I WON

I got the BEST news a couple of weeks ago!  I had entered a contest on Facebook through Creative Teaching Press (CTP)... and WON!!!  Yep, I'm one of those people who seem to never win anything.  But this time I did!  And it was perfect timing too.  Going back to school, and having two classrooms, is not easy on the pocketbook.  And since I'm not "earning" (cough, cough) a paycheck yet, I don't have any wiggle room in my budget for real classroom decorating.  This win was perfect!  Especially since I love CTP products!

Creative Teaching Press gave me $50 to spend on any decor items of my choice.  Well, if you know me, making a decision is not the easiest thing.  Especially when there are so many great options.  I ended up going with my original product love - Dots on Turquoise!  Aren't these bulletin borders just too cute!?  Perfect for a fun and fresh art classroom.

So as part of my decorating plan, I wanted something super cute to hang from the ceiling to mark table numbers.  I ordered these Dots on Turquoise 6" Designer Cutouts...

The plan is write the table numbers on them and hang them from the cute paper lanterns that I ordered from The Knot.  At the time of purchase, they were on sale for .99 each (for the 10" size).

The lanterns arrived yesterday!  I'm loving the colors even more than I thought I would.  I think they'll go perfectly with the Dots on Turquoise items I ordered!

I can't wait until the CTP items arrive...  I'm a lucky girl!  Check out CTP's Facebook Page for lots of ideas and inspiration!

I Love A Good Deal!

Every year (even when I wasn't teaching) I look forward to Target having teacher supplies in their Dollar Spot.  I wasn't as impressed this year as I have been in the past.  BUT...  While shopping at Walmart a few weeks ago for my son's school supplies, I stumbled upon a little section with super cute teacher supplies!  I'm usually a Target girl over a Walmart girl, but these were so much cuter and only .88 each!  That's right!  Only .88! 

Here's what I got ~

• Pack of 7 color headliners.  These are a good size of of 20 X 5 inches!
• Pack of 7 shapes headliners.  Also 20 X 5 inches
• Pack of 10 shiny stars.  
• Two packs of shiny border trim.  10 ft. each.  I think it's a nice size for maybe one small bulletin board.  They had several colors to choose from.  I chose gold and silver.
• One pack of magnetic hooks.  Perfect for hanging hall passes on the door trim!

So that grand total.... (drum roll, please)....  $5.28! 

Just dreaming...

Well, unfortunately, I will not be able to get into either of my classrooms until next Monday at the earliest!  So until then, I'm doing a little dreaming.  You know, dreaming of the perfect classrooms.  And I'm SURE - absolutely POSITIVE - that this rug would be in it!  How perfect!

This little beauty is called "Pencils Down" and can be found at Make Your House A Home !

The Anticipation

    So I'm starting a blog.  What?  Yep.  I'm going to try it.  Bare with me.  I really don't know what I'm doing... But I'm going to give it shot.  So here goes...


   After being laid off for three years, I'm going back to school... as the art teacher.  It's all good timing, really.  I've loved staying home with my kids, but I have to be honest... Being a stay-at-home mom isn't as fun as it sounds when you have no extra money to spend.  I know, I know, there are lots of free things to do with kids, especially in the Cincinnati area.  But with gas prices as high as they've been, it wasn't exactly "free".  So, with my youngest in her last year of preschool, I'm ready to be back in the classroom!
 
   The anticipation of going back to school is REALLY building.  I will be at TWO schools this time around, teaching 1st and 2nd at both.  I even fall asleep thinking about how I'm going to decorate my classroom, what lessons I'm going to start the year with, and what my classrooms might look like.  Yep.  That's right.  I don't even know what my classrooms look like!

  I am SO glad that as I get ready for this school year I have the seeming unlimited resource of Pinterest!  Check out some of my boards!

Classroom Decor and Organization
 http://pinterest.com/staceyallenart/classroom-decor-and-organization/

Here's one example of what you will find on this board.  (Unfortunately, there is no link provided for the original source.)  What a great idea to show value! 

Art Ed Handouts, Forms, and More
 http://pinterest.com/staceyallenart/art-ed-handouts-forms-more/

Artists
http://pinterest.com/staceyallenart/artists/

Classroom jackpot, right?!  I love Pinterest.  Feel free to look around some of my other boards while you're there!