reader.  I signed on to Bloglovin' a few months ago, and I really like it.  If you click on my custom made graphic below, you can sign on to follow Crayonbox Learning on Bloglovin'.

Following your favorite blogs leading up to Back to School is a great way to find out about giveaways, fun things to do with your new students, even classroom set up and management ideas.

It's really easy to set up your own Bloglovin' account. There are a lot of tutorials out there, but I like this one best {HERE}.

Click above to follow me on Bloglovin! :)

Be sure to stop by Teaching is a Gift and A Teacher Without a Class Blogs to show them some Bloglovin' LOVE too! :)

Have a great weekend!

Happy 4th of July!!!

Wishing all of my friends, family, and new friends to come a Happy 4th of July!   It's going to be a low-key day here with a lot of possibilities for some creating! :)

How will you be spending the day?

How many of you will be daydreaming of new projects, and classroom decor?  Come on, admit it... some of you have even been stockpiling new stuff for your room!!! :)  There are a lot of retail chains having sales this summer. It seems to be starting a little bit earlier!!

No matter how you decide to spend your day,  I hope you'll all take a moment to reflect on the freedoms we have (in the U.S. and elsewhere...) and how fortunate we are to be able to do many of the things which we sometimes take for granted.  We've come a long way since 1776, though its interesting to ponder what our Founding Father's would be thinking if they were to come back and see all of the changes.

Of course our military service men and women (and their families), past and present, deserve to be honored for their sacrifices and duty. It isn't just about picnics, parties, and fireworks.

Be safe.  Enjoy your day with friends and family!

Summer Fun...

Hi Friends!

Happy Monday!   I hope that everyone had a great weekend!   The temperatures have been cooler the last couple days which makes it a lot nicer to be outdoors.  

When I lived in Washington,  I was employed to develop summer camp programs for a project called "Community in School."   It was a program where large corporations would step up and fund summer camp programs at the area schools.  So instead of students being bused somewhere, or having to go to a camp outside of their community, the camp came to them.

One of the activities the kids loved the most were card games.  Any kind of card game.  Matching, "War," Go Fish, and so on.  Today's freebie is a game called "Octopus War."  Played similar to a regular "War" game only the cards feature a cute octopus!  

Click on the cover to download this freebie!

   

This freebie includes number cards 1-12,  and a set of blank cards to add our own numbers or even math problems.   The Wild Cards are colored differently, so they are easier to spot in the deck of cards.  I don't know about you, but I think I like the bright pink octopus the best.  If I had thought about it earlier, I would have maybe made a set with glitter!  :)