Monday Made It - July 3

Once again I am joining 4th Grade Frolics and #mondaymadeit! So on to the creating...

My son gets married in 2 weeks!! I wanted to make something to give to my future daughter-in-law to welcome her into the family...so I decided on making a welcome mat! I watched a YouTube video on using the Cricut to create a mat and I am really happy with how it turned out!

I love cooking when I am home for the summer. Kale and Caramel is my favorite cookbook! The ingredients are fresh and EVERYTHING I've made has turned out so yummy! This week I made homemade ricotta. The author, Lily Diamond, stated that once you make homemade ricotta you won't want to purchase it any more from the store. So true!! It was the yummiest EVER! And, it was super easy! Check out her cookbook if you want the recipe. You'll be happy you did!

Every year I have students sign a social contract. I like to draw a tree with Tombow pens, then have students sign it with their fingerprint. I keep the pictures year to year. Here is the one I drew last year:

And here is my new one for this year!

Finally, last night I simply could NOT turn my brain off. Literally, I was up until 2:30 with visions of kale and bike acrostics going around in my head. I was trying to figure out something new and different that fits my style.  I love kale, but am not too thrilled with the acrostic.  The words don't really work - I tried! Any better ideas? I like bikes and enjoy the words a bit more...still wishing that I could use the kale one in a better way. Which one is your favorite? 

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Monday Made It!

I'm excited to team up with Tara and 4th Grade Frolics again for another Monday Made It! 

Every year I seem to forget having birthday "stuff" ready for kids so this year I am starting cheap, easy, and early! The new school I am going to does not allow parents sending food items for birthdays. (yay!) I was happy about that one! That means I probably can't pass out little goodies, either, if food related. I found these cute, colorful pencils at Target 18 count for $3.75. 

I printed out "coupons" for a free late assignment...

...cut 2 slits at the top and bottom to insert the pencil and - D.O.N.E.! It just happened to work out that the colors I printed on matched the pencils! I didn't plan that but was super happy about it! 

Anyone out there with a do-it-yourself husband? How about one that ropes you into helping with the construction stuff? When you are terrified? My husband is awesome and I try to help out when I can...but construction...up high?  yikes! Yes. This is Made It #2 - shutters. You may remember my post a few back where my hubby was throwing the old shutters off our house to throw away. I grabbed a few and made stuff for my classroom with them:

Well, new shutters had to be made so I was called into the installation! He made REAL working shutters this time! They are not 100% complete but they are getting there. I didn't mind helping but...it involves holding things up on the roof...in 90 degree+ heat. Okay. I can't complain because he does it all the time. He made a nice platform off of our porch...

This is a view out the second story window.

Lee doesn't mind being up high. He climbs this ladder no prob to work on the gable:

I had a hard time just taking the picture without vomiting. 

So - onto the platform...and the roof...I went. And...we got them hung! woo hoo! All that we have left is painting! (They will be the dark blue color in the one photo.)

Open shutters...

...and closed! 

I'm so excited that I finally figured out my Cricut and vinyl. I had the hardest time transferring the vinyl to objects without sticking it all over my hands. I finally googled ideas and - duh... transfer tape! It works WONDERFULLY! 

First, my board was getting "dull" so I gave it new life with Krylon's Easy Tack:

I covered the edges of my board with construction paper. Painter's tape would be a better choice! 

 I bought these great note blocks from Staples for only $2.00!

Then...I cut my name and decorations out of vinyl.

Ta-da! Sorry - I forgot to take picture of the transfer tape!! I know! Sorry - but it did work! 

I made a bunch of fans for my new room and wrote an early blog post about them. They turned our really pretty! READ IT HERE.

Read my full blog post HERE!

Two projects took almost no work. In this next one, I just used my Cricut to cut words for above my whiteboard on "wood" paper and glued them on black paper before cutting them out again!

FINALLY (I know, a long post!) this is a no make made it project! I found this Italian Sangria at Whole Foods (or the Nugget??) and had to buy it simply for the bottle! (My daughter loves Sangria so it was a win-win.) I took one of my flower pens and placed it in the top. So cute!

Here is a link to their web site.

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Monday Made It!

Thanks for joining in another Monday Made It with @4thgradefrolics! I am so thankful that she is hosting this great link up again! This is my third year in a row joining in on the summer fun!

I'm not going to count this in my Monday Made It - but you may have noticed my new blog update! I loved my past pattern for PJ Jots but felt it was a little outdated. This new look is much cleaner and a bit more modern! I love it. I downloaded the theme from:

Okay, now for the fun stuff! My first "made it" was a sign for my homework station. I found chalkboard frames from Michaels on sale 60% off PLUS I had a coupon for another 20% off! I got these frames for UNDER $3! woo hoo! 

I simply used a chalkboard pen and wrote on it. I think it turned out cute!  Next, I purchased clothespins - on sale for 50 cents!  I put student numbers on them and I plan on hanging them from burlap ribbon...

When students turn homework in, they will take off their clothespin and place it in the bucket. I will be able to see from a distance who is missing work or not. (I'm still in search of a cute bucket!)

Kelli from Tales of a Tenacious Teacher blogged about her awesome Instagram writing center - too cute! Thank you, Kelli, for sharing your great idea. You may read her blog post here and download her FREE writing product here! She has been a part of the Monday Made It group, so you may have seen the original! Anyway, she inspired me to create a board for my classroom and I think my 6th graders will love it!

Right now it is on our kitchen counter!

I've been enjoying using my Cricut this summer! This week I made a new sign for my window by cutting out the letters, bicycle, and border:

I then used the Cricut to make a banner for the window. It's so easy with a Cricut!

And - a fourth item!! I ordered darling business cards from Moo. I got some earlier from VistaPrint but they really aren't very pretty. I like to stick them in the parent folders at parent night - and they are just convenient to have! Moo sells cards that are square and "mini". I decided to go for the mini ones. They have beautiful designs - both modern and vintage. This is what I chose:

They come in 5 patterns per order so I chose botanical! So pretty!!  I do have a referral link so if you want to order, I'd love for you to use it. (smile)  Click here. To see all their cards, click business cards at the top. Or - try all products. They have postcards and stickers too! 

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