More Classroom Ideas

As I told you in my previous post my classroom is full of windows and short on wall space.  Here are some of the ways I have expanded my wall display areas.

The wall in the stairwell that leads down to my classroom I put up signs about the computer programs we use.  This is also visible for parents from the above hallway.

 

This short wall is just big enough to put some small posters.  This year I put up shortcut

tags for the Microsoft programs.  I hope these will remind students and teachers that you don't always have to use the mouse.

 

 

I have two cabinets in the back of my room that are tall.  I use these to display my computer lab rules (picture in previous post) and my Technology Word Wall. 

 

To help add some color to my windows I made buntings for two of my walls. 

Since I have 10 windows this was much less expensive that making curtains. 

I hung the buntings from Command Hooks.

 

I would love to hear some ideas on ways you have created display areas in your classrooms. I am always looking for new ideas.

 

Classroom Theme - Owls

I operate the computer lab in an elementary school.  I see Pre-K - 5th grade students once or twice a week.  I believe teaching technology is an important part of a students education.  I love the fact that I can see all grades in the computer lab.

This year I decorated my classroom with an Owl theme.  It really got my creative juices going putting this theme together.  I only wish I had some of the owls my aunt collected for over 30 years.  She had an owl collection that was incredible.  I do have a few of hers but I did not want to take them to school, they are very precious to me.  Anyway, here are some of the areas of my classroom.  My room is in the "original" portion of the 100 year old building.  It has had many modifications over the years.  It was the first cafeteria in the building.  One blessing is I have 3 walls with windows.  But this also does not allow for display wall space so I have had to get creative about expanding my display areas.

This is the door leading to the lab

 

 I have two full bulletin boards.  They are actually white boards that I cover with

paper to create bulletin boards.  This particular board I will change throughout the

year to different technology lessons.

Close up of Crazy Clicker Bulletin Board

 

My theme bulletin board 

 

 Lab rules on cabinet doors

 

  My owl collection.  I spent a total of $7.00 for all the owls.  They came from garage sales, Target, JoAnns and the 3 fabric owls I made. The link for the Youtube and pattern is here Owl pincushion

 

 This bulletin board I got at a garage sale for $1.00.  It had a silver frame that was ugly.  I covered the frame with green checkered Washi tape.  It was the perfect width and really easy to apply.

 This is the inside door to my lab.  I posted my schedule so everyone can see

when the come to the lab.

Painting my Shoes!

While cleaning out my shoes I came across several pair of white (well once white - now dingy white) flats that were very comfortable.  The shoes had a lot more wear left but they looked really bad.  I had seen on Pinterest that you could paint shoes.  Why not try to salvage my old dingy white comfy shoes?  I washed them in the washer and let them air dry first.

The first pair was a white canvas shoe.  I used Tulip Soft Fabric Paint in Lime Matte.  Since the front was gathered I left it white along with the top edge.  I let them dry for several days to make sure the paint had a chance to cure well.  I then sprayed with Scotch Guard to hopefully keep them somewhat clean.  I think they turned out pretty well. And I can get at least one more seasons worth of wear out of them, hopefully more.

 

 

 


The blue pair are a mesh type fabric.  I used Tulip Soft Fabric Paint in Turquoise Matte.  These were a little more challenging to paint.  The paint bled through to the inside but has not been a problem.  I painted the elastic on the top and it doesn't show any white when I wear them. 

 



It was fun to have a "new" pairs of shoes to wear in really fun colors.  And they only cost me about $5.00 in paint for both pair.  So get to digging around in your closet and see what shoes you have that need a new color.  I would love to see what you come up with.

Donation Quilts - what a Joy!

I am a member of the quilt group at our church.  It is always more fun to quilt with a group of friends then by yourself.  We work on our personal projects but we are also a ministry based group.  One of your major ministries is to make baby quilts for a local pregnancy crisis center.  A quilt is given to each mother for her new baby.  Each time I make a baby quilt for donation it is a joy.  I really have fun picking out the fabrics and pattern.  It has pushed me to try some new patterns and fabric combinations.  Here are some picture of a few I recently finished.

