Teacher Gift

Tuesday To do...Creative Teacher Gift
This week I am working on creating teacher gifts that will be ready to send out next week. These are the requirements for my teacher gift; Hand made, A little Chocolate and, a gift that they can enjoy and relax.

This is what I have decided on for our teacher gifts...

Supply List: 1 antique jar, Sugar, Ribbon, Chocolate Stick -from local chocolate store and a hand made antiqued Card

Card Reads:
Sugar and Spice and all things nice that's what Teachers are made of.
(then add some personal sentiment)

Best every Sugar Scrub Recipe (never again use those $30.00 scrubs)
Regular White Sugar
Coarse White Sugar (just add to the top for decor)
3 Tablespoons of Olive Oil (more or less can be added depending on preferred consistency
1 Tablespoon of Almond Extract (or other flavors as preferred)
3 Teaspoons of Vanilla Extract
In a Large bowl you will mix sugar, oil and extracts until desired consistency
(I like it best a bit coarse I feel like it exfoliates better and is wonderful on ruff hands!).

Thanks for visiting! Enjoy the journey and

remember to be creative in all you do!

Your Friend, Creative Dot Mom

Tips & Tricks to staying sane through the end of school year

Thursday Thought... Organizational Tips for staying sane through the end of the school year

Being a mom of four girls this hands down has to be the craziest time of the year. In talking with other mothers I have put together a list of Tricks and Tips on keeping organized and enjoying the last few weeks of the school year rather than pulling your hair out, which is never a pretty site.

1. Communication: Get your family together at the beginning of each week and talk about schedules, events, homework, and any other things that each member feels is important.

2. Put it in writing: This is where you can get creative! Here are a few ideas from other moms that I just love...

My Mom "Counter Calender" get a calender and leave it on your counter this makes it easy for every member of the family to see what is happening.

Gabby "We use a combination of iCal, Outlook, Google docs and a big family calendar made of post-it notes to manage everything.

Julie "I have a clip board on my counter that has a simple calendar that is broken down into days with every ones schedule the best part is the kids fun comments that get added as we go.

Lisa "I purchase every year a wall size large Calendar to keep track of the year end events. I then place it in my laundry room where every one walks past. I also give each child a colored marker so that they may change things and mark off as the count down begins to summer. I love this tradition it has made everyone feel important and independent.

Katie "I have decorated cloths pins with my child's name on it and I have placed a clothes line in our kitchen and then I place an agenda sheet to each of their names. During our breakfast together we sit and eat and talk about the daily events. This has been a fun way to keep organized and often other things gather on the cloths pin and this keeps it entertaining as well.

Kathleen "I keep a note book with me at all times to keep track of everything and then I also use post-it notes, this time of year I see all sorts of crazy things"

Sara "I put all my scheduled events in my phone and make sure that I get reminder calls and of course I make sure it is with me at all times"

3. Grab Bag: I have found that during this busy time of life the little ones are needing some extra help. I keep a small bag in my laundry room that has all the necessities that I would need to help keep the little ones entertained. Example; A charged Nintendo DS, book, colored pencils, coloring book, snack, water bottle, silly putty and anything else creative to help pass the time during those long events. Don't forget about a camera this is a very special time of year!

Please feel free to comment on any ideas that you might have keeping sane and enjoying this crazy time of life...the year end of school, dance, flute, soccer, piano and anything else that is coming to an end.

Good luck Mom's and be creative in all that you do!

Your Friend, Creative Dot Mom

Mom & Me Craft Night Pictures

Tuesday to do...Today I am sorting my pictures from the Mom & Me craft night which was a couple of weeks ago. Here are the pictures and the finished projects. Thank you!!! to all who came and supported my first quarterly craft night. I think that it went very well and I look forward to the upcoming craft night, keep your eye out for the next event! On Thursday I will be posting on ideas to keep you and your family organized during the year end wrap-ups.
Your friend, Creative Dot Mom

Ali's washer necklace

Ali and Tessa "the double troubles"

Katie hard at work on her zipper bow

Tavia taking a break! future Miss Draper

Blaser Gals -they were Crafting all night way to go!

