Teacher Gift Idea : The Bad Day Survival Kit

There have been many teachers over the years that have touched our lives in a unique way.  Especially the elementary teachers who spend so much time with my girls, sometimes more time than I am able to.  Every time the end of the year comes and every Christmas I am always digging up some creative ways to express our appreciation for them.  While my two older daughters no longer bring presents to their teachers, I still have one little munchkin who enjoys this tradition.  This year may very well be her last one, as sixth grade will bring teacher changes for each class. 

This year we came up with the idea to celebrate our teachers with a special "kit" full of items that they might use or need throughout the day.  As an avid Pinterest follower, I knew I could find a whole array of ideas on the web.  At first glance this is what I found...an adorable little basket filled with items the teacher might use through out the year.  I love how the crafter used ribbon, tissue paper and a sweet little  label to dress it up...definitely cute!

Then, I came across this neat idea that organized all of the items into neat little compartments.  The front was labeled with the teachers name and the inside over included a note from the child.  This fishing tackle type box got me thinking about actual first aid kits and how important and convenient it is to have them along.

I started toying with the idea to make the kits  geared more to a teacher's personal needs rather than her school supply needs.  What working woman wants an extra supply of tacks?  Wouldn't she love to have an extra stash of lip balm or lotion for those days when nothing seems to be going right. Ah-ha! I've got it....

THE BAD DAY SURVIVAL KIT !

My idea is to fill the "kit" with every imaginable thing a teacher could need on a day that isn't going as perfectly as planned.  Hopefully I will also be able to develop some type of cute phrase aor quote to go along with each item to share how each item might help. Here are a few of my ideas.

• hair bands  - for the days you feel like pulling your hair out

• band aids - for the days everything you touch becomes a double edge sword 

• lip balm - for the days you must repeat yourself 20 gazillion times

• hand sanitizer -for the days you feel like washing your hands of this job 

• pain relief - for the days the sounds of 25 pairs of feet sound more like a 25 car train

• tissues - for the days you should've taken a sick day, but could never leave all your work to a substitute

• sewing kit - for the days you are becoming un-stitched at the seams

• nylons - for the days when a "run" can't stop the race you must keep up with

• lotion - for the days when the school furnace will not turn off and has sucked every ounce of moisture out of you

• throat lozenges - for the days you must continue to use your voice even though your throat feels like it been stung by a million bees

• Hershey's Kisses - for the days you need to be reminded there are sweeter things in life

• Fabric Stain Pretreatment - for the days when the dry erase marker decides that you are the perfect person to explode on

• nail file - for the days your students needs a soft pat on the back, not a scratch from a jagged finger nail

• etc.

The first thing I did was collect some boxes that could be covered with scrapbook paper and had an attached lid.  These cigar boxes worked out perfectly and thankfully my Uncle saves these for family members who might need them.  

  

Next, my daughter and I chose some scrapbook paper.  We ended up using two full 12" by 12" sheets for each box. We used glue stick and touches of hot glue to the box.  We covered every area that had the brown cigar label.

 Then we attached a ribbon around the base of the box and around the lid.  

I printed and cut out a decorative label and black background paper and wa-la!

These were a BIG hit!  Teachers loved them and put them right into their classroom desks. 

25 Creative Ways To Reuse Scrabble Tiles

Okay, so I cannot take credit or ANY of these very creative ideas.  But, I thought I should share with you my research on all things creative with Scrabble tiles.  I have been collecting old Scrabble games at thrift stores and yard sales. Often times I throw out the game and the box and just keep the tiles for future use. Great ideas!

