Classroom Tour 2014

Hi everyone!

Summers off? What is that? I think I have worked on my class or stuff for my class since the last day of school. Can I get an Amen?! 

I haven't left school at all this summer. 

The custodians know I am there, I buy them coffee! They see my hot mess of a room in all its glory and me swearing at all the stuff I have that I really need want to keep in my room but don't have the space for. You know where I am coming from - I can't throw it away even though I have not touched in three years. You know the minute I throw it out, someone will need it, or the curriculum will change and I will need it. I am a hoarder by nature and it does worry me some, but I figure as long as it is organized, its all good.

This was my room with all of my stuff outside in the hallway with the exception of this mess on the shelf. Seems like I am off to a great start - right? 

WRONG

Then this disaster happened!!!  What the heck! Why does it look so bad? I spent so much time putting stuff neatly away so that this wouldn't happen when I brought all my stuff back in, but yep - it happened anyway! 

These are all of my read aloud books that I tried to put in every open space I had, but I ran out of bins and space so they just went everywhere. This is going to take me hours and hours to finish!

My Art Closet before an after. I just love the supply list so I know what is on there!

This has changed so much over the years!!! WOWSERS

This is a three year progression. Look at how I have evolved! ha! I still don't know if I totally like the new ones though - may be changing them again. We'll see. 

My old crayon drawers worked well, but I am in love with these ones! 

This is my teacher toolbox over the last few years. Big changes here too! 

My big wardrobe closet. This was the biggest eye sore, and now I love opening the doors!

This is one of my favorite updates. I loved the yellow and purple, but love the purple and blue so much more. I also am starting to take pictures with my more professional camera, so these awful pictures from last year can stop haunting me. 

Ok there you have it with a few of my before and after pictures.

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Monday Made It - Photo overload!!!

Hey all, 

I am joining Tara at Fourth Grade Frolics for another Monday Made It!

This one has a picture overload. So sit back and relax! 

I made a new set of crate storage seats. I can't wait to put them in my room. 

They are such a great color! I am going to show you how to make them because once I had everything they literally took under an hour to make. :) ANNNNNDDD I did it by.my.self. 

I said it - by.my.self. (I know myself is one word, but it didn't sound as good)

Ok here we go.

I had these crate seats from circa 1999 when I went away to college! They were in our storage unit so, I took them out and dusted them. 

Here are your materials you WILL need.

Electric Staple Gun

Handheld Drill

3/4 in screws that have a point on them. 

Seat cushions or foam. My cushions were from Walmart last year. $7

scissors

material (at least 30x55 in) I got 2 yards, but only used about half. You can get away with a yard and a half. 

bins. I got mine at Joann. They were 9.99, but I had a 50% off coupon plus my 15% off teacher discount. They checkout lady was so nice she applied it to my vinyl and my bins. So I got everything for 19.00

An electric staple gun. I am sure you can do it without electric, but it hurt my hand with the power one, so I can't imagine the hand held. I have had it for a few years, so that was free. 

Next up, the crate needs wood. 

My crates lined up were 10.5x46.5 

I went to Home Depot and showed my teacher badge and that I needed some wood. They had a nice piece for me for FREE YALL! 

This was 3/4 of an inch thick. So you will want a 3/4 inch board. 

My cushions were leftover from last years. 

Line up the cushion against your wood. Trim the extra off the sides. 

It should only take 2 cushions. You will have the extra (bottom right pic) left. 

Take what is left and put it smooth not rough side together. 

Then cover your material. I used Vinyl because their little feet are always on them. Fabric just stains. 

Start to tuck under the wood. once you have it all tucked on one side, flip the board. Then fold the material.

Staple the material down all one side. Let the material hang over(bottom left)

Then cut along the edge and make sure you leave enough to fold under. 

Staple it like you are folding a gift. Trim the extra off the edges and then fold that like a gift and staple again. 

Then flip it over. Look how great it looks! The bottom left is all I had left over (minus the extra yard of material). 

Place it right side on the floor, and line up your bins on top. 

Top middles you will need 2 screws in each crate. Be sure that you press down after to ensure that your kids don't get stuck with the screw. Last year, I bought screws that were too long and had to redo! 

I just love how this turned out!

 I blogged about this absolute mess of an art and supply closet. I couldn't believe this photo when I took it. What a cluster.

I went absolutely crazy trying to figure out how to organize everything and find things easily. So I went to target and bought as many tupperware bins as I could find that were purple of course! As I looked at this, of course, I wasn't happy. Sure clear means I can see through, but it looks messy and disorganized. 

You can click on the above picture or below pictures to find the 15qt labels. 

Ahhh, that is more like it. I made some cute labels for the 15 qt containers and also for the 6qt containers. 

I also love me some dollar tree. I know you do too. They have these awesome square and rectangle clip on bins. Did you see them? 

These are the rectangle bins from Dollar Tree. 

You can click here or on the picture below to go to my store to find the rectangle bin labels. 

Here is the rectangle one. I made three versions for you - Blue, Pink, and Purple. Click any of the pictures to see them in my store!

Here are the square bins

This is what the square bins look like with the label inside. 

You can buy them here, or you can click on the picture below to go to my store to buy them. 

 
Here was the Before again....

                                         

Now the after... What a difference. I am so thrilled about how it looks. I already feel organized. 

This is my baby. I spent 1.5 hours putting this bad boy together all by myself! I am SO proud. It was in a MILLION pieces! I had my power screwdriver and away I went. So exciting! 

I can't wait to decorate it. I call it a Made It, because I couldn't use it until I "made" it. 

I have a few other things that I am working on, but I will save them for another day.

Leave your email address and a comment telling me what is your favorite way to organize, and I will enter you to win your choice of my Dollar Tree Square or Rectangle container labels in your color of choice. I will pick a winner on Tuesday morning at 9 am EST

Have a great day!

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