~Have Yourself a Personalized Christmas~

Am I the only person in the world who loves receiving photo Christmas cards? I keep them on my refrigerator as a reminder of my friends and family. Last year was my first year to send them out myself, and I received soooo many compliments on them. It is so easy to make them too. Find your favorite family photo, upload it to Shutterfly's website, personalize your card, and you are done! I can't wait to make my own again this year.

Would you like to create some for your family too? Here are some ideas:


I love the colors on this one.


This one is cute- love the blocks!


I think this is the one I am going to go with... but I may change my mind again before I order :)

If you would like to get your own cards, check this out!

Thank you Shutterfly for offering the chance to receive 50 free Christmas cards :) You are helping out my holiday budget!

Why Haven't I Blogged??? Otherwise Known as the $3.50 Fab Table Rehab!

I haven't blogged in forever... Haven't had much to say I guess. After I finally finished my Master's Degree in the spring, I decided to take some time off from crafting and blogging. instead I have spent my time catching up on the things I missed:

(In no particular order)

1. Glee- I really wanted to watch it last year, but never could find the time to get into it. Now I guess you can call me a gleek.




2. Getting my classroom organized. This is better some days than others. I have a pretty good group of kids this year.

and 3. Looking for a new sofa table. I finally found one (for $8- yes $8! I will have to dedicate a post to it soon- the story is awesome).

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I do have a summer craft project to share though:

Well, I have wanted a new table for my classroom library area for-eva! I have just been tooooo cheap. Well, after scouring Craigslist, Goodwill, and the Salvation Army for months, I hit the motherload.




I found this beaut for only $3.50 (it was half-off day at Goodwill). It had great bone structure (and a laminate! top)

Oh, when I said beaut, I meant dusty, dinged up, and hot mess! Took off the front hardware and gave it a coat of ORB

I rolled on a few coats of oil-based primer- it was starting to look good =) I also let it dry for a few days before putting on the paint. That is usually my downfall- not waiting long enough before I paint.



Here was my end result:


Another look:



Here is the inside paper (scrapbook paper that I decoupaged on):


The best part- it only cost $3.50! I had everything else =) Gotta love it! My kids have loved my reading area this year, and this table helps me store my center materials for my library area.


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~Where Oh Where is My Camera??? My find this week!

Okay, My husband swears he doesn't have my camera- but suddenly it is no where to be found. That has husband written all over it! So, I am sharing pics from my Blackberry (which explains the fuzzies!)

Anyway, my thrifty finds have been a bit dry lately... I have gone to the G-will three times in the past week and have walked out with nada- zip- zilch. I decided that enough was enough and got up early yesterday to go yard sailing- well thunderstorms killed that hope. So what is a girl to do?



I decided to try my local Salvation Army. A few years ago, it was a scary, small, overpriced place. As of late, they have really improved their store and seem to have a lot more inventory.

I ended up finding the following:





I didn't think it was a bad price for a real wood clock- $3.99 wasn't bad to me. The wood was a bit light for my taste. I popped off the glass (and gave it a good cleaning) and clock part, threw on a coat or two of brown, bronze, and orb- and here is my results.



What do you think? Will post a pic of it in my living room when I find my camera :)

Working on two new things in my house that I will share next week. One involves something unexpected, and the other involves a loved one who passed away about a year ago.

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~How Did I Meet My Hubster???~

Well, this is a sort of long story... So I will try and keep it to the minimum :)

My hubby and I officially first met over 20 years ago. I was 8, and my hubby was almost 10. Our grandparents worked together, and the owner of the company had a huge 4th of July party each year. We were each brought to the party, and all I remember about him is that he is gross (remember, boys were icky then) because all he did was play the Nintendo in the basement, and he and a group of boys started throwing some rotten goose eggs they had found in the river at the girls. The icing on the icky boy cake was that he started throwing fire crackers at us on the tennis court. Needless to say, I didn't like him one bit. I never really "met" him- so that was the end of that.

