This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and Office Depot, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #inspirestudents https://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV

My kids start school this week!! Any one else starting this week?? Now that the backpacks are purchased and new clothes are ready, don’t forget those fabulous teachers who will be teaching and helping your children for the next 9 months. Teacher gifts for the first day of school have become a tradition around here. Last year we gave them highlighters with a cute tag and the year before we made these cute pencil cans. Or these gumball pencil tubes are a fun idea too!

This year for our teacher gifts, I headed to my local Office Depot to pick up some supplies for our teacher gifts. If you’ve read any of my other posts on this here blog, you’ll know that I LOVE the Office Depot that’s just a few minutes from my house. I get all my printing done there and I’m a huge fan of their Small Business Program and the Office Depot Rewards Program, where you earn points for purchases and copy/print services that you use. On this shopping trip, I picked up some of my favorite Sharpies, mechanical pencils for my son, some cool new EXPO Window markers and a few goodies for myself Almost everything I bought was on sale for great prices, too!

This week at Office Depot/Office Max, save $5 Off your purchase of $20 or more on Select Newell Rubbermaid Brands (PaperMate, Expo Neon Window Markers, Sharpie, Uni-Ball, & Mr. Sketch) AND all Sharpie singles are $.25 (while supplies last) – you know I’ll be stocking up on those Sharpies because I love them so!

With all the new names to learn and supplies that are used in the classroom, I thought teachers could use a little help keeping everything organized. So I made some printable labels, cut them out and had them laminated at my local Office Depot. SAVINGS ALERT: There’s a coupon in the newspaper this week for 40% off laminating services in the copy/print center – that’s awesome!

I decided to have the tags laminated so that teachers (or you at home!) could re-use the labels in the future. Use the EXPO Window markers I bought, or any other form of Dry-Erase marker to easily wipe and re-write.

Bundle your laminated labels together with a fun binder clip and wrap the markers and labels with a cute bow.

Add our colorful printable tag and you’re all set to start the year off “bright”!

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This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and Sharpie, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #SharpieClearview https://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV

OK ladies, I discovered something that I absolutely LOVE about summer and I just have to share it with you! I discovered the art of how to get kids to help with household chores and tasks!! We started something new at our house this summer that I have just loved and I’m a little sad to have the kids go back to school for this reason. I decided that my kids had to get a list of things done before they could play with friends or with their electronic devices and it has been wonderful! I think it worked well because of the ages of my kids – they’re 11, 9 & 7 so they can all do a variety of household chores now.

They each had a list of things that had to get done every day (like put their breakfast dishes away, brush their teeth, make their bed, pick up their room, read for 20 minutes, empty the dishwasher, etc.) plus 2-3 other “cleaning chores”. And I just have to tell you that my house has never been cleaner, seriously!! They do the normal things like dust and vacuum and wipe down bathrooms, etc. but then I added things like wipe down the baseboards, vacuum around the baseboards, wipe down the doors, clean the light switches, dust around the tops of walls, etc.

Now that school is just around the corner (9 days to be exact, but who’s counting?!) our routine will have to change a bit, so I created a task list for each child so they could remember the things that need to get done in the morning before school and in the evening after school and activities.

I wanted to create a specific area where we could keep these fun new charts so that they were easily accessible, portable and motivating. I added removable clear plastic hooks to the back of my pantry door in our kitchen, which is where all the action takes place at our house. I then clipped the task lists to some clipboards and added a Sharpie Clearview highlighter to each clipboard with a piece of twine. This way the kids can take the clip boards down easily when they’re ready to mark off their tasks and they always have a highlighter close by to check off their progress. I got my Sharpie Clearview highlighters on sale at Walgreens – gotta love that!!

The kids were all actually pretty excited about the new system and I think it’ll keep them on track for the new school year and the new schedules.

I have a blank task list that you’re welcome to download and use at your house to help keep you and your kids organized and on a new schedule for the start of the school year. I know it’ll help minimize the chaos at our house when school starts back up and the kids are wanting to play with friends or on their devices. All I have to do is ask them to make sure their tasks are completed and we both have an easy way to check that!

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My kids are going back to school today (yay!!) and I like to do a little gift for their new teachers, just to let them know we’re excited to have them as our teacher this year.  I try to give something useful so they don’t just go home and throw it away. I came up with a fun way to give something that is always needed in the classroom – pencils!

