Chalkboard Shape Labels

Is it just me, or have you seen tons of chalkboard projects out there? I am loving it! Chalkboard plant pots, chalkboard plates, chalkboard on mirrors, and chalkboard on paper. Beth over at The Stories of A 2 Z just had a chalkboard paint party a while ago and I wish I knew about it! I would have submitted my vinyl chalkboard! Anyway, there are tons of cool ideas for chalkboard for you to find there.

Since our move to this house I vowed to be super-organized. Well, at least semi-organized. In my quest for that goal, I wanted to organize my teacher resources before I head back to school next week after 14 months of mat leave (boo). A few years ago I had organized my resources by month, because our JK classroom runs on themes. But, all those resources were stuffed into random cardboard boxes. Blech.


So when Canadian Tire had a sale on some bins this week I went running out and bought 8 - just enough for each month of teaching. Yes, I teach more than 8 months - but June doesn't count (lol - we are so busy with swimming, reports, and finishing up May stuff), July and August is Summer (yay) and we combine February and March for our extensive dinosaur theme (also taking into account we have a 2-week March Break). I digress. Sorry about that.

So I got my bins, took out my chalkboard vinyl (which cleans up in a breeze, by the way, with a damp cloth) and cut out some labels. Oh no, not just any old labels! If you can cut regular vinyl on a die-cut machine like my Cricut (or a Silhouette), then why not chalkboard vinyl? Seemed so simple, but I had never thought of it before. Baby brain? Does that count? My son isn't 1 year yet, so maybe I'll chalk it up to that. Ooops, no pun intended. Really.

I measured out the size of label I wanted for my bins (I wanted them big - 3 1/2") and started cutting. I chose a lovely shape for them, and am so happy with the results!! Isn't it great? I am so happy with them! Now, if our theme changes, so can the label. If I move grades, the label can reflect that change! Or, if I choose a different system altogether, labelled bins always come in handy!



But that's not all! Nooooo, my fellow bloggers, there's more! If you can use regular spray paint on paper (I've seen it done, have you?) then why can't you use chalkboard spray paint on paper? Yes, seen it done - Jess at Frugal with a Flourish did it on cardboard! I kid you not!

So....I went out and bought some sticker paper - plain white sheets of adhesive paper to make your own stickers, etc. I ran some through the Cricut, choosing different shapes (if you do this, try to choose a 'chunky' shape so the label doesn't get too flimsy - also, if you use the 'blackout' option in Cricut it will give you a nice big shape as well). Then, spray painted them and voila! Different shapes of labels! Here are a few small ones I did for you to see. Aren't the school bus and apple labels cute?


I am in love with my new labels, I hope you like them, too!

Linking up to:

Too many projects, too little time

I've gotten myself into the predicament of too many projects on the go and too little time to complete them. I so badly want to post something new for you guys - and for me - but I just can't. Here's a list of some things I have on the go:

- playroom wall
- bathroom art
- chalkboard labels - 2 different kinds!
- desk/vanity table re-do

It may not seem like a lot (but I think there are more, to be honest) - but with 2 kids (and yes, I know there are many supermoms out there with even MORE than 2 kids who can do plenty more! lol) - 1 who is very active and the other (almost 1 year) is very needy and FAST-MOVING - and a crazy dog at home and one week left before I go back to work after 14 months of maternity leave, I find I barely have the time to do anything that is not a necessity, let alone do anything crafty.

There are still tons of projects that I would like to start as well:

- beadboard in the powder room
- laundry room re-do
- stencil front entry wall
- make a table skirt
- paint the kids' and the master bedrooms
- revamp our mirrored closet doors

...so many more!

Oh well - I hope you can bear with me as I try my hardest to complete even one. I know I need to dedicate the time and effort and finish just ONE thing. I've always had that problem, too many things on the go!

Hope you are all having a wonderful start to the weekend!

50 Followers!

Woo hoo! Who'd have thought that 2 months ago when I started this blog, really without much planning or thought, that I would have 50 followers! Thank you so much to everyone, it really makes me happy!! :) I really started this blog because of all of you - you are all so very creative and inspirational, I just couldn't help myself!

Hugs!

Found the inspiration for my "Photography Art!"