Then, about 14 years ago, my friend at the time invited me over to spend the night at her house. My mom didn't really let me do that because she was a bit overprotective, but I convinced her to let me. When I got there, her brother had some of his friends over- and there was the cutest boy I had liked from afar since sixth grade. This young man was someone that I didn't know at all, but I just thought that he was really cute. We went to middle school together (but he was two years ahead of me). Now, here he is sitting at my friends house. Turns out, he is the cut up of the group that loves to make everyone laugh. They also all go to church together. I had never really been to church, but I went with my friends and ended up loving it. Several years go by and we were all really good friends who spend time together at church and at my best friend's house. In 1997, we both realized that we really liked each other, and my hubby wrote me a "will you be my girlfriend yes or no" letters. We went to his prom, then he joined the ARMY (at 17) when he graduated. I was a junior in high school.

That Christmas, he proposed to me. We were married two weeks after I graduated from high school. Everyone said it was a mistake, but almost 11 years later, we are still in love.

So, that is our story in a nutshell. Check out other awesome stories at Kelly's Korner!

~Teacher Gifts~

Sorry that I haven't posted in a while- Between finishing my master's degree (just a week and 2 days until I am done!!!) and getting ready for the "super important state tests", I have had NO time.

So, I saw a post on Kelly's Korner for Show Us Your Life: Teacher Gifts. I have been teaching for 6 years now and have gotten quite a few gifts... Honestly, I have loved everything that my students have gotten me. There are some things that I have really liked though, and others that I feel bad about (because they gather dust).

Things that I have tons of:

-teacher anything (mugs, shirts, picture frames, doo-dads, knick-nacks, you name it, I have it)- There are only so many things I can use/dust!

-mugs period- I have a whole cabinet full and don't drink coffee.

-lotions, sprays, etc- I have allergies and sensitive skin.

I would honestly love or have loved any of the following:

-Personalized anything- my favorite was a clipboard, but notepads, pens/pencils. I use these things all the time.
-Volunteer time- I ALWAYS have things I need done or students that would love to be worked with. I LOVE it when parents volunteer their time.

-Gift cards/certificates- nuff said. Not expected, just appreciated. Even for $5-$10

-Anything the child made (letters, pictures, etc)

-Plants or things for the classroom. Parents have sent in books for my classroom library, even if they are just ones that your child has outgrown. I have a friend who had a parent that got the entire class to chip in for a big gift for her (new comfy office chair for her to work with the kids in). I think that is a good idea too. Even letters from parents are appreciated!

Now, I love homemade goodies, but I know that some people are a bit more put off by eating things that came from other people's homes. I loved it last year when a parent I had gotten to know made dinner for parent conference night and brought it in for me to take home for us to have for dinner. How thoughtful was that??? I loved it!

So, I hope that this helps someone out... Let me know if it did (or maybe didn't). Thanks!!!

Where oh where did spring break go???

Well,
I started the week with the best intentions- posting every day, crafting, cleaning, organizing- but I didn't quite meet my goal. Did I finish my $5 dollar store craft- nope
Did I reorganize the downstairs closet- nope

But, I did get to do a lot... Here are a few things that I did as the week ended...

So, the hubster and I had the opportunity to go to a hockey game for free last week. I was nominated teacher of the year for my school and they sent my principal free tickets. We decided to make a day of it and visit the "big city". You know that means tons of Goodwill visits. I found a few things that I am still working on, but here is one of my favs:



Only .99! Still has the 2.99 Hob-Lob sticker on it. Figure it will get covered in some scrapbook paper when the weather gets nice this week.

Also, am I the only person who panics in the morning as they are getting ready for work? Every morning I have visions of somehow spending 2 hours in the shower or something. Yes, me=crazy. So, I have had my eye out for a small clock. Here is what I found:


This was only 2.99, 1/2 off!!! You can't beat $1.50 (even if it had a years worth of ickyness on it). A little scrubbing never hurt!

While I was in the bathroom, I had to take a picture of this birdcage. To be honest, I don't like birds- but when I found it at the 1/2 off sale at the Goodwill a few months ago (see previous post), I brought it home- gave it a coat of paint, and there she is with a bit of moss for a "nest".




Last, but not least- these have been driving me crazy


what you don't see what is driving me crazy- well it is actually the hooks.


