End of the year - teacher gifts - Candy Bowl!

It's that time of year again, to think of teacher gifts.  As Jo's kids are finishing up, we still have 3 more weeks left here...sigh!  This weekend my boys and I worked hard to make up the gifts so I'm not doing last minute scrambling.  This year, I decided to bring back an oldie, but goodie.  Jo and I used to make these up by the dozen and sell them at craft fairs, over 10 years ago...Jo, how is that possible?  These are SUPER easy to make, and the best part is that you can make them your own, and personalize as you like (and it's dirt cheap if you use the below links)!  The sky is the limit....

Yes...I had to make FIVE!

What you need:

• 4" craft pots or flower pots....(I ordered a dozen from Oriental Trading, and they got here, Africa, all in one piece)
• Glass bowls (I got these for a STEAL of a deal from the DollarTree...again, all in one piece)
• Paint (if I could, I would have used spray paint, but craft acrylic worked just fine...Jo, didn't we use to spray paint them?)
• Paint pens
• Glue (As you will see in the photo, I didn't know what glue would work best...turns out the Tacky Glue worked famously!)
• Ribbon
• Optional, but SUPER cute:  I couldn't figure out how to send them here, but if you can find flower pot saucers that match your 4" pot, glue a wooden ball to the bottom, paint them the same color as the pot, and you have a lid to your candy dish...how I wish I had them this year!

Directions:

• Paint the flower pot the color of choice.  If you want them to look like an old fashion gum ball machine, red is the way to go.  But, as we were painting, I thought chalk board paint could be fun, too.  Keep in mind, with red paint, you will need many coats to be even.  I lost count at 4 :)!  The good news about the Oriental Trading pots, is that the paint dries super fast, which means, if you have 2 (or more) little helpers, you will need to keep an eye on their painting, to ensure there are not paint bumps.  This is why spray painting them, may be better...Let us know if you spray paint, and how it comes out :)!  
• Then decorate as you like (minus the ribbon, do this last).  I used a black sharpie for the "dispenser" and highlighted it with a silver paint pen.  I then used paint pens to write the teacher's names, school name, and class/year.  
• Glue the glass bowl to the top of the pot.  
• Tie your favorite ribbon around the top of the pot, under the bowl.
• Fill with your favorite candy!  (I did choose the obvious "gum balls,"  but that's because many of our teachers are not American and I thought it would be fun to give them something "Americana.")

Savvy Tip:  Glue the bowl after you decorate the pots.  It's easier to handle.

The one with a white ribbon, is for my son's male teacher's aid...My son said the polka dot ribbon was "too girly."

Reindeer Food - Classmate gifts!

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 As I mentioned below, I'm learning how to balance my new life.  My weekends consist of crafts with the kids.  Last weekend my boys and I made reindeer food for 40 of their closest friends...aka their classmates ;)!  It's moments like this, that I miss their tiny European classes (last year they had an average of 8 kids in their class...but I digress).

What is reindeer food, you ask?  Well, its a cute idea that Jo came up with when we lived closer together.  We would make these and sell them at local craft fairs, and it was SUPER popular! 


This is a cute, cheap, way to spread Christmas joy to all your children's friends

What you need:
Equal parts of the following...

• Krispy cereal
• Oats/oatmeal
• Birdseed (I omitted this.  I'd like to think it's because I'm in Africa, but who am I kidding?  There is birdseed here...I'm lazy!)
  
  Also needed:
  
• A few shakes of colored sugar (red and green add to the seasonal cheer)...I ran out of green sugar, and couldn't just run to the supermarket, so I actually made my own...see the savvy tip below!
• Sandwich bags (preferable those without the zip tops, but you can always cut off the zip, like I had to do this year)
• Ribbon or yarn (you will see in the above photo, I used ribbon...much cuter.  But this year I used yarn...limited craft supplies and all :)!)
• Card stock and a cute poem!

 For 40 bags, I used about 3 cups each, and the boys scooped in about 1/4 cup of the mix in each sandwich bag.

Directions:  Place all the ingredients (except the sugar) in a large mixing bowl and stir CAREFULLY to combine.  Scoop about 1/4 cup into a sandwich bag.  Add a few shakes of the sugar to each bag.  Once the food is in the bag, tie off the bag with the poem (printed on card stock and punched hole!).

