Sadly this weekend marks the official end of summer, and kids everywhere are going back to school. My friend Kelly from Cloudy Day Gray shared a glimpse at her family’s first day of school activities, and I was delighted to see the way she used our Back to School with Neon printables to create a fab back to school party.
I love how she lined her wall with our “First Day of School” photo signs to create a fun back to school photos backdrop — look at her cute kiddos!
The end of the school year seems like a perfect time to throw a party! Here in Arizona, an end of school party almost surely involves swimming. Today I have some decor ideas and more fun activities to keep your crew entertained, even if you don’t have a swimming pool.
Teacher Appreciation week is coming up the first week of May, and today I’m over at Skip To My Lou sharing a super-easy gift idea for teachers. Plus I’ve got a bunch more teacher appreciation ideas right here.
First let’s talk about the easy route. I grabbed these iTunes Gift Cards at the grocery store — talk about not even going out of your way. Plus this is bound to be one of teacher’s favorite gifts, and with the free printable packaging idea I’m sharing over at Skip To My Lou, you’re teacher appreciation gifts are as good as done!
I’m not sure who ever coined the term, lazy summer days, because our summer has been anything but. Actually it’s been a bit of a whirlwind and somehow it’s already nearly over. I know here in Arizona we head back to school earlier than most places, but still, with school supplies lining the aisles, here is our round up of some colorful back to school ideas from the archives.
Click the photos to read the details and download our free printables. Also be sure to pin your favorites for later!
Today we have a bunch of easy gift ideas to help you get ready for Teacher Appreciation week next month. We hear teachers spend a lot of time grading papers; so this handmade star stamp is a sweet gift your little one’s teacher can put to good use.
You may be able to find precut blocks of wood at the craft store. We cut our wood from an inexpensive 1×2 board. You may not know this, but 1x2s actually measure 3/4 x 1-1/2 inches… you know, just to be confusing. Using a simple miter box and saw cut these boards down to 1-1/2 inch pieces. The block’s finished dimensions should be 1-1/2 x 1-1/2 x 3/4 inches. Let the kids sand the block so it’s nice and smooth.
We are all sad that summer is over already. I have been trying to cheer things up with a bunch of fun back to school prep. We’ve decorated our mantle (using this and this), we have been clothes shopping, and of course stocking up on school supplies. I think I’ve mentioned before that buying school supplies is my favorite parts of back to school season. In fact, I have been known to buy a bucket-full of paper, pencils, crayons, rulers, glue and more and keep them in a cheerful bucket on my kitchen counter. I swear it cheers me up as much as a floral arrangement, but I know I’m kind of weird.
I love the project we created for this month’s issue of Raising Arizona Kids magazine. It is a super-easy ruler star, and it would look so fabulous on our mantle. I can’t find then one we made for this photoshoot so I’m off to the store today to buy more rulers so I can make one with the kiddos this afternoon — because you know I’m happy for any excuse to buy more school supplies!
Today we are happy to welcome Kim from The Celebration Shoppe. She has an easy kids craft idea and fun book to share.
I don’t know about you, but back to school is on the brain in my house right now. My kiddos are already excited to get the new notebooks, new clothes, new backpack… I’m sure the excitement will wear off!