Card Box

Now that the wedding has passed, I can share many crafts that I created.  Sharing some tips and advice will hopefully save some of you some time.  So many projects online seem simple and then when attempted, troubleshooting, trial and error, and patience are required.

The wedding card box was a simple task and it is where we began the wedding crafting.  The box is a terrarium from Ikea called Socker.  The terrarium comes in white so we spray painted it gold using Rust Oleum Metallic Gold (1910830).  The terrarium can be easily taken apart and the glass removed. This definitely makes it easier for spray painting.

 I measured the box and used the measurements in Cricut Design Space to adjust the font.  One of the most critical parts of any project, in my opinion, is choosing the font.  I can easily spend hours testing and trying fonts.

This was the first time I would use transfer tape.  I can not believe I did not know about the existence of transfer tape.  I did the mug project by manually pulling the words off and then having to form the letters and words. It was frustrating and time consuming and now I can definitely laugh about it! Being that, this was the first project using the tape I decided to print the writing and cut and place it on the box before moving to the vinyl.  This was just to ensure that sizing was perfect.

After cutting the letters and weeding the extra vinyl, I was able to use the transfer tape to lift and place the letters on the glass.

Lovely Lyrics

All this wedding buzz and excitement surrounding my sister's upcoming wedding reminded me of a project I completed in December. I decided for the first time to experiment with Modge Podge and create canvas frames with my wedding song lyrics.  I wanted something personal to put above our headboard and I knew our wedding song lyrics would be perfect.

I began by measuring my wall and deciding that I wanted 2 rows of 4 canvas prints.  I looked online for different size options and decided to go with the 8x8 canvas size.  Truth be told, I didn't have the option to go with the 12x12 canvas, because that would have required a wide format printer.  Using the 8x8 canvas was perfect since a regular printer can print that size. I found the canvas at Jo-Ann Arts & Crafts store. The canvas are regularly about $7 each but when on sale you can find them for half the price.
The next step in this project was the most worrisome for me.  I had never used Adobe Illustrator and wasn't sure how user friendly it would be. I downloaded a free trial and hoped I'd be able to complete the project without needing to purchase the software.  I created a new document and selected 8 artboards. I entered 3 inch rows and set the spacing to 0.  I set the size to inches and entered 8 inch to match the size of the canvas. I then created a textbook over the entire area and began copy pasting the lyrics.  The program will automatically separate and print the images for each artboard. I alternated the lyrics between 3 fonts: "Trajan Pro," "Adobe Garamond," and "Dear Joe Four."

After typing out the lyrics, I found myself playing with the font sizes and character spacing in order to fill the boards perfectly.  My OCD also led me to play with the spacing of words that fell right where the canvas ended. Once I was happy with the way it looked on the screen I printed this on 8 sheets of printer paper.  I then used my paper Fiskars paper trimmer to trim the papers to 8x8. Before adhering them to the canvas, I painted the edges of the canvas with black paint.

Once the paint was dry I used the sponge wedge brush to apply a thin layer of Modge Podge to the canvas. I carefully placed the page of lyrics onto the canvas and smoothed it out.  I found that a little Modge Podge goes a long way.  I did this for all 8 canvases and once they dried, I applied a thin layer of Modge Podge in horizontal strokes over the lyrics.  I waited for that to fully dry and then applied a thin layer of Modge Podge in vertical strokes down the lyrics.  I found that leaving it overnight will allow some of the bumps to dry and flatten.   

Last step was to add some velcro to the back of the frame and to the wall.  I bought Command brand velcro strips from Target and cut them to smaller squares.  Once on the wall, I was able to position the frames equidistant from each other by slightly adjusting the frame velcro on the wall velcro for each canvas frame.

I love that the layer of Modge Podge over the words seals the print but also gives it texture and lines that resemble the lines on canvas.  It takes away the paper look and replaces it with a painted canvas look.  Now that we've moved to a new house and have more bedroom wall space I may need to recreate this project using 12x12 canvas but first I need that wide format printer...hmmm!

Mug Shot

I was not the least bit surprised when I received a phone call from my sister as I was painting the blocks for the countdown.  She had a project in mind in which she she wanted my help.  She explained that it was a year until her wedding date, and she wanted to post a photo announcing this on social media.  Little did she know, I was busy painting and adhering numbers and letters to finish the surprise gift I had secretly planned. She went on to explain that she wanted me to help her cut some letters on vinyl to put on a mug and create a "future Mrs. Ayan" mug.

