Crate Stools

I apologize ahead of time for the length of this post.  I originally was going to just share how I made my crate stools but had a few other pictures I wanted to share.

As I was sitting in my living room doing some school work on my computer on last night, this little friend paid a visit to me.  My boys and I watched it as it sat on something right above my shoulder.  I told my boys that dragonflies symbolize different things so we went to Google to see what we could find.   Here is the definition that we found...

The dragonfly normally lives most of its life as a nymph or an immature. It flies only for a fraction of its life and usually not more than a few months. This adult dragonfly does it all in these few months and leaves nothing to be desired. This style of life symbolizes and exemplifies the virtue of living IN the moment and living life to the fullest. By living in the moment you are aware of who you are, where you are, what you are doing, what you want, what you don’t and make informed choices on a moment-to-moment basis. 
This ability lets you live your life without regrets like the great dragonfly.

SO.POWERFUL!

It makes me think of our profession as a teacher.  Every single day we are teaching kids and making decisions based on events happening in our classrooms.  We have to make split second decisions.  Every day we do our best to teach our students.   One day they are gone.  Hopefully every single thing we do for our students is beneficial and they have grown.  They feel valued and loved.  They have learned.  Every year I reflect and think back to situations that have happened and wonder how things would have ended if I had done something differently or reacted a different way.  I hope that all the decisions I make are the best decisions possible.  I hope that everyday I have given 100% or more and that I have done the best job possible.

This also makes me think of my life.  There are so many times that I think about the past or worry about the future.  So much that sometimes I am not the happiest person that I could be.  I have to live in the moment more and let things go.  Tomorrow is not a promise and if I am doing the best that I can and am enjoying what is around me...right now...I'm doing good.

I took these in my living room.  The boys were scared at first but in researching them we learned that they are harmless.  Now they are okay with it flying around.


I wanted to share this picture too.  On Saturday a friend of mine asked if I wanted to go to a summer music festival that was going on in a town near us.  It was last minute and I didn't have anything going on.  It was so much fun!  Montgomery Gentry was the headliner for the evening.  We wanted to go see his bus (it has a cool picture on it).  While back there, we started talking to a security guard and one of the drivers that was hauling all the equipment.  Everyone was super nice.  Troy ended up coming over to where we were and took a picture with us.

Finally the real reason for this post....today I made Crate Stools for my classroom.  I recently pinned a set of instructions on how to make them.  They looked so easy. I think it said that it only took about 1 1/2 hours to do it.  Well, I started the whole process of gathering supplies at 3:30.  I finished the project at about 8:00 p.m.   Once I had all the supplies, it wouldn't have taken so long, if things went right. LOL!

1.  I took my crates to Lowe's.  I had them measure the inside and outside of my crates.  Instead of having the board sit on the inner frame, I wanted to make it extra sturdy and have the board on top too.  So, while the guy was cutting my wood (I asked for plywood) I went next door.

2.  While waiting for my wood, I went to JoAnn Fabric to get the foam to sit on my crates.  While there I made quite the mess.

3.  I found more fabric choices.  I already had one at home but found all these cute ones too.  I ended up getting the third on down because it matched both crates.  When I got home, I used the stuff that I already had from IKEA.  So, the new fabric will probably be used for pillows or curtains.

4.  I went to the area with foam.  It was 50% off!  Thank goodness!  That stuff is expensive!  I picked the pieces I wanted and went to the fabric counter to have it measured.

5.   I arrived home and unloaded everything from my car.  I have been hauling around crates for a couple days and needed my car space back.

 6.  I laid everything out in the grass.  One of my neighbors complained one year when I was drying out 23 t-shirts on my lawn.  We had tie-dyed them at school. I got a note in the mail saying I needed to keep them in the garage next time.  We don't live in an association and they were only out for 3 hours.  I knew I had to get done with this project tonight and that it was probably driving her nuts because I was doing this outside.

7.  I went to lay the smaller board on the inside frame.  It didn't fit!!!!  I didn't know what to do.  I was going to take them back, but my hubby pulled out his saw.

8.  All the stuff laid there.

9.  I measured the big boards (which did fit on the top) onto the foam.  I used a steak knife to cut around the boards.  I used foam that was 2 inches thick.  I wanted it a little bit thicker so there was more padding for the kids.

10.  My hubby cut an extra 1/8 inch off the smaller boards.

11.  I laid the bigger board onto the foam.  I laid it on the fabric with the print side down.  I cut around the board leaving about 3 extra inches.  I only needed to use 3 yards of fabric in all for 6 crates.

12.  While hubby was cutting boards, my son and I tried to figure out how to use the staple gun.  We couldn't get the staples to load.

13.  Hubby came over to see what the problem was.  For a few minutes we tried to load the staple gun.  He figured out that he bought the wrong size of staples so he headed back to Lowe's to get more.

14.  While he was gone, my youngest son played with the foam.  I had to beg him for it back.  He wanted to keep it for a toy! I won!

15.  I laid all the boards out on the material and waited for hubby to get home.  Luckily, Lowe's is not that far from our house.