As the poem says, on Christmas Eve, the kids take the food to the lawn, and sprinkle it for the reindeer to feed on while Santa is placing the gifts.  (Can you tell Jo and I grew up in AZ...no fireplaces, hence no chimneys, hence Santa landed in our back yard!)  This is why birdseed is helpful...the birds will hopefully eat the evidence before the kids realize they have to go check out if the food is gone. 

Savvy Tip:  If you don't have a large yard, careful about just sprinkling it in the road.  Or you may find yourself, in a robe...at 5am...sweeping up the evidence...while explaining to the neighbors what you are doing...YES THIS HAPPENED TO ME, CHRISTMAS 2007!

Our Poem (if you use our poem, you must reference us...thanks for understanding!)

 

Savvy Tip:  Don't have colored sugar, but you have food coloring?  Make your own colored sugar.  Use 1 cup of sugar and at least 2 drops of food coloring (the more drops, the darker the color).  Add to a ZipLock bag and shake vigorously for about a minute...VIOLA!  Colored sugar!

Time to start planning for your Christ-Centered Christmas

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It is time to start planning for your Advent celebration. Please take some time to re-visit this post from last year on my Annual Advent Workshop.

This year Advent begins on November 27th.  I am starting to put together this year’s big plan—although it still feels like August outside and I am just not feeling it. It doesn’t really help that the house across the street has been under construction for the last month and all the clanging and banging is starting to give me a headache. I think I need a little prayer to get me in the mood ....................................................................................................................................................................................................... (that is me saying a quick prayer).

My craft project “formula” is: three hand-made crafts to give away (My guests leave with Grandma, Aunt Shelley, and Uncle Mike’s Christmas presents ready for gifting--no Chinese foamcore kits please) + one Christmas decoration for the whole family to keep + 1 simple craft for each child to take home.

Christmas decoration for the whole family to keep

Last year I found the cutest paint-your-own, ceramic Nativity kits on sale after Christmas for 90% off.

I am a little nervous. I think they are a little too complicated for the short timeframe we have. I am also picturing little painted fingerprints all over my furniture. I think I might chicken out and let everyone just take it home as a parting gift. I will let you know how it goes.

Simple craft for each child to take home

I found these cute bracelets on Amazon.com. I have done a similar project before. The kids loved it. However, the kit came with plastic string. It was too difficult for the kids to tie. I am planning to have some twine and elastic on hand just in case.



Two down, three to go . . . Stay tuned for more!

Back-to-School Party...

Here's an idea, why don't you schedule the party like a school day?  As soon as the kids arrive, you can split them into groups, and have them rotate throughout the party.  We suggest decorating in simple primary colors; red, blue, and yellow.  As the "students" arrive to your party, have them randomly pull a color from a basket.  This will be their homeroom color.  They then gather at their designated homeroom spot.  As the party continues, ring a bell between the following sessions... PE (games and activities), Art (arts and crafts), lunch time (refreshments), and recess (free play).

Here are some ideas for games and arts and crafts!

Games:

• paper airplane contest 
• twister
• Simon-Says
• Pencil Walk: (Just like the traditional Cake Walk game but with pencils as prizes instead)
• Teacher’s Bag:  (Get a paper lunch bag and put in various small items in it, like paper clip, eraser, chalk, gluestick, etc.  Let each person close their eyes and try to feel and guess what is in the bag)

Arts and Crafts:

• Decorate a Pencil Box: Buy some inexpensive plastic pencil boxes and use stickers, permanent markers, to decorate a pencil box. Favors like pencils, erasers, stickers, can be given at the end of the party together with the pencil box as the perfect Back To School favor.
• Make your own bookmarks
• finger painting
• oragami
• clay/play-doh

Suggestions for free play:

• Four square
• relay races
• water guns/balloons

 Stay tuned for decorating ideas and party menu!

