Decorating tip #2: Put up CURTAINS.
No, you do not have to know how to sew. And please don't go out and spend hundreds of dollars! Throughout the years I have had several versions of curtains. One year I bought white valances at Walmart and I dyed them to the color I wanted. I have 6 windows, so I did two pink, two blue, and two purple. They looked okay.
Then a few years later, I sewed blue curtains with silver stars and silver ribbon. They were darling, but now they don't match my theme. So one project this summer is to make new ones! BUT- I am not spending a ton of money or SEWING! This time it is with coupons and this new amazing invention I have discovered- FABRIC GLUE!
Here's how you do it:
1. Measure your window. Determine how wide your window is, and also how far down you want your curtain.
2. Decide how much fabric you need. For example, my windows are 26 inches wide. I want my valance to be 12 inches in height. So, I need 156 inches of fabric (about 4.5 yards) by 12 inches.
3. Collect coupons! My favorite coupons are from JoAnn Fabric. They also have a 15% discount for teachers. So, I use the coupons when I buy my fabric. I bought 5 yards of fabric for $4.50 a yard. My total was $22.50. Then I used my 40% off coupon, and I only paid $13.50 for all of that fabric! I would have spent at least $60 at Walmart.
4. Pick a color of ribbon (if you want) and also lace. I look for what is in the clearance area. Also, I have waited for another 40% off coupon and bought it a week later. You could also go to Hobby Lobby and use their 40% off coupon (it's in the weekly paper on Sundays), The price for lace trim and ribbon can be as little as a $1.00 to as much as you are willing to spend.
5. Lay out your fabric. Here you can see how I laid it out across my hallway.
6. I measured 28 inches for each window (allowing for a 1 inch hem) by 13 inches.
7. Get some SHARP scissors and start cutting!
8. Now take each rectangle and your fabric glue. You can wing it, or use a ruler. I measured with a ruler. Go about one inch in on each side and just GLUE it! :)
9. Do all 6.
10. By the time you finish curtain #6, your first curtain is dry enough to start adding ribbon and lace. For this step, I first measure and cut 6 24-inch sections of lace. I like to put the lace on the bottom. I think it adds a nice finished look. Then I flip over the curtain and glue it to the back of all 6.
11. Take your ribbon and tie 12 bows that are the same size. I use fabric glue to keep the bow together. Then, glue the bows to each corner of each curtain.
12. You don't have to add this step, but I like it. I add a ribbon to the front, right above the lace, to give it a finished look.
13. Let the curtains dry for a couple hours, or just hang them up!
14. THIS IS MY FAVORITE TIP: don't buy a curtain rod. Just get a staple gun and staple the suckers up there!
Easy peazy! You can also just do the fabric and skip all the detailing. Here are the pictures of my finished curtains:
Tuesday, January 2, 2018
How to Put Together a Classroom in Two Days or Less!
How to Put Together a Classroom in Two Days or Less!
By Renee Shaver
Only two days to put your classroom together? OMG what are you going to do?! Whether your school is being remodeled, you had to switch classrooms, or you were just hired, we have the answer for you! Here is how to put your classroom together in only two short days:
First of all, before you start, STOP freaking out and get off of Pinterest! This is not the time to make your classroom a Pinterest classroom. You can do that later on in the year when you have time. For now, the focus is organization.
Today's goals:
1. Measure all bulletin boards. You will need one for Reading, Writing, Math, Social Studies, and Science. Keep it simple- don't add boards! Just do the minimum. If you only have 3 boards, then only do 3- Reading, Writing and Math would be the priority.
1. Decide where students are going to put all their supplies.
2. Book Shelves: One for free choice, one for reading groups, and one for teacher manuals/guides.
3. Arrange desks and decide where your teacher desk will go.
4. Bulletin Boards: Keep it simple! Pick one or two colors. Use anchor charts. Stay away from Pinterest and Instagram!
5. Classroom Management: magnets, clothes pins, etc.
6. Daily Schedule
7. Put away everything else.
8. Lesson plan book- get it together and ready! Prepare for the first WEEK. Make all copies and write out lesson plans.
9. Put names on EVERYTHING!
1. Friday folder filing basket
2. Lunch Count
3. Notebooks
4. Folders
By Renee Shaver
Only two days to put your classroom together? OMG what are you going to do?! Whether your school is being remodeled, you had to switch classrooms, or you were just hired, we have the answer for you! Here is how to put your classroom together in only two short days:
First of all, before you start, STOP freaking out and get off of Pinterest! This is not the time to make your classroom a Pinterest classroom. You can do that later on in the year when you have time. For now, the focus is organization.
Today's goals:
1. Measure all bulletin boards. You will need one for Reading, Writing, Math, Social Studies, and Science. Keep it simple- don't add boards! Just do the minimum. If you only have 3 boards, then only do 3- Reading, Writing and Math would be the priority.
1. Decide where students are going to put all their supplies.
2. Book Shelves: One for free choice, one for reading groups, and one for teacher manuals/guides.
3. Arrange desks and decide where your teacher desk will go.
4. Bulletin Boards: Keep it simple! Pick one or two colors. Use anchor charts. Stay away from Pinterest and Instagram!
5. Classroom Management: magnets, clothes pins, etc.
6. Daily Schedule
7. Put away everything else.
8. Lesson plan book- get it together and ready! Prepare for the first WEEK. Make all copies and write out lesson plans.
9. Put names on EVERYTHING!
1. Friday folder filing basket
2. Lunch Count
3. Notebooks
4. Folders
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)