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I started researching mums and realized that they are a Texas tradition.  I always thought everyone did them.  Oh, well... the rest of the world's loss.  Back when I was in high school there were not craft stores like there are now.  Your mum was bought from a florist by your date or your parents or by your best friend.  Making them yourself was unheard of.  One year while teaching, I made myself a little mum but I so wanted to make another mum.  I love creating new things and now that I have boys in high school and one has a girlfriend, I have a chance to create a homecoming mum. In my research, I realized that you can pay more than $300 for a homecoming mum.  I'm sorry, but that is absolutely ridiculous.  I found a few websites that helped me out but now I would like to share with you how I made mine and how I saved on costs. First lets start with the ribbons.  Homecoming mums are made with cheap floral ribbon.  Unfortunate...

This is part 2 of my classroom decorations for Hollywood and Movies.  Please see Part 1 here. We made it through our first week of school.  I'm still adding some final touches to my room but it's mostly done, finally. I have a rectangle shaped room.  Above the window I put The Jett Pack in clapboard letters.  I actually found a free font and then cut it out on my electronic cutter.  Beside and below the window is "A Star Is Born."  I took pictures of all my students (mostly on Meet the Teacher night) wearing sunglasses and the girls got to wear a boa.  I printed the pictures in black and white with their names and birthdates like a real "headshot," mounted it on black construction paper and then laminated it. The other side of the long wall, I hung a few little decorations and some old movie posters. The back wall actually has my leftover bulletin board from last year.  Shhh!  Don't tell anyone.  I ran out of time and...

Two years ago, I decided to try a themed classroom and I loved it.  I had so much fun with my nifty-fifties class.  But, it was time for a change.  What should I do?  I considered several options and finally decided on a Hollywood or Movies theme. This first picture is my clock.  I took a trashcan, turned it upside down and traced it on a piece of white poster board for the large circle.  I traced a frisbee for the inside circle.  Then, I just started to free draw the gears.  I found black and silver spray paint, headed outside and gave it a light coat.  The "film" is just brown butcher paper that I added a few lines and dashes to.  I love how I was able to staple it to the wall with dimension. Next, is my... wait stop.... don't laugh... my school doesn't have smart boards.  We have "flannel graph".  Seriously, the red is felt and I have felt cut outs that I can stick to the board.  I wanted black felt but couldn...

Each of these cards was made by using the sketches on Operation Write Home .  I would have a friend pick a number, I would find the corresponding sketch and create.  It was a blast.  Hopefully, I will actually send some of these cards to Operation Write Home for our military to use to send to their loved ones.  However, not all of these cards are actually eligible.  If you decide to send card to OWH, make sure you follow the guidelines including "no glitter".

Hi, my name is Michelle and I have the smallest full sized bathroom in the world.  Sure, I know what you're thinking... But seriously, it is.  The walls are angled so that everything fits, just barely. This is my upstairs bathroom, the one my kids use.  Several years ago, I repainted it white with primary red, yellow, blue, and green vertical stripes.  It had a map of the world for the shower curtain and it was so cute for my little boys.  Look at that short little mirror for toddler boys, and that plastic towel rack has seen better days. Oh, it also has ugly brown doors. Now, I have teenage boys.  The old shower curtain was hanging on by 3 rings and the room just needed a freshening up.  The tiles over the tub are white with avocado green flecks which makes it pretty tricky to coordinate and not look like my mother's house from the 70's.  I decided I wanted to re-paint the bathroom grey.  But, after 4 coats of Kilz primer, my ...