This Full House Reviews

Because, We Are ALL About Homemade Teachers Gifts AND Happy Last Minute Everything!

A mom friend (see this post for definition of "mom friend") Facebooked me yesterday and, well, I was a little sad to hear that Hope's class IS indeed classmomless.

[moment of silence]

Aaaanyway, we haven't really done anything very holiday-ish at our house, other than  purge and party with our vacuum cleaner (DAGNABIT!)

So, I took a break from steam cleaning/disinfecting girls' bedroom, this weekend (feel free to read into that, however you like) and seized the opportunity to revisit one of my ALL TIME favorite homemade teachers gifts my oldest girls made...uh...sometime ago...that also meets with MY crafting criteria:

1. Inexpensive
2. Supplies are easy to find
3. Proved Dork-proof
4. In 4 steps, or less

In other words, if you're strapped for holiday-ish ideas, or perhaps suffering from a bit of, "Holy Crap, what do you mean the party's tomorrow!" and your kids are all like, "But, ¹Jimmy's mommy made ALL her Christmas cards out of hand-stained glass!" then this project IS just for you!

Supplies to make 1 Christmas tree:  3 clay flower pots of various sizes (larger on bottom, smaller for the center and smallest goes on top); green acrylic paint, white acrylic paint, buttons of various sizes (or, colors); star for on top. 

You will also need a hot glue gun to assemble your project (candle provides a Christmasy effect and is totally optional!)

Step 1:  Paint each of the clay pots green (make sure to cover and protect the surface of your table) and let dry (this will take anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes and would be a good time for a cookie break!)

Step 2:  Carefully assemble clay pots with hot glue gun and sponge on white paint on rim of each pot (WARNING:  some glue guns can get REAL hot...ahem...kids will STILL want to do it, just give them another cookie!)

Step 3:  Hot glue gun buttons and you're ready to add a topper onto your tree (see WARNING above!) 

Step 4 is Optional:  We happened to have some glitter glue lying around the house (literally) which, added a twinkle and snow-like effect to the buttons, as well.

Viola, a homemade teachers gift that would make a terrific Christmas birthday party craft, or last minute present for the grandparents, guaranteed to be dork-proof, as well (AHEM!)

Shhhh, but don't tell them...okay?

¹We really don't know a Jimmy, but I bet you could name at least one person who could totally be his mom, am I right?

© 2003 - 2010  This FULL House (Re)Views / This FULL House Blahg'd

Clever Crafts: Handmade Hand & Footprint Recycled Reindeer Ornaments

COMMENTS ARE CLOSED:   SO HAPPY FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE WITH LISA H. (#36) KAREN M (#11) MITCH J (#32) AMY WEAS (#3) SHANNON BAAS (#6) RACHEL U (#27) MEME (#48) CRYSTLE TELLERDAY (#7) VERONICA GARRETT (#52) AND HEATHER L (#4) PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS!!!

TFH Holiday Picks 2010

Thanks to Scotch Double Sided Tape for sponsoring my writing about crafts. Add your comment below to be entered for a chance to win free sample rolls to help with your upcoming holiday needs.

We did A LOT of crafts when my kids were younger -- give a kid a piece of paper, a crayon and a couple of glue sticks, well, you ARE the Queen (or King) of Distraction -- especially, around the holidays.

Then, the crafts started coming home and today our house is filled with homemade ornaments, each one with its very own story :)

One of my absolute FAVORITES are the reindeer ornaments my kids LOVED to make in kindergarten.  Still do.  In fact, my youngest (she's 9 now) and I made THIS one, last night!

It's simple, a whole lot of fun to create, makes a great gift for the grandparents and this craft can be easily fashioned from whatever you have lying around the house, including your child's hand and feet.

Here, I'll show you:  I pulled some leftover supplies out of our craft chest.

Things Remembered: Personalized 2010 Make a Wish Jewelery Got Teens?

TFH Holiday Picks 2010

As my children grow older (um, yeah, I know, me too) coming up with good gift ideas (i.e. they like it and I can, you know, afford it) well, it is becoming more and more difficult.

Shopping for teenagers is REAL hard!

I was recently contacted by Things Remembered about their new line of personalized gifts for 2010 and was interested to learn about their partnership with the Make A Wish Foundation.

Why?

The folks at Things Remembered have developed a very nice array of engravable gifts to choose from, while allowing their customers the chance to, you know, give back, as well.

I did!  Want to see?

Adirondack Fleece Helps Kids Get in the Game CampaignTeam Embroidered Blanket Giveaway

COMMENTS ARE CLOSED:  SO GLAD TO BE SHARING WITH IRISHBILL (COMMENT #62) PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS!!!

TFH Holiday Pick 2010

Adirondack Fleece has launched an awesome campaign called Get in the Game to help raise awareness for the funding crisis that youth sports teams and athletic associations are currently experiencing.

Raising 4 kids, attending 4 different schools (yes, in the SAME school district) I am very proud to be able to participate in the campaign, by hosting a very special giveaway, while helping to spread a little fleecy warmth towards your favorite charitable cause or organization!

How's it work?

DYMO LabelManager 260P Review & Giveaway

COMMENTS ARE CLOSED: So happy to be sharing with Ames (comment #45) please check your email for further instructions!!!

Tomorrow is the first day of school (for 3 out of 4 of my kids, anyway) and I am looking forward to getting back to a normal, school day, schedule.

Keeping track of ALL the paperwork coming home, from 4 different schools, not so much!!!

