fab friday {#1 dry erase calendar}

Are you ready for this? ;)

Our family calendar is my #1 back to school help. 

{If it’s not on the THIS calendar it’s not happening in our family.}

It was super easy to make, too.  I bought a 16 x 20 inch frame at Hobby Lobby, & then I bought the vinyl at Say it With Style on etsy.  {She has several different styles to chose from, too!}

  

The vinyl is printed in reverse & sticks to the back of the glass.  You simply take the frame apart, &  then apply your vinyl to the inside of the glass.  {So when you put your glass back in the frame you’ve got a nice smooth surface to write on.   Love, love, love it!!} 

TIP:  I cut a white sheet of poster board to fit my frame & slid that in before I put it all back together.   You can write on the frame with a dry erase marker.  It works perfectly. 

   

We can put all of our important dates on our calendar…..so, do you see anything exciting coming up? hehe  {Look close…yep, my 1000 follower celebration starts Monday! Wahoo!!!}    Oh!  Did you notice it’s my birthday, too!!?? Yeah!  Can’t wait until Monday!

It’s going to  be fabulous!  I promise!

   

A big thanks to all of YOU for helping me out with my back to school series.  It’s been so much fun, & I enjoyed all of YOUR back to school ideas!  A special thanks to my guest bloggers!    {Thank you!}

Neko Knits | Dukes & Duchesses | Simply Organizing | Nadia

:)

See YOU on Monday!

sponsor spotlight {the gunny sack}

I'm so excited to introduce you to Tonia from The Gunny Sack.

 

 

Tonia won my sponsor giveaway not too long ago,

& I thought it be fun for me & you to get to know her a little bit better.

 

 

{So, I asked Tonia a few questions. :)}

 

 

How long have you been blogging?

 

I did my first post on December 1, 2010 but didn't start posting regularly until March 2011.

 

 

Why did you start a blog?

 

I started my blog as a way for people to find me online. I participate in several boutique/craft sales was asked multiple times last autumn about how to find me online. So, I started my blog and it has become so much more. It is a place where I can share ideas and make new friends!

 

 

What are your favorite materials to work with?

 

My favorite material to work with is fabric. I love sewing but haven't had much time to sew recently. I hope that now school has begun, I can get back to it!

 

 

What do you love to do when you're not crafting?

 

When I am not crafting, I love to spend time with my family and friends. I have been married for 16 years to best friend, Brian and we have 3 wonderful children. My husband and I both come from LARGE families and we are so fortunate that most of them live within 2 hours of us!

 

 

What is your favorite post?

 

This is a hard one but I guess I would have to pick my Felt Petal Pillow post. But I am really excited about my new weekly link party that takes place each Monday called What's In The Gunny Sack?. I would love for everyone to come and join the fun!

 

 

You can find more of Tonia here:

blog | facebook | pinterest | twitter | etsy

 

take a look at you {wreaths}

Take a look at just some of the fabulous link ups we had at last week’s

{wow me} wednesday party!

 

 

This week I went with the theme of wreaths!

 

 

Cork Wreath from Dream Brook Design

 

 

Yarn Wreath from Aley Creations

 

 

Autumn Wreath from Broken Treasures

 

 

Trick or Treat Wreath from Lil' Luna

 

 

Corn Husk Wreath from The Nested Home

 

 

Witch-tastic Wreath from Stubbornly Crafty

 

 

Purple & Brown Fall Wreath from a Pumpkin & a Princess

 

 

Day of the Dead Wreath by Craft Linky

 

 

Easy Breezy Wreath by Crafted Niche

 

 

Birthday Balloon Wreath from How to Nest for Less

 

 

Fabric Wreath from The 36th Avenue

 

 

Fall {or Halloween} Wreath from Crissy's Crafts

 

 

Eek! Wreath from A Fish Who Likes Flowers

 

 

Lima Bean Wreath from Seasons with the Sewells

 

 

Candy Corn Wreath from Keeping it Simple

 

 

 

Thanks so much for linking up, ladies!

 

Feel free to grab my NEW featured button! :)

 

<center><a href="http://gingersnapcrafts.com/"><img border="0"src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8EfmNNUs8fr8SItYeJtglRjBI9bUFPzRHgGGy3-A7Gaes87nxMqKPOWQfQDprNdM6yb7EpzdG4bhaDRRWV7srpVj4ZJtjOsCTdc5aRrUlEiJrYq1QHLoRWdG4oYM6PIkIkWU5Y4pYpVhL/s1600/Ginger_Snaps_Feature.p"/></a></center>   Remember there's still time to link up to this week's party! Just click the {wow me} wednesday tab on my menu bar.    

