Wow...you really pulled it all together. You are so clever! Love the lunch bag idea.
I am making a pad this year. I think your idea of the children writing their own papers is a good one. It was a lot of typing. I went to the bank today to pick up the 200 new $1 bills I ordered. The teller has 2 new $100 bills for me. Ooops. Can get me my order next Tuesday. That's great but the party is Monday. I'm working on the dollar bills and will head straight to Kinkos to get it glued. Thanks for the tip. I hope our teacher loves it!
Kristi - Everything looks so great! I do the same thing with Maddie's lunches. (Funny that I'm too lazy to pack it in a container that needs to be cleaned out each day -- but I don't mind taking time to fuss with the ribbon!) Gotta love that ribbon outlet! Lisa mentioned she went out to lunch with you -- and how fun it was to meet you...Your comment about her soothing voice made my smile...her voice is awesome...(She's talked me to sleep before, just because her voice is so soft!)
Have a wonder-FULL summer vacation! You deserve it!
Wow, everything looks fantastic. I am still so happy you share all these wonderful ideas. Know that you have made so many people out there that you've never met thrilled to receive some of these same gifts. I am thankful to have come across your blog! Thanks again for sharing.
You don't know me but I just wanted to tell you how much I appreciate all your clever and cute ideas! I loved all your end of school gifts (gum balls in a jar - so great) and the 100 book. I'm going to do that next year. And I'm glad you mentioned Scrapbook Factory 'cause I haven't heard about it before - cheesy or not - I thought the tags were adorable!
As a former 2nd grade(under 30)teacher I cannot tell you what a relief it is to see you giving something other than apple/schoolhouse garbage to your child's teacher. This stuff is junk and most teachers don't want it and will throw it away. Our team of teachers got so much of it that we held a big ceremony each year on the last day of school (behind closed doors of course)to see who got the most awful gift. How sad and what a waste of money. What a teacher really loves is being able to actually use (or choose) the gift given. No thanks to the wooden apple necklaces and paper weights. Great job Mom! Thanks for passing on the good ideas!
2:04 PM
Anonymous said...
Hey! I wanted you to know that I shared your pad of money and cute notes today on my blog! I referred some friends of mine to their site and they made one and I posted the pics of it today! Thank you so much for the wonderful idea!! The results are so cute - I think you'd be proud! Your ideas are a blessing to so many - including a couple of teachers in South Florida!!!
2:31 PM
Anonymous said...
Woops - I meant to say I referred some friends of mine to YOUR site. :-) Have a great day!
2:32 PM
[Image]well it's about time!
Finally the last day of school has hit our house. YEA. I am so excited for one of the first years to just have everyone home and enjoy the summer. (usually I am sad to have school over with)
Last night at 8:00 pm AK said "are we doing the last day of school t-shirt?" I am such a last minute gal and was kind of hoping she would have forgot. But I was so happy that she wanted to do it. Then as she was headed up to bed she said, "And you did you do the gumball jars?" I explained that I had not done them yet and was trying to talk her out of it this year. The look on her face was priceless. "oh no mom, you have got to do them!" [Image]So I got 12 jars done. [Image]It was killing me to use the gold lids - I usually spray paint the lids to match the tags and ribbon (i know i am a nut, have OCD and am a total perfectionist) So it felt good to just get them done and not take 3 days to make them. I used some great Vera Bradley look alike fabric on top of the circle ( it didn't hang out - that looks a little too crafty for me) then used my matching lime green ribbon with blue tags (printed on the cheesy but so easy Scrapbook Factory program) The blue and white cooking string (thanks Stacy) was the perfect way to add the tag. I changed the wording this year from "thanks for chewsing to teach at..." to "thanks for chewsing to share your talents at ..." We give these to the gals at the front desk, principal, nurse and janitor (one of AK's favorite people at the school) along with math teacher, PE, music and Art teacher - so this seemed like a new general way to say thanks. [Image]The t-shirt turned out well. AK was thrilled to retire one of her last pink shirts as now everything is blue in her world now. [Image]She was really excited for the last day!
[Image]and came home with all of her friends on her back and her heart on her sleeve!
Welcome Summer - it is about time!
[Image] Teacher Gifts turned out great and I am always happy to have that done. I finished the center photo at the final hour.
[Image]This is AK's last year teaching at her school (total loss for the school, she is so amazing) so we had cake! [Image]I made my 5th $100 book and just can't imagine making anything else. I was so happy to hear of how many people made these this year. I am telling you the key is to get a one lump donation from each parent at the beginning of the year. We were able to give her this $100 in a darling Vera Bradley laptop bag. I was amazed we had that much money left over. [Image]This year I had sent home three sheets of paper with the questions preprinted and ready to cut when they sent them back. This was a life saver!! it took no time at all to make the book. For younger kids who can't write I would have their parents do it. This saves hours of typing.
Also a tip sent in from a blog reader is that her Kinko's bound hers for her for like fifty cents for the whole book. This will save many from having to a large tub of padding compound. thanks for that tip! [Image]I have never had a teacher sit and read everyone to the class. the kids were so excited. [Image]Thank goodness for the two littles sitting in the corner reading - this is always a tough thing with doing anything at the school with two helpers. [Image]My girlfriend makes this book every year and it is darling. She goes in on a day at school and has them each draw a picture of why their teacher is the best. Then she laminates each sheet and puts them together with three rings at the top. It is darling. This is a great idea for many of thank you gifts!
posted by everything pink! at 7:03 AM on Jun 12, 2008
Untitled
27 Comments -
love it all! you have been busy...