This project required a blank mug. Although I had not thought of it at first, we ended up buying it at Bed, Bath, and Beyond:

The next part of the project began to feel a bit tedious and I was convinced would be the hardest part.  The task of finding the right font.  So we tried font after font.  We downloaded what seemed to be an endless amount.  Finally, we found one that seemed perfect!  We downloaded Stylish Calligraphy TTF and liked the curly waviness of it. We measured the mug and knew we wanted the words to expand around 3-3.5 inches in length and about 2.6 inches in height.

The hardest part was yet to come and we didn't even know it.  Peeling the letters off the sticky mat left us with a thin string of letters hanging off our finger.  We couldn't even make out what letters the string of vinyl were supposed to be.  We had to go back and forth between the Design Space image on the monitor and what was dangling off our fingers. Slowly we adhered, adjusted, pulled off, adhered again, until we formed the letters and words.  At one point we began using tweezers as well.
Looking at the finished product, it would never leave you to think that the placement of the vinyl was as difficult as it was, but we both had huge smiles at the end of this project!

A Head Full of Dreams

As I was listening to Coldplay's single "A Head Full of Dreams" I found myself thinking that as an educator I have a "head full of dreams."  I feel fortunate to be teaching in an era where education is moving forward.  Never could I have seen the transformation coming to the classroom when I began my journey teaching.  I often think back to that first classroom I taught in, with the wooden desk attached to the chair and cubby underneath.  If someone had told me then that my students would eventually be sitting on bean bags, stability balls, or laying on a carpet during instruction I would have laughed.  Those flashbacks of my blackboard filled with chalk, or of transparencies on an overhead projector have now been replaced by that of whiteboards with digital projections that are manipulated electronically.  I could have never envisioned teaching in an elementary classroom where each student would have a laptop at their desk the entire school day.

As a result of the advances in technology, education has taken a leap forward.  It is an exciting time to be an educator.  This past school year was one where I saw most progression.  With the new technology that Broward Schools purchased we were able to jump right into blended learning and flipped classrooms.  Even my students who were born surrounded by technology had many moments where they were impressed by what could be done. Gone are the days of taking notes in a black & white composition notebook that would later get thrown into the garbage.  With Microsoft OneNote the students are able to take notes online, have separate digital notebooks per subject area, and the information is automatically saved into OneDrive.  The students will essentially have the capability of accessing any notes, projects, and presentations created in elementary school through their senior year in high school.

The amount of tools, resources, apps, and software available to our students grants them the opportunity to become decision makers.  They are able to explore and test the features and capabilities within each program and then weigh the pros and cons of each to help decide the one that will allow for the best project or presentation.

In my opinion, one of the most beneficial implementations I have seen has been the integration of coding into the curriculum. Something that may have seemed complex at first has become second nature to students in every grade level. I have no doubt in my mind these students will be better equipped for a technology filled future. It all came full circle when I found my Kindergarten daughter, this past year using voice recognition through google to research information on whether aliens exist.

As the beginning of the next school year approaches, I find myself wondering and researching what new technology will I learn, will I teach, and will I incorporate to be most effective at what I do.  Every school year brings new excitement, ideas, and new possibilities.  The classroom is evolving at a rapid rate and envisioning what it will look like in another 10 years is exciting and leaves me with a head full of dreams. 

Counting Down

After completing the engagement magazine file, I decided to search for another gift idea.  Picking a venue and date is one of the biggest decisions in the wedding journey.  I wanted to create another craft gift to give on the day that the date was set.  It automatically made sense to me that a countdown gift would fit the occasion perfectly!  I searched online and came across Something Turquoise's blog post on wedding countdown blocks: http://somethingturquoise.com/2015/01/30/diy-wedding-countdown-blocks/

I replicated this project changing just some minor details.

I started by taking a trip to Jo-ann's Craft Store.  Unfortunately, I did not find the wooden blocks in the right sizes.  They did carry the cubes but not the longer piece for the bottom layers.  I visited AC Moore next and was able to find both the cubes and longer 10 inch pieces.  I knew the longer piece was a bit too long and would need to be cut down.  The cubes I purchased were 1.75 inches.  I bought 4 of these to have all the different number variations. I cut the 10 inch piece to 5.25 so that the second line would line up with the length of 3 cubes above it.  The last long cube for the bottom row was cut to 6 inches in length.  My husband and his miter saw came in handy for this part.

