Archive for the ‘School’ Category
End of Year Memories
With scrapbooking, craft making and memory keeping are all the craze this decade we try to think of unique ways to commemorate and put memories to paper for our kids to one day grow up and see in a book all about them. I have to admit I’ve saved lots of stuff and some is organized, some is not. I’ve started the baby scrapbooks but with moving and having kids it’s hard to keep up. If you’re having a hard time keeping up as well that’s okay just save the stuff you want to scrapbook in folders or envelopes and label them so you know exactly where those things should go. If you have digital pictures that go with a particular event when you upload them to your computer be sure you label that folder as well so when you get to that event for the scrapbook you’ll know exactly where to look. When you upload your pictures always make a backup copy to an external hard drive or to a disc. At the very least upload them to a service like kodakgallery.com that will save them for you!
Now that my oldest is in school I definitely want to keep an on-going memory for him of each school year so this year for kindergarten I have saved his papers he brings home and put them in one of those memory boxes you can buy at the craft store or in the craft section. He’s also gotten some awards and progress reports that I’ve saved with pictures to go with them and I’ll add those to the scrap book. As it gets closer to the end of the school year I will take a scrapbook page to school and get his teachers to write a little note to Zack and ask his class mates to write their names on a blank piece of paper that I can scan, “redesign”, then print and place in the scrapbook as a border around the class picture. (don’t want the 5 and 6 yr olds to actually have the scrapbook page in their hands..LOL)
I’m gonna get Zack to write a little something each year about that grade so he can see how his handwriting changes from year to year. His last day is the end of June so I guess I better get to creating this so I have it ready!
What creative ways have you captured your child’s life?
Kindergarten Memory Box
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Back to School Can
This is something new I’ll be doing this year and possibly adding to my product line. The first time I saw this I really didn’t want to add it because it would just be one more thing I’d have to keep up with. So just to test it I made one for a friend for her baby and gave it to her at her baby shower. I guess by now you’re wondering what I’m talking about.
An empty paint can with lid, handle and all…never used and making personalized stickers for the can and the lid. OMG, it was so cute! Actually the one I made for my friend was made from an empty metal coffee can. It is soooo cute! It was actually easier to make than I thought, it didn’t even take that long to design and it was a cinch putting it all together! It got me to thinking of all the other areas I could use the same concept…just like the other ones I have seen. So instead of a basket you can give a paint can and the recipient can use the can to store their craft items or coins. We have an empty paint can that I don’t remember where it came from and we are filling it up with our lose change. The one I made for baby is intended for the 1st year memories.
With Back to School it has inspired me to create one for just that and fill the can with small school supplies and snacks. This would work great for any age student. They can use the can to store their items not in use or a place for crayons, and markers to be stored. My son would love to use this to take his toys to grandmas house rather than a Wal-mart bag!
Right not I’m working on a Back to School design and will post picture of this one soon! I’m so excited to see what response this product will get and if it’s something that people woule be interested in buying for the student in their family!
Oh, another idea, what a great way to give someone a batch of goodies at Christmas! How awesome….I know what some of my friends will be getting this year!!
Mintbooks for Kid’s Parties
In case you haven’t been reading with us this month I’ve dedicated August to Back to School and mintbooks. Mintbooks are so versatile…once you see them and “get to know them” they could be your favorite personalized product too!