As it turns out, today I noticed in one of the link parties that Carolyn at My Backyard Eden posted a piece of super-cool art that she created using Picasa. SHE was inspired by Amy at My 3 Monsters when she did a guest post at Under the Table and Dreaming. It was the very same one that I was inspired by! So thank you, Carolyn, for reminding me of my inspiration, and thank you, Amy, for being the one to inspire my Photography Art!

Photography Art

Ok, this was not entirely my idea - I saw this a little while ago on someone else's blog, but I forgot to bookmark it - so if anyone knows, please let me know so I can give due credit!!

It was a fabulous idea, and so I made one of my own. I am all about personalizing your art - hence, my love of vinyl. :) I also love the new trend of putting your family initial or name with your 'established' date (see my project for my friend here)

First I started with my Creative Memories software program called Storybook Creator Plus (you can get a free download to try here). I chose the size I wanted (8x10), and the paper I wanted for the background.

Then I went to this great resource. Leo Reynolds is one talented photographer and has put his photos on Flickr for all to enjoy. I used his alphabet and number collection to create my own 'family established' piece of art. Once it was completed in Storybook Creator I saved it as a .jpg and sent it off to get printed. I couldn't make it to Costco for the inexpensive printing but Wal-Mart was pretty cheap - $3 maybe?

Here's my finished piece of art. Isn't it great? Sorry you don't get the full effect because I blocked out my name. :(



I loved it so much that I did another one - this time for the playroom (but I think it would look great anywhere!) - I constructed the alphabet in colours that I liked/wanted - neutrals, blues and greens. However, if you don't want to do that, Leo Reynolds has already constructed some lovely alphabet sets for you to use (of course I saw that AFTER I did mine lol).




Linking up with these great parties:

Getting Organized

I don't think that I am alone when I say that I feel I am drowning with the weight of paper from everyday life...am I? What with all the junk mail, bills, flyers, solicitous mail and bank reports I feel quite overwhelmed and, to be honest, it stresses me out greatly.

To help ease this stress a little bit, I bought a cute file folder from Wal-Mart and labelled it with our Handy-dandy labeller.



I then figured out what titles I wanted to have for the file folder pockets. What mess did I have the most of? What mess did I find the most uncontrollable? What did I want to be able to find with relative ease? I broke it down into these sections:

1. Bills to pay (for current bills)
2. To file monthly (where I put the bills that I have paid - and the goal is to file them every month)
3. Take-Out (I despise the loads of take-out flyers, but they are a necessary evil when you are in need of them)
4. Home Info. (ads, contact info, business cards, etc. of people, places and things for home improvement)
5. Paint Chips (since we are in the process of painting the dining room, and, soon, the boys' rooms)
6. Places to visit (attractions, indoor playgrounds, etc. that we would like to visit)
7. Calder (my oldest son - a folder for his birth certificate, passport, immunization records, etc. I found that I always misplaced them, so this seemed a good spot to try to keep them all in one place)
8. Easton (my youngest son)
9. Elizabeth (that's me!)
10. School Info. (My oldest is starting Junior Kindergarten this year (at my school!) and I want to have handy trip forms, newsletters, notes home, etc.)
11. Genealogy (I am in the process of searching out my roots and have a lot of notes)
12. Coupons
    

So there you have it - my attempt - let's hope it works - to get and stay a little more organized. I am a more visual person when it comes to learning and organizing, so hopefully this is the way to do it!

New pillows

I must confess (and trust me, I do this with ease) that I did not make these pillows. I didn't buy them either, per se, but I bought the fabric, the forms and sent them away to live with my mother-in-law for a while. I am not talented in the sewing department. Oh yes, I know how to sew a button back on something, or fix a rip in a seam, but that's about it. I kind of remember how to sew a basic pillow from Grade 8 Home Economics, but only to stuff it - don't ask me to measure, cut and sew based on the size of a pillow form!

I would love to learn how to sew as well as my mother-in-law does. She is a wonderful seamstress, something she learned from her own mother. I am actually playing with the idea of buying a cheap sewing machine, just so I can play around on it. But when will I have the time? Lately I have been so tied up with my 2 boys that I barely have time for me...wait, I DON'T have time for me, ha ha!! My youngest (10.5 months old) is particularly needy, and I can't get much done when he's awake...which is often.

So, here for your enjoyment, are my new pillows (there are 2 of the same)!! lol