Teacher Appreciation Bookmarks

I made these last year for the Mess Maker's preK teachers, and they really liked them.  So, why reinvent the wheel???  :)  These are the ones I just made for her teachers this year...same except for the kids' names and responses to the question, "I like Ms. _____ because...".

I used my Cricut A Child's Year cartridge to cut the kids at the bottom at 2 1/4" in blackout mode, trimming some of the bottom of the image off so it didn't cover any of the type.  The base of the bookmark is 3 1/4" x 7 1/2".  The patterned paper is 3" x 7 1/4" and the cream cardstock with the responses is cut to 2 3/4" x 7".  The font is Chocolate Box (one of my faves!) downloaded from dafont.com.  I added an eyelet and ribbon, along with some twine accented with wooden barrel beads.

I just love hearing the responses from preschoolers as to why they like their teachers!  Here is a sampling of what the students said:

"She writes notes and hugs me"

"She opens things"

"She plays silly songs"

"I like to talk to her"

"She listens to my stories"

"She gives me snacks"

Awwwwww....pretty stinkin' cute, right?  :)

These will be given along with a gift card to the teachers' favorite restaurants, from the whole class.  Can't wait to see what they say!

"Thankful" Layout: FCCB Challenge #37

This week's challenge at Fantabulous Cricut is called "Thankful For": create a project about something you are thankful for.  That's easy for me...my kids!  :)

I used the CTMH Twitterpated papers on this one, which I have to admit are my favorite CTMH papers of all time!  The photo was taken almost a year ago, right before Thanksgiving, and I love that both of them are smiling (it's rare to capture both smiling at the same time in photos these days!). 

I used the Cricut Cindy Loo cartridge for the tree, deer and leaves for this layout.  The kids were cut from A Child's Year.  The title is made with letter stickers, also from the CTMH Twitterpated line.  I also added several brads and some journaling printed on the computer.

Hope you like it!  Head over to FCCB and enter your own "Thankful" project to be eligible to win this week's FANTABULOUS prize!

Happy Crafting!  :)

"Live Life" Card: FCCB Challenge #35: Color & Shape Challenge!

This week's challenge at Fantabulous Cricut is a color/shape challenge: use the color green and the shape of a circle somewhere on your project!

I combined the shape/color requirement in my little tree on the card above.  The papers were all scraps I had in my scrap bins.  The circle is cut from the Cricut George & Basic Shapes cartridge and the tree is cut from the Stretch Your Imagination cartridge.  I added a little bluebird from Create a Critter as well.  The sentiment is a Close To My Heart stamp, stamped on white cs and matted in blue.  To finish, I tied a white bow and added a red pearl brad (Eyelet Outlet).

I hope you'll play along with this week's challenge for your chance to win a FANTABULOUS prize!

Happy crafting!!!  :)

Total Scraplift! "Beach Babes" Layout

Here is a recent layout I made, based on one by (okay, totally scraplifted from) Monique at Monkeydoodlecricut ...why mess with perfection?!?!?...

Here is the original (by Monique Griffith):

I just loved the nostalgic feel of this layout, the color combo and the amazing detail, so I just had to re-create it myself.  I added one extra photo mat and used different papers, but I am happy with the results and can't wait to use it for our summer beach photos!

Thanks for the inspiration Monique!  :)

Thanks for looking and have a creative day!!!

Fantabulous Cricut Challenge #16: Fourth Of July Pinwheel

This week's challenge at FCCB is all about Independence Day:  Create a 4th of July project adding a star shape.  I LOVE the 4th of July.  It just brings back memories of being a kid, having swimming races and coin dives at the neighborhood pool, eating fried chicken (that was a tradition every year) and then going to the river to watch fireworks and play card games until it was too dark to see anymore...all with family of course, which was the most important thing. 

In honor of this holiday, I wanted something that was whimsical and fun, but still incorporated the tradition red, white and blue.  A pinwheel fit the bill perfectly!  This pinwheel was made with Sure Cuts A Lot (SCAL).  I found a FREE .svg file HERE and just added my own twist.  Instead of a double flower center, I added a blue star (to meet the challenge criteria) which I cut from my Cricut A Child's Year cartridge.  You can't see it very well in the photo but the center is stamped with "Happy 4th of July" (CTMH).  The papers used are from the Blue Ribbon collection by CTMH. 

This project is really simple.  The hardest part was locating my small drill bit!  :)  You'll need the following supplies:

wood dowel (with small hole drilled in one end)

craft wire

2 small beads

glue/Terrifically Tacky Tape

eyelets/eyelet tool

ribbon

There is a video tutorial on the page with the .svg download (linked above) on how to make these and it's pretty simple to follow along with.  Hope you enjoy this project!

Be sure to check out FCCB's Design Team projects over at Fantabulous Cricut...lots of fun 4th of July projects to feast your eyes on!  To be eligible for this week's prize, link up your own 4th of July/star project by next Sunday!

Have a creative day!  :)

Teacher Bookmarks

As part of the Mess Maker's class gift for her preschool teachers, I was asked if I would make a bookmark for each teacher.  Ummmmm, yeah!!!  I can't resist the opportunity to make something for someone!  :)

For these bookmarks, I cut a piece of dark brown cardstock at 3 1/4" x 7 1/2".  I added a slightly smaller piece of blue patterned paper on top...it has sort of a "vintage" feel to it.  Then I printed each student's response to the question, "I like Ms. ____ because...".  I added the class name and school year to the top, trimmed it slightly smaller than the blue patterned paper and adhered the strip on top.

I cut the children die-cut from A Child's Year at 2" and adhered it to the bottom of the bookmark.  To finish, I added an eyelet to the top, threaded ribbon and hemp through and added wooden beads to the ends of the hemp.

They have somewhat of a "vintage" look to them.  I hope they'll like them...they've been GREAT teachers to the Mess Maker all year and I sooooo appreciate them!  :)