When you think of school parties you think cupcakes, suckers or cookies. All those sugary things that kids love and parents hate because, if your child is like mine, it sends them bouncing off the walls and then they soon crash and you have a cranky little person on your hands that requires a nap. I’m on a mission to change what parents give their kids to take to school and share with friends. Things that kids love and love to get but they don’t have to eat them. I mean let’s face it once a candy bar, cookie, cupcake or sucker are eaten…it’s gone. I’m sure you’re asking what can I send with my kid to school that all the kids will enjoy and not get a sugar high from. I don’t want my kid to be that kid that brings “crappy” gifts to school. Trust me I’ve used this with kids at my son’s birthday party and all the kids said, “This is neat”. Believe it was a mixed age group and a tough crowd 
So what did I do? Not much to be honest and what do kids love more than anything? Seeing their name in print. Most kids, even adults really, are more grateful for something that has their name on it, something personalized. Just as soon as I get the first chance I’m going to make mintbooks for my sons Kindergarten class and have each of the kid’s first names on the front with a picture of ABC’s, 123′s (the things they are learning right now) or maybe even a picture of a school bus on front with the kid’s names on each one so that each kid has a bus with their name on it so it’s personalized just for them! Then on the back I’ll have some message from my son and perhaps let him write his name and I’ll scan it in as if he personally signed each one. Then I’ll punch a hole in the top and the bottom of the mintbook and slide a cool decorative pencil. Perhaps princess pencils for girl and Cars pencils for the boys. Or pencils to match a holiday theme such as Halloween. Think about it kids love those decorative pencils. I remember going to the school store in elementary school and buying those glittered and decorative pencils and then trading with my friends. I was talking with a 10 yr old neighbor of mine and they still do that!! It’s something they can enjoy over and over again rather than taking 2 bites and be all done.
Since the kids will begin to learn to read this year I may even add a small magnet strip so that the kids can use the mintbooks as a book mark and save their page when reading. I know I’m talking about 5 year olds but my son would love it and would probably keep up with it for a little while anyway. Giving that the mintbook will still serve a purpose rather than just throwing it away.
I’m going to be honest with you I like getting little stuff like that too. Perhaps I’ll send that to all my customers just thanking them for their continued support!
Keeping in Unique,
Kristal
Back to School
Summer is nearing it’s end and school will be starting soon. During the school year there are many birthday parties, holiday celebrations and of course those times you want to let your child’s teacher know how much you appreciate them for all their hard work!
If your child’s birthday is during the school year and you go to your child’s classroom and pass out cupcakes, cookies, or cake why not change that up a little this year? Save yourself a ton of time, and save the teacher and you the aggravation of the messy crumb cleanup. Consider personalizing a wrapper for each child in the class and hand out chocolate bars. It’s less for you to carry also and all you have to do is hand them out!! Kids love seeing their name in print.
When Valentines and Christmas roll around consider using mintbooks with a festive theme and give all the students suckers using mintbooks or even those infamous holiday pencils.
Show your appreciation to your child’s teacher by sending them a chocoalte bar wrapped in a teachers theme like the chalkboard to the left or a smiley face mintbook that says GREAT JOB!
Want to order these for your classroom and teacher? Email me and I’ll send you a digital proof and 15% off your order. Use “Back To School” as the subject and send to kreagan@sweetexpressionsllc.net
With budget cuts happening each year it becomes harder and harder for schools to fund events such as sports, music programs, and field trips. Which leaves the PTA and classrooms organizing their own fundraising events. I know schools have always had the candy drives but suggest and encourage your school’s PTA/PTO to take the ordinary candy fundraiser and turn it into an extraodinary event that the community begins to look forward to. Most people like chocolate and won’t hesitate to help a student in the community but really make them ooh and ah over the next one by personalizing the candy with the school’s logo and let the text tell everyone exactly what the fundraising effort is for. On the back you could ask local businesses to pay a small fee to advertise with a coupon or special. As well as add a special thank you message to everyone that purchases with a proof of purchase for anyone that would like a receipt for tax purposes!
It’s one thing to sell a candy bar but it’s another to sell a candy bar wrapped in a cherised memento!
Email me today for your FREE Fundraising packet!!
kreagan@sweetexpressionsllc.net and use subject Fundraising
Speaking of Back to School my little boy started kindergarten this year. We live in an area with year round schools so he actually started this week! I can’t believe it and let me tell you it is one bitter-sweet moment. The toughest part was putting him on the bus for the first time and watching him drive away, wondering if he’ll be taken care of like I take care of him! My husband and I both held it together until the bus left. We turned our heads and began to cry for a few moments. We even took pictures and video taped him getting on the bus. It’s quite a milestone to witness and after only 4 days I can see such a difference in him and how much he’s growing up!
