Organization for the extremely detail orientented new teacher

Say that ten times fast. 

Just kidding, we all know that new teachers don't have any extra time.

I was blessed to have three weeks due to the hiring process and making things official that I could prepare some things so when I walked into the classroom, I would be ready to go.

And in order for this first year to be less stressful, I knew I would need to have an organization system to help keep my stress level at bay.

So of course, Pinterest is like a paradise for teachers everywhere. And so like many teachers, I have been saving things over the course of the years that would be great tools for organization in my classroom.

Here are two of my favorites, and neither of them was super hard, or costly!

Transform a 3-drawer Sterilite Drawer into a weekly paper organization tool!

 I found a free editable template to make the drawer labels. 

I loved it so much, I made another one up to help keep me organized!

 And the handy dandy teacher toolbox, at your finger tips. 

Using a simple plastic toolbox with drawers

 And turning into the all inclusive teacher toolbox. I love that everything has its own place, and it makes it so easy for me to find things, as well as the many aides, assistants and other staff members who work in my room!

And who doesn't love a little bright chevron to brighten up their room??

And a sneak peak at my newly decorated bulletin boards!

In college, I thought back to school dorm/apartment shopping was the best thing, but nope.. Definitely decorating bulletin boards!!!

So I hope you can enjoy your imperfection amidst all the joys of your life!

Imperfection

Amongst all the imperfections within life, it never ceases to amaze me that God's timing is perfect.

When I had become just about as frustrated as I could become, God opened the door, and I landed that perfect position that I had been so patiently - okay, let me be honest, I am not patient. Realistically, I was impatiently waiting for the door to open for me to go in and have an impact on education.

I am so excited to have landed a job at a wonderful school district, with wonderful coworkers and students.


So now, for all the details.

I am the proud teacher of 24 dear, darling Kindergarteners!

And through all the waiting, God showed me that patience truly is a virtue, and that his timing is perfect, and I need to trust in that.

So now, I have been in the classroom for a month, adjusted to my students, tweaked the routine, and built many relationships - with my Kindergarten team, as well as my students.

And I feel so incredibly blessed to have the opportunity to impact childrens' education, starting with the very foundation which others will build upon.

And among all my great ideas, busy planning, meetings, and keeping (or trying to) up with a house, I may be very absent, and for that I apologize. But once I had adjusted to my new norm, I promise to get back into crafting, posting, and I am sure occasionally a good story or two about the classroom.

So I hope that you can continue to enjoy your imperfect slice of life, I know I sure am!

Sunflower Decoupage Canvas (Step-by-Step Directions)

This post is very similar to my post on the "Happy Fall Y'all Decoupage Canvas", you can see it here.

I had so much fun creating that one that I decided to create a sunflower canvas in the same way. 

And, I was able to use my newly acquired Cricut, so what else could be better?

Sunflower Decoupage Cavas Tutorial

view tutorial at imperfectsliceoflife.blogspot.com

So, the next time I headed to Hobby Lobby when papers were half off, I picked out several different shades of yellow and burnt yellow to use for the petals of my sunflower canvas. I figured I could use the same marbled brown paper for the center of the flower so that saved my from having to buy any more. I figured I could use the same orange gingham ribbon I had used on the Pumpkin Canvas, so I didn't buy any more. And I had an 11x14 Canvas on hand from a previous project, as well as the Matte Mod Podge, and acrylic paint.

Just like the other canvas, first, I painted the canvas.

I loved the Antique White Paint I had used on the last canvas, so I used it agin (purchased at Miejer).

Because of the antique white color, it caused the paint to have a little variation, which I loved!

Let the paint dry.

These are some of the colors I chose to make the sunflower.

While the paint dried, I set my Cricut up to cut the petals for the Sunflower. 

I had the cricut cut 2 inch petals and 3 1/2 inch petals.

I also used the Cricut to cut the circle center for the sunflower.

On the last canvas, I was so happy with the way the marbling turned out with the yellow and orange, I decided to do it get. But this time I wanted to use yellow and brown.

I again added small swooshes of Sunflower yellow (purchased at Hobby Lobby when they were 30% off)

And then I added some brown - I absolutely love this as well!!

Next I assembled the flower, I did this all before I Mod Podged it to the canvas

I just simply used Elmer's Glue to glue the petal to the center of the sunflower. I stared with a repeating pattern of the three smaller petals around the entire center.

