Jungle Colors and Shapes Posters

I'm back!!! :) I've had a couple of requests for some of my jungle posters so I thought I would go ahead and post them. I love the jungle/safari theme because there is so much out there that you can do with it. I will try to take pictures soon of some of the new things I have added to my classroom for this year. Just click on the labels to download the posters.

Safari Colors Posters

Safari Shapes Posters

It's a Jungle in Here!

So much for keeping up with the blog. What's it been...four months? Well, as you can see below I've been pretty busy setting up my new jungle/safari themed classroom at my new school. I had so much fun buying, creating, and even sewing materials for my classroom. I'm so grateful to all the people who have shared ideas on the internet. They truly inspired me! I wanted to be sure to share my own classroom pictures, too. Maybe this will spark some more ideas. Enjoy!

Say it with Postcards!

Well...I had a few minutes while my husband puts air in my bike tires so we can go riding, so I thought I would upload the rest of my project pictures.  I think the Vista Print templates I have used the most are the postcards - both the regular and oversized ones.  When you order the free ones, you get 100 of the regular sized ones and 50 when you order the oversized.  I am excited that I will be able to use these for several years. Here are my postcard projects.

Oversized Postcards

This is the back of the Welcome postcard.

Regular Postcards

More Vista Print Deals

The ideas just keep coming.  Here are a few more of my Vista Print projects.  I used a "Rack Card" template to create labels for my plain, white book boxes.  I will put the student's picture on the blue rectangle and his/her name on the blue stripe at the bottom.  You get 50 cards which I will probably not need because I plan to reuse these from year to year if I can.  I may just cut off the top part of the extras and use the bottom part for other projects. I'm still thinking about the possibilities.  

I also made a cute personalized notepad. You can never have too many of those! :)

Projects Made From Small Car Magnet Templates

I love, love, love these big magnets.  There are so many possibilities especially since I can use them on the brand new, magnetic white board I will have in my new classroom next year. I will also use some of them on our classroom door and any other magnetic surface I can find. :)

I plan to put the "Student of the Month's" picture on this magnet and display it on our classroom door.

More Vista ideas coming soon!

I LOVE Vista Print!

I have rediscovered Vista Print and their awesome, free (well, almost free) products.  You can check them out at www.vistaprint.com.  Once you sign up, they will send you all kinds of emails for free products. You just have to pay shipping & handling.  You have to be careful, though, because shipping depends on the type and quantity of products you are buying.  My average cost for shipping is about $12 or $13 for about 5 to 6 items...not too bad.  I have become a bit addicted over the past few days and have spent a good part of my Spring Break creating new materials to use in my classroom.  I think I have purchased about 23 products and have spent about $50.  Many of the things I have created can be used over the next few years so I feel like I will be saving time, effort, and printing costs down the road.  I was fortunate to find ideas online from other teachers who have used Vista Print.  Once I started making things, though, my creative juices really got going.  I can't wait to get my products! Check out some of the things I have made. I'm still getting use to uploading images so I am adding only several ideas at a time.

Small Banners

Products Made From Business Card Templates

Fill a Bucket!

My friend, Kelli, shared an idea and these books with me the other day (when I was being nosey in her classroom :).  The idea shared in these stories is that everyone has a bucket inside them and it can be filled with love and kindness or of course the opposite - it can be empty.  These kid friendly books teach kids how we can help fill each other's buckets.  It sounds like a great way to promote a positive classroom environment and parents can use it at home, too.  If you are interested in using the bucket idea, check out this site, Mrs. Walker's Frog-Tastic Website, for more information and materials to download. Thanks, Kelli, for sharing!  You always find great ideas!!!

Labels, Labels, Labels!!!

Not only do I love polka dots but I also love making labels.  I know it may sound a bit crazy but I get this little thrill when I put a label on something.  Maybe it's because I am a bit absent minded and I know a label will help me find things I'm usually misplacing.  Also, I know in order to be organized, everything needs a home and a label helps provides the address.  I love to be organized but often lack the dedication it demands.  However, if there's a creative spin to it, I am much more motivated.  

Another love is cute and fun scrapbook paper.  I'm not a scrapper but I adore all the cute paper out there.  I can spend forever looking at paper at Michael's and Hobby Lobby.  I always stock up when they put it on sale.  I often use the paper when making signs and labels in my classroom.  I also recently saw an idea on some of my favorite blogs, According to Kelly and Your Homebased Mom, for making some cute picture frames using scrapbook paper.  I can't wait to make some of these frames.  What an adorable idea!

Polka Dot Sign

I admit it...I am obsessed with polka dots.  They are just so cute and fun and make me feel happy.  Whenever I see something with polka dots that I could use in my classroom, I MUST get it and if I can't buy it, then I attempt to make it.  I made this sign for my classroom door after being inspired by some cute signs I saw on eBay.  I'm not the best artist but it was fun to make and looks pretty cute if I do say so myself...and it was much cheaper than what I saw on eBay.  I just got a canvas mat from Hobby Lobby (around $4) and some acrylic paint and paint pens I already had at home.  I used a staple gun to staple some ribbon to the back and then hung it on my door.  I enjoyed the project so much that I made similar signs for Fall and Christmas.