Baptism Wrap-Up

I'm doing this backwards from what I usually do, but many others do it this way.  I'm going to show you a summary of my daughter's Baptism and then I'll dissect it and let you know what I did, how It did it, and provide you with any printables I made.  
First, If you are not of the LDS faith (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) then I want to mention that a person may choose to be baptized at the age of 8 or later.  We believe that age 8 they are old enough to know right from wrong and to be accountable for their decisions.  For more information you can go here. With that being said, my baby turned eight in January and she made the decision to be baptized.  We decided to wait until spring break for this special event because we had time off school to spend with the family that was traveling to attend. 
First are the invitations.  I wanted to get her picture taken in her dress, but things were crazy busy and it didn't happen for the invitations.  I ended up using the picture taken over Christmas break:

I deleted personal info, but left an E to see the font/color used for her name

The programs and picture display outside the room she was baptized in:

I wish I had better pictures of the refreshments and room, but I was busy playing mom and host so here is what I was able to get my tween to take.
We chose the bright colors of blue, yellow, purple, pink, and green. I used candy melts to tie in the color to the food.  We had pretzel rods dipped in chocolate, cake balls on a stick with a cupcake topper.  The cupcake toppers had her monogram & date of baptism, Congratulations, and 8 is great:

We had five round tables set up and used plastic tablecloths in the mentioned colors.  We made tissue paper flowers for the centerpieces.  I also printed the same things mentioned above on clear labels and put them on clear cups.

It was lots of fun and turned out beautifully.  I may have gotten myself in trouble though.  Word of advice: don't make it look too nice when most of the bishopric and a counselor of the Relief Society presidency are there.  Now they think I can actually pull this off more than once. 
I added more posts.  You can click on links throughout this post or click on baptism under labels on the right.  These will have printables for you.

And what I forgot the Baptism Kit Kat Wrappers:

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Bloom

Post-it Holder

I saw this idea floating around the blog world/pinterest: a cute post-it note holder.  I decided it was a simple and low cost gift for Teacher Appreciation week.  I purchased the clear plastic frames from Walmart (they are at Dollar tree too, but they are actually cheaper at Walmart).  I ended up buying 3.5x5 frames and two 4x6 frames (because they were out of the smaller size, but they cost the same).  I sent my daughter to pick out paper and she came back with the assortment you will see.  I was extra excited because I had coordinating sticker ribbon that went with this paper.  Next time I make them I will probably use bright colored paper, ribbon, and post-its. 

If you buy your frames Walmart don't forget to remove the plastic coating that protects the frame (the ones Dollar Tree didn't have it - another reason to buy from Walmart).  Just cut your scrapbook paper to fit inside the frame.  You can get fancy and use two colors, but I just used one print because the post-its cover most of it up.  Add some ribbon across the top and accessorize it.  I added flowers, tags, and some bling.  You could add the teacher's name or initial.

These just have yellow post-its.  The middle is a 4x6 frame.  My youngest found some heart post-its and wanted to use them for her teacher.  I obliged and we we added some post-it flags to the top.  The colors aren't as pretty as the yellow or green post-its, but it works(this is also the reason why I want to try bright coordinating colors next time):

I also had purchased some apple post-it holders at the beginning of the year.  I used these for the elementary school teachers and put their name on it with white stickers:

I tied it up with a cute tag found at Tip Junkie.  I also put the tag on the back of the plastic frames.

 

Seeds of Knowledge {Teacher Thank You}

 

As you may be able to tell from this years posts and last years, I try to give a present a day during teacher appreciation week.  The Middle School Teachers and Specialist usually have something a little smaller than the Elementary Teacher's gift (and home room in middle school).  While trying to plan out the week I found a cute idea at Tatortots and Jello.  I love how they printed right on the brown paper bag.  I've got to remember this for future use!

I made the cute tags and attached them to a package of seeds for the specialists (don't forget your librarian, art, music, PE, computer, and paraprofessionals) and my daughter's middle school teachers.  For my kids' elementary teachers we took it up a step and added gardening gloves and pots.  I chose not to decorate the pots because I wanted to make sure it is something they would use.

Here is what I did.  First I cut a brown paper bag from the grocery store into 8 1/2 x 11 pieces.  I printed my tags below onto it.

I then trimmed them down.  I had the packets of seeds downstairs when I started cutting so I made them a little short.  I recommend measuring the packages before cutting so they are the same size.

To add the distressed look crumble up the paper.  The Tatortots and Jello said to iron it, but I iron only when absolutely necessary.  Instead I stuck them under a few books and went to bed (turns out a few minutes works too when I realized then next morning that I had forgotten one).

Then I stapled the tag right to the front of the seeds.  I chose to add ribbon in my kids' school colors. Just cut the ribbon, hold under the stapler when stapling, then tie around the staple.

Then I wanted to add to the distressed look so I brought out the chocolate ink pad.  At first I just went over the edges then I lightly rubbed it across the front trying to only get the ink on the creases.

If you choose to use the ink then I recommend doing it before you staple it onto the seeds.  I really like how it turned out.  The seeds were just over $1 a package and everything else I had on hand!

You can make your own tag, but if you prefer everything as easy as possible then download the I made below.  Just print on 8 1/2 x 11 paper (in my case I cut it out of a brown paper bag).

Download it HERE
 If you decide to download, please take the time follow my blog or to leave a comment.  Knowing people use it makes taking the time to take pictures and create posts worth it.  Thanks for visiting!

