End of Year Classmate Gift

Last is the school gifts made. I wish I could say we got back ONE of these reply cards but no such luck. I almost want to throw in the towel with making school gifts for the other kids. BUT I did get a glimmer of hope, the ONLY kid from school that showed up to Caden's party came up to me to tell me how much he loved the cookies etc I make and bring in. That brightened my day and let me know well I may only touch one life than it is worth it!

I also didn't find mini Hersey bars  for the s'more packs so I of course went for the next best thing butter fingers ... ok recess's cup's would have been best but the store was out of those too. And since I was hoping on a plane to Boston I could not run around to find the right items ... lol

What you need:

Hersey Bars (Minis)

Large Marshmallow

Graham Cracker

Treat Bags (25pk $1 Dollar Tree)

Card Stock for Tags

I found this cute printable on Becoming Martha she has several different version's to choose from. I decided to add a little package of s'mores with the tag.  

 
I know I'm late save for next year .. lol

Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE.

End of Year Teacher Gift

I'm running behind as usual, I really just can't seem to keep all these balls in the air like I use to. Sadly what has to give is my blog, which is my outlet that keeps me happy. I'm working on finding that balance again!

 

I returned from another work trip to right into the party mode for my son. So I didn't get to post the things I made for the end of school. The first thing I made was for the teachers. I always like to say thank you for all the hard work they do. Cole has 6 teachers being in middle school and Caden had one for his teacher and I always do for Cole's previous teacher who is such a blessing. 

 

 

I found this great idea for Daiquiri Glasses on Alayna's Creations. They are simple to make, inexpensive but perfect for a teacher! 

 

What you Need:

Daiquiri Glass (Plastic $1 Dollar Tree)

Sunscreen (Travel Size $1)

Chocolates

Freezer Pops (liquid form 2 or so from box of 12 $1 Dollar Tree)

Chapstick

Flavor Water Packets

Paper Umbrella's

Beach Decorations (I used Flamingo Sticks)

Straws (I used Flamingo Straws)

Card stock (for tag)

Ribbon (for tag - I used twine)

 

Add all the items to the cup, attach the tag if you would like also. She has a few free printables to check out. I attached with twine, but you could use ribbon if you want. Have fun with them!

 

 I know I'm late save for next year .. lol

 

Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE.

We end the year with Melting Snowmen Cookies

2014 is coming to an end and we'll be welcoming in 2015 here tonight. Usually I do a year in a review but that will have to wait until tomorrow and we can start the new year with the most popular post.  My bestie asked that I make her some of my frosting and sugar cookies. Her mom loves them and she wanted to make Melting Snowmen Cookies for her Christmas gift. I had to work the week of Christmas and a few hours on Christmas Eve so time was tight but I wanted to get these done for her.

What you Need:

Frosting (I used my go to Sturdy Buttercream Frosting)

Baked Sugar Cookies (I used my go to Best Sugar Cookie Recipe)

Large Marshmallow

Food Writer Pens

Mini Chocolate Chips

Black Food Gel

Mix up the your frosting, above is my favorite that I use for all the cupcakes and cakes I make.  It can stand up if you leave it out during the party.  

Bake up your sugar cookies, these are requested every time by my bestie.  They are very soft and oh so yummy!  Above is the recipe.

Then I moved on to the Snowmen heads.  I took large marshmallow's and decorating them. I used Wilton food writers to make the faces.  I didn't have a orange for the nose so I first outlined in yellow and then red over the top to make orange (BAM I did learn something in school). 

Now on to decorating the cookies.  One you frost the sugar cookie you can add the snowman head.  You can add mini chocolate chips for the front of the cookies.  You can add the black gel for the arms and if you want you can add a scarf. I did one but ran out of time so I didn't do anymore. 

Happy New Year's Eve!
Any plans?

Thanks for Stopping by!

Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE. 

End of Year Gift ... Have a Fun Summer Teacher Gift

Now for the teacher gift!  As many of you know this has been a rough start of the year for Cole.  Last year he had such a hard time with his impulse control and having a teacher that didn't understand him or saw his heart.  This year we have gone through a battle but I think we have found the right stuff.  We have him on some great medication for his ADHD which allows him to think (no more my head hurts mom to many thoughts).  AND we have a TEACHER who is to the moon and back the best thing EVER!  She saw who he was and has helped push him to become GREAT.  This is the first year we have ended with such a positive end of year review.  

