Transition & Pocket Full of Love

We started back to school this week and the new routine is good, but of course an adjustment for all of us.  For the first time in 9 years all of my girls are in school, at the same school, and at the same time (for most of the day).  My youngest gets out at 11, but from 7:30 to about 10:45 I have total peace and quiet - it's odd, but I am sure I will settle in just fine!  My hope is that this time will allow the creative (and cleaning) juices to flow!

In preparation for school, my 1st grader needed some extra reassurances about a new year, new teacher, the long day, missing Mommy, etc.  I think you get the picture.  Crissy over at Crissy's Crafts { http://crissyscrafts.blogspot.com/ } came up with the sweetest way to remind her girls how much she loved them.  You can check out her tutorial here http://crissyscrafts.blogspot.com/2011/08/pocket-full-of-kisses.html. 

I could not do Kisses, because of our 90+ degree heat, but I did laminate a small picture of each child with my husband and I and tucked it inside the pocket.  I attached them to their backpacks.  For my 1st grader, I put in inside the outer pocket where she keeps her snack, so she can take a peek before recess. 

Here is the final result:

Front of Pockets
I grommeted the corners and added a key ring so they
could handle the rough and tumble of the backpack.

Back of Pockets


I also made one for our Godson, for his first day of preschool.  To keep it "boy" I went with his initial instead of rick-rack and something too cutsie.  Happy Crafting! 

Organizing with Chalkboard Sheets

I found some self stick chalkboard sheets at Michaels and thought of so many great ways I could use them.  One project that has been on my list forever has been to better organize the cabinet above the phone in the kitchen.  It houses many things and it's always been fairly clean, but now anyone could open it and find exactly what they need.  As you can see this is a place where I keep notes, the ongoing grocery lists for Costco, Safeway, etc and also a list of important numbers.

The bakery tins are a fun and cheap ($1 from Dollar Tree) way to keep things organized.  I cut out the chalkboard sheets with my Big Shot and a Nestabilities die.  The chalkboard allows for quick changes of the contents.  I used a Chalk Ink Wet Wipe Marker also from Michaels to label each tin. 

I am very happy with the end result!  Happy Organizing!