Ikea Classroom

Ever since my interview and hiring at my school I've been planning an IKEA trip! Luckily, it worked out in my crazy crazy schedule that I got to go a few weeks ago!


I.was.so.excited!!

AND I figured out that one of my coworkers who is starting as a first year teacher lives right around the corner from me- so we carpooled!

I had a shopping list going:
TROFAST Frame 39.99

TROFAST Storage Box 3.00 * 6 = 18

Small door mats (6)

Magazine File 1.49 for 5 need 3 packs

Magnetic Containers or board

Lamp

Book Shelf 

Small Stools- 3

Stand up Frames

tall storage unit for behind kidney table

And I promised myself that I would not go overboard.

Morgan and I left school at 1pm to drive the hour and a half to get to our closest Ikea store! We chatted about many things- especially our pasts and what has brought us to teaching. Mostly we shared the same giddy excitement about a lifetime dream coming true. It was so entertaining I almost missed the exit! :)

When arriving we picked up a lovely, crunchy yellow bag, a few extra tape measures (for our measurement units), a tiny pencil and wish list. We started ooing and ahhing before we made it past the first room. Our first item we picked up was this cute floor lamp and after that it was pretty much a blur. Our yellow bags turned into school buses filled with cheap but functional gifts to our classrooms. She had a list as well and was way better at staying on task than I was! At the end of our trip we were amazed- we made it through in about 2.5 hours and we hadn't completely broken the bank. I tucked my receipt deep into my purse so I could receive state money. Satisfied, we ended our trip with an ice cream cone and cinnamon bun.

You can see the trofast bench (white) with black and white bins along with the polka dot carpet that we got for $20. (She also purchased one) The stacked stools under the computer were also a must!



The trip home was a little quieter- we were tired, and more music.

Some hindsight for future trips:
1. Go earlier rather than later in the summer. We really wanted to get packs of magazine holders (5 for 1.99) but they were out
2. Make a list- and stick to it!
3. Grab a cart! You will need it!
4. Pick up some extras of cheap items that you have somewhat of a plan for:I bought one of these and used it at meet the teacher as a document holder and could've used it more!

I did end up loosing my receipt. Which was very upsetting to me because I planned on turning it in for reimbursement. But as of TODAY ikea finally emailed a copy of it to me :)

Progress is Progress

In total now I've spent about 12 hours in my room. From moving items in, to hanging things up on the wall.

Here's a few snap shots of the progress:
Before

I still have a looong way to go but it feels good to have some things on the walls :)

After:

Writer's Wall

Lunch Choice Window: Not sure if I want to keep it here! And the blue pocket is for storing things behind the board! 

For hanging student work, the word wall is up there too

I also made these paper flowers for birthdays! Complete with a pencil and homework pass :) Now I don't have to worry about missing anyones birthday!

Hot Air Balloon Lanterns

While the floors are still being cleaned at my school I've been forced to focus on the walls, and the ceiling!

I've known I wanted to have continent named desk clusters since I started with my traveling theme but wanted a cool way to hang them!

One day, while searching pinterest aimlessly I found these adorable lanterns made into hot air balloons. I was hooked! I loved the design and colors.

I ended up making my own baskets from paper (so they would be lighter) and got inspiration from these leather baskets.

Here's how the little baskets are put together: 

Materials:
Scrapbook paper (I used 12x12 sheets)
Exacto Knife
Tape
Stapler
Ruler
Cutting pad
Pencil

I started by cutting my 12x12 sheets of paper into 6x6 squares

I then measured out a 3x3 template square for the base part of the basket
To make sure the square base was in the middle, I measured 1.5 inches in on two sides and lined up the smaller base square.

After aligning the small square I scored the edges. This is for later folding as well (seen below)

Then, I used my ruler to cut from the outer square's corner to the inner and repeated 4 times:

Then, following the scored edges, opposite ends are folded upward and their points meet. At each intersection of points I taped and stapled. 

Now: Attaching the basket to the lantern

Materials: 

Twine

Scissors

Lantern

Basket (made above)

Exacto Knife

Ribbon

Make small holes in the corners of your baskets

Cut two pieces of twine that are around 50" each. Make them the same size, whatever size you choose.

Match the ends and find the middle of each piece.

Loop the middle parts onto the top metal piece in the lantern

Wrap the twine pieces evenly around the lantern, dividing each section into quarters (roughly)

Then, string one piece of twine into each corner and tie to each other inside the basket. Make the twine go from the outside to the inside so the ties are hidden.

Add a piece of ribbon or twine to tighten the strings above the basket. I stapled the ribbon to the twine so it wouldn't move about. 

And here's how it turned out! :) I also added the continent names for my table groups found for free here! 

Here's how they look in the room!

Silhouette Stenciling

Don't we all just love when our letters are perfectly spaced and on a straight line?

Well- I've explored two ways to make that happen with the Silhoutte Cameo
1. Using vinyl and transfer tape
2. Making stencils

Stencils can be really annoying at times, but if you give yourself enough time they will be worth it for sure!

Here are some projects I've completed using stenciling:

 

The main things I've learned are:
-Pick a thicker font
-Before cutting line things up evenly apart using the grid, especially if they are on two different lines
-Allow a lot of time for carefully peeling the letters off your cutting mat
-Use a re-stickable spray to adhere your stencil to your project
-Use a sponge brush and dab the letters from straight up and down, if you move the brush sideways you might force the paint into the space under the paper.
-Mix your colors of paint with white or do a white primer layer so the colors end up brighter.

Cork Boards and Canvases

Another one of my favorite things about making things is REmaking things. I go through phases of painting alot and not painting at all. I'm no Van Gogh but I'm known to have a few extra canvases laying around.

The other day I found cork boards at Michaels on clearance for $3.98 and planned on making some kind of "love notes" board to hang pictures and things that students give me.

While I was student teaching I ended up with TONS of pictures because I expressed my love of drawing and art with my students all the time. The pictures I got were priceless :) After a long weekend one child brought in a stack for me because she "thought about me all weekend". Just one of the presents that teaching gives you- sweet and thoughtful children.

Back to the blog- So as I was thinking about making a board I really wanted to use some kind of frame without glass in it, but I always come across the issue that the push pins are too long and poke out the back or don't poke in at all. Then, while cleaning out some items in my craft room, I realized that I had some used canvases that were exactly 12 x 12- the same size as my cork board.

And now I'll explain how to make these cuties yourself :)

Materials
- 12x 12 Cork Boards
- 12 x 12 canvases
- Scissors
- Staple Gun
- Fabric
- Twine (optional)

I REused some old canvases that I had used for collages. :)


1. Cut your fabric about 2 inches larger on each side of the 12x12 canvas
2. I went ahead and stapled the cork board to the front of the canvases so it wouldn't slide
3. Place the fabric print down on a sturdy surface then place the cork side of the canvas down into the middle of the fabric square
4. Fold the fabric towards the back along the right side and staple in the middle, do this again on the left side.
5. Now things get a little more complicated- be sure to follow the pictures!
    a. on the top of the canvas fold the fabric in (like you would when wrapping a present) and staple

    b. with your thumb fold in the remaining fabric on the lower or back half in 

    c. then with your index fingers pull the top piece over and secure both pieces with a staple

    d. repeat for the other 3 corners

 

Now you're done! 

Unless you'd like to add some twine to hold pictures/ notes etc.