It looked a little bit like a turkey! But this is what it should look like.

Once the flower was filled with the smaller petals, I added the larger ones around in a repeating pattern again. 

I put the Sunflower on the canvas, but it needed somethig else.....

Leaves, so I grapped a piece of green cardstock and I cut three 3 1/2 inch leaves, and added them to the back of the flower. 

Then I began Mod Podging, again I used the Matte Finish on this project. 

I always use foam brush to help me coat the canvas with the Mod Podge. 

I decided I would use my Matte Finish Mod Podge to help with creating the fall feeling of the canvas.

I purchased this at Hobby Lobby with a 40% off coupon.

I coated the entire Sunflower with Mod Podge and let it dry over night. 

Once it was dry, I hot glued the ribbon to create the hanger. 

A wonderful addition to any fall decor you have in your home.

Take in the sunflowers, and enjoy your imperfect slice of life!

Pumpkin DecoMesh Wreath (Step-by-Step Directions)

Materials:

5 1/2 inch wide Orange DecoMesh -I purchased mine after Halloween in 2014 at Hobby Lobby, so I got it for $2.39 a roll. I bought 3 rolls, but only used one. If you purchased it leading up to Fall, you can get it anywhere between $4.99 and $7.99

Wire Wreath Frame -I used a 14 inch wreath frame that I purchased at Pat Catan's for $2.79 - you can use any size wire wreath frame, the larger it is, the more DecoMesh it will require-

Orange Paint - I used acrylic paint because I had it on hand, truthfully, Orange Spray Paint would have been MUCH easier, but I didn't see the need to purchase it, so I made the acrylic work - it was left over from a previous project

Orange Pipe Cleaners - I purchased a pack of 25 at Pat Catan's for 83 cents

Hot Glue Gun & Hot Glue

Green DecoMest - I purchased this while it was half off at Hobby Lobby, so I got it for $2.99  (I have a ton left over, so I will have it use for other projects) this is for the stem. If you don't want to buy it, then make a stem from something you have at home

Ribbon - I used some orange I had left over from a Wedding project, but really you can use anything to have a wreath from

Step 1: Paint the Wire Wreath Frame (in case it shows through you want it to be less visible). Like I said, I used acrylic because I had it. But spray paint would have been sooo much easier!

Step 2: Attach Pipe Cleaners, I started by attaching them to the braces. Twist them around twice.

In spots where there were not braces, I out a dab of hot glue to attach them. 

Twist twice and add a little more glue.

For my 14 inch wreath, I use five across the top and five across the bottom.

This is the DecoMest I used

Step 3: Begin by bunching up the DecoMesh and attach it to the back of the wreath frame with the pipe cleaners. 

Always Twist Twice

Step 4: Take it down to the bottom, attach it to the pipe cleaner. 

I decided I wanted it to be fuller, so I went over it again with a second layer. 

  

Step 5: Continue with the whole wreath. This is basically where you will find what will work best for you, so do it. I went over each section twice, and there were five sections across the frame. 

After I had filled all the pipe cleaners, I went back through finished up the roll and attached more, using more pipe cleaners to make it more full. I wanted a plump pumpkin!

The back of the wreath should look something like this

Step 6: Tuck all your pipe cleaners into the back of the wreath, that way they aren't sticking out every which direction.

This is what the front should look like.

DecoMesh for the stem

Step 7: Cut a piece of Green DecoMesh about 2.5 feet long and roll into a small tube to make it a stem. Like I said earlier, if you don't want to buy a roll, then use something you have at home, like toiled paper tube and paint it. 

Step 7: Attach it with a pipe cleaner to the back of the wreath

I decided to add some Deco Ribbon Tubing that I had purchased for a different project, but I haven't used yet. I attached them to the back with a pipe cleaned as well. I thought it would make it look a little like vines :)

 Step 8: Cut a ribbon long enough to use as hanger. Tie it to the back of the frame using double knots.

Hang up your Pumpkin Wreath. You will probably have to go back and fluff. I pulled at the layers to make them "stand up" a bit, to give the pumpkin some definition. The nice thing about DecoMesh is that is gets caught in it self, so it is easy to make it pouf out more.

Just take some time and enjoy the fruits of your labor, and your slice of imperfect life!