Brownie Points {Thank You} {Teacher Appreciation}

A friend posted something very similar that she did for her children's teachers for Valentines Day (I would share, but I know she purchased it, I'm just not sure where she purchased it from).  I thought that it was one of the cutest gifts so I stole it for Teacher Appreciation Week and of course, like always, I will share the tag for free with you. 
We decided to tie the thank you on top:

If you didn't want the Thank You on top or if you didn't want to include it (I originally was going to have the kids just write a note on the back.  I still may have them do that too - teachers love notes written from their students) it would look like this:

Use this for Teacher Appreciation or just a random thanks to brighten a teacher's day!

You could also attach the tags to ready made brownies if you aren't as lazy, I mean, didn't want to give them the choice of when to make them :).  If you use it for Valentine's Day or around a holiday I recommend giving the box because so much candy is given at holidays.

Download the tag here
If you decide to download, please take the time follow my blog or to leave a comment.  Knowing people use it makes taking the time to take pictures and create posts worth it.  Thanks for visiting!

 

If you want one that says I instead of we on the thank you tag (like my middle schooler) you can Download that tag HERE.

For more Teacher Gift Ideas/Printables click here.


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Teacher Thank You {Hand Sanitizer}

Teachers always need Sanitizer.  You don't want to even think about the germs we encounter each day.  This post will show you how to take these already cute pocket sanitizers:

and turn them into an easy to make gift for your teacher or anyone who has lend you a helping hand:

A few months ago Bath and Body Works had a great sale on their pocket size sanitizers.  I don't remember how great, but I believe they ended up being just over a quarter a piece.  I bought a bunch and then decided to save them for teacher appreciation week. 
Since my giving at the middle school has lacked I decided to give them to the staff at my daughter's middle school (she has a much smaller school than the elementary) and we will also give them to the specialists, my kids' teachers, and office staff at the elementary school. 
For those that know me know that I couldn't just hand over the sanitizers, I had to find a saying.  I searched the Internet, but didn't find any sayings that would work so I ended up making up my own.  Here is what I came up with:

We are grateful for the hands that have helped us this year!

or

I am grateful for the hands that have helped me this year!

Even though I didn't find what I was looking for in my search for sayings, I was lucky enough to stumble upon a tutorial for a cute holder for the sanitizer over at whatever Dee Dee wants.


Here is what I did:
Supplies: Paper cutter, Paper Scorer, 1 inch circle paper punch, card stock, 2 inch circle paper punch and/or flower Stampin' Up punch, and the free printables at the end of this post.
I found a site that has free printables.  They are actually for a wedding, but I found one that worked for this.  You can use it to, go to The Wedding Chicks and click on the escort tab.  The color combination's I used are Antique Pink with Light Gray, Perfect Pink with Dark Gray, Tiffany Blue with Chocolate, Vibrant Yellow with Light Gray.  Print the design on card stock (or you can use printed/plain card stock). 
Next you need to score your paper.  If you use the Chevron style that I did make sure your paper is facing the correct direction.

First score at 2 inches:

 Score at 3 inches:

 Then Score at 6 1/2 inches:

 And again at 7 1/2 inches:

 Next at 9 3/4 inches:

 And finally at 10 3/4 inches:

 Trim off the white edge (on the long side) and cut a strip 2 inches by 11 inches:

You are going to punch at the end with the little tab (1/4 inch tab).  My punch wasn't deep enough to punch the hole so I had to fold over the tab and then punch.  I punched it in a little further so that it wouldn't punch completely through the tab, but it punched a little onto the other side.  When completed it doesn't look bad.  If you have the Stampin' Up punch it will fit perfectly in between the scored lines without folding over the tab.

Fold on your scored lines.  Use adhesive (I used a tape runner) and put it on your tab:

 Slide the hand sanitizer through the hole,

 fold over the tab and adhere to the back:

 Put adhesive on the inside of the end flap, fold over and seal:

 It will now be in a cute box.  Print and punch out the printables.  Adhere to the flap above the design:

Sideview:

I hope that all make sense.  It seems the only time I have to do these posts are late at night (we are pushing midnight ~ hopefully I can get the printables linked before I hit the sack.  Hmmm, might need a Dr. Pepper at school tomorrow).
I have lots of options for the printables.  There are the four color combinations, two sizes (one for the flower punch one for the 2 inch circle punch), and 2 wording options (one has 'I' the other 'we').  Here are some examples:

Here are the printables:

 Dark (Perfect) Pink/Dark Gray Circle 'I'

Dark Pink Circle 'We'

Dark Pink and Blue Flower 'I'

Dark Pink and Blue Flower 'We'

Blue/Brown Circle 'I'

Blue Circle 'We'

Light (Vintage) Pink/Light Gray Circle 'I'

Light Pink Circle 'We'

Light Pink & Yellow Flower 'I'

Light Pink & Yellow Flower 'We'

Yellow/Light Gray Circle 'We'

Yellow Circle 'I'

If you decide to download, please take the time follow my blog or to leave a comment.  Knowing people use it makes taking the time to take pictures and create posts worth it.  Thanks for visiting!

I plan to make a few more sayings to go with the hand sanitizer and possibly make them in a bigger size too.  For now these will also work tied around a larger bottle of sanitizer.

A couple more pictures of the work in progress:

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