day 182: Things a Teacher Might Do in the Summer

I am a teacher. Over the summer, I like to be as lazy as possible. Here's what I like to do...

#1: Lie on the couch
This gets me off my feet, which, when teaching, I am always on. My feet need a break!

source :: LIFE images

#2: Watch re-runs and movies on Netflix
This gets me caught up on all the TV shows and recently released movies that I haven't had a chance to view yet.

 source :: moviesonline.ca

#3: Play on the Computer
I get to talk to all my lovely ladies on Twitter, pin to my hearts desire, and I get to blog a lot more.

 source :: menopause the blog

#4: Stay up late & Sleep

I think this is pretty self-explanatory. I get up between 4:30am and 5am every week day during the school year. It feels nice to go to bed late and wake up later in the day.

source :: viveromassangeana.com

#5: Read books

During the school year, I don't have very much free time to read books that I enjoy. I love to catch up during the summer on all the books I collected during the year.

 source :: sheknows.com

#6: Make crafts

This gives me a chance to express my creativity at my own pace and make whatever I want to make.

source :: zimbio

day 181: Counting Cards

About a year and a half ago, I begged and pleaded and begged some more for a Cricut. Don't know what that is? Then go here, and explore the wonderful world of the Cricut!

But, I digress...

I was begging and pleading for a Cricut for Christmas in 2009. And, thanks be to Wal-Mart's awesome Black Friday sale, I got one!! It's black, and it's awesome. Honestly though, I took it out of the box to play with it as soon as I got it and then put it back. I didn't touch it again until December 2010 when I began making things for the wedding. Mostly, I made the tags for the favors. {seen below} I made a few other small things for the wedding, but that was about it until around the end of April 2011.

At the end of April, I got seriously jealous of my neighboring teacher at school. She was making the cutest things for her classroom and her students. I decided that I needed to do that for my kids in my classroom! Then, I started making cards too. And, I've mainly been making cards for the past few months - mother's day, birthdays, father's day, etc. You can see all of them below!!

 a graduation card I made for my brother in law

 father's day card for my dad.

father's day card for my husband's dad

father's day card for my grandfather

birthday card for my girl kelly {one of the firsts I made}

birthday card for my girl Mary

 back of wedding card for our good friends Melissa & Scott

 front of wedding card for our good friends Melissa & Scott

 mother's day card for my grandmother {one of my firsts}

card I made for my room moms this year. they got starbucks gift cards as well.

Now, I get to make birthday banners and signs for my niece's first birthday in July! I will definitely be sure to post about what I make!! It's sure to be super cute - minnie mouse & zebra prints. Cool, right??

{thanks @thatsostelle for inspiring me to write this post}

day 114: My First Finished Craft Project as a Wife

A couple of weeks ago, I ventured into Hobby Lobby with a fellow teacher before heading to a Home & School meeting. We both have Cricut machines, and she uses hers all the time! She's decided that she is going to get me to use mine to its fullest capacity, for which I am completely grateful. Basically, we both bought a lot of paper!!! While we were investigating the paper products, I saw that they had some chipboard letters for sale (50% off)! I decided that they would be a good investment and would make great parent gifts for all the parents of my students. {Luckily, I only have 10 students so this project wasn't too overwhelming!}

I bought all the letters I needed for the last names of each of my students' families and took them home {along with more paper}.

This past weekend, over Easter, I took to the project like gum to the bottom of your shoe. Mr. GrapeJuice and I didn't have any family in town because they all went on vacation to the beach. {and, if you listen to mr. grapejuice complain, you'll hear him say that it's all my fault because i wouldn't ask for the time off} But, that's not relevant to my craftiness! 

I took each letter and paired it with two different papers. I wanted a layered look, and I'm fairly impressed with the results that came from all my hard work! It was very frustrating at some points, but they look great! I know this because Mr. GrapeJuice {in a "sweet mood"} said, "If your parents don't appreciate those, then they're crazy!"

I know! So sweet, right?

Yeah, he has his moments.

:)

Well, here's how they turned out.

You might have noticed some of these on my twitter over the weekend.

I couldn't help posting pictures! I was just so proud of them all!

{please excuse the iPhone pics. i need a fancy-schmancy camera}

 

 

I'm still trying to decide whether or not I should spell out their last names on the letters too.

Do you think it'd be too busy?

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated, friends!!!!

p.s. they look even better in person! :)

source :: apartment therapy