3:02 PM
You are so amazingly creative! All your stuff just turns out so wonderful!
3:59 PM
These are such thoughtful gifts! I admire your creativity!
4:01 PM
Woohoo for the last day of school and for all your fun projects!
4:08 PM
Great Ideas!!! Busy time of year for Mom's of schoolage children.
4:42 PM
Wow you are amazingly creative!
5:19 PM
Wow...you really pulled it all together. You are so clever! Love the lunch bag idea.
I am making a pad this year. I think your idea of the children writing their own papers is a good one. It was a lot of typing. I went to the bank today to pick up the 200 new $1 bills I ordered. The teller has 2 new $100 bills for me. Ooops. Can get me my order next Tuesday. That's great but the party is Monday. I'm working on the dollar bills and will head straight to Kinkos to get it glued. Thanks for the tip. I hope our teacher loves it!
8:21 PM
Kristi - Everything looks so great! I do the same thing with Maddie's lunches. (Funny that I'm too lazy to pack it in a container that needs to be cleaned out each day -- but I don't mind taking time to fuss with the ribbon!)
Gotta love that ribbon outlet!
Lisa mentioned she went out to lunch with you -- and how fun it was to meet you...Your comment about her soothing voice made my smile...her voice is awesome...(She's talked me to sleep before, just because her voice is so soft!)
Have a wonder-FULL summer vacation! You deserve it!
10:18 PM
i love that you are a "last minute mom" like me!! i create my best stuff in a last minute flurry of activity.
7:41 AM
YEAH! SCHOOL'S OUT!!
I love the end of the year shirt .... are those stickers or printed on there??
Love the gumball jars ... what is written on the tag?
I want to do the $100 book next year .. wish I had remembered it for this year.
YOU ROCK MOMMY!!!!
8:54 AM
YEAH! SCHOOL'S OUT!!
I love the end of the year shirt .... are those stickers or printed on there??
Love the gumball jars ... what is written on the tag?
I want to do the $100 book next year .. wish I had remembered it for this year.
YOU ROCK MOMMY!!!!
9:33 AM
YEAH! SCHOOL'S OUT!!
I love the end of the year shirt .... are those stickers or printed on there??
Love the gumball jars ... what is written on the tag?
I want to do the $100 book next year .. wish I had remembered it for this year.
YOU ROCK MOMMY!!!!
9:33 AM
Give your brain a kiss! Love this.
10:31 AM
Wow, everything looks fantastic. I am still so happy you share all these wonderful ideas. Know that you have made so many people out there that you've never met thrilled to receive some of these same gifts. I am thankful to have come across your blog! Thanks again for sharing.
11:43 AM
Very cute! I am impressed at what you pulled off so "last minute"! We still have two more days of school!
1:00 PM
Cute ideas! I love'em!
2:09 PM
Thank you so much for sharing these...I am amazed at the creativity that flows from your mind! :)
4:14 PM
You don't know me but I just wanted to tell you how much I appreciate all your clever and cute ideas! I loved all your end of school gifts (gum balls in a jar - so great) and the 100 book. I'm going to do that next year. And I'm glad you mentioned Scrapbook Factory 'cause I haven't heard about it before - cheesy or not - I thought the tags were adorable!
10:14 AM
does the scrapbook factory program work on your mac? I was looking at it a couple weeks ago and it didn't look like it was mac compatible....no?
great projects! i'm so last minute..we're doing all the thank you's this week. we have 5 more days.
8:16 PM
This is so great, Kristi. I love the last day of school lunch bag! And the t-shirt. And the $100 book. You are a wonder.
9:07 PM
Oh my goodness....you are so creative and thoughtful!! Can I post on my blog about your gumball jars? I just love them!!
7:05 PM
I may have to start stalking your blog you are so creative!
8:46 PM
How cute! What did you use for the questionaire to make the book?
8:48 AM
These are so cute!!
11:36 AM
As a former 2nd grade(under 30)teacher I cannot tell you what a relief it is to see you giving something other than apple/schoolhouse garbage to your child's teacher. This stuff is junk and most teachers don't want it and will throw it away. Our team of teachers got so much of it that we held a big ceremony each year on the last day of school (behind closed doors of course)to see who got the most awful gift. How sad and what a waste of money. What a teacher really loves is being able to actually use (or choose) the gift given. No thanks to the wooden apple necklaces and paper weights. Great job Mom! Thanks for passing on the good ideas!
2:04 PM
Hey! I wanted you to know that I shared your pad of money and cute notes today on my blog! I referred some friends of mine to their site and they made one and I posted the pics of it today! Thank you so much for the wonderful idea!! The results are so cute - I think you'd be proud! Your ideas are a blessing to so many - including a couple of teachers in South Florida!!!
2:31 PM
Woops - I meant to say I referred some friends of mine to YOUR site. :-) Have a great day!
2:32 PM