Dry Erase Boards for Practice Schedules

The Photo Panels from Creative Memories can be a great way to display favorite photos – but they can also be used as a dry erase board.  Here’s a few I created and can be personalized with your team colors, names, etc.  You can preview these and order them directly from the CM Digital Center (minus the watermark).  These are a 12x12 size but I can easily upload them in an 8x8 size.  These make great fundraisers, too!  I’m happy to help your organization raise money.  Contact me for more details!

View the Gymnastics Dry Erase Board at the Digital Center

View the Football Dry Erase Board at the Digital Center

View the Volleyball Dry Erase Board at the Digital Center

View the St. Mikes Dry Erase Board at the Digital Center

If you buy the dry erase pens that are magnetic you can glue a metal washer to the back of the photo panel and you’ll have a handy spot to keep a dry erase marker! 

I recently found fine tip magnetic dry erase pens at Target with the school supplies.

“Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” end of school-year tradition

(Originally posted May, 2011)
This post may contain affiliate links.  This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission (thank you!) Regardless, I only recommend products or services I believe will add value to my readers.

Thanks, everyone for your wonderful comments!  I'll update this post from time to time to reflect those, update files, etc!

One of my scrapbooking friends shared this tradition and I thought I’d pass it on to you!

When her son was young my friend purchased a copy of “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” by Dr. Seuss.  Throughout the years she secretly gave her son’s teachers the book to sign at the end of the school year.  They left notes, poems  and some just signed their name.  When her son graduated from high school she presented the book to her son at his party.  With the party going on all around him he poured over it, going over each page, each signature, each note.

I have one of these special books started for each of my boys and plan on not only having their teachers sign the book but also any other special people/teachers from the school. (A great suggestion made by Basaltine in the comments is to have Scout leaders sign, too! How about coaches?)   We switched from a public school to a Catholic school this year and I wish I would have had a few others sign the books last year before we left.  I plan on having  the school principal, priests, gym teacher, librarian, etc. sign the book next year after they have a chance to get to know the boys a bit more.
I think this would be a great book to give a new mom, along with a note explaining the tradition.  I’ve heard from a lot of friends that wish they’d heard of this earlier.  I think it’s never too late to start!  If it’s convenient you could always go to the teachers and have them sign the book after the year has ended.   It will be a special gift, even if you aren’t able to capture every teacher they had!
My friend first learned about this when she was asked to sign a copy of this book for one of her students.  She then “stole” the idea for her own son.  I invite you to steal the idea, too!

 Updated December 30, 2011
This blog post was mentioned on A Sprinkle of This...A Dash of That and I've had some people contact me about the tags.  I didn't come up with the idea for these (visit A Sprinkle of This to see her tag idea & for some cute shower gifts to go along with the book!) but I did put something together in a digital scrapbooking program that you can print off & add to your gift.

Click on the tag to download the file.

I’ve had a few requests for a blank tag so here you go!

Click on the blank tag to download the file.

These are both originally 4x6 so you can easily print them on your photo printer or upload it and have it printed where ever you print your photos.  You can also import it into a Word document and add a text box with a "From" line or add it by hand.
Here is a link to the Dr. Seuss font I used. 
I’ve also had some requests for the letter I send with the book.  I will be honest and let you know that I usually simply send an email a day or two before I send in the book that goes something like this (my boys go to a Catholic K-8 school):

Dear Teacher,
I’m sending in a copy of “Oh the Places You’ll Go!” to the office and am hoping you’ll write something in it as a surprise for James.
A friend of mine bought this same book for her daughter and had each of her daughter's teachers write a little note and sign it at the end of each school year. She then presented the book as a surprise to her daughter when she graduated high school.
I started this tradition for James with his Kindergarten teachers and hope to continue – at the very least until 8^th grade graduation.
If you wouldn't mind, could you write a little something to James in his book? Anywhere in the book is fine, except for the dust cover. Even a favorite Scripture verse would be great!
When you are done could you send it to the office & I’ll pick it up there. 
 
Here is a poem I have saved on my computer – I did not write it and do not know who did but I think it’s darling & hope to use it this year!
Dear Teacher, very grateful to you I would be,
if you would please, please do this favor for me.
I started this gift when James was small,
and plan to complete it by the time he is tall.
Each teacher who helps him along the way,
I hope will autograph –that is to say-
Please add a note, a picture or song,
A special memory can never be wrong.
You have helped make him the person he is
and you can take credit when they call him a whiz!
I will present it to him on commencement day
in honor of you who are so special today.
I don’t know which direction he’ll take – North, South, East or West,
but I do know he thinks his teachers are the best!

Edited to add:  I've never had any type of negative reaction when asking someone to sign my books but do think it's good to always try to make teacher's lives easier (not just regarding these books!) Please consider sending in your books early to avoid contributing to the end of the school-year madness! 

Updated June 2015
I saw this blog post on Joyfully Thriving & LOVE IT!  I think I'll add bible verses to some of the pages. 

You can order a copy of "Oh, the Places You'll Go!" at Amazon.com

 

K–8 (and then some) Auction Album using Power Palettes

I donated an album for our school’s auction that will be on May 5th.  I wanted it to be simple enough that a non scrapper could look at it and think “Hey, I can do that!”  but nice enough that scrapbookers would want it, too!

I used mostly the Cheerful Power Palette and the retired Primary Power Palette.  These all worked so well together!  Titles and the custom elements were cut on my Silhouette.  I matted each sticker, title & other elements in black  cardstock throughout the album so that it would give the album a unified look. 

