Making me so Smartie

206_0677
Originally uploaded by carinh.

Riley's current teachers are both taking the summer off from school and they told me tomorrow was their last day. They also told me that Riley would be moving to a new room by fall and that this week would be their last week with her and that they would miss her terribly. Usually I give her teachers a gift a Christmas time, but since she wasn't with these teachers then I thought it would be fun to give them a gift before they left for summer vacation. Unfortunately, I don't know these girls as well as I've been able to get to know some of Riley's previous teachers, but lately I've gotten to spend alittle more time with them. I decided to give them these jars filled with smarties with a tag that said "Thanks for making me so smartie!" I thought it was super cute and really reflected Riley's personality and the relationship she has with the girls. It was really fun to make. I struggled alot with the letters on the tags. First trying stickers then rubons, then handwritting, and they all looked like crap. Then at midnight a lightbulb went on. I should just use the computer, so that's what I did. I taped the tags to a piece of computer paper and printed the wording on it. It came out better then I even imagined. The printer did smudge some ink on both tags near the top. Instead of trying to print more I decided to get out my new toy that I learned about at the Scrapbook Convention, distressing ink, and I inked all around the edges and was able to cover the smudges and I think the tags look a lot nicer with the distressing ink. I searched all around for an apple I liked and ended up with some 8 1/2 x11 paper that had a school theme on it with the letters and apples. I cut them out and used them. The tags I got at Joann's super clearance sale for $.97 for a pack of 6, and the yarn I also got for $.97 each. The jars and butterfly rubons I got at Michaels. I bought plain white gift bags at Michaels and let Riley decorate them with marker and some heart foam stickers. They came out cute. I forgot to take a photo of the bags though.

Riley was super excited this morning to take the gifts in. We're in the car and she's insisting that she have some of the candy. I resist, but finally reach in one of the jars to get a piece and it breaks!!!!!!! I was so upset and so was Riley. I thought today would be the last day I got to see both teachers and Riley was less then pleased about not bringing the presents in, so we went to Michaels to get a replacement jar. I figured I could just buy another jar and another set of rubons and quickly rub the butterflies on the new jar. They went on pretty easy last time. Get to Michael's and they are out of butterfly rubons. Great, now we have to drive all the way home with the replacement jar and use the left over butterflies I already had, so there was no way I could recreate the jar as is. I got home and quickly put on yellow butterflies instead of the blue. It still looked very cute.

We were so late this morning.... We gave the gifts to the girls and they loved them alot. It was so nice to see someone so excited about something I handmade for them. It so much more pleasurable for me then a store bought gift. I never knew it could feel so good.

They thanked me and proceeded to tell me that they were actually going to be at school for another week, that NEXT Friday was their last day. Figures!!!! :)