Gazilllion Years :(

 Wow!!! I knew it had been a while but didn't realize that three more holidays had passed and NO posts!!! Phew... sure is time for me to post something, right?!?!?!?

Well, I ordered the silhouette cutter and received it at the END of a snowed-in week, that is very unusual here in Atlanta (and VERY unusual for someone who lived in Charleston, SC for 30 years!!!). So, I didn't get the full week to play but have since made a few cuts and wanted to share them with you.

This is me with my babies ... she's so excited, she's jumping for joy...NOT!!! they both HATED the crunchiness of the ice. They looked at me as if to ask "What happened to the fluffy snow we had before?"!!!

These are a few of the very first cuts I made .. pretty simple. I didn't really have a purpose for any of them, I was just 'playing'!!!! What fun!!!



Then I made these coasters .. not sure who is an "F" but the letter was cool!! I'm sure I will find someone with a last name beginning with "F"!!!

Here they are wrapped in a bow, rather large bow, ready to be given.

Then it was time to experiment with some vinyl. My sister and I have been discussing the various materials in which I could try but have been too scared to try anything yet, for fear of tearing up my BRAND NEW machine!! Well, I was in Michael's the other day, for something completely different (imagine that!!) and always like to look in the dollar bins up front and spotted this -- VINYL shelf liner. Hmm, I said, it is only $2 and worth a try!! So, the love above is what it created. I shrank the original down, thinking for a coaster but then realized I didn't want to spoil the vinyl on a coaster, so will do something with it, I'm sure, just don't know what yet. Long story short, IT WORKED!!!! Yeh, so I will be creating some additional things with it soon...

Stay tuned for more .....

Deanna

Well, we were certainly busy these past few weeks ... continuing our recycling unit with creating pumpkins from recycling grocery bags to creating their own 'treat' bags and then taking the recycling to the fullest by demonstrating how to 'use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without' kind of mentality -- of which most students were astonished over:)

Ok, so Monday we began our pumpkins by forming them as well as putting a coat of paper mache` on them. The students LOVED (most of them, at least!) to dig into the slimy, wet paper mache` and slap it on their pumpkins. They were very inquisitive as to how 'this' would end up looking like a pumpkin, but had faith in their teacher:) Here they are after the paper mache' was applied.

Then, Tuesday we began our treat bags. They were simple white canvas bags that the students traced a pumpkin onto and then used buttons to 'fill in' the space, creating the look of a pumpkin and then wrote the word "Treats" at the bottom. Then, I wrote their names with a sharpie at the top -- I originally jotted their initials to the tag inside of the bag but then thought it would be a nice touch (and much easier for me) to write their names on the outside top of the bag. Here are the bags and the finished pumpkins lined up on our shelf. I think they turned out absolutely darling. We finished painting the pumpkins and the glued dried on the bags

on Thursday, when they both went home.



These are their handmade treat bags:)



These are the recylced pumpkins...cute, right?

This is a shot of their recycled pumkin, miniature jack-o-lanterns they created and a top shot of their treat bags:)

Then our last project began on Wednesday ... carving the pumpkin. The kids really liked this -- I let them dig in and take out the guts of the pumpkin, making them ooey gooey and they enjoyed it!!! This was the first pumpkin I ever remember carving -- I do not remember carving a pumpkin as a child, but I may be wrong about that. However, this is my VERY FIRST pumpkin carving as an adult, I know that. It was a blast and turned out really cute, I think. The students chose the face and I carved it. Then we displayed in the class until the weekend and then I brought it home to dispose of it -- didn't want it to attract any bugs nor stink up the room:()

They loved getting in there and feeling the sliminess of the guts... they had such a blast, and so did I!!!

So, these are our fall/Halloween learning projects thus far. We intend to begin the pilgrims and turkey projects shortly as well as our thankful tree. We have to notate and remember why we are thankful and what all we TRULY need to be thankful for. So, stay tuned for much more to come......

Deanna



Fall Fun:)

We began studying recycling in science this past week and will continue with it into next week and so I thought what better example to give than to recycle the old, broken crayons that I inherited! So, to the dollar store I went and found some pumpkin ice cube trays and took on the adventure early this morning ....

Just in case you were wondering ... there are a million and ten suggested ways to do this on the internet and I think that I tried one million of those ways today until I found something that worked for me.

BEWARE....the fumes can be intoxicating!!! So, make sure that you are in a well ventilated area -- open windows, use exhaust fan, etc!!! I started in the microwave but felt as if the microwave was becoming toxic, smelling of crayons, and it really wasn't melting quickly enough for my liking :) So, I switched to the paper liners in a cupcake pan and melted in a 250 degree oven. This worked perfectly -- takes less time and tends to melt more evenly. You may want to open your oven to vent after it has cooled completely (unless it's the winter and you can use a little more warmth in your house:)), just for precautionary reasons.

HERE THEY ARE!!!!!! (some more perfect than others ...)

These are two of the prettiest ones...but I think they are completely cute:) Now, I am off to find a cute label so that the students know they are NOT to be eaten!!!!

Happy hunting ....

Deanna

School Spirit

Well, again, it has been a million years since I have posted anything on my blog. Between staying afloat with school and trying to get healthy, it has been a struggle, nonetheless!!! My recent 'activity' was to make myself a lanyard to hold my key to my classroom as well as my ID badge, when I needed to wear it -- I don't have to wear it daily and therefore, do not;however, I do wear my key around my neck because if not, I will lose it,I'm sure!!!! We are the eagles and our colors are read, white, and blue - very patriotic, right?!?!!? Anyway, have created several different ones and then totally trashed them because I was not happy with the outcome ... well, took them off the string and started restringing something new. So, here is my school lanyard ....

