Monday Made It

Aloha friends! So happy to be part of Tara's Monday Made It again.  For the first time all summer I feel like I have room to breathe and do fun stuff.  Not that I haven't been doing fun things, but I am finally finished with my class and it has taken a HUGE weight off my shoulders.



This week I was able to finish not one, not two, but three items!



I don't know about you, but I have 4 different clip charts in my classroom.  I picked up 100 new clothespins for my new group.  I wanted to color code them, but 100 clips is a lot to paint!  A sweet fan of my blog emailed me some pictures of her dyed clips that she had made for her Surf's Up clip chart.  She used Rit dye and they came out looking great!  Well I couldn't find any Rit dye, so I decided I would use food coloring.

I found a great tutorial {HERE}


I did what she suggested and took apart my clothespins.  I filled the jar halfway with boiling water added 2 Tbls. of Vinegar and about 20 drops of blue dye and 10 drops of green.


The clips float to the top, so I placed a drinking class that fit perfectly into my jar to keep the clips under water.  I let them sit for about 5 hours while I ran errands and cleaned the house.

I drained them out and placed them on some cardboard to dry.


They actually came out a really light minty green, and I love the weathered look to them.  So I experimented with a few more colors.



I think I have plenty of clips now!!  So much faster than painting them or even spray painting.  They also don't stick together when you open them.  Oh and I would suggest NOT taking them apart because they are a pain in the you know what to put back together!  The metal clasp will just be duller.


The next project has been floating around and I just had to make a set of these for my class this year.

I picked up these Sterilite Drawers at Target for around $10.  It's a bit more than I wanted to pay, but I couldn't find them anywhere else.


I decided I wanted to put my Washi Tape to use, so I picked these three colors that go with my classroom.


I lined up the tape and just pressed it on.




It took me about 10 minutes. I don't think the Washi tape will last on its own so I plan to cover it with either Modge Podge or just clear packing tape.  I will experiment more this week.


Then I added on my labels with packing tape. The font is Janda Quirky Girl.


It was so easy and it will look so nice.  I plan to put it by my doorway for parents who want to pop in and help when they can.  It will also be great for me to organize everything in one place:)



In the spring I came out with my first pack of word problems because I just felt that this was a really weak area for my students.  I received so many requests for a bundled set for the whole year!  I am really trying, but it will be awhile.  So here is a set to start off the year.


This time I included a cover to make little booklets out of them.


I plan to do these as a whole group activity until I think they are ready to start these on their own. 
They are available in my TpT store.  

Are you still with me? Did you nod off yet?  Well wake up and go check out all the rest of these fabulous posts over at 4th Grade Frolics!  I have one week left before I head into my class to start unpacking!  Can't wait to see what the rest of you inspire me to make!





26 comments

  1. Your clothespins turned out great - I saw them on Instagram last night! I am thinking the same thing about my washi tape project. I just don't know that it is going to stay on long enough. I hate redoing things so it will be nice to see what you use. I was thinking packing tape, but then I thought mod podge too. Great minds think alike. I hope it stays on because mine look cute too! Your newest follower! Come follow me at http://Justaprimarygirl.blogspot.com

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    1. Thank you! I will keep you posted on my progress with them :)

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  2. So CUTE! I may have to do that with my clothespins instead of the glitter. (:

    Britney
    Tailor-made Teaching

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  3. The clothspin are great and why the heck didn't I think about using tape to trim out things like that. So cute and so easy. :)
    ~Brandee
    Creating Lifelong Learners
    Follow me on Bloglovin'

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  4. Your drawers are beautiful! One of my goals is to do my drawers this year. The clothes pins came out great too!

    Sara :)
    Smiling In Second Grade

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  5. Oh my goodness! LOVING some washi tape! Where does everyone get it??? Also, your word problem packet looks super. LOVE the organization on the pages. I think it would be super for kids to follow. I am your newest follower :)

    Lauren
    The Sweetest Thing
    Follow me on Bloglovin'!

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  6. Your clothespins turned out so cute! I have to try that this week. Love the washi tape on the drawers. Thanks for sharing all of your great ideas! Enjoy your week and take some time to relax!

    Krista
    Stellar-Students

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  7. Love the clothespins. :) I am making a list of things to do with Washi Tape...and adding the drawer trim idea to it. Your drawers look awesome!

    Wendy
    Read With Me ABC

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  8. Love the clothespins! I have been seeing all the glitter ones online but didn't want to take on that project - this is perfect! Your math problem booklet looks great!!

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  9. I love the drawers! I may have to steal the idea :)
    Washi tape...here I come,
    tania
    My Second Sense

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  10. I love all your projects! Are you going to be making word problems for the rest of the year? I love your format!

    Brittany
    Excelling In Second

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  11. Love the drawers you made with the labels. I was wondering what font you used for the labels? Thanks.

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  12. I love your drawers! That is a much better way to organize papers than my messy "pile" system I had going on last year.

    Your newest follower,

    Jordan
    Sweet Little Things

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  13. I really love how the drawers turned out!!! I made those this week as well but with the freebie from the Tattooed Teacher's Blog. I really like how you use the washi tape though. It's such a nice accent.

    Heidi
    Secondgradealicious!

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  14. OMG you are brilliant. The washi tape is such a fabulous idea. Now I know what to do with mine! Thanks for the inspiration.
    Melissa
    MS. M

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  15. Love those drawers! Anyway you'd be willing to share your labels? I LOVE them! :)
    Nicole
    Teaching With Style

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    Replies
    1. I forgot to add them to my post! Thanks for the reminder :)

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  16. Where do you find Washi tape? That would be perfect for cutesy-ing up my book boxes. THANK YOU for the clothespin idea, too! I'm definitely going to be doing this!

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    Replies
    1. I got a grab bag from Rubee Lane, but you can find it in any craft store or online. Just Google it!

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  17. I love it all. I can't seem to relax this summer yet because all of you amazing teachers keep inspiring me to keep creating!

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  18. Nod off ???? I love your ideas and colours....I don't really want to think about school just yet but you always inspire me and give me so many ideas :)

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  19. I normally don't like the colored clothespins but I love the colors that yours turned out to be! Great job! And I also have this week left before I head in to start working on the room. Meet the Teacher Night is July 30th for me. Eeeek. So soon!

    -Katie
    My blog: Building a House of Love

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    Replies
    1. I can't believe how quickly it sneaks up! Enjoy your last week!

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  20. I have never heard of Washi tape. I can't wait to get to Hobby Lobby and see if they have some. I love the idea of tape instead of covering it all with paper. Thanks for sharing. You always have such great ideas.
    Tammy

    Mrs. Flickinger's Butterfly Oasis

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  21. Re: Sterilite Drawers- I could not find them ANYWHERE! Not at Walmart, Big Lots!, Staples, Meijer, Christmas Tree Store, JoAnns. There is some kind of Sterilite conspiracy!

    I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the Washi tape, it looks way easier than scrapbook paper, tape, glue, Mod-Podge, and whatever!

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Mahalo Nui Loa For Commenting!!

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