Teacher Emergency Kit (Chocolate Included)

As promised in an earlier post, here it is...

Our Teacher Emergency Kit.  
I can't imagine a teacher (or for that matter anyone) that wouldn't appreciate this little school supply kit of chocolate.

The kit is organized in a way that will allow for fun and function!  Need some crayons?  The function just happens to be chocolate!  Need to calculate some numbers?  Well... maybe just to calorie count.

Check out Daisie Company for this great new way to cover chocolate bars.  You  will need a paper crimper (found at most craft stores)

BAR NONE wrappers from Skip to my Lou

and

Nugget wrappers from i heart naptime

I just happened to have the clear plastic boxes leftover from this baby shoe project and they worked perfectly.

Layer your Kit Kat school supply bars as shown in picture.  Then add the BAR NONE bars...

Then a few nuggets...

Then the remaining nuggets...

Add a big, bright ribbon around the box.

Attach the sticker paper label.

Label found at The Crafting Chicks

My daughter's teacher is now prepared.  With a little nugget of chocolate you can accomplish anything! 

Consume only in case of EMERGENCY.  

Let's start the year off WRITE!

I LOVED this idea from Whipperberry

It took me about 10 minutes (at the most) to create it.  

If you have notebooks (found mine at Wal-Mart) and a couple of pens or pencils, ribbon and Whipperberry's clever label, you've got a great little First-of-the-year-teacher-gift.

Add a gift card or a yummy muffin or cupcake and you're off to a great start!

Very few materials needed.

Check out Whipperberry for the detailed instructions.  

So simple!

Teacher's First Day of School Caramel Apple

The first day of school is such an exciting day!  We had big plans for a welcome back teacher gift...and then ran out of time.  Just didn't want our summer fun to end. 

Kate and I went to her Meet-Your-Teacher day (1 day before school started) and we brought her new teacher this little treat.  

I loved this library card from Simply Kelly B and wanted to use it for something.  Kate wrote a personal note on the card and we attached a caramel/chocolate dipped apple from Kara Chocolates.   Now I think we are ready for the 1st day of school!

If you want to dip your own apples...which is so easy to do, use this recipe.  It's the only one I ever use.

Caramel for Dipped Apples

½ cup butter

½ cup & 2 Tsp. Brown sugar

½ cup corn syrup

1 can sweetened condensed milk

dash of salt

½ tsp. Vanilla

Melt butter in  sauce pan-add brown sugar, stir until dissolved.  Stir in corn syrup and sweetened condensed milk and salt.  Stir constantly on med. heat until a soft ball forms (15 – 20 min).  When reaches soft ball stage (I use a candy thermometer) remove from heat, add vanilla.  Let cool slightly( you want most of the caramel to stick to the apple) then dip apple and place on parchment paper.  Place in refrigerator until set.

Once caramel is firm, dip in melted chocolate and drizzle white chocolate or roll in mini chips, m&m’s, nuts, coconut or anything that sounds great!

**Stay in touch for some other first of the year teacher treats.  We have back to school night coming up and all I can say is

TEACHER EMERGENCY KIT...and chocolate!

Baby's First Toe Shoes

 My mom is awesome!  Her four daughters are constantly coming up with great sewing ideas and for some reason none of us have her sewing talent.  When we were young (grade school age) mom used to sew all of our clothes.  One year she worked half the night so that we could all have matching Easter dresses.  Easter morning came and to her dismay (and probably ours) we all had chicken pox and ended up spending a very long Easter day in our jammies.

Because our mom loves to sew, and loves us she seems not to mind when we call her and hint at another new idea we need her "help" with.  

This was my latest.

I'm always looking for unique, affordable gift ideas for a baby shower.  My mom and I were in a fabric/quilt shop and we saw this pattern for adorable baby shoes.  "Mom, look how cute!  Do you think you could make these?" 

And she did!

And then I created the packaging.

Now my mom, sisters and I have several baby shower gifts ready and waiting!  At least for a baby girl.

Clear boxes found here

This tag was placed on the bottom of the box with shoes on top.

Wrap ribbon around the box and then place label on top.

Lots of fabric baby shoe patterns found at fabric/quilts shops.  You can also buy inexpensive shoes at department stores, Wal-Mart, etc. and then package them.  I'm still looking for cute baby boy converse high tops.

This pattern came from:  Curby's Closet

Back to School Teacher Box

My kids go back to school this week. You would think I'd be doing the happy dance and singing "it's the most wonderful time of the year" like in that Office Max commercial - but I'm sad. No more sleeping in, no more lazy mornings, no more afternoons by the pool. It's back to the grind. Our summer was only 9 weeks this year. Whatever happened to off before Memorial Day and back after Labor Day? I think I will be a tad bit happy for the routine again though.

I like for my younger kids to bring their teachers something on the first day of school. It helps them to not be as nervous and it's not a bad thing to make a good impression with the teacher straight out of the gate.

I saw this idea a few years ago from the girls at eighteen 25 here. I loved it and have been doing it every year since. These are very easy and can be thrown together quickly.

 You can find these boxes at most craft stores, Wal-Mart in the sewing section or even Lowe's. That's where I found this years box. It was cheaper than the ones at Wal-Mart.

For the labels on the box - just use your creativity. I pieced scraps of scrapbook paper together and then added a few elements on top of that. Kellie designed her labels on the computer and printed them, then added a 3d element. At my kids school they call their teachers by their first names, as seen below, but there would still be plenty of room to add a Mrs. on the box as needed.

 

Lots of choices as to what to put inside. I always like putting things she can use in her classroom like paper clips and post-its but also some chocolates, anti bac gel, Band-Aids and my favorite - Advil!

 

It's been fun to give something out of the ordinary - What Back to School teacher gifts are you giving out this year? We have many other ideas for you - just type "teacher appreciation" or "school" into the search box above and see what comes up!

 

Vintage Garden Wedding Reception

I love Kaylee Webster Designs!  And I love Kaylee.  When she asked me to help her with a friend's wedding reception I immediately said yes, please.  I always learn so much when I'm with Kaylee.  One of those important tidbits that I've learned from her--if you have the "right stuff" it's easy to make events look magical. 

Kaylee prepared some beautiful flowers, brightly lit chandelier wreaths and a whole host of wonderful vintage styled extras for the reception.  The "right stuff" for this event was finding this stunning backyard.  It was truly magical.    

This carefully sculpted sanctuary is manicured often by a woman that needs a little garden therapy.  Actually she must need it every day because her garden is quite big and beautiful.  

I absolutely love the pillars and arches.  Made a beautiful backdrop for the charming bride and groom pictures.

Also loved the big iron gates.

Visit Kaylee's blog for an in-depth look at her reception decorating ideas.  Kaylee Webster Designs

She's AMAZING.