Crafting on a Budget

Can you believe it?   It's already May!   Are you scrambling for a last minute teacher appreciation gift?  I got the Oracal 651 out and sat down with ecal 2 and made this design for some of the teachers in our life.  I admit,  I had some trouble and had to remove,  re-cut and then reapply my design on a couple of these,  but FINALLY I got the look I was shooting for.
I finished them with some paper and foil shred.  If you make some using the Dollar Tree tumblers, be sure to include a note to handwash only.   Have fun creating!

Someone may be wondering where I disappeared to, so I thought I would take a minute and update by blog.  In September,  a new grandson was born.  Then in October, and new granddaughter was born.  I watch the grandson and his sister (who turns three in a few days) Monday through Friday and I watch the new granddaughter about 2 Saturdays each month.  That doesn't leave much time or energy for crafting these days.  I do manage to sneak in an item or two here and there.  I did make a free file from Dreaming Tree for preschool teachers.

Today is the official first full day of Fall.  It arrived at 9:29 p.m. last night, according to the Old Farmers Almanac.

In an effort to stay ahead of special days and holidays that I like to give gifts for, I made these baskets about 2 weeks ago.  Last night I made the easiest pumpkin muffin recipe.  I baked them in the really big muffin tin so each basket just got one.  I put some paper shred in the bottom of each basket, stacked the muffin on top and added a book of stickers (that I keep on hand from the Dollar Tree). The boys took them to school today to give to their teachers.  I realize that it's not a traditional gift giving day, but I enjoy making my paper crafts, and it's even more enjoyable to have an occasion for creating and giving!

The basket is from SVG Cuts Fall Harvest kit from two years ago.  Most of the papers I used were single color AC card stock.  This was a quick and easy project to complete.  The baskets are roomy allowing for one big item or several small ones.  I hope the teachers like them as much as I did making them.  Now on to more Halloween crafts!

Be sure to visit my Facebook page for a chance for TWO giveaways!

Thanks for stopping by!  Craft Happy!

One of my grandsons was receiving tutoring over the summer, and the teacher sent a deck of vocab game cards home with us for further practice.  She asked us to return them when school started, so I thought it would be nice to dress them up a little and add a few tokens of appreciation.  I have been wanting to make the backpack from SVG Cuts Back to the Books kit, so I thought this would be a great way to tackle two issues.  1.  Returning the cards in better condition than we received them, and  2.  Making the backpack.