Yes, the hooks- the metal is wearing off/rusting, which has been driving me crazy. So when I was at Target a couple of weeks ago, I spotted these lovely bronze hooks for $2.48. Sold! Since I have been super busy, I just got around to changing them out. What was I thinking? I should have done this weeks ago.



So, that is it for today. I still hope to keep my goal of posting 1-2 times a week. I have big plans for this summer though :)

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Day Two of Spring Break: Fixing what drives you crazy!

Hello,

So day two was not as eventful as I had hoped... Hubby had rented Brothers and New Moon as a surprise from Redbox, so part of my day was spent watching movies.

I did fix something that has been driving me CRAZY- See this space:

We have lived in this rental for almost 8 years now. Yes, 8. This space has always been here, and has always driven me crazy, but I never thought to do anything about it.

Well, yesterday it officially was driving me crazy. I had decided to find something (artwork, something, anything) to cover it. Am I the only person who feels that way sometimes?

As I was looking in my trunk for something, I found this:

I bought it about 2 months ago, figuring I could paint and cover the apples. When I brought it in the house, I decided to hold it up to see if it would cover the box. IT DID! So instead of buying or making anything, I was able to use the 2.99 (half off it was 1.50) Goodwill find. Like with everything I make, I am not 100% happy yet (still thinking about what to put in the cutout) but for now the piece of scrapbook paper is fine:

Also yesterday, I was looking for something online to put over my new computer desk (pics to come soon). Inspiration hit when I remembered the picture frame I found at the Hob-Lob in the fall.

My eyes almost fell out when I saw the price ($4.99- originally $49.99):

In fact, the cashier was a bit snotty about it (called the manager over and told him she thought I had changed the tags). Whatever toots!

I pointed out the broken part:

(broken)

(not broken)

Paid for it and walked away. Put it in my gift closet and forgot about it until yesterday. Still thinking about cutting off the bottom piece of wood to make it match (or adding a piece of wood to the top).

So, check out tomorrow for my $5.00 project :) Going outside to work on it now.

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Tasty Tuesday: Cinnamon Roll Toast

This is a recipe that my mom has made for a long time. It is a nice change from regular cinnamon toast and is fairly easy/thrifty to make. Can also easily be doubled/tripled/etc for a crowd.

Cinnamon Roll Toast (by The Thrifty Teacher's Mom)

2 slices of bread (white or wheat)

1 teaspoon of cinnamon (sometimes I use more- depending on taste)

1 tablespoon of butter, melted

1/2 cup confectioners sugar

1/2 tablespoon water

1/8 teaspoon vanilla

Brush melted butter on one side of the bread (I have spread it on both sides before, but it is up to you).

Sprinkle on cinnamon (both sides if buttered).

Place buttered side down in a moderately hot skillet until lightly toasted.

Turn and leave on other side just long enough to keep it from feeling soggy.

Spread hot toast with glaze made with confectioner's sugar, water and vanilla (sometimes I sprinkle some cinnamon into the glaze as well).

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Day One of Spring Break :)

Hello,

I posted a few of my new projects yesterday. Today it has been rainy and gloomy- so I didn't get a chance to paint anything until this afternoon when the sun came out for a bit.

Here are my 2 before items. They were both lovely, just a bit dated for my taste:

I gave the smaller picture a coat of brown spray paint, covered the picture with some tan fabric I had laying around, and painted the fleur with some copper paint. Not too shabby considering I didn't pay anything to make it :) .

I am not finished with this one yet. I painted the frame brown (big surprise, huh) and then covered the picture with some brown/green fabric. Not sure what to put in the glass yet though.

They both compliment my wreath I made- using Tatertots and Jello as an inspiration:

it is a lot cuter in person- will try taking a pic of it when the sun is out tomorrow.

So, what should I put inside of that frame??? Would love some ideas. Thought about overlaying with a brown paper and perhaps putting the word Laundry (or maybe something else). I am going to hang it in my laundry area.

PS: The people who are able to neatly wrap twine/jute/etc around items must be more talented than I am. I have tried it 5-6 times today and decided to save it for tomorrow.

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