Guest Host: Rachel from Sun Scholars

I am so thrilled to be doing a blog swap today with the talented Rachel, from Sun Scholars.  

Check out her adorable idea for an End-of-the-Year teacher's gift!

(and then swing by her blog to see MY POST for a

sneaky, yet fun, way to practice Math over the Summer!)

Hi!  I'm Rachel.

I LOVE M&M's, singing along with the radio, dancing in my living room, sewing, sleeping in, filling out paperwork, bringing chaos into calm, and looking at the brighter side of life.

I think I have fooled many people into thinking that I'm a SuperMom.

I assure you, I am not.

I'm just like many of you, trying to juggle my passions with my responsibilities.  I just have to have an organized home to not feel like life is caving in on me!

I don't watch TV.  I don't read many books.  I don't eat fast food.

I do craft.  I do cook.  I do shuttle kids all over town.  I do blog!

I am responsible for these three crazy little people....

As a mom, my world revolves around these three kids, and the things that I do are reflections of that.  My love for craftiness and teaching inspired my blog Sun Scholars.  When I created Sun Scholars, my goal was to provide a resource for other moms who, like me, wanted to provide the best for their kids.  For me, education and fun is what 'the best' is all about.  I hope you stop by and find something that inspires you!

Some of my blog favorites...

        

And now for my latest project!

A Notebook Bag for Teacher

My children and I made these as part of our teacher gifts this year.  Inside, we will include the Summer Checklists they created and a little package of goodies.  I am thrilled with how these turned out!

My inspiration...

The Paper Bag by The Crafty CPA

Ok... I LOVE this bag...  I just needed to simplify this a bit.

For one... I didn't have the time.  Two... I wanted the kids to play a part in creating it.

The best part is, I made these for less than $4 a piece!

Supplies:

-  Canvas Bag, white (I found this 3 pack at JoAnn's for $9.99 and used a 50% off coupon)

-  Sharpies in Blue & Red, fine tipped

-  Needle & Embroidery Floss, #414 (OR... you could use a grey Sharpie)

-  Pencil

-  Ruler

Directions:
1)  Use a ruler to make lines about 1/2" apart with the blue Sharpie.  I started my lines 3" from the top of the bag. 

2)  Using your red Sharpie, draw a line down the length of your bag, as you see me measuring in the photo below, about 3" from the left of your bag.

And this is what you'll have...

3)   I found that the lid of the Sharpie was the perfect size for the notepaper "holes".  You can use this as a stamp by coloring the edge with a washable marker, place your "hole" and go over it with a grey sharpie if you wish.  I did this with one bag (as you'll notice in the main photo) but decided not to with the others.

 

4)  Using a pencil, I had my children write their teacher's name in large lettering. 

 

My 3 year old struggles with writing names still, so I asked her to draw a picture of her teachers instead.

I thought these turned out SO adorable!

5)  How crafty are you?  I chose to embroider my children's pencil lines to finish these off nicely.  If this is not your thing, you could go over your child's pencil lines with a grey Sharpie, or let them write or draw with the Sharpie in the first place.  (I would recommend the pencil first... just to be on the safe side.)

**  I'd also recommend tossing these in the dryer to heat set them.  That way if they ever need to be washed, your lines will stay in tact.

 And here is an up close shot of a finished bag.   Totally adorable, right?

What teacher wouldn't love that?!