Teacher gifts...continued...crayon wreaths

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I have to bring this up again, since my kids still have 3 weeks of school left, and I'm still dealing with end of the school year madness :)...By the way, I'm glad you had fun in Disney, Jo, but am SUPER jealous that as you were riding rides and having tasty food, I was still doing carpool, and PSG...I digress....
I made these crayon wreaths for the teachers.  I made a total of 4, but am sharing just 2...one with the longest name, and one with the shortest name...

What you need:

12" embroidery hoop, or basketry hoop
8" embroidery hoop, or basketry hoop
(instead of the embroidery hoops, you can also use the styrofoam wreaths.  I found them a bit thick, so I cut the in half and then painted them.  My friend also had a savvy tip and you can cover the styrofoam in a nice clean fabric.  Mine were already painted...maybe next year)
box of 64 crayons
ribbon
hot glue
Stickers

Directions:  Place the 8" hoop in side the 12" hoop with equal   distance between all edges.  Arrange the crayons along the 2 hoops.  Hot glue the crayons to the hoops. 

Savvy Tip:  Keep the unglued crayons arranged on the hoops.  It will keep the spacing. 

Tie the bow around the 2 crayons that you want at the top.  Create a separate loop and glue the edges together to create the hanging loop.  Place as many (or as little) stickers as you like.  Personalize with the teacher's name, if you'd like.  Super easy :)!

Teacher Appreciation or Teacher gift? You choose!

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This week is Teacher Appreciation Week. Last night, my sons and I made candy topiaries. Since Jo has also started our dialogue regarding the end of the year, and room parties, you can also do this for the party. They make great table center pieces. If you have more than one teacher (say a main teacher and an aide) then you have your gifts AND decorations.

A candy topiary tree can be created using a variety of candies. They really make great gifts. Every time I make one, the first response is "I've never seen anything like this." Unlike flowers, they won't wither away. In fact, the best part of a candy tree topiary is that not only does it look attractive, you can eat it.

What you need:

• Candy of choice (not too much, because otherwise you will eat the extra as you blog)
• wooden dowel 
• Styrofoam ball or cone to decorate
• smaller Styrofoam ball, cut in half, for the bottom (or plaster of Paris... but with this option, the pot can not be reused)
• Hot glue
• Flower pot
• Paint pens, glitter glue, or other crafts to decorate.

 Instructions:

1. Center the end of the wooden dowel at one end of the Styrofoam ball. Push the dowel into the ball firmly. Do not push it all the way through, however push it far enough so that the weight of the candy on the ball later will not cause it to fall off the dowel. You can also put some craft glue on the end of the dowel to ensure it stays in the Styrofoam ball.  Wrap the dowel with the ribbon, using the hot glue to hold in place.
   
   
2. If using plaster of Pairs, mix the plaster of Paris according to package directions in the bowl. Pour the mixed wet plaster into the flower pot or cup you are using for your topiary. It should come almost to the top but not quite. Take the end of the wooden dowel that does not have the ball on it and push it into the wet plaster. Be sure it is straight and let the plaster dry.
   
   
3. Place a small spot of glue on the piece of candy and place on the ball. Hold in place a few seconds until it dries. Continue with each piece of candy until the ball is covered in the desired design. A popular method is to start placing the candy at one end and work your way down, but you can put the candy on in any way you like.
   
   
   
   
4. Fill the rest of the flower pot with more candy (I used chocolate mini bars this last time---get it?  for dirt?), colored pebbles or Easter grass to cover the halved Styrofoam ball or plaster of Paris.  If you like, use the paint pens, glitter glue, acrylic paints, etc. to paint a design on your flower pot as a finishing touch.

 Let us know what other ideas you have for teacher appreciation gifts.  Here are some more that Jo posted on FaceBook and there are some other ideas to the right in the Savvy Etiquette box:

• Pick up an extra latte on your way to school and deliver it with a note card that says “A special thank you . . . For providing an extra boost of energy to every part of our children’s education!”

• Ask the local coffee shop to donate a carafe of coffee and a platter of scones for the break room. Make a giant card out of poster board to display next to the treats and have the children sign it. Include a small sign that says “Provided by (insert coffee shop name here)” as a thank you for the donation.

