Mother's Day and Teacher Appreciation Printables

While there's plenty of time to whip of a thoughtful gift, Mother's Day (May 10) and Teacher Appreciation Week (May 4-8) is right on the horizon. If you're like me you spend time searching for thoughtful gift ideas for these amazing people.

I had seen succulents in mason jars being used as centerpieces at a local restaurant, which gave me inspiration  to use this for gifts. I got even more fired up to when I learned from my friend Sherrie of the Art Resource Center how easy succulents were to care for. Just water once a month! I have a black thumb so this was a win, win!

Made nearly 60 Succulents in mason jars to give to teachers and staff during Teacher Appreciation Week

I try to give gifts that are beautiful yet practical and won't break the bank.

These printable gift tags paired with planted succulents gift make a fun Teacher Appreciation or Mother's Day gift. 

The Art Reource Center collected some of the mason jars, and  the rest were purchased from our local thrift store for 50 cents. The succulents, soil and gravel were FREE from Sherrie's yard. In total, I spent about $30.

Succulents can be found in any gardening store for about $3, but you could use any plant. Just make sure your container size is appropriate for the plant.


Make telling your teacher or mom "thank you" super easy with these 9 cute Thank You for Helping Me Grow gift tags.

Please share your gift idea for Mother's Day or Teacher Appreciation.One last thing, I would love for you to follow my blog via email HERE or Facebook HERE or Google+ HERE.

DIY Mother's Day Floppy Hat with Coffee Filters

You might be thinking that hats are for Easter however, students in Ms. Ledderman's and Ms. Dulin's preschool class think they're perfect for Mother's Day!  Each student made a hat for their parent to wear during the Mother's Day tea.

DIY Coffee Filter Hats

Coffee filters are inexpensive and so versatile that they can be used for so many different crafts. They are absorbent that when you add colors to them, the colors spread to make beautiful rainbow or tie dye like effects.

Supplies:

Industrial size coffee filters (found at restaurant supply store)
Droppers or water spray (1 for each color)
Faux Flowers
Diluted food coloring or tempera paint or diluted water color paint
Washi Tape or Paper Tape
Hot glue

Place opened coffee filter on table, let students decorate by saturating filter using a spray bottle or dropper with diluted food coloring, one color at at time. Place hat on top of inverted bowl to dry.

Once filter has completely dried and working in pairs, place 1 filter on head. Pull down gently near ears. Wrap Washi tape at brim line to fit head. Flip brim up. Remove from head and attached faux flower using hot glue. Optional: Using a small coffee filter, create a“flower” by pinching filter in middle. Wrap 1" tape at middle/stem. Attach flower at brim with tape.

Don't you think they are just lovely? I wore mine when my girls "surprised" me with a breakfast of toast and cut fruit and juice. 

Have a great Mother's Day!

What about you did you receive a handmade gift? 

Introducing Photography as Art and How to Make a Silhouette

A couple of days ago I stumbled on an article about a Canadian photographer Francois Bruenelle who photographed real-life doppelgangers from around the world. Francois Bruenelle has set out to make two hundred photos of doppelgangers and create an international  exhibit and a book with them titled I'm not a look-alike! So far he has photographed about one hundred.

Elisa Berst and Corinne Barois, photo by  Francois Bruenelle, Paris France 2010

Okay, you may be wondering what in the heck is doppelganger? They are look a-likes or a double of a living person. What is amazing is that he was able to photograph them together. It will also so shock you when you realize that they never met or were related to each other!

Nuno Filipe Mendes Godhino and Miguel Gonçalo Costa Silvestre Francois Bruenelle,  photo by  Lisboa Portugual 2010

 It is fascinating that these people are not related. 

Donmar Williams and  Martine Chase, photo by Francois Bruenelle, Weehaken  U.S.A. 2011

When viewing  Francois Bruenelle's works, I am reminded that art comes in all mediums; children often think about art as something to do with painting. It's good to introduce them to different mediums, one that does not involve paint brushes, watercolor, etc...

Logistics and cost issues may make it difficult to introduce photography as part your Art Masterpiece program. Check around second hand store for used cameras, pick up inexpensive disposable cameras, or if you are lucky get a Polaroid-so they can see instantaneously the results. 

Teach them how to properly hold a camera. Explain camera care. Encourage them to be creative, and photograph whatever subject appeals to them.You can even hold photo contests or hold an exhibition, and invite family and friends.

If you do not have a budget to purchase cameras. how about introducing them to the concept of positive and negative images, shadow and light by having students make a silhouette? 

What you will need is...

• Large sheet white and black (any color will do, however black works best) paper
• Thumb tacks or masking tape
• Black crayons
• Lamp

Tape a piece of white paper on a wall  Set up a light source and ask students to take turns standing between the paper and the light. With a black crayon, follow the outline of the shadow on the paper that is cast from the student. Cut out the figures and trace them onto black paper. Cut out the black figures and glue them onto large pieces of white paper.

They make great gifts; who would you give them to?