Cast Gift idea: Wood-Burned Keychains

 Hey everyone! Here is a quick cast gift idea for theater folks and directors who may want to give their cast a personal, custom but affordable gift. I bought these keychains at Hobby Lobby or Michaels on sale and wanted to do a wood-burned keychain for everyone but I ran out and could not get to Gainesville that week. So the first cast gift idea is to use a wood burner and carve out the characters along with the actors' and actresses' names on such keychains. I like to give each cast member a personal gift, as well. The second gift used Dollar Tree chalkboard tags, chalk taped onto to each so they could be drawn on, and I painted with white acrylic paint a show symbol (for Addams Family I did a snapping hand) and the actor's or actress's name on each. These types of gifts could really apply to any group of people, though. 

Thank you for visiting, I hope you enjoyed! 

-Lauryn 

One-Point Perspective Memory Room Drawings

  Hello! Here is a lesson I thought was pretty successful I did with my middle school students in a unit themed around time and memories. In that unit, we studied folk art, Grandma Moses and Clementine Hunter. This assignment was to illustrate a three-dimensional-looking room that is inspired by one or multiple memories using one point perspective. For example, I did a room with a checkered floor, giant chess pieces, a grand piano, and other decorations inspired by books that influenced me and the memory of my first piano. I walked students very carefully step-by-step through the process of using a ruler to make an X, then a square in the center using those lines, then demonstrated how everything follows the grid lines, getting larger near the viewer but higher and smaller in back. Here are student examples: 

I hope you find this lesson idea helpful!

-Lauryn

"Reach for the Stars" End of the Year Class Party + Student Gift Ideas

 Hello! Today I would like to share an end of the year class party I had (actually, three with the same decorations) with a "Reach for the Stars" theme in gold and neutral colors. As end of the year gifts, I wrote a special note to each student pointing out their gifts and what I appreciated about teaching them attached to favor bags. In the elementary bags, I included Lego figures (although they were not the Lego brand to be honest) or animal toys, bouncy balls, and multi-colored heart crayons made by a friend who sells them locally as a fundraiser to allow children to get involved in theater/theater camps and are not able to financially. In my middle school bags, I included cars, bouncy balls, and flashlight pencil keychains. In my high school bags, I included flashlight pencil keychains, bouncy balls, and gel ink pens (I think), which I don't have pictures of. The favors with the race cars had tags that read "This year raced by! I hope you have a great summer!" My drama student gifts had tags related to the pens that read "You are truly ink-credible and noteworthy. I hope you have a great summer!" Here are the free pintables:

For the elementary art class parties, we not only played fun improv games, but also a few art history-themed games I made up, listed below:

How Fast Can You Gogh?

This is just a team race where teams of two split up and line up on opposite sides of the gym (making two lines). In the middle were two large Van Gogh prints. Partner #1 would start when the race began, touch a Van Gogh work, then tag their partner. Partner #2 would run as soon as they were tagged, touch a Van Gogh print, and race to the line that the first partner started on. The first team to finish wins.

Art Analysis or Dare

This game was actually played in class, not for a party, but it seemed successful at making art analysis and discussion more fun. How this Truth or Dare variation works is I printed and cut into strips art critique prompts, such as "How is the element of shape being used?" "Does this picture have a good color harmony? Why or why not?" I would throw a bouncy ball to a student, ask "Analysis or Dare?" If they chose analysis, they would draw one of those strips from a paper bag and discuss the picture I put at the front of the room or handed them in response to the prompt. If they chose dare, I would give them a dare such as "Make up a dance that expresses this picture." Or "Sing a song about this picture." or "Create a poem on the spot about this work." Either way they are analyzing the work. 

Art Apples to Apples

This game was also not used for the parties but in class to analyze art and gain some art history appreciation. I used my Disney Apples to Apples winning/adjective cards and my classroom art cards (each card had a large work from an art movement). I handed out all of the adjective cards that read things like 'frightening' or 'beautiful', giving each student around four. I would have them pass an artwork around. Then they would all choose what they thought their most fitting card was, place them at the judge's desk (we chose a student to be the judge each time), and the judge would choose a card. Whoever's card got chosen would get the art print card. The one with the most art cards won a prize at the end. 

I made up several other games I'm quite sure, but I do not remember them at the moment, so I might add to this list at a later time. 

I hope this comes in handy this upcoming school year for teachers looking for affordable student gifts, end of the year party ideas, or art teachers searching for more activities!

-Lauryn

Graduation Gift Idea for Boys

 Hey, everyone! Here's a quick little gift idea I did for my brother's graduation gift last year. This can be easily customized. I titled this as a gift for boys, but it could also be a gift for girls too, of course. My gift had four parts:

1. A lunchbox (which my brother was in need of and got to use at an upcoming camp. This could be replaced with a different sort of tote, bag, backpack or suitcase.)