One of the best parts of my day now is when he gets off the bus and runs to me and gives me a great big hug. Those days won’t last forever so I’m going to cherish each moment. This is definitely a page in the scrapbook and perhaps an inspiration for a candy bar wrapper ’cause this is a time for celebration!
Keeping it Unique,
Kristal
Back to School
School is in session again and it is time to get back on the daily schedule. You just had your last holiday for almost 2 months. In those 2 months you will be thinking about and planning Thanksgiving and then most importantly Christmas. What a hectic time of year. How will you get it all done? Especially if you are hosting Thanksgiving dinner and/or a Christmas party. Outsourcing is your answer! When you think of outsourcing I’m sure you think of highly paid professionals to do jobs you can do all by yourself. Not always true, there are situations that call for a hired professional but there are many more occasions and situations that do not require that extra money you just don’t want or have to spend. Your best source for outsourcing is family and friends. Yes, that is right, you probably do it frequently and don’t even realize it. When you need someone to watch your children while you go out with your husband to have date night you have just outsourced a responsible party to care for your children in your absence. Often times this is outsourced to grandparents, aunts and uncles or to your best friend and the only payment they receive is a thank you or an offer to return the favor when they need help. Why not do the same at Thanksgiving and Christmas? I learned many things from watching my momma. There were many times and still are many times she takes on an entire task that she should be outsourcing to the members of the family. I have observed this and decided not to follow in her footsteps. Ask for help, people don’t know you need or want help unless you actually ask for it! Plan the meal, decide what you are going to prepare and delegate the rest to those that are invited and have RSVP with a Yes. Assign everyone something to bring so you are not doing it all. Remember if you are hosting you had to clean your house before the guest arrived, decorate, cook, clean all the dishes and clean the house again because when food and drinks are involved, especially with little children there will be a mess. You don’t want to do all of that by yourself and you shouldn’t have to. When assigning others to bring a dish, dessert, drinks, whatever that is less for you to clean up because they leave with the very same dish they came with. If your children are old enough and your husband doesn’t make a bigger mess trying to clean up then give them specific tasks to do after the dinner party. You don’t want to be up all night taking care of those things by yourself, why should you be exhausted! So, what’s gonna work? TEAMWORK!
When shopping for the items on you Christmas List look for bundled gift items with multiple pieces that you can separate into individual gifts and perhaps buy one gift to actually mark 3-4 people off your list. This will save you time and money! After you have purchased all your gifts and it is time to wrap them but you hate wrapping use gift bags. I know they get expensive but save the gift bags you receive, if you haven’t done this in the past; start now. Even save the tissue paper and bows that people embelish gifts with. If others are throwing theirs away grab them before they get destroyed! When I got married I saved all the bags and even the tissue paper, I have saved birthday bags and bows and ribbons. I saved all the bags from my sons birthdays. I have not bought a bag or tissue paper in 5 years!! Someone thought I was absolutely nuts when I saved the bags and tissue paper but I have saved tons of money in those 5 years and I still have some left, not to mention when you have those last minute moments and you search your house for a gift to give someone because you forgot to add it to your weekly shopping list. Those saved bags some in handy during that last minute insane moment.
During the holiday rush you must take time for yourself, even it is only for 15 minutes. Take those 15 minutes to regroup your thoughts. Make a sign and attach it to the locked bedroom door that reads: “I need 15 minutes ALONE”. Make sure dad respects that and keeps the children from banging on any doors or yelling momma. In fact, ask him to take the kids out of the house for pizza while you stay at home and put the pieces of you back together.
For the holidays remember these things:
Outsource tasks
Save bags, tissue and bows
Buy Bundled gifts to save time and money
Get Alone Time
Enjoy your self and your family