As you can see, it consists of red, white and a few blue beads (much harder to come by the right color blue) and then te round ones are actually red and white with a blue star...very patriotic:) It was super simple to make and is very durable!!!

Enjoy:)

Deanna

Babies

It has been about 4 weeks since the start of school and I have seen such progress in my babies that it makes me smile inside and out:) I began with 8 students who would smile and nod to me but would not speak - were basically non-verbal - and they are all using their words (as I say) and have even blossomed to the point of leading a class experiment. We were dicussing weather and the changes in water to ice when a student stood in front of me with this awesome story of making ice pops. I couldn't resist .... ice pops it was to provide a hands-on experience for making water turn to ice. Now mind you that this was a student that did not speak at all and was slow as methusala with EVERYTHING but now hustles with everything. I had him lead the experiment, explaining it to his classmates, and I have seen even more change in him since last Thursday that it just makes me cry to think about it. Can you tell?? I am completely proud of my babies....all 8 of them:) Here are some pictures of them completing the project, no faces of course.

They each got to pour 2 molds of their choiceHere they are each putting toothpicks in their poured molds.

The next day, Friday, we took them out of the molds and ate them while watching our "School House Rocks" video on grammar. What a fun day:)

Thanks for stopping by to read about my blessing ... I couldn't be happier with my 'God job':)

Deanna

Blessing

Well, it has been nearly a month since my last posting and SOOOO much has happened since then!! On Thursday, August 12th, I received a phone call from a school in East Point, GA for an interview. It just so happens that was during the time that I spent with my sister, returning home on Saturday, August 14th. However, I didn't check my voicemail (because noone calls me at home, everyone calls me on my cell phone!) until Sunday evening and then went into panic mode! Don't panic, I kept saying to myself ... if it is the job the Lord wants for me, they will still consider you for an interview. Deep breaths, breathe....

First thing Monday morning (even before they would answer their phones) I began calling and kept calling, in 15 minute intervals, until someone answered the phone. I was determined to speak to someone to get an interview -- just speak with me and give me a chance, I thought. So, finally I got through to a live person -- just so happened that it was the assistant principal! She said to come in that day at 1:30 --"Yes ma'am, I look forward to speaking with you soon" was my response. So, there it was ... the interview, the chance, that I had prayed for. And where was this school anyway, I thought, and did I even apply for this specific school??? Oh, I didn't care, I just prayed for a job where I could reach out and teach and touch those special lives. Then it was off to calling my prayer warriors who had bloody knees, I'm sure, from constant prayer for me:) Momma was first and then to my sister ... prayer chain started and now I could get out the 'interview suit' and iron and start to get ready. I had about 4 hours until THE time but wanted to make sure that I was rushing and I was fully prepared!!! Searched the web to get information about the school; however, the web hadn't been updated in a zillion years and so guessed that information wouldn't be vital to the interview. Lord, please put the words in my mouth and let my love of children and desire to teach those special ones come through in my spirit and through my lips, I prayed.

This alphabet is a representative of my new future:)

So, then it was, that Monday afternoon that I received one of the biggest blessings ever!!! I was called back by the principal about 2 hours later and offered the job to teach 1st and 2nd grade interrelated resource. I accepted, of course, and began work that Wednesday (he, the principal, had to wait on clearance from the district office). I went to work at 12:30 on Wednesday August 18th and have never been happer!!

So, hope you will forgive me for my delay in blogging ....

Deanna

Healing

Sorry it has been a few days since posting anything ... I have been busy rekindling and healing with family. It has been a while since I have had a relationship with my family members and the Lord showed me that these relationships are important and that I needed healing with them and to restore these relationships. I feel as if the Lord also said that He was waiting to provide me with my teaching job until all healing had taken place -- something that has been needed for quite some time!!! So, you'll forgive me for not having posted recently, I hope:)

I got back into town on Friday from my sister's and then anticipated the big sale at Hancock's, so didn't really do any crafting until Saturday. Early that morning I headed out to Hancocks:)  I had a list as well as a budget and spent over 4 hours in the store!!! I was soooo overwhelmed!!

I had already started working on 2 or 3 necklaces and decided that I needed to finish one project before starting on another ... plus, my new material was in the washer!! So, I finished beading the necklaces today -- maybe one or two ideas left to work up -- with two of them, specifically, being inspired by the fabric (remnants) I just purchased.

These are the 2 inspired by the fabric (as you can see the fabric in the background).These are the others that I whipped together....

one solid pink, one pink and green, one solid purple, a black and grey pearl one and one with pastel pearls.

*******As soon as I figure out how to 'open' up on Etsy, I will put these in the store to sell. **********

For those who read my previous blog "Experimental Fun", you'll remember the peanut butter coffee cake that I made in the individual loaves. Tomorrow is a friend's birthday (also named Deanna but actually goes by her middle name ... how funny!!) and so tucked a loaf of bread in a bread bag, tied it up with a card and VOILA, a handmade/homemade birthday gift! I thinkn she'll love it with one of her 15 million cups of coffee she drinks. Here it is all wrapped up ....

Oops, it is on it's side .... don't really know how to flip the photo....sorry!!

Well, I am off to categorize, label, and group the items that I have left to put together so that I can form an assembly line to finish these projects/Christmas gifts. Tomorrow is cleaning and laundry day, so I doubt I will do much crafting tomorrow ... hopefully I will have something to share with you by Friday.

Till later ....

Deanna