Basket Label

Personalized Ornament

Welcome Sign

Earrings

Personalized Key Chain

Gift Tag

Initial Ring

Brooch

Message From the Elf

Wine Charm

Desk Accessories 

Bracelet

Dishwasher Sign

Art

 Coasters

Push Pins

Napkin Rings

Place Card

Frame Adornment

Framed Family Art

Pendant

Photo Prop

Party Game

Thank You Notes

Thrifted and Repurposed Window Treatment

Took me a long time to figure out what window treatment I wanted to do above my kitchen sink.  No matter what store or website I looked on, nothing seemed to suit my interest.  Then one afternoon, while visiting a local thrift store, I found this fabric...actually already made into cafe curtains.  It looks like burlap but in a linen blend.  Perfect! 

I brought it home and paired it up with some pallet wood slats (from another project) and used it to make this valance.  The words are just something I printed out in super huge font, meticulously cut out and glued to the front board.  The fabric was cut and measured and stapled to the back of the wood pieces. 

I had some left over fabric and decided to use it to make storage cubes out of some left over cardboard boxes that help drinking glasses I had purchased. A little bit of spray adhesive and...wah-lah!

A Thankful Centerpiece

A vintage piece and a bit of  fluff makes for a great  seasonal centerpiece

My dear friend and neighbor had this cradle sitting at her curb one afternoon.  Curious, I stopped to ask her about it.  She told me she was throwing it away and that I could take it if I wanted it.  It was her grandmother's cradle but the bottom was completely broken out and one of the corners had chipped off.  She was tired of seeing it lie around her house anymore.  She used it for magazines, for dog toys, etc.  But it had served its purpose for her.  When I told her I would like it to make a centerpiece for my table she was thrilled that it would be taken and used and appreciated by a friend.  Using some things I found around the house, this is what I cam up with!  The canning jar is filled with long grain rice and a votive.  The Pumpkin and gourds are fake, as well as the berry garland.  But my daughter and I collected some pine cones and acorns to throw in.  Christmas is just around the corner and we will be redecorating soon.  Glad we had the opportunity to enjoy and appreciate this vintage piece over the last few weeks.  

Painted, Distressed and Antiqued Using Left Over Paints

I'd been looking for the perfect piece of furniture that would give me lots of storage space, but fit against the narrow little wall of my bathroom.  Towels, hair accessories, nail polish, hair dryers, etc. needed to find a home.  So when I came across this dresser, I was thrilled.  Yes, it was covered in an ugly dark brown stain that badly needed some TLC, but the price was right. It was free!  My in-laws came across it on the side of the road and offered it to me.

Well, for about a year it sat in my bathroom and served its purpose.  But it did not look pretty.  In fact, it bothered me every time I used the bathroom, and I avoided looking at it at all costs. I knew we could not afford to buy a piece of furniture that would please me perfectly.  Nor could we afford, at this time to even buy a can of paint!  But finally this week I got the initiative and idea to revamp it. 

My first step was to sand it and get rid of any shine that would prohibit the paint from sticking. It wasn't too difficult thankfully since it had taken years of wear and tear with no one touching it.
After that I mixed two paints that I had from previous room projects...a blue from my kitchen and a yellow from my dining room...blue and yellow make green! I came up with this glamorous sea foam green. It matched the shower curtain and towels I already have. I used a small foam roller (with no nap) to apply it. Using a roller prevents paint brush streaks and makes it almost appear as if it was spray painted.  I applied two coats. 

I allowed the paint to dry over night and then used a block sander to rough up the edges of all surfaces...drawers, knobs, legs, sides, etc.  I also sanded down some random spots to really give it that distressed look. 

I also found in my basement a can of glaze that I had from years ago when feather dusting and rag coating on your painted walls was popular and a can of brown paint used for a feature wall in my daughter's bedroom.  Following the direction on the can of glaze I mixed some of the paint into the glaze and brushed it on the dresser surfaces.  Working small sections at a time wipe off the glaze/paint mixture before it dries completely. It leaves a tint in the shade of the paint... Thankfully the brown I added gave the sea foam color just the stained/aged look I was hoping for!

Needless to say I am happy with the outcome but THRILLED with the cost....$0!