I’m loving neon right now, so I decided to go with a neon color scheme for our gift idea, but obviously you can use whatever colors you would like.

For this project you only need a few things: a tin can, kraft paper, washi tape and pencils.

I would recommend a 14.5 oz tomato can (or similar) to hold the pencils. Wash the can thoroughly and dry.

Step 1 – Wrap washi tape around the top of your pencils.

Step 2 – Trim ends of tape into a point.

Step 3 – Measure and cut kraft paper to fit can – approx. 4 1/8″ by 9 3/4″.

Step 4 – Wrap kraft paper around can using double sided tape to secure.

Step 5 – Adhere washi tape to can.

Step 6 – Admire your work!

Put your pencils in your new, cute container and attach a little tag with a clothespin.

If you’re not into neon or washi tape, simply use a piece of scrapbook paper instead and tie the tag with a ribbon.

You can download the printable tags HERE.

Now you have a simple gift your child can take with them on the first day of school. Your teacher will love it!

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I’m sharing a fun Back To School teacher gift idea over at SNAP! today – pencils in a cute container with a printable tag in either a neon color scheme or your traditional school colors.

Download the free tags and cut out with a 2.5″ paper punch.

Pencil Labels

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I saw an idea at the end of the school year that I loved and wanted to remember to do it at the beginning of the year. Guess what? I remembered! It’s a ‘Favorite Things’ questionnaire for the teachers to fill out so you know exactly what they love. No more guessing their favorite stores or treats – you’ll have it all right at your fingertips! And if you’re a room mom you could have the teacher fill it out and then pass the information along to all the parents in your child’s class – they’ll thank you for it later (like Christmas & Teacher Appreciation week)!

As you know, I’m not a graphic designer so I just made a simple sheet that obviously you’re welcome to download and use. Click on the link below to download.

Teacher’s Favorite Things

What do you think? Great idea or what?!

The post Teacher’s Favorite Things Printable appeared first on Paper Crush.

Raise your hand if you’re looking forward to the kids going back to school (my hand is raised!). I know it’s cliche, but the summer HAS flown by and my kids go back in less than 2 weeks!

I have ALWAYS loved shopping for back to school clothes and supplies, both when I was a kid and now for my own kids. I think that’s why I’ve thought it would be so fun to throw a back to school party, just so I can buy school supplies to use as party decor or favors. Watch out, such a party may just be in my near future!

I thought I’d share some of my favorite Back To School parties with you from around the blogosphere and then I’ll show you a fun idea to make for a back to school treat, gift or party favor.

Back to School Party Ideas

Fabulous Back To School Party created by Crissy’s Crafts using free printables from Amanda’s Parties To Go!

A vintage Back To School party from Anders Ruff.

A fun and simple Back To School party created by Dukes & Duchesses.

Just call me Martha used chalkboard elements in genius fashion to create this Back To School Party.

Super creative Back To School “faux” dessert table by One Charming Party. Probably my fave because of the use of school supplies

Simple Back To School party from the girls at eighteen25.

Kim at The TomKat Studio styled a super cute party at the Pottery Barn Kids store.

Colorful Crayon party by Lindi at Love The Day.

Beautiful Back To School party from Mariah at Giggles Galore.

I’m sure these fabulous parties have given you some great ideas for hosting a back to school party for your little ones. What a great way to get the kids excited about going back to school, rather than dreading it. You could even have the party a week or so after school starts and invite new classmates to get to know each other better.

Back to School Party Favor

So here’s my fun little back to school treat idea – a gumball pencil!

To make, simply fill a clear plastic tube with a pink gumball, silver sixlets, yellow gumballs and a Hershey’s kiss. Add a fun printable tag and attach with baker’s twine!

Clear tubes can be purchased from The TomKat Studio shop and I bought my gumballs and sixlets at my local party supply stores. The free printable tag can be downloaded from Amanda’s Parties To Go.

I couldn’t resist buying some school supplies and adding them to the photo

I think these would make a great gift for teachers, kids or as favors at your back to school party! Check out this post for some more back to school ideas including lots of fun, free printables! And stay tuned for some more great Back To School ideas coming soon!

