well it's about time!

Finally the last day of school has hit our house. YEA. I am so excited for one of the first years to just have everyone home and enjoy the summer. (usually I am sad to have school over with)

Last night at 8:00 pm AK said "are we doing the last day of school t-shirt?" I am such a last minute gal and was kind of hoping she would have forgot. But I was so happy that she wanted to do it. Then as she was headed up to bed she said, "And you did you do the gumball jars?" I explained that I had not done them yet and was trying to talk her out of it this year. The look on her face was priceless. "oh no mom, you have got to do them!"

So I got 12 jars done.

It was killing me to use the gold lids - I usually spray paint the lids to match the tags and ribbon (i know i am a nut, have OCD and am a total perfectionist) So it felt good to just get them done and not take 3 days to make them. I used some great Vera Bradley look alike fabric on top of the circle ( it didn't hang out - that looks a little too crafty for me) then used my matching lime green ribbon with blue tags (printed on the cheesy but so easy Scrapbook Factory program) The blue and white cooking string (thanks Stacy) was the perfect way to add the tag. I changed the wording this year from "thanks for chewsing to teach at..." to "thanks for chewsing to share your talents at ..." We give these to the gals at the front desk, principal, nurse and janitor (one of AK's favorite people at the school) along with math teacher, PE, music and Art teacher - so this seemed like a new general way to say thanks.
The t-shirt turned out well. AK was thrilled to retire one of her last pink shirts as now everything is blue in her world now.

She was really excited for the last day!

and came home with all of her friends on her back and her heart on her sleeve!

Welcome Summer - it is about time!


Teacher Gifts turned out great and I am always happy to have that done.
I finished the center photo at the final hour.

This is AK's last year teaching at her school (total loss for the school, she is so amazing) so we had cake!
I made my 5th $100 book and just can't imagine making anything else. I was so happy to hear of how many people made these this year. I am telling you the key is to get a one lump donation from each parent at the beginning of the year. We were able to give her this $100 in a darling Vera Bradley laptop bag. I was amazed we had that much money left over.
This year I had sent home three sheets of paper with the questions preprinted and ready to cut when they sent them back. This was a life saver!! it took no time at all to make the book. For younger kids who can't write I would have their parents do it. This saves hours of typing.

Also a tip sent in from a blog reader is that her Kinko's bound hers for her for like fifty cents for the whole book. This will save many from having to a large tub of padding compound. thanks for that tip!
I have never had a teacher sit and read everyone to the class. the kids were so excited.
Thank goodness for the two littles sitting in the corner reading - this is always a tough thing with doing anything at the school with two helpers.
My girlfriend makes this book every year and it is darling. She goes in on a day at school and has them each draw a picture of why their teacher is the best. Then she laminates each sheet and puts them together with three rings at the top. It is darling.
This is a great idea for many of thank you gifts!