2. A water bottle (again, this was something I knew my brother needed, but could be replaced with a mug or even kitchen appliance.)

3. A card (I hand made mine to make it more personal.)

4. A gift card/certificate (I did one to my brother's favorite smoothie shop, A to Zinc. Go by what you know the person loves, and conceal it inside of the bag/lunchbox.)

That's it! 

If you're looking for a last-minute, easy but personal graduation gift, I hope this comes in handy!

-Lauryn

Easy, Last-Minute, DIY Custom Superhero Costume

 Good evening! Here's a super quick and easy project you may find useful this holiday season, especially if you find yourself in a time crunch and know a small superhero who'd love a special, personalized superhero costume. Mine used red and yellow with lightning strikes because my friend Morgan loved the Flash and Lightning McQueen, though of course I put his initial instead. Here is a basic outline on how to create your own.

You will need:

-Fabric (my red fabric was from the Walmart $2 section and was so great, I did not even need to hem the bottom after cutting it. I used a couple sheets of felt for the other colors/parts.)

-Hot Glue and a Hot Glue Gun

-Velcro

I cut a scalloped edge on the bottom of my rectangular cape with basic scissors. I sewed the top side to a long strip of yellow felt (also a rectangle with curved sides where I planned them to buckle under the chin). I hot-glued on Velcro to the ends of the yellow felt. I cut a gray circle and yellow 'M' out for my logo and hot-glued those to the cape. I cut out my mask shape, rectangle strips and lighting strikes, hot-glued them all together, and glued Velcro to the ends of the rectangle strips for my mask. 

That's all there is to it! I hope somebody finds this useful as a fun, personal gift idea! 

-Lauryn

10 Universal Yet Personalized Gift Ideas

Hello, everyone! Finding gifts can be so tricky for some people. While a lot of people are easy to shop or craft for, a lot of people are very difficult and give no helpful hints on what they could use or would like. To simplify gifting and remove the stress, I have compiled a list of gift ideas that anyone would like and could use, no matter who they are. At first glance, they may seem boring or too impersonal; however, all of the gifts listed can be customized special for the recipient. In addition, they generally are quite inexpensive. So, without further ado, here's the list:

Candles

Candles are not only very practical, but they also smell scrumptious and can be very personal. I'm not just talking about melting photos on or taping them to the jar, either. There are lots of book-themed candles for the literary people you know available to buy, or you could hand-make a candle with their favorite book scene scent. Another option I've done is cover up a regular candle label with a homemade one that transforms a pine scent into the woods of Narnia, or the like. If you make your candles, you could choose to put the wax in a non-traditional jar-thing such as a teacup, as well. A gift idea I saw on Pinterest and helped a friend of mine make is melting a hand-doodled design onto a candlestick, which is another option (great for kids to make).

Notebooks or Sketchbooks

Maybe it's just me, but I don't see how anyone can ever have too many notebooks. They're fun and so easily personalized. You can make Polymer clay covers, sew one from scratch, draw or paint on the cover of a bought one, mod-podge photos to a cover, turn the covers to chalkboard or leather... the list goes on and on. There are countless tutorials online if you need inspiration. This gift is great for kids and adults alike.

Writing Utensils

Going hand-in-hand with the previous category, everyone can always use more pens, a cool sharpener or pretty pencils. I have an addiction to gel ink pens. My favorites are the $3-4 Pen+Gear packs. Dollar Tree and just about every store offers gel pens and other neat writing gadgets. You could get creative and decorate pencils or pens, too, with yarn, paint or clay or anything, really. I've made Polymer-clay decorated pens. Also, you could purchase pencils with special engraved messages. If you like woodworking, you could even glue led into hollowed branches to make fancy woodland pencils.

Books

Now, I understand that not everyone's a book worm, but there is a book for everyone. Maybe the person you're shopping for likes magazines, or a photo album, scrapbooks, joke books, crossword puzzles, zentangle coloring books, and so on. If you want to make something really special, you could write or illustrate your own book for that person themed around one of their interests or about them. There are so many great options, and this gift is excellent for all people of all ages.

Socks 

This may sound rather strange, but socks are not only practical and (hopefully) cozy, they can be fun and personal. It would be strange to give all of your co-workers socks, so I guess it depends on the situation, but in general, socks are a great gift. I've received Two Left Feet-brand socks, and I love them! They make all sorts of designs, from cameras, to books, to tacos, although they are expensive. If this is a gift idea you'd like to look into, you should take a look at theirs. If you want off-brand socks for kids, a dollar store might be the way to go.