Would love to have you link up!

 

{wow me} wednesday #18

 

Welcome to {wow me} wednesday!

 

Last week’s most viewed link

was this great pumpkin round up

from Cupcake Kisses & Crumbs.

{Love these cute party favors from Martha Stewart. So cute!}

 

 

I’ll be featuring some more of your fabulous link ups

at {take a look at you} on Thursday.

So make sure you check back to see

if it was YOU who made me say {wow}. :)

 

 

Now on to the party!

 

The “rules” are simple.

Follow Ginger Snap Crafts. {Thank you!}

Grab a button or add a link somewhere on your blog.

Must be something made by YOU.

Link up to your post, not your main blog.

{No etsy shops, giveaways or business links, please.}

Visit other links, make new friends & most of all have fun!

 

Feel free to grab my NEW {wow me} wednesday button!

 

<center><a href="http://gingersnapcrafts.com/search/label/%7Bwow%20me%7D%20wednesday"><img border="0"src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEdHGCBZoAqcoStkDDhNNO1ARNUvd0JA8Ry-c4g8LJbPe6R7abZkrJCleaR2RAgt-5nPiaoK6R2Pc14-KlZllddY5y6s0stnDwyERWSPEkZK_iG3iTVNfDmerTFCidALKLypNsG7guctJr/s1600/wow-me.png"/></a></center>

 

FYI: Links are in random order…so each link will have a chance at the top spot.  :)

 

 

Can’t wait to see what you link up!

 

guest blogger {simply organized}

I'm excited to have Holly from Simply Organized

over today to help out with my back to school series.

Holly is here to share a great tip to help get the kiddo's

out of the door on school mornings {with ease}.

Take it away, Holly!

___________________________________________________________________________

You can get your student out the door with ease every morning with a little help by setting up a launch pad.   Personally, I have been obsessed with figuring out the perfect launch pad for my Kindergartner. It’s important to me to set up a good habit from the start, so I wanted to have it all ready for her on her first day of school.

 

Designate a space

Your student needs a designated place where he’ll retrieve his backpack and papers every single morning.  It is easy to create that space.  Near the garage door, the kitchen, or the front entry are ideal.  I chose our front entry for the launch pad since jackets and hooks are already here.

Look at this fabulous launch pad! (Photo courtesy of orgjunkie.com)

 

Evaluate the needs

After I decided on our front entry I evaluated the space and thought maybe a narrow but tall bookshelf would fit.  If the flooring in my entryway were consistent I’d maybe choose a cube system.  I eventually settled on something non-traditional.  I chose a magazine table from the 1940s which was on sale at a local funky store for $30.

Fabulous 40s vintage table

I like that it has side slots for incoming/outgoing papers, and I like that it had a shelf opening that is big enough for a backpack and a few other things.  And shoes can fit underneath it if need be.  When choosing your furniture for a launch pad you need to consider what you need it to store.  Try to avoid the floor as a launch pad.  I decided not to use a hook for the book bag because we have just a few lower hooks my kid can reach and they are valuable when it comes to coat and jacket weather.  Plus back packs get heavy!

Launch pad for one school kid

While I only have one student at the moment, even this little table can serve as a launching pad for two.

Launch pad for two

 

Train the kids (and significant other)

For a few weeks your job is to direct your students to the launch pad when they walk in the door from school.  Show them how you want them to empty their back pack, where to put the papers you need to look at. Have them put the papers you need to see on a shelf above their backpack.  Mine will be in the side pockets of the table.

 

Make it a habit

Kids learn so much by modeling, not just listening.  Actually do it for them while they watch the first few days. The next few days talk them through it, while they do it.  This will become a habit.  If you have to, make this a daily “chore” asking if they’ve done their backpack chore for the day.

Do your part

The next part of your job is going through the papers they’ve laid out for you.  If you can have an ingoing and an outgoing “tray” or shelf, then the papers that need to go back to school can then be put in that spot and you or your child can check that spot in the morning and simply drop those papers into the backpack in the morning, or save a step and simply put the papers into the backpack.