The post Back To School Party Ideas + Gumball Pencil Favor appeared first on Paper Crush.

In case you missed it last week, I shared these fun graduation push-up pops over at the SNAP! blog, so now it’s time to share with you!

I can’t believe it’s the end of May already and that means graduation for a lot of people. Graduation from college, high school, elementary school, kindergarten and even pre-school all call for a celebration! Last year I helped a friend of mine come up with some ideas for a graduation dessert table for her son.  She did a FABULOUS job with everything!!

So today I thought I’d share one of the most asked about items on the table…the Oreo Cheesecake Push-up Pops.

If you’re not familiar with push-up pops, Courtney Dial of Pizzazzerie (who was a speaker at SNAP! last month) has a book all about them if you want more info or ideas, but they are a pretty popular (and fun!) item on dessert tables right now. The inspiration for these push-up pops came from Frog Prince Paperie’s graduation table she styled last year.

To make the graduation caps for the push-up pops you’ll need the following supplies:

Black cardstock

Tape

Glue

Scissors (or paper cutter)

Karo syrup

Red Hots

Pull ‘N Peel licorice

Step 1: Cut your black paper into 2 5/8″ squares for the top of the hat. Cut 7 1/2″ x 3/4″ strips for the band.

Step 2: Wrap the band around the push-up pop container and tape.

Step 3: Place a small amount of glue around the top edge of the band.

Step 4: Center the band on the square to glue in place.

Peel apart licorice pieces and cut to 2 1/2″ lengths. Attach both the red hot and licorice pieces to the top of the hat with karo syrup.

You can fill the push-up pops with any fun treat like M&M’s, jelly beans, mini cupcakes, brownies, etc. Below is the recipe for the Oreo Cheesecake pops if you’re interested:

Oreo Cheesecake Recipe

1 package Oreo cookies (16.6 oz) divided
1/4 cup butter, melted
4 packages (8 oz each) Cream Cheese, softened
3/4 Cup Sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 8 oz. tub Cool Whip, thawed

Chop 15 cookies coarsely. Finely crush remaining cookies; mix with butter. (This is what you will put in the bottom of the push up pops).
Beat cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla in large bowl with mixer until well blended. Gently stir in Cool Whip and coarsely chopped Oreos. Put this on top of your crust in the push-up pop and refrigerate.

Recipe should fill 20 push-up pops.

Put the caps on your push-up pops and place them in a styrofoam filled container to display.

I created these simple graduation circles you can print on sticker label paper to add to your push-up pops and dress them up a bit. Click HERE to download them.

Click on the picture above to download the free printables!

If you’re planning any fun graduation parties, I guarantee these treats will be a hit with adults and kids alike!

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Teacher appreciation week is May 7th-11th this year and that’s NEXT WEEK!  I absolutely love to give little gifts to my kids’ teachers to show them how much I appreciate all they do for my little ones.  I totally admire teachers and I want them to feel special and know that we love them!  I shared some teacher Thank You ideas HERE on my blog last year and wanted to share a few more that I have found this year that I really LOVE.

First of all I found this cute “Favorite Things” questionnaire from Life Sweet Life that I’m going to give to all my kids’ teachers to have them fill out.  I should have done this at the beginning of the year (note to self for next year!) but I like the idea of finding out what your teachers like so you can tailor their gift towards something you know they will enjoy.  If you don’t want to print out the questionnaire, simply send an e-mail to the teachers with a list of similar questions.

Here are some new ideas that I’ve found on the web that I wanted to share with you:

It’s Written on the Wall has created 51 “lunchbox notes” that you can download and attach to any little gift you want to give.

I LOVE this strawberry-themed basket with free printable from the girls at eighteen25 – perfect for the season.  Check out all the other fabulous ideas these girls have shared over the years for Teachers Appreciation week – they are seriously my favorite!

Teachers (well anyone really!) can always use some sticky notes and this darling sticky note holder from domesticated lady is perfect and has the free printable downloads for you.

The pictures above are just 2 of over 60 Teacher Appreciation ideas from Top Bloggers over at Skip to My Lou.  I guarantee you’ll find something that will be just perfect for your teachers!

What are some of your favorite Teacher Appreciation gift ideas?  I’d love to hear about them in the comments below!

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