16.   When we had the gun working, I started to staple two sides together.  The first one that I did, I pulled too tight.  It showed the bumps along the side of the foam.

17.  I wrapped the other edges over like a present.  Each one I did a little differently because I figured out different ways to fold them to make it easier and more appealing to the eyes.

18.  When they were done, my 4th grade son came out and tested them out.  He had been inside and brought out some cucumbers that he cut for a snack for me. (Yes, he is in his pj's..it's summer and it's a good day if we all change out of them before evening.)

19.  The top board is on all the crates.

20.  Looking pretty good.

21.  This is the step that I added.  The boards that I attached the foam and fabric to fit on the top of the crates.  This is the smaller board that fit on the inside rim.  I spread wood glue on it.

22.  I put wood glue on the underside of the fabric board.  (yep...I was never good at wrapping presents...it looks horrible underneath)

23. I put the big board back on top of the little board.  It's now reinforced.  The seat does not move because the little board is holding the top board in place.  The  seats are drying and sitting in my garage with all the stuff waiting to go to school.  These match my baskets and the glider chair that I found at an online garage sale.

 Here are some picutes and a rug for my room.  The stools match them pretty well.

 Here is the picture and carpet. for in my room!  It matches well.

Even my erasers match my color theme!

This is the picture that I found for my room that made me decide I wanted to have a "theme" and "color theme" in my classroom.  I think the crates match it very well.  I am excited to get decorating!

Have a great day!

If you have any questions, email me at sara3795@gmail.com and I will try to help you.

Sara

Made it Monday Linky Party and a Freebie!

I am linking up with 4th Grade Frolics to share a project that I completed today.

1.  I got these cute pencil holders from The Container Store.  They were on sale and they matched the colors of my classroom.  I am going to be putting these at tables this year so that when a child breaks their pencil, they don't have to get up and go get a new one.   They can place the broken one in the holder and grab a new one.  

2.  I loved colors but wanted to add something to it.  So I created some labels.  I trimmed them up so they would fit on the pencil holder.

 3.  I found some tape that matched the colors of my classroom and wrapped it around the middle of the box.

4.  I have never worked with Mod Podge before and googled how to use it.  I laminate everything in my classroom, but after a few weeks the labels seems to fall off get pulled off things that I attach it to.  After researching MP...I figured I'd try it.

5.  I attached the labels to the box with MP.  I still have to work on the technique a little bit.  This one looks like it has a couple little wrinkles, but overall I really like them.

6.  They are waiting to dry right now.  Once dry I will apply another layer.  I will then apply the sealer (that I didn't know I would need and have to go buy).

 I am including the labels here as a freebie.  You can grab them here.  Enjoy!
Sara

Super School Shopping Saturday Linky Party

I am linking up with Owl in a Vowel Tree to share my fun shopping finds for school.  I have been seeing all her cool pictures on Instragram (and other great finds by other teachers too).  I am loving Instragram!

You can join the fun too!

All you have to do is:

1.  Snap some pictures of your back to school supplies.

2.  Blog about your school supplies.

3.  Put the image above on your blog post and link it back to here.

I have found some great things for my room...

 1.  I found these cute owl things for my room.  They were on clearance at Office Max.  The bottom one is an eraser set.

 2.  Clips for my behavior chart and job chart.  I just put the kids names on the clips.  When they have to move up or down, it's easy to do with the clip.

 3.  Slick Stix markers.  Wow!!!  I love these!!!  They glide right over your paper!  I can't wait to start using them while writing my daily messages, anchor charts and posters.

 4.  I found these binder pouches at Target for 50 cents!!  I am so excited to use them!!!  I will be using this Rise and Shine binder this year and these pouches will fit right in!

You can find it here.  Rise and Shine Binder.  It is amazing!!  You can learn more about it over at Tunstall's Teaching TIdbits

 5.  Mini whiteboard erasers!  I was so excited to find these little gems!  People have been posting them on Instagram for the past couple weeks.  I could never find them!  I was surprised to find them at the Dollar Spot at Target yesterday while looking for something else.

6.  Bins from Big Lots.  These will be used to house by books.  The ones on the end are magazine racks.  They will work well with the kids Writer's Workshop books that they have completed.

7.  Labels of my bins.  I love these!!! They are at Michael's right now. If you buy 2 you get 1 free.  All you do is stick the clear pouch to your lockers, book bins, baskets...whatever!  They have a sticky back.  Your labels with your book titles, kids names, etc. right inside. They are super sticky and will last years.  All you have to do from year to year is slide a new label into the pocket.  I got the long ones for the magazine bins pictured above

Finally, I wanted to give a big shout out to Jameson from Lessons With Coffee.  She has been so helpful to me with helping with my blog button design.  Thanks so much Jameson!  Make sure you hope over and check out her blog.

Have a great day!  This morning a friend of mine called and asked if I wanted to go see Montgomery Gentry with her that afternoon. I couldn't turn it down.  I am so excited! 

Sara