I wanted to give her something special to say thank you.  I found a great idea on Pinned Sisters for a Teacher Summer gift.  I took it and made some changes and made my own. I couldn't find a printable so I made my own if you would like it here it is (click here), print on a 5x7 cardstock.

What you Need:

Tea Container 

Beach Towel

Sunscreen

Drink (Crystal light or a Slush Adult Drink)

Life Saver Candy (Or Sunkist Candy) 

Magazine

Ribbon

Cardstock

I rolled the towel and rapped it with ribbon to make it tight to fit in the container.  I stuffed it in with the sunscreen, drink (adult drink because she deserves it) and Candy.  My jug was a little short so the magazine didn't fit in, so I tied it to the outside with ribbon.  I printed my message on the card stock and attached with a ribbon.  Easy but so cute!!

 Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE.

End of Year Gift ... Have a "Chalk-ful" Summer of Crazy "Kool" Fun

Now for a gift for Caden's classmates.  I found a cute idea on Mud Pie Studio's for end of the year gifts for under $10.

What You Need:

Chalk (Can find at Dollar Tree)
Kool-Aid Packets (I bought a water flavor at Dollar Tree - Kool-Aid better to go with tag)
Bookmark (I couldn't find but Dollar Tree usually has)
Clear Bag (25 pack Dollar Tree)
Card Stock
Stapler

Put the chalk (2 pieces), kool-aid and bookmark into the clear bag.  I made up my own tag (click here for download, if it gives you grief let me know). Cut the tag out and staple to the bag to hold it shut.  Pass them out to the kids :).

 Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE.

End of the Year Gift ... My Future's So Bright I got to Wear Shades

School is out next week so I wanted to make something fun for the kids.  I found a really cool idea on Lessons with Laughter for  My Future's so Bright I have to wear shades. I just knew these would be a hit with the fourth graders!

What you Need:

Sunglasses (I found on Amazon 12 Pack for $5.39)

Card Stock

Ribbon

Hole Punch

I thought these 80's shades would be perfect for the kids.  I printed her FREE printable on card stock.  Cut out the cute little squares, take a whole punch to punch a hole for the ribbon. I added the card with to the shades with ribbon. Simple and easy!

 Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE.

End of School Year ... Thumb Print Tree & Thank you Letter from Child

One more teacher gift, this one was made for Caden's Kindergarten teacher.  I must say she is one heck of a lady.  I wish I had found this school when we had Cole in Kindergarten.  She was amazing at helping the kids read, do math and all kinds of fun things.  They would take a walk each day.  Over the course of the school year, Caden was so excited to get his 20 MILE token!  He is a super reader and a wiz at math, I'm so excited that he loves school and loved his teacher.

As you remember I did a thumb print tree for our PTF president, sadly the one I had to do for her was shorter notice so I couldn't personalize it.  This Thumb Print Thank You Tree I actually had ordered first so it was personalized with her name and the very nice lady at Plum Adorable added a memory verse Psalms 1:3 (He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.)  Remember this Thumb print tree can be printed for free or you can pay to have it personalized.

I was able to get all the kids to do thumb prints and write their names and then I picked up a nice frame at Micheal's.  Caden's teacher was so sweet she gave me a hug with tears in her eyes and told me how much she would miss having me part of the class.

Sorry not the best picture.

My Camera ate the photo of the framed finished project.

Caden also wanted to do a little something special, I found this great FREE Fill-in Teacher Thank you letter on Lil Blue Boo.  I asked him the questions, he asked me to spell the words and he wrote it all by himself.  His answers are so sweet!

These are all so cute and so easy to do!  And really makes such a heartwarming gift.

Hope you all have a GREAT day!

Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE.

End of School Year Gift ... Orange You Glad it's Summer (Teacher Appreciation Gift)

Sorry gang it is going to be a quick post tonight.  My digital camera decided to corrupt all my pictures and I was the dummy that hasn't downloaded or saved them to a CD.  So I've spent almost 4 hours recovering and trying then turn mpo files that my camera changed to back to the original jpeg file!  I'm exhausted and I still have to set up my new laptop.

I made this gift for Cole's teacher, I wanted something that was on the manly side and thought this was a fun idea.  A basket of all orange items, I wish I could find a orange basket but I couldn't find one.