So, when the good folks representing DYMO contacted me about trying out their LabelManager 260P hand held label maker (pictured above) I was all, like, yes, please!

Powered by a lithium-ion battery (the same technology used to power cell phones and laptop computers) the DYMO LabelManager 260P label maker helps eliminate the added need for keeping any more AA batteries in the house (YAY!) 

Why?

I can charge the unit (just like a laptop) and start labeling well, anything and everything that I can, you know, stick a label on, really.

Want to see?

Help Spiegel.com Give Back to Educators: Share 15% OFF With Your Favorite Teacher!

In the years when I actually wore business suits, B.C. (before children) I would often order from the Spiegel Catalog, B.I. (before Internet) and now they are launching their first ever SPIEGEL LOVES TEACHERS campaign.

Spiegel has partnered with the National Education Association to give back to all educators by offering 15% OFF at Spiegel.com -- simply enter the code TEACH at checkout to redeem.

Click here to take the quiz yourself and find out your Signature Style!

Now, if I could only convince SOME folks that there is to such a thing as being fashionably-challenged and that, in some cases, it may just be, you know, irreversible!

© 2010 This Full House Gone Shopping

Small Gray-ish Print:  No payments, products, or considerations, other than a chance to help families (like ours) save a little money, was received for this blog post.

Initials, Inc. Resort Tote Review & Giveaway

[WE HAVE A WINNER:  CONGRATULATIONS, MELISSA -- COMMENT #65 -- PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS!!]

It's supposed to hit 80 degrees, here in Jersey, this week and, well, my family and I are more than ready for some warm weather -- especially, since it was THE snowiest February and wettest March, evuh -- still, whatever happened to spring?

I was recently introduced to Initials, Inc., a home party-type company (think, Pampered Chef) that specializes in personalized gifts and was lucky enough to get the chance to leaf through their Spring/Summer 2010 catalog -- not to mention, see, for myself, just how roomy their gorgeous resort tote, pictured up there, on the cover, really is.

Wanna see?

This Full House Giveaway #5: Summer Gear Giveaway!

[Edited to add 5/26/08: WE HAVE A WINNER!]

 

That's right, Memorial Day is just around the corner - not to mention, the 15th anniversary of my 29th birthday - and then it's only 15 more sleeps until my kids start celebrating the start of their summer vacation.

[shiver]

Okay, it's only 50 degrees out, here in Jersey (would someone puh-lease turn on the heat) still.  We are more than ready to hit the surf and Target has the hottest pint-sized fashions and baby gear to stroll the beaches and boardwalks, this summer!

Want to see?

Favorite Find of the Day: Charity Gift Cards

Haven't you ever been invited somewhere - like a birthday party, wedding or graduation - and you don't know what in the world to give as a gift?

Or, which gift card would be more appreciated; not to mention, whether the recipient will use it, or not?

Making the Charity Choice can help you, them and a lot of other more deserving people feel better, too!

Alphabet Rockers: Brings Hip Hop to Children's Music

I have four children - I know, that you know, but my husband some times STILL needs to be reminded - and we probably own ten times the amount of music tapes and discs.

I'd give you an accurate count, if I could, but they're ALL in my car and scattered throughout the house.

Last week, I received a package from the nice people at School Time Music.

"Oh, look, ANOTHER children's CD!"

For those of you who do NOT know, Thing Two had a terrible case of colic and did NOT sleep for the first 8 months after she was born.

[shiver]

Seriously, I was at my wit's end - nothing funny about a colicky kid - until, I figured out that strapping her into the car seat and driving her around town, while listening to [GULP] a freaky-looking dinosaur with the totally annoying voice WAS the only thing that would soothe the child!

Me?

[gag]

After listening to about two tracks, I wanted to shoot myself.

"Let's play it, Momma!"

Mini-me (she's 6) is my youngest and probably spent a large portion of her preschool years in the minivan, too.

"Go ahead and pop it in, then."

Because, I am a DORK and - you know, sort of break things - besides, kids are so far advanced these days, yes?

Listen up everybody this day is live!
Before we get into the mix
Let's get our bodies moving,
And sing along, for kicks!

Hey, wait a minute and what the...

"Momma, are you playing rap music!?!?"

I'm a little bit classical and Thing Two (formerly known as the colicky one) is totally hip hop.

"Boy, you go Miss Thang, that's DEF!"

If she means good, then yes - and I'd be lost without my Urban Dictionary - but, Alphabet Rockers is definitely a children's CD that even a parent (like me) can listen to.

This is the first of a series of cool children's CDs Former 4 Non Blondes drummer Dawn Richardson and Kaitlin McGaw, a Harvard graduate who also sings for Suite Love Express, partnered to write and produce.

My opinion - the concept of giving parents (and teachers) a fresh new way to introduce children to letters, words and numbers, combined with rhythm and rhyme - this cd is nothing less than BRILLIANT!

The downside - besides the fact that a 14-song CD just doesn't seem enough, NONE.

"The CD has a vibe of Salt n' Pepa, Run DMC and the Beastie Boys all rolled into fun for the classroom."

With that said, not only did these two artists create a fun new way of getting children interested in learning - heaven knows, The Boy could have used this - Dawn and Kaitlin ARE commanding educators' attention, worldwide and on the web, and HAVE sparked my interest in, you know, cool music!

For that, my children thank you ;o)

Alphabet Rockers is available at Amazon.com for $14.99.

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