Planning for a Christ-centered Christmas

Everyone's focus has shifted from Halloween to Thanksgiving (My second favorite holiday of the year).  I, however, am knee-deep in planning for Christmas (Stay with me.  I have a great reason).  November 28^th is the first Sunday in Advent.  It is a special day in our house.  Each year we celebrate by hosting an Advent wreath making workshop.  This is a fun event that really emphasizes the heart of Christmas—Christ.  It helps keep us centered.  We use our wreaths throughout the season to countdown the coming of Christ, not Santa.  If you are not planning to host or attend a workshop, you may still enjoy this tradition at home with your family.

The Advent wreath has become a popular way to count down the days of Advent.  Many people don’t know that we have Martin Luther to thank.  He recommended its use as a way to educate children of his day. He certainly didn’t invent the wreath itself, because that goes back to ancient Roman times, and probably even earlier. People used wreaths as an Advent decoration long before Luther, but Luther used the wreath as a Christian-education device and thus popularized it. The Advent wreath in its present form started in Germany as a Lutheran family custom. Since Advent wreaths were originally used in the home, most of the ones you find for sale are small. They didn’t become popular in churches until the middle of the twentieth century. Now they are nearly universal. (You didn’t know you were going to get a history lesson today, did you?)

An Advent wreath is made from greens to symbolize continuous life and contains four candles— three purple and one rose. Often a fifth candle (white) is added to the center of the wreath for lighting on Christmas Eve, in celebration of the birth of Jesus.

First Candle Color: Purple Theme: Hope First Sunday in Advent

Second Candle Color: Purple Theme: Love Second Sunday in Advent

Third Candle Color: Purple or pink Theme: Joy Third Sunday in Advent

Fourth Candle Color: Purple Theme: Peace Fourth Sunday in Advent

Optional Center Candle Color: White Theme: Christmas Christmas Day

How to Make a Fresh Advent Wreath

You will need:

• 4 taper candles (1 pink and 3 violet) 
• 1 white pillar candle
• Wreath frame with 4 candle holders
• Florist wire and wire cutters (Available at the Dollar Store for $1-score!)
• Clippers (for the tree boughs)
• Fresh boughs (pine, fir, cedar, spruce, boxwood, and holly---anything available in your region during the holiday season). This is a great time to prepare the bushes in your yard for Christmas light decorating. 

Step 1:
With the clippers, snip the boughs into 6-10 inch fronds.  Group an assortment of sizes or tree varieties into small bunches of 4-6 fronds.  Wire the cut ends of the bunch with florist wire.  Repeat. 

Step 2:
Affix one end of the florist wire to the wire wreath frame.  Take one bunch and affix the bunch to the frame. 

Step 3:
Add the next bunch of greenery in the same direction as the first and connect it with the same wire. Repeat this process until all of the bunches have been added to your wreath, save a few.  Take a step back from your creation, then fill in any gaps on the wreath with the extra bunches.

As you get to the “end” of the wreath, you may need to pull up your first bunch and tuck the final bunch under it for a seamless look. 

Add additional holly berries or pinecones for decoration.

Step 4:
Place the wreath flat on the table where you’d like it displayed.  Insert the four taper candles into the holders.  Place the white pillar candle in the center of the ring. 

Note: Lit candles and fresh wreaths could be a fire hazard if not treated properly.  Remember to keep the wreath moist so it stays fresh.  And never leave the candles unattended.  Replace them before they burn to the level of the wreath.  

There are many available devotional booklets to use daily with the Advent wreath.  One good online booklet may be found here.

My sons' birthday treats

My youngest turned 5 yesterday.  He has over 20 kids in his class, so I told him he had to limit his party to only 5 friends.  I then explained that we would take cupcakes to his class for everyone to enjoy.  He picked Toy Story 3 as his theme.  Here are the cupcakes we made (Stay tuned to the blog; this weekend we are transforming our house in Pizza Planet):

 The claaaaaaw!

(I got the cupcake idea from Disney's family.go.com site)

My oldest son had his 7th birthday party this past weekend.  My 7 year wanted a race car themed party (at the bowling alley).  We took tire cupcakes (see post below) to his class, and then I made a race car cake for his party!

 I came up with this from scratch...literally.  Here is what the first cake looked like.  But here is a Savvy Mess to Savvy Success:  I used the scrap cake to make the wheels!