What you need:

Orange Pop

Orange Cup

Orange Gum

Several Orange Candies

Orange basket (I had to use white)

Card Stock / Printer

Ribbon 

Tissue Paper

Add all items to basket, I added a little tissue paper in the bottom to help keep everything stable.  I found this super cute orange tag that I added a whole and tied with a ribbon.   Go over to Coley's Corner for this super cute FREE printable.

Easy gift to do and you can find everything at the dollar store!

Hope you all have a GREAT day!

Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE.

Taking a Breath ...

Sorry gang haven't been around much!  Last week we had end of year concert, graduation from kindergarten, last day of school and I made 2 graduation cakes and 70 some cupcakes for a friend.  I'm just coming up for breath now.  Just a quick post of what we have been up to.

We had 3 parties to attend this weekend and me baking up a storm!

Cole & Caden's End of Year Concert!

Kindergarten Graduation

Preview of Cakes and Cupcakes

Oh yes and my laptop screen died :(.

Who knew the keyboard could work but screen stays black.

Thankfully my dad showed me to jimmy rig it using a monitor to the side of the laptop.

OH yes it a real pain in the butt, but my new laptop is coming.

I'm hoping to be around more today!

End of School Year Ideas .... Krazy KOOL Summer Gifts

One more fun gift that was super easy and cheap to make!  I made these for Cole's Classroom (he has 3rd / 4th & 5th Grade together).  I saw on pinterest a fun idea with Kool Aid in a fun cup (found on B.Jane Brewing for "Kool Summer") and then I saw some with Pop Rocks, I thought why not merge them together.  It came together great, except I couldn't find a printable that I like that had Popping and Kool in it.  So I went with a fun FREE Printable I found on A cupcake for the Teacher for Krazy KOOL Summer.

I hit up the Dollar Store and Winco and put together this project for less then $2 a piece!

Items Needed:

Kool Aid (I picked up 5 different Flavors) .10 cents each

Pop Rocks (3 pk for $1)

Water Bottle ($1)

Instructions:

Now hold on it's hard one ... lol.  Open the Water bottle cap, add in the kool aid packets and then top with one pop rock package.  Close the water bottle cap.  Print the FREE printable on cardstock cut with scissors or you could use a punch.  I took a hole punch to cut a hole then tied a ribbon to the water bottle.  YUP it was that easy!

Another inexpensive gift that I hope the kids will truly enjoy!  

Have a great day!!

Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE.

End of School Year Ideas .... School's Out Pool Party (In our case a Lake Party)

We are looking at changing schools next year, which is really sad but something we may need to do (that story to come).  So I wanted to do something special for the kids and their friends that we may not see again.  So why not have a swim party at my parents lake front property.  I came across a free download on for a Pool Party Invite on Living Locurto.  Technically our's is a lake party but the invite was so cute I couldn't pass it up.  I took the wording she used and off I went.  She had a great PDF that I took to a local printer and had them print on cardstock and then I used this handy dandy circle cutter by EK Tools.  I picked mine up at Michael's for $14.99 and it was worth EVERY penny!  And I'll use it for other projects as we all know!  I printed the inside circle (4.7 circle) in word and played with the words to look right when the upper circle swiveled out of the way to reveal the inside.  (And yes I realized AFTER I put them together I forgot to switch out the word Summer to School (is near)

WHAT YOU NEED

• Plain white cardstock and/or photo paper
• Colored cardstock
• Corner punch (optional)
• Adhesive (glue stick or double sided tape)
• Paper trimmer, scissors and/or a circle cutter
• Fasteners such as brads or eyelets.

Alexis Notes: I used white cardstock, yellow cardstock, glue stick, circle cutter and I found some cute flip flop brads that were on clearance at Micheal's!!

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Print the FREE printable PDF file and trim the beach ball design from the paper just inside the yellow cutting line. (NOTE: be sure and set your printer options to “best quality” or “photo” printing for rich, vibrant color.

2. Cut cardstock (I used yellow for background card) to 5 ½” x 5 ½” and punch corners with a corner rounder if desired.

3. Format text for inside of invitation on computer within a 4.7” circle and print onto white cardstock…cut the circle out. You could also just hand write the inside for a personal touch.

4. Glue the circle containing party info to the center of the 5 ½” cardstock square.

5. Place the printed beach ball design on top of the text circle –centered on the card –and fasten to the card with a brad or an eyelet.

Hope you had a wonderful weekend, and thanked a Vet.

Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE.