Teacher Crafting

Today is our LAST official day of summer vacation, so I'm watching movies of "The Twilight Saga" and crafting.  If you'll remember back a couple of years, my mom and I did some "HOME Work" by taking extra slats out of the blinds, hanging curtains, rearranging some things, etc.  I planned to reupholster the chairs but . . . uuuhhh . . . that hasn't happened.  Todd is NOT happy about that but I can't find fabric I like, not to mention I'm daunted by the project and really want to buy chairs with lower backs.  Enough about the damn chairs.

And the slats from the blinds?  Wwwweeelllllll . . . let's just say they've been sitting on the floor of our imaginary baby's nursery just waiting to be used for something.  In one of my recent fits of insomnia, I created a use for those lonely little (big) slats.  I decided to make HALL PASSES for school!  Yes, it sounds sad but you'll probably understand my excitement if you're a crafter, a teacher, or a crafty teacher.

When I asked Todd to lend me his power saw skills, his response was "perhaps."  Living in the world of immediate gratification, I decided to get started on my own.  Come to find out, I didn't need his stinkin' saw anyway!  :)  Supplies: extra slats from faux wood blinds, cutting blade, duck tape, paint pens, and clear spray (optional).

Level of Difficulty for this project = 1462 on a 100 point scale.  It was so very, very difficult.  (note: sarcasm)

Today's craft area: the coffee table.

First, I took my blade along the natural notches of the blind slat and (didn't really) score it with a straight line.  And for safety's sake, I didn't use a mat or anything - just threw it across my knee.  Then I simply snapped the blind along the score line.

See that fancy, straight line?  Who needs a ruler??  (me!)

It made a lovely snapping sound.

Continuing the difficult work of this project, I cut my duck tape a little over 2x the width of the slat.  I got skull & crossbones for the boys' passes & dots for girls.

To protect the ends, I cut a tiny slit off the end of my large piece, stuck it on the end, and folded it over.  Just make sure it adheres well.  Told ya this was going to be difficult.

In preparation for any students with ADD/ADHD needs, I took a break to screw with the dog.  Couldn't help myself!!!

MOMMMM!  I iz not a pirate boy.  Argh.

After lovingly placing the tape around one side of the slat, I wrapped it around completely and made sure it formed a good bond by pressing on it with  my fingers.

From there, I fancied them up with some old-school paint pen lettering.  I must be too tired and lazy from summer to use my Cricut and actually cut out and rub on vinyl lettering!

Most likely, I will drill a small hole in the end and tie string so I can hang them on hooks.  The last thing I plan to do is spray over the lettering with clear acrylic spray paint to hopefully add some toughness and longevity to the hall passes.  Kids seem love to destroy any & every thing I make.

Oops, Steve Did It Again!

Last week, we visited our cousins for the day.  They are moving out-of-state, and we sure will miss them only being 1 1/2 hours away!  In order to spend some time with them before their move, Todd and I left around 11ish that morning and got home around 11ish that night.

Todd went in the house first while I drug some things out of my car.  When I came in, Todd was rushing around the house and with a panicked look on his face said, "Steve is gone!"  Not even a rattle of the cookie jar surfaced our tiny little man.  I immediately headed to the other side of the house while trying not to panic.  Calling his name like crazy, I guess I hoped to hear him call out, "Hey Mom!  I'm here!"  :)

Heading in to our bedroom, there was no sign of "white boy" as we sometimes call him.  (Yes, Pippin is "brown girl.")  Remember another of the many times he'd been "lost", I looked into our master bath and noticed the door to the wet area was closed.  Inside was a tired, overworked, slightly stressed horse named Steve.  Somehow his crazy ass got himself stuff in there.  Mind you, this wet area holds a toilet, door, and tub.  That's it.  It's not a large area!

Knowing he could've spent as many as 12 hours in there, I yelled that Steve was safe and had Todd usher him outside to potty while I inspected the damage.  It's Steve . . . you know there has to be damage!  In however long he spent in there, Steve-O went through a roll of toilet paper (some for play, some to add fiber to his diet), pulled a few robes off the door hook, and used all of that plus the bath mat to build himself a dog nest.  (Wish I snapped a pic before cleaning up!)  Big Boy must have gotten himself a nice nap while we were away.  Todd said he peed for almost a full minute, so he was definitely glad to be out of the confines he created.

No harm, no foul.  I have my tennis ball to play with now!

One would like to think he'd learned his lesson, but I'll bet he does it again someday!