The album is designed to showcase pictures from a child’s years at St. Michael’s school (K – 8) but they can be rearranged if needed and adapted for other years & schools. 

Title Page – designed in Make the Cut and cut with my Silhouette

For each grade I did a page with the year’s title and another layout left mostly empty so a class photo, larger school picture, report card or other item could be displayed.  I also included a set of Storybox Photo Mats & Journal Boxes in the auction so that they could add more photos if they want.  Photo Mats are pieces of pre-cut paper that are just a tad bigger than a 4x6 photo so they make matting photos a breeze! I also donated  a new Tape Runner, Dual Tip Black Pen, ABC Stickers and an hour of my time to help the winner of the auction get started.

Most of the stickers and elements I adhered with Foam Squares to make them pop off the page a bit.

Besides pages for each grade I did some for holidays – hoping that pictures of class parties and other fun holiday happenings can have a home.  I also did pages for Holy Communion, Confirmation & one that can be used for anything school related or sports.

You can view the whole album below (except for one of the Christmas pages I forgot to take a photo of). 

St. Michael Auction VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

I hope it raises a bunch of money for the school!  If you’re local, stop by the auction – they are going to have lots of wonderful things to bid on!

May 5th at St. Michael’s School in Livonia, MI – let me know if you’d like more info!

This & That CM Cartridge saves the day!

I am “Queen of the Last Minute Projects”.   I have accepted this and now embrace it!  Vinyl projects are so very quick and easy…perfect for procrastinators and planners alike!

Catholic School’s Week was a bit ago – resulting in lots of fun activities for my boys – penny wars (will put us in the poor house!!) crazy hat & tie day, no homework day (yahoo!) and the 4th graders had a day where they could dress like they were from the future.  Despite Richie’s pleas for a robot costume we decided to do something easier (for both of us – how would he sit?  He didn’t care!)

I suggested this shirt – it had a robot on it and mentioned the future (plus I found it on clearance!)  - what more could you want? 

Of course, that wasn’t going to work for him so we brainstormed and came up with this:

A future (space) Olympian!!

I used the This & That Creative Memories Cricut cartridge and cut the images and letters out of self adhesive vinyl. 

Good enough for one day’s wear – everything stayed stuck on throughout the school day and even at night for the spaghetti dinner!

He did wear the robot jersey under the hoodie for his music teacher

Countdown To My Birthday - Cakes and Candles Display Accents Everyday Display Layout

(Instructions below)

I LOVE this new Cakes and Candles Everyday Display kit – it comes with everything shown below…including 2 circles you can use to countdown the days to a birthday!  The lighter blue circle has numbers printed on it and you rotate it underneath the darker blue scalloped circle (with the circle punched in it) to count down the days!!  It is shown on the Sleek Everyday Display. 

Another cute idea!

there is also a coordinating Cakes and Candles Addition for your scrapbook!

The project shown at the top of the page (as well as lots more) can be found in the Project Center on my CM website.  Enjoy!!

Ingredients:
Cakes and Candles Display Accents US
Cakes and Candles Display Accents CA
Circle Maker US
Circle Maker CA
Foam Squares US
Foam Squares CA

How to Create:
Add the green paper as a background to the display.

Add the blue circular number paper to the center of the green paper and layer the round “Countdown to my Birthday” circle paper on top with the circle removed to show the correct countdown day.

Hold in place with a magnet in the center of the display.

Add the banner to the bottom of the display with foam squares only under the middle banners to the countdown can still be rotated.

Add the balloons and cupcake to the display with Foam Squares.

Use the circle maker on a small photo of the birthday boy and add to the center of the circle punch out.

Add to the display with foam squares.

Finished Size: 12 x 12

Project Designed by: Ginger Williams

Dear Santa Simply Said Book

Available Nov. 1st on my CM website

Make it simple. Make it matter. A Simply Said Book is a fantastically quick way to share your hopes, sentiments and memories with someone you love. CM gives you the format to fill in the blanks with your photos and feelings to create a unique tribute. Its love and honor in under an hour.  Each book even comes with a sheet of adhesive!  Here are all current Simply Said books on my CM website.  (Check out the Teacher book – what a great gift that will be!!)

This book is so very cute – I am going to give one to each of my boys.  It’ll make a wonderful keepsake! 

One of my friends suggested using this as a class project – contact me if you’d like to order multiple copies of this – I’d love to offer a discount to help you out!

Here’s a picture of each page:

(click on pictures to see them larger)

 

Keep in Touch!

Change is so hard for me…and as the years pass by I have realized just how much I crave routine, familiar things.  After many discussions and sleepless nights we’ve decided to send the boys to a private school next year.  Aaacck!  I know it’s the right decision for our family but it’s such a big change!  The boys are both very excited and a bit unsure at the same time.  They have great friends at our current school and we want to be sure to keep in touch with them.  I made up “business cards” for the boys with their phone number on them.  They brought them to school today to give to their friends.  Jamie just got off the phone with one of his classmates.  He is grinning from ear to ear.  Doesn’t matter that they just saw each other less than an hour ago, or that they’ll see each other tonight for the Kindergarten Circus – they talked about nothing, were goofy and it was hilarious!  Wanted to share this idea just in case you'd like to do something similar.  These came together really quick in Storybook Creator Plus (on sale for under $39 right now!)  I used mostly elements from the Primary Elementary School Additions  kit.