Once upon a time, I was a serious crafter. I was up to my elbows in ribbons, papers, stamps, and ink. I was mostly a papercrafter, but I dabbled in lots of other areas too. One of the things I loved best was making gifts for friends and family. Over the past couple of years, TpT and digital design has edged out my actual real-life crafting, so sadly much of craft stash goes unused most of the time. This is the workspace we put together when we moved into this house. The opposite wall is my hubby's side and has a desk and bookshelves, & stuff. Once in a while, I do venture inside to do some crafting as I did this week for some gifts for my teammates.

Even when I'm not full-on crafting there are two trusty tools I still use quite a lot. Those would be my Xryon Machine (see it here) and paper cutter, and I used both to create these little gifts for my team.

I got a great deal on these little candles from Bath & Body Works on Black Friday (or Cyber Monday maybe?) So I ordered 12 of them. Then I wanted some kind of quote to go along with it and found this one by Buddha ( or at least the internet says is was Buddha...) Either way, seemed like a nice reminder. I found a wintery background, added the text and printed them out on card stock. Then I decided I wanted it to be more than a business-cardish type of thing. So, my trusty Xyron came to the rescue and turned them into magnets. {This is not a Xyron commercial, I swear. I just love this thing so freakin much I think everyone should have one. I actually contacted the company a few times about doing a review/giveaway, but they haven't really jumped on board. yet.}

I popped in the cartridge that has a sheet of magnet on one side and laminate on the other. You can also buy cartridges that have laminate on both sides, permanent or removable adhesive with or without laminate on the other side. Amazing, right? I use it ALL the time. Ok, so after I cranked it through the wonder machine, I cut them into magnet sized pieces with my paper slicer and I had my gifts all ready in a matter of minutes.

I packaged them up in cute little bags from Hobby Lobby and done!

This would also make a nice little hostess gift, maybe with a larger candle, or a cute little something to have on hand for people who stop by to visit over the holidays. If you would like the quote all formatted on the background, just click here.

Ok, believe it or not, I have two ornaments hanging on my tree and still need to do some shopping, so I guess I better get my rear in gear! Merry Christmas, my friends!

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SunnyDays

We're down to about 13 days left and they're jam packed! On Tuesday we'll be welcoming the parents into our rooms for our final Tasty Tuesday so that's been consuming every single second of my time and every ounce of my energy. I'll be taking tons of pictures and blogging about the whole shebang next week. It's so much work to get ready for, but it's a great day for the kids and their parents - and me. All I have left to do is some last minute shopping and a little praying that the sub doesn't let the kids destroy the room on Monday while I'm out for a training.

In other news,  I have this great gift idea to share with you. I actually got this from my class two years ago but never got around to blogging about it. My room mom was seriously the stuff of dreams. The PTA at our school always collects money from each student for a gift for the teachers. Most often the room mom gives us a gift card with the collection, which is all kinds of awesome. I'm usually set for Starbucks through June and July...

Well, that year my room mom put together this little book with several gift cards to all of my favorite places. So cute, right?

The last page had an envelope with the leftover cash in it. I liked this idea so much that I've used it for gifts for family members myself. For my father-in-law we made one that had movie gift cards, his favorite restaurant, Home Depot, and a gas card. I love giving (and receiving) gift cards, but sometimes it feels so impersonal. This is a great way to make a practical gift very personal.


I think I have gift ideas on the brain because May is seriously our second Christmas. Our May family birthdays incude both of my sisters, my brother-in-law, father-in-law, childhood bestie, and my niece. Throw Mother's Day in there and it's non-stop shopping and family gatherings this month. In May, which just happens to be the busiest work month EVER (besides August, of course...) but it's all good. Food and fun with family and friends is what it's all about, right?

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SunnyDays

This lovely, ah hem, specimen was an actual teacher gift given to the sister of one of my closest friends. Yes, really.  If did not personally know these women, I'm not sure I would believe it myself! I know it's the thought that counts and all, but exactly what thought goes behind sending a urine specimen cup to school as a gift? In the past, I've worked with children suffering from poverty so I know that sometimes even the smallest gift is the most touching because you know that it really comes from a place of love. But this one, I'm not sure where it comes from. Well, I guess we all know where it comes from, don't we? Let's just hope it was new.

My most unique(?) gift was a big, NOT new, red bra. Imagine my surprise when I pulled that baby out of the bag! Of course, after I realized what I was holding, it was back in the bag in a flash while I gushed over how beautiful it was to the little girl who gave it to me. To make a long story short, it turns out that she wanted to give me something nice, so she snuck her mom's favorite bra out of the house. Mom was a bit mortified, but I think above all she was thankful to get it back!

So, I ask you. What has been your most unique teacher gift? Leave me a comment. I'm wondering if anyone can beat the urine plant.

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SunnyDays