The Toy Box Years: Teacher Gifts

The Creators of the Toy Box Years

The creators of the Toy Box Years are my two beautiful daughters and wonderful, handsome soldier husband.

"Nani" (our oldest) is a 11 year old 6th grader who loves Taylor Swift, ballet, books, fashion designing and sewing. Ask her what she wants to be when she grows up and it changes daily to anything from "an artist" to "a teacher" to "a singer/dancer". Nani is also currently fighting a battle against brain cancer -- recently diagnosed in June 2016.

"Nudgie" (our youngest) is a very smiley, very happy, very giggly, very spirited 8 year old 3rd Grader who's favorite toys are anything that gives mommy an anxiety attack - ladders, stepstools, the climbing wall at the playground. Like her sister, she has a love of reading and coloring, loves gymnastics and still provides mommy lots of snuggle time!

"My Marine" is my high school sweetheart. We've been married over 20 years and met when we were 17. (You do the math....) His favorite toys are Blackhawk helicopters, the lawnmower, our steam cleaner, and microbrew beer bottles. My husband is also my hero in that he proudly serves his country as a Blackhawk crew chief (hence his favorite toy!). And need I say that there is nothing hotter than my man in uniform!

All About Me......

Once upon a time I had a career and worked in the corporate world. Once upon a time, I dreamed about leaving that all behind to follow my true calling -- being a wife and mommy.

The first part of my calling was fulfilled in 1995 when I married my Marine (now soldier) and my love. Little did I know that being a military wife would change me in so many ways and that because of that, I would have an extended family all over the world from Japan, to California, to North Carolina.

The second part of my calling took a little doing, but I finally achieved that dream in 2004 with the birth of our first child, followed 4 years later by her baby sister.

So now, when someone asks me what I do for a living - I simply smile and say proudly that I'm following my calling - I'm a mommy and a wife -- and I couldn't be HAPPIER -- I'm living in the Toy Box Years!!

I had the opportunity to spend some time talking with Nani's teacher while we were on a recent school field trip. I learned that Nani's class was her first class - ever. She is an amazing teacher and did an amazing job with the kids this year. I wanted to do something special to mark the end of her first year of teaching.

While browing craft blogs one night, I came across this site - Twin Stitchers. They have these adorable patterns that you trace, stitch, and then color on muslin fabric. I just loved their products and ordered the family tree pattern. I knew I didn't have enough time to stitch the whole thing - plus I wanted this to be something that Nani did. So instead, I thought we'd just trace the whole thing in crayon and then color in as needed.

Pattern - traced on muslin fabric with a permanent fabric pen

Starting to trace outlines with crayon

Helping out Nani when her arms got tired

Doing most of the work by herself

When we were done, we went out to JoAnn Fabric to find a frame and mat. The finished fabric was a little too big for a standard mat, so the nice framing lady custom cut one for us for $3. Then we found a great red frame for 50% off! When all's said and done - I stayed under my $30 budget of a year-end teacher gift!

I think I'm more excited to give it to her than Nani is!

It's Teacher Appreciation Week. And I cannot express to you how much I LOVE Nani's Kindergarten teacher - Miss Hartline! She's new to our school and I believe that this is her first year teaching as well. She's very enthusiastic and is fabulous with the kids. Since school has started, I've seen Nani blossom and grow in so many ways!

Did I mention that I love this teacher to pieces!!!

Anyway - Nani wanted to make something special, so I suggested we make a picture frame -- and the bonus was that we already had all the supplies on hand!! LOVE when that happens!!

I gave Nani a picture frame to paint red. (When the craft stores have these on sale, I just stock up on them!) Then she painted some wooden letters that I had leftover from another project. (I have a jar of these letters and hoped they'd come in handy some day!)

Once all that was dry, she glued the letters on the corners of the picture frame and then we decided to fill in the rest with crayons. (Crayons seem to multiply in our home like dust bunnies, so we had a bunch to choose from.) The only help I gave Nani was gluing the crayons on since the glue that we initially used just didn't seem to be working very well -- so out came my trusty hot glue gun.

I thought the frame looked a little empty without something in it, so I did a search online and found the cute teacher quote that you see. Printed it off on some photo paper, inserted it in the frame, and viola! A cute (and frugal!) teacher gift!!