i should be mopping the floor: May 2011
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Crayon Teacher's Gift

Need an easy and inexpensive gift for Teacher Appreciation Week? 
This Crayon Monogram {with free printable card} is always a hit.

UPDATE 4/19/13: 
I've updated this post to include a free printable card that coordinates with the gift. 
Details on downloading below.

Crayon Monogram Tutorial with Free Printable Card #TeacherAppreciation

I started making these a couple of years ago for my boys' preschool teachers at the end of the year. They're super easy and very inexpensive. 
I originally got the idea from my real-life friend, Becky's blog.

Crayon Monogram Tutorial with Free Printable Card #TeacherAppreciation

Crayon Monogram Tutorial with Free Printable Card #TeacherAppreciation

I started with my supplies:
-frames from the dollar store
- crayons
- printouts of letters with teacher's name (can make these in Word, just keep your frame sizes in mind).
You'll also need glue (I used Aleene's Tacky Glue) and your sharpest kitchen knife.
Crayon Monogram Tutorial with Free Printable Card #TeacherAppreciation

I actually glued my printouts (on cardstock) to the glass of the frames. It makes them hold a bit more than gluing to the back of the frame (I've done that previously).
Crayon Monogram Tutorial with Free Printable Card #TeacherAppreciation

Measure your crayons to the letter they will be glued to.
Crayon Monogram Tutorial with Free Printable Card #TeacherAppreciation


Use your sharp kitchen knife to cut the crayon. Sometimes it helps to roll the crayon under the blade to get a clean cut.
Crayon Monogram Tutorial with Free Printable Card #TeacherAppreciation

Glue your crayon down and continue with the rest of your crayons. I tried to mix up the crayons in terms of colors and where I cut them.
Crayon Monogram Tutorial with Free Printable Card #TeacherAppreciation

And voila!
Crayon Monogram Tutorial with Free Printable Card #TeacherAppreciation

Crayon Monogram Tutorial with Free Printable Card #TeacherAppreciation
Several of you asked if I could create a printable inspired by the original card. This one includes space to write your teacher's and child's names on it. 

Crayon Monogram Tutorial with Free Printable Card #TeacherAppreciation

Crayon Monogram Tutorial with Free Printable Card #TeacherAppreciation

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Here are a few other Teacher Appreciation posts I've put together:

  









Neglect your chores like me and don't miss a thing:



Mod Podge Kid's Footstool

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Yes. I'm still on a mod podge kick. We're also entering the time of year where it's time to buys lots of gifts....baby showers, end-of-year teacher gifts, wedding showers, graduation gifts, etcetera. I feel like every time I open my mail box there's another invitation. And I try to reign in the budget pretty tight right now, too, with a vacation coming up and all.  I try to get crafty and make lots of gifts. For graduation gifts, I'm putting together several variations on the mod podge plaque like the one I featured here. And I'm doing some fun crayon monogram frames that I plan to share with you next week for our teachers. 

This week, though, it's the week of baby showers. I know little Miss Morgan Grace won't use this stool for a year or so, but I just love cute foot stools for kiddos. LOVE them.

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I created a graphic of sorts (sized to the top of the stool) in Photoshop Elements and printed it off at the printer. It was designed to match this Penelope bedding at Pottery Barn Kids (the mama being showered has some good taste). I purchased an unfinished stool at HobLob (half off, so only $4). I painted it pink with acrylic paint.

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I trimmed my borders off of my printout and was ready to go.


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Getting my 'podge on.

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Bubble smoothing. I purposefully created the graphic to have that worn look so bubbles wouldn't be too big of a deal. I'm not the world's best at getting out all the bubbles. I'm a "work with your flaws" kind of gal.

I decided to do three coats of MP on top of the graphic.

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And voila! Miss Morgan's footstool is all ready to go.

This project cost me less than $5. 
I already had my Mod Podge, paint and sponge brushes on hand. I only paid for the stool ($4) and the printout ($.79).









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Monkey Munch

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Call it what you want..."Monkey Munch", "People Puppy Chow", or "Muddy Buddies"...it is just plain good. If this little treat has never crossed your lips, then you're in for a little bit of yum.

The recipe is basically the same no matter what you call it. When my mom made this when I was a kid, she was a die-hard Chex user. My sister-in-law, Lisa, always uses Crispix. And when my college roomie, Lori would bring it back from Topeka, I am pretty sure she always used the Crispix version, too. No matter which "crunch" you prefer, this is a great recipe to make with kids. Around here, we call it "Monkey Munch", and like my mother, I stick to Chex....the original.

Monkey Munch
9 cups Chex cereal (any variety)
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
Put Chex in a large bowl and set aside.
Place chocolate chips, peanut butter and butter into a quart-sized
microwavable bowl.
Stir the ingredients together.
Microwave the mixture uncovered for a minute on "high." Stir the mix again and continue to zap in thirty second intervals until it mixes smoothly.
Add the vanilla and stir.
Pour chocolate mixture over Chex and gently mix.
Put combination into a 2-gallon, Ziploc freezer bag.
Add powdered sugar, seal the bag and shake until distributed.
Spread Monkey Munch out on wax paper to cool and dry.
Keep refrigerated in an airtight container for storage.

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Free Printable: Psalm 108:3

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I'm definitely on a printable kick lately. I've enjoyed mod-podging them to pieces of wood for instant art. I'd love for you to become a follower. Then, drop me an email at designingkristi@gmail.com and I'll get you your 8x10 digital copy of one of my favorite verses.



Father's Day Freebie

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Same as usual, friends. If you're not a follower, I'd love for you to become one. Then drop me an email at designingkristi@gmail.com and I'll send you this free printable. It's designed to fit an 8x10 frame. Makes a perfect gift for Pops! ; )



Mod Podge Family Subway Art

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I've always wanted to try Mod Podge...it just seems so cool when I see all of you crafties out there creating with it. And for this first go-round, it did not disappoint!

I've been trying to think of a meaningful gift for my mother-in-law for mother's day. She adores crafty items. But, finding something for her at a normal shop is sometimes hard. So, I decided to make something. I'm really into creating subway art lately. It seemed like a great solution!

I decided to use all of our names to create the art...my husband & his two brothers, all three wives and all of the grandkids.

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I realized we had some leftover fence slats in our garage. They were 5 inches wide. I had my husband cut them down to 17 inches in length. I created a document in Photoshop Elements that was 5x17. I purposefully chose this size to make printing super inexpensive. I kept each name in its own layer to manipulate and rotate how I wanted. Each "generation" had its own font (and wives had their own, too). And my in-laws are in the center, in red.
I doubled the document on an 11x17 and then uploaded my PDF to Staples. And I had an extra half of my print to play with if I messed the first one up!
This is also very economical. I am planning to make a bunch of them for the graduates we know in school colors and such!

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Here's my print out, fence slat and materials.
Ready to MOD. Or PODGE. Or get my craft on.

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Layer one of Mod Podge.
After applying the print, I did three layers on top and then sealed it with varnish.

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Annnnd....DONE.
Can you see the slight chevron pattern on it, too? That just kind or makes me smile. ; )








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