Mother's Day Kid's Class

Here is a class I offered a few times over the past 3 weeks leading up to Mother's Day.  A project that was set for Mother's Day but could really be used for any occasion or non-occasion.

I prepared a portion of the project and then the kids did a little painting, sanding, and gluing.   

Here is the room nicely organized before one of the classes started.

Here you can see the blocks were prepainted.  The kids then painted the letters.

I had a special request for MUM.

Painting started cleanly!  It took a long time for this particular set to dry!

My boys all attended one of the sessions.  Mommy chose the papers they would be using.  Yes I am a little controlling.  

The blocks were sanded an the edges a little to give that distressed look.

Then the papers were "glued" to the blocks with Mod Podge.  Straight to the block and then coated across the top.

A hot glue gun attached the letters onto the blocked once they were dry and sanded like the blocks.

The ribbon was tied around the full block and into a bow.  There was then a little extra length tied in a knot around the original bow.  I added a little hot glue to secure the bow from coming undone.  

If you are interested I have a few extra sets left over!  Kits are $12.00 and will come with pre painted blocks.  

Thanks for visiting, 

Danine

Mother's Day Card with the Grade 1 Class

Tomorrow I am going to spend an hour with my oldest son’s Grade 1 Art Class.  I have designed a Mother’s Day Card that 22 of the kids will be making for their Mom’s. 

Each child will receive an envelope with their supplies.  In making this blog post I am actually cheating a little.  The kids are going to follow along the post as a tutorial on the smart board in their classroom.  Image the way things have changed.  Follow along for your step by step instructions as there are still a few days to create instead of buy.  

Fold your Red paper in half and press your finger along the fold.    

Glue the creme paper with the ribbon on it to the middle of the Red paper.  The torn edge should be facing up.  You can use a glue stick for this.

Go to the Stamp Station and choose a stamp for the inside of your card. 

 Stamp the back of your card too.  

Take your pink paper to the Big Shot Station to emboss and cut out the Top Note shape.  Mrs. Regenwetter will help you do this step.  

Glue the pink paper to the front of your card over top of the ribbon.

Use pencil crayons to color your Mom Stamp and cut out along the edges.  

Your teacher will give you 2 pieces of puffy tape to stick it to your card.

Bend the 5 butterflies and then glue one of their wings to your card.  Make your own design with the butterflies.  

Go to Mrs. Regenwetter to get your rhinestone added.  

Put your card on the counter to dry.  Remember to put the envelope with your card too.  

You are all finished.  

Clean up your desk and help clean up the Big Shot Station or the Stamp Station.

I am really looking forward to working in the classroom and I know I am going to be receiving a beautiful Mother’s Day Card in exchange!  I already have a smile thinking of how many happy moms there will be on Sunday when they open this card handmade by their child.  

Thanks for joining me,

Danine 

Preschool Meal Exchange

I had already been booked to do a Simply Supper Meal Preparation when I was asked to do this Preschool Meal Exchange.  I am always open to learning and gaining knowledge so I said yes and joined this meal exchange too. 

A group of 5 moms from my second son’s preschool decided to make 10 different meals.  Each mom made 2 different meals 5 times.    One mom was the organizer who decided the 10 meals, made copies of the recipes to distribute, and figure out a delivery schedule.  Once the email with all the choices came out we signed up for which we wanted to make.  I chose two pork meals.  There were also chicken and beef based meals.  

We were given a month’s notice and did the actual exchange in the cold (but really it wasn’t a cold day) at the preschool parking lot.  This worked well as we could pull the prepared frozen meals out of our freezer, run them to school with our kids, and then return home with the new meals for the freezer again.  

I did my meals up the day before.  I shopped in the morning with my regular weekly trip on monday mornings and then spent 2 hours in the afternoon preparing.  2 hours is all that it took to put 13 meals in the freezer and number 14 was what we ate for supper.  We were only required to prepare 10 meals but the portions I purchased allowed for a few extras to go into my freezer. 

In the end the 2 meals ( 5 of each recipe) that I had contributed to the exchange worked out to be $12.00 each.  All the ingredients as well as the ziploc baggies are included in that price.  I should also note that the $12.00 was based on the 10 meals and I did not include the other 4 meals that I got out of the portions I purchased.  With those included the price was even lower at $8.47 each.  That “meal” will feed 3 adults and 4 children with leftovers for the Daddy’s midnight snack.  For a smaller family the recipe would easily last for 2 suppers.

 Others in the exchange had expressed that their meals were more expensive to create.  It was agreed and expressed before doing the exchange that you were in full control of your meals.  It was your choice to shop were you preferred.  

My meats came from Costco and the balance of ingredients were from the Superstore. The meats were the same price from Superstore or Costco however the quality was higher from Costco.  

All of the meals were good.  There were a few that were exceptional!  We loved the sweet and sour meatballs so much that it is the first recipe added to the exchange I am preparing right now.  There is only 1 meal that I would not ever make again.  And that truly isn’t fair to say without adding that it was just the recipe that needs to be tweaked for my family.  We would use much less red wine vinegar.  It had much too much tart for our house.  

If you are hesitant to try a specific retail location for supper preparation but think the idea of it is cool start this way.  It does have more labour involved but the price is much cheaper.  

That’s my 2 cents for the day, 

Danine