 

With your launch pad set up and your child “trained” you really can launch out the door with ease!

guest blogger {neko knits}

I’m so excited to have my good friend Kitty over to help out with my back to school series! 

Her & her hubby went back to school at the same time!  {Been there, done that! Whew!}

Kitty is here to share some of their fab organizing tips!  Take it away, Kitty!

_________________________________________________________________

 

Hi all!

My name is Kitty,

I occupy a little corner of

the Bloggerverse called

NekoKnits

 

Now I don't have any kids,

but the Mr. and I

both took the plunge

and went back to school,

at the same time.

With two students in the

house and one car between us.

I have learned a few

quick and easy ways to

organize.

First,

divide and conquer.

 

 

The Mr. and I got sick

of running around in the morning

looking for our text books.

So, we set aside two book shelves

for text books only.

This way we always know where to

find our texts.

I also use those magazine holders

to keep all my workbooks in one place.

Another holds study material

for the next test, that way

I know exactly what

I need to review.

The third one holds any material

I am going to use for the next

project, essay etc.

It's an easy place for me to put

everything as I work.

Second,

keep things you need at hand.

 

 

Instead of buying a pencil case

that sinks to the bottom of

my bag, I bought this

cheap binder pouch.

(You can get them for about $1.00)

They fit perfectly in the binder

and I can put all the things

I need for school into them.

 

 

This way

I don't have to worry

where my pencil case is,

I just grab my binder and go!

Third,

mark your property!

 

 

I'm always moving around

for school.

Whether it's from

floor to floor in a hospital

or class room to lab room.

With all the shuffling,

I often leave things

in odd places.

To solve the problem of

"Who's binder is this?"

I simply bought one of

those binders with the clear plastic

on the front cover.

Then found an image I liked,

added my name to it

and printed it off.

Tuck it under the clear plastic

and now there is no question

it's mine.

I hope you all find these ideas helpful!

What do you do to keep organized?

 

back to school {link party & features}

I've had so much fun at our back to school link party.

I loved looking at all of your fabulous back to school ideas!

Thank you so much for sharing!

 

Here’s a few of my favorites:

 

DIY Notepads from A Law Student’s Journey

{These would make awesome teacher gifts!}

 

 

Love these great ideas for snack & breakfast prep from Cupcakes Kisses 'N' Crumbs.

 

 

Check out this cute back to school printable from While He Was Napping.

 

 

Yum!  I've got to try these homemade Chocolate Chip Granola Bars from Shugary Sweets.

{Such a great back to school snack or something special to put in the kiddo’s lunches.}

 

 

This Children's Art Rail from That's What {Che} Said

is such a great way to display your child's art & so easy!

 

 

Now this is an issue all moms have...what to do with all those school papers? 

Check out this fab idea for organizing your child's school papers from Farewell, Office.

 

 

Thinking with my Heart has a chore chart...that is so cute & functional.

 

 

Your kiddos {& mine!} would LOVE a personalized lunch kit

like these from Come Together Kids.

{She shows you how to make them, too!}

 

 

My kiddos wouldn't mind taking their lunches to school...IF I packed lunches like this one! 

Check out The Very Hungry Caterpillar inspired lunch from Keeley McGuire.  So cute & fun!

 

 

A cute & very practical back to school teacher gift

....personalized hand sanitizer from Polkadot Whimsy!

 

 

 

One more back to school treat to share...it's yummy & "somewhat" healthy :)

...Banana Nut Bread Cookies from One Day at a Time. Yum!

 

 

The back to school link party will be open for a few more days. 

So if you have some more back to school ideas please link them up here.

 

{Back to School ideas only, please!}

 

For all other ideas & projects wait until tomorrow night!

{wow me} wednesday will go live around 7:00 pm. 

{Hope to see you there!}

 

If you were featured feel free to grab my NEW featured button!

 

<center><a href="http://gingersnapcrafts.com/"><img border="0"src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8EfmNNUs8fr8SItYeJtglRjBI9bUFPzRHgGGy3-A7Gaes87nxMqKPOWQfQDprNdM6yb7EpzdG4bhaDRRWV7srpVj4ZJtjOsCTdc5aRrUlEiJrYq1QHLoRWdG4oYM6PIkIkWU5Y4pYpVhL/s1600/Ginger_Snaps_Feature.p"/></a></center>