I decided to do a pink background with gold letters.  I purchased FolkArt #438 Ballet Pink paint.  I wanted gold glitter vinyl but did not want to wait to order online, so I decided to give scrapbook paper a try.  I began by painting the blocks:

While the blocks dried I worked in Cricut's Design Space creating the letters.  I decided to use Mensch, the same font that Something Turquoise mentioned on her blog. I wanted my letters and numbers to cover the majority of the block so I decided on 1.68 inches in height.  I also added his last name to give it a personal touch!
Here is an image of the project in Design Space:

Next, I cut the letters on gold glitter scrapbook cardstock and then decided to use the Xyron create-a-sticker maker.  I was able to put each of the numbers and letters into the device and then pull them out on a strip that made them adhesive.  This eliminated the mess of using a glue stick or any other type of adhesive.  This device really comes in handy when trying to make tiny pieces adhesive.

I then positioned the numbers and letters on the blocks.  I originally had planned to use Modge Podge to seal the letters onto the block however, they seem to adhere so well that I left it as is.  I gave this to her with 365 days left till her wedding date!

 

Of course I love the look of the heart and look forward to when the countdown looks like this:

Engagement Excitement!

Crafting is definitely a pastime I thoroughly enjoy!  I tend to craft in a crunch, when planning one of my children's birthday parties.  My crafting world reawakened this April when my sister became engaged.  I ran to Pinterest for some pinspiration to celebrate the engagement.  I decided to create a magazine holder and fill it with bridal magazines to kickstart the wedding planning!

This project required a quick trip to Ikea where I bought a magazine file.  I believe it may have been "Kvissle."

I then worked in Cricut Design Space testing different fonts to find two different styles that would work well.  I ended up using Soiree Lettering - Grace Script for the words: Congrats, Ever, Best, and Day.  The word "Congrats" is 1.59 inches, "Ever" is 1.57 inches and "Best Day" is 2.18 inches.  For the remaining words I used Cricut font Elizabeth.  The word "Time" is 1.54 inches while "to" and "the" are 1.32 inches and "plan" is 2.06 inches.
I then imported a google image of a ring.  I cut all the words using black Expressions Vinyl.

Peeling the letters and adhering them on a slant was the trickiest part of this project.  I found that using tweezers was the most helpful.

#LoveTeaching

I have spent the past week doing some self-reflecting and thinking as to why I love my profession.  I found myself going back to my childhood and thinking back to the teachers that left a print on my heart. I found myself smiling when I remembered how caring and friendly my 2nd grade teacher was, so much so that I still haven't forgotten. I then remembered Mrs. Page, my elementary school art teacher.  I have such vivid memories, I could still describe where each art supply was stored in the room 30 years ago.  The reason I remember Mrs. Page so well was because she awakened my passion for crafting.  She took art way beyond markers and crayons.  She taught us needlepoint, cross-stitch, and how to make latch-hook rugs among many other crafts.  My love of reading I believe started in 3rd grade when I would rush through my classwork to have enough time left to run to that colorful SRA Reading Laboratory box and pick a new story to read.  I flew through books and read more and more as each year passed, but it wasn't until I met Ms. Nazzaro and Mrs. Long, two of my high school English teachers that I realized how transforming and moving a novel could be.  These two teachers were so passionate about the novels we were reading that they would practically take on the personality of the characters in the books.  As a student, I fed off this excitement and passion and became a life-long reader.

Teaching gives me the opportunity to continue to surround myself with the same buzz and excitement for learning. I feel the same enthusiasm when working with my colleagues in search of the best way to craft our lessons.  Because we all want the same thing, to see our students' eyes light up with the very same excitement we once felt when we discovered something new or mastered a concept.
Looking back at all these childhood memories makes it so clear to me what I truly LOVE about my profession.  It is knowing that I have the power of leaving a print on one of my student's hearts or awakening a passion or interest that they can cherish for the rest of their lives.  It is a profession that goes beyond the walls of a room or the content in the textbooks. It is a profession that goes beyond the school day and the school year. The students that are entrusted to me each year are never forgotten.  On the other hand, I find myself often wondering, years later, where they are in their journey and hoping they have found that very thing that drives them to success.