Log Cabin - This quilt was the second log cabin pattern I made. 

 It is bordered with a wide print of bears in the woods. 

Fence Rail - This is the first Fence Rail I have ever done. 

This was a fast and easy quilt especially since I used a

portion of a jelly roll. ( Coming soon the other quilts I made

with the other portions of the jelly roll)

Orange Strip Quilt - This was the leftover scraps from a Log Cabin

Quilt Kit.  The wide orange has fish in the print.  It is a really

bright quilt which I thought might be good for a baby boy.



Challenge quilt - Every month or two someone in the group puts forth a challenge. 

Sometimes the challenge is to use a particular fabric (like this one), or sometimes it is

to use a certain pattern.  It is always exciting to see what each member creates during

the challenge.  We always have some really neat ideas sparked.

 

Bright Blocks quilt - A quick and simple pattern to highlight the black and bright

patterned fabric in the center of each block.  We only had a small

piece of this fabric, it has chili peppers in wild colors.  I love to

do bright colors especially for baby quilts.

 

 



1.

Time flies when your having fun! Is that what I have been doing?

Where has the time gone?  It has been over a year since my last post, sorry for the long delay.  The time has flown by and alot has happened around our house.  I am not sure all of it has been fun, but most of it has.

But the time has come to get serious about this blog.  For over eight years I managed a blog at work and had a bundle of fun.  We even won an award for that blog.  Now that my job has changed I can devote that dedication to "my" blog.  I don't expect to win awards but maybe I can pass along some of my creative ideas and inspire some creative thoughts in you.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you will check back often, leave comments and share your creative "pink lemonade" ideas. 

Remember, when life gives you lemons don't just make lemonade - make PINK LEMONADE!

See you soon!
Danna

Items 27 - 30 (No Scraps Left Behind)

The last four items in I created in this great experiment were the Bag Tags and Pacifer Strap. 

For the pacifer strap I pieced a patchwork strip and sewed it together to make a tube.  Then I stiched around the outside edge turning in the ends for a finshed look.  Lastly I added a snap at one end and a keyring with clip to the other. 

The bag tags were larger pieces stacked with quilt batting sandwiched in between and cut with pinking sheers to give an edge that would not ravel.  I also stitched 1/4 inch in from  the outside edge all the way around.   I stitched a piece of muslin to the center with the baby's name stamped in Staz-On Permanent Ink.  A gromet was inset into the top of each tag so a clip could be attached.



Bag Tags and Pacifer Strap

Items 4 - 26 (No Scraps Left Behind )

 Thank You Notes, Small Note Cards, Gift Tags, Bookmarks and Mats

Thank You Note Cards

On the quilt I appliqued the name and flowers to the solid white section.  I used fusible webbing to apply the appliques.  After cutting out the letters and flowers I had a pile of scraps that had the fusible webbing on the back.  The note cards, tags and bookmarks were the easiest items I made in this great experiment.

 

I used the same process to make all of these items.  I gathered the fabric scraps with the fusible webbing on the back and let the shape of the scraps dictate each piece.  I fused the pieces onto white cardstock with an iron set to the cotton setting.  I then stamped the greeting on the front.  The inside of the cards were left blank. 

I was trying to attempt a modern "less is more" type feel for the Thank You Cards using the larger scraps and fewer shapes.  The note cards, tags and bookmarks were more from the "Confetti" more playful approach.  For the mats my approach was to have something for Mom and Dad.  In the future I might add some type of edging to give the fused pieces a more finished look on the mats.

Since making these I can see limtless possibilities for using up my rather large scrap pile from previous applique projects. This is a great way to use up every little piece from a project and create something that anyone can use.  The best part is it will coordinate with the original project.  So remember this trick the next time you use fusible webbing to create a project.  Save the scraps!

I would love to hear your ideas and comments.


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