Water Bottles or Mugs

Maybe I'm just weird, and I do admittedly drink more water than a normal person, but I don't believe a person can ever have too many water bottles. There are so many kinds and design options, too, so they can be personalized, as well. I have received lots of mugs for birthdays and Christmas, and I absolutely love them all. I have designated each for a specific purpose and still use them all daily. So, like water bottles, I guess you really can't have too many. Who isn't thrilled to receive a special, cute mug, after all?

Music

Everybody of any age loves music, from babies to elderly folks. This could be in the form of a music book, a musical instrument, a music gift card, a CD, a musical toy, a music box, and so on. There are countless options and plenty of ways to be personal and creative with this magical gift.

Photos/Videos

You've no doubt given something under this category to someone before or received one of these gifts, but you really can't go wrong with giving someone sentimental photos or videos. Photos could be in a scrapbook, album, framed, put on a flash-drive/disc, or made into any type of household decor. Videos could be on a flash-drive or disc. If you don't have any recordings of the person, you could buy a disc from a play they performed in, or buy a movie they love, or a similar alternative.

Body Care Items

Any adult would appreciate a scrumptious-smelling, handmade and rejuvenating sugar scrub. They are so easy to make, practical and inexpensive. You could use that person's favorite scent, such as coffee, mint, rose, and so on. For children, you could do bath bubble mix, bath chalk or some other fun alternative. Maybe the bottle could have their favorite character. For adults, there are also bath bombs and Epsom salts that are easy to make, among others. For kids and adults alike (but especially adults), lotion is always a handy thing to have. There are recipes online, but you can also find special products at local shops and gift stores, too. Both kids and adults also appreciate lip balms. The best ever is Pure and Simple's lip balm.

Experiences

Before you jump to conclusions, let me say this does not have to be expensive! Sure, experiences could be fun things like movie theater/drama theater tickets, classes/lessons, trips, etcetera. But they could also be a gift you are able to offer for low-cost. I paint, so I've given my parents, siblings, and grandparents canvases and taught them a fun painting tutorial. I had the supplies and space, so I just paid for the canvases, which were $1 each. Maybe you could give free music lessons, or take somebody to free museums. Maybe you're an actor/actress and you could give tickets to your upcoming production. Be creative!


Technically, that was 12 or more gift ideas. Anyway, I hope this comes in handy for you!

-Lauryn

Happy/Vibrant Modern Bedroom Decor

Hello! Here's a quick tour of my room from the beginning of 2019. I wanted to used vibrant hues while sticking to a mainly black-and-white Scandinavian look. I wanted a very positive, happy atmosphere. To add to the bright colors, I decorated with things that I love, such as displaying my favorite books, making a cat mirror which matched the photo of my cat on the wall, displaying music-box globes and vintage cameras, etcetera. I tried to make my decor as different from the year before as I possibly could while sticking to the same general style that I enjoy (since 2018 wasn't the best, to say the least). My wall gallery was made with scrapbook paper, photos, stickers, and hand-written calligraphy taped on with yellow electric tape (since that's what I had on hand).

I hope this helps inspire anyone who's looking for vibrant, modern decor with a fun, personal twist. Thanks for visiting!

-Lauryn

DIY Graduation Gift Wrapping Idea

It's that time of year again when friends, family, and relatives are graduating. If you plan to attend a graduation, you probably have a gift to wrap, so here's a DIY just for you if you want to make your gift more personal with handmade wrapping paper:

Step 1. 

I used brown wrapping paper from Dollar Tree (which can be found in the office supplies section). Before you wrap the gift, handwrite in a calligraphic font 'Congratulations' or something that would go with the gift, or your friend would find personal, such as their favorite poem. My friend loves Cinderella, so I wrote 'Congratualtions . . . Dreams do come true . . .' across the paper repeatedly. When you are done, you can add stamps (I used a butterfly stamp with blue ink), but this is optional.

Step 2. 

Wrap the gift and tie it with a ribbon. Add your gift tag (I made mine) before tying the bow. I used a brand new, grey hair ribbon I had on hand.

Step 3.

Now time to make the graduation hat topper. Cut out a long rectangle, and glue it into a cylinder form by attatching the ends. cut out a square and glue it on top. Now take a small, long, narrow strip of paper and cut one edge so it becomes a fringe. Roll it up and glue it in place. Add a tiny strip around the top of this tassel and glue it. Glue the tassel to the top of your hat. Glue the completed hat to a mini clothespin and clip to the ribbon you tied your gift with.

Step 4.

Embellish however you want. I was aiming for a Cinderella look, so I glued on scrapbook-paper butterflies. 

Congratualtions! Your gift is ready to go!

I hope you enjoy! I have more gifts, tutorials, and events to post soon!

-Lauryn