Happy 4th!

I try to do something fun, yet small & simple for my team for the holidays. But this time for the 4th of July, I needed something super easy... I was a little burned out (and sleep deprived) from making all the teacher appreciation & baby shower stuff last week.

So, this is what I came up with. Lifesaver firecrackers. Ok, I have to admit, these are probably the easiest thing I've made. Tie with twine, and wrap the candy. That's really all there is too it! This may be an annual tradition, right along with the chocolate roses... *wink*

Teacher Appreciation

Last week was Nate's last week of school. Jen and I decided it would be fun to send a teacher appreciation gift every day for the last week. (I know, teacher appreciation was back in April, but going along with my "wait until the last minute" nature, I waited until the last week of school!).

We crafted EVERY night. Kind of reminded me of boutique season. It is always fun to get together and craft. Every time I do it, I remember how much I miss it.

So here's Monday's gift. A stack of 10 cards that say "A Note from Mrs. Brighton" in a cute little matching box:

Tuesday's gift was this little gift box. Inside is a box of Theater candy. I think Reeses Pieces. And attached is a little post it note key ring. Nate wrote on the inside of the post it note.. "OWL always remember Mrs. Brighton"

I've seen several versions of this on the internet and various blogs. They are so cute!! I was going to do a 6 pack, but at Walmart, there was only ONE six pack left in the whole store. So, we thought that one bottle looked just as cute.

And these are giant clothespin photo frames. I actually had a picture of Nate on the first day of school standing next to Mrs. Brighton's door-- pointing to the poster of all the kids names on it. It was perfect! I matted it and stuck it in the clothespin. We also wrapped a SKOR candy bar with a tag that said "Mrs. Brighton helped me to achieve high Skors"

And finally Friday. Since it was July 1st, and the last day of school, we gave this to her on Friday. It is three rolo sticks wrapped to look like dynamite. They turned out so cute!!! Package two of them up in a painted box and there you have it.

Nate loved giving his teacher gifts throughout the year, and I know Mrs. Brighton loved them also. She always took the time to send home notes of thanks. Actually, Friday, after the week was over, the thank you card she sent home was the ones that we gave her on Monday. I smiled as I opened it. I'm glad that she will put them to use.

Next year is kind of sad. It will be the last year I make things for Nate's teachers. And I'll be doing it solo... as Tyler will be going to Jr. High.... It's a sad day for Nate as he rode his bike to school for the last time with Ty. But one more year, and I will be the mom of a Jr. High boy myself.... Yikes!!!

Shower Gifts...

Have I mentioned how wonderful my friend Jen is? Yeah, several times I'm sure.

Jen has one of the new Imagine machines. It's on my wish list... It's about a $500 machine!! But until then, I just go to her house and use hers. Thank heavens for friends with connections! (Jen got hers for free when she worked at Provo Craft!).

She made these adorable ones-ies for her new niece/nephew. At the time she didn't know what it was. I loved them and wanted to make some for a girl on my team that was having a baby girl. It wasn't her first baby, so we didn't have a shower for her, but I still wanted to get her a little gift.

So, we went to Walmart and bought a pack of 5 newborn ones-ies for $6. 15 minutes later, we had this:

Aren't they the cutest thing ever?? And so little. Kinda makes me wish these were around when Nate was little.

Anyway. I rolled them up and mixed them with some really cute baby girl wash cloths...

And for the team, I made these little baby girl "favors". They are from the Stampin' up mini milk carton die. This die is my new favorite!! I love it. It is so easy, it cuts and scores everything for you. All you do is fold and glue. Tie some ribbon and viola! (There are even "open" stamps you can stamp on them, but I didn't stamp these ones. I was in too big of a hurry.

These are tiny!! To give you an idea for size, here's one with a quarter next to it. And they are just as cute open as they are closed.

I filled these with skittles. So when you open them, the candy "pours" out... just like a milk carton.

So funny story. The girl was due on Saturday. On Friday, she hadn't even started to dilate. No contractions, nothing. When I left work on Friday, she said she'd see me at work on Monday if she didn't go into labor. So I figured Monday, after our mandatory meeting would be a good time to give her the gift because the whole team would be there. Monday morning I get to work, and around 10 am, she calls. Guess what... she was in the hospital. She had delivered on Sunday!!! LOL..... Soo... we passed out the candy and ate it anyway. And, I'm hoping I get to see her or she brings the baby in, because by the time she comes back from maternity leave in September, the onesies won't fit anymore.

Guess next time I won't wait until the VERY last possible minute!!! (Yeah right!).

Birthday Cupcakes!

Are these the cutest things ever??

They are cupcakes, but they are made out of fuzzy socks. Roll them up & put them in a cricut cut cupcake wrapper. Add a cherry, and viola! Put in a bag and tie with ribbon.

I made these for some visiting teaching friends, and other friends. People say they are too cute to open... but I promise, the socks are SOFT!! Totally worth opening :)

Chocolate Roses...

I have made these roses almost every year for Valentines for as long as I can remember. They are so easy and fun. They are just hershey kisses, floral stem wire, floral tape, & red and green cellophane.

I think they are so adorable to just take to work and lay one across everyone on the team's keyboard.

They are also cute all wrapped up in cellophane.

This year they are for the ladies that I visit teach, and also for Nate's teacher. Everyone deserves roses on Valentines day, and these ones are the best kind! They are affordable (not $60 a dozen) and they taste good too!!

Here is Nate with the "dozen" roses that he took to his teacher... Mrs. Brighton.

And just for fun, I'm tossing in this picture. This is when Nate was 14 months old, and these are the roses he took to his sitter on Valentines' Day... She loved them!! (This pic was taken in 2001 at 6 AM! ).

Happy Valentines Day everyone!