Marshall gals and look at that Hair bow

Finished Hair Bow -luv the fabric!

Ashley good looking hair bow (which is cute to add to a hat)

and her Journal cover she wanted to keep it simple. Good Job!

Finished Journal cover -luv the blue ribbon and pink button on the flower!

My littlest Little Women wanted her bookmark turned into a

necklace so it was! she wears it everyday and everywhere.

Look at the darling crafters and their beautiful Journal covers! great job!

Green Gals -Look at those projects- hope your fingers have recovered!

The Finished Journal Cover -luv the pokadot ribbon!

Thompson Gals -they win the perfection and patience award!

Finished layered Hair Bow -added beads on the end and it looks fabulous!

Brooklyn and her finished zipper bow -did a great job!

Rosenburg gals -Award for the best crafter!

The finished Book Markers -luv all of them!

Shanea is hard at work making her necklace -luv the paper you picked!

Handmade Travel Busy Box for kids

Tuesday to do... Handmade Busy box for kids when traveling

Our family is headed to Nebraska this weekend for Mothers Day! lucky me! it is a 10 hour trip from where we live. It is a tradition of mine to make each one of my kids a busy box to help pass the time during our adventure!. Here are a few pictures of what is included... Good luck to me! I am going to need it along with a great deal of patience!
Have a great week! Happy Mothers Day to those creative moms
Thanks for visiting and be creative in all you do!
Your Friend, Creative Dot Mom


1. I always add a black note book with a cover design that pertains to our trip. This time it will be Mount Rushmore and some historical facts about Nebraska. I also add a pencil zipper pouch with new crayons, pens, scissors, glue, and don't forget a roll of tape!. Inside the folder I attach to do papers from the wonderful site http://www.momsminivan.com/


2. This is Lap buddy how ever it is very expensive and not so kid tested!. I am going to take the plastic one from Walmart and cover it with some attractive Fabric and then add some pins so that they can add their own art work from the trip.

3. Creative Dot Moms Favorite Art projects for travel...

• Pipe Cleaners of all colors; kids can make just about anything out of pipe cleaners
• Tin Foil; our favorites are hats and headbands
• Beads, buttons and Ribbon; necklaces, bracelets and bookmarks
• Balloons; balloon animals and puppets, this is a good activity to get wiggles out
• Popsicle sticks and a coloring book; my little women love to write and create plays
• Scrapbook embellishments and a Notebook; They love decorating their travel journals and on the way home of our trip we have a sharing moment and they pick there favorite thought on the trip. Love this one!

Front Door Ideas

Tuesday to do... Front Door Decorating Ideas

This past weekend I was able to take a mini trip with my family up north, I saw the most beautiful yet simple front doors and then I came home and wow does our area need a front door make-over. Which lead me into giving some friendly tips on making a front door welcoming and beautiful!

The over used Door Decoration

Tip #1. When hanging a decoration on your door don't just use what everyone is using. The over used door decoration is way over done and it doesn't say anything about your style or your creativeness. I hope that in the photos below I have given you some fresh and new ideas on creative decorations for your front door, it is the first impression to your home.

Tip #2: Since paper is always in and easy I picked this photo from Martha Stewart.com it is real branches with paper flowers on it. I think this would add a beautiful spring look just by adding a ribbon around the top and letting it hang upside down freely on your door. Plus this would be a great project for the kids as well!

Tip #3: Bring freshness right to your door. The daffodil is a beautiful flower one that for sure will add warmth and charm to any front door. This technique can be found on Martha Stewart.com

Tip #4: This is a great front door idea for those that have an apartment or a narrow door and can't handle a wreath or larger accessory. This project is made by taking a place mat and wrapping flowers (I think Hydrangeas would even look better)and then adding a ribbon to hang by. What a simple creative project that would be.

Tip #5: Lettering I love the use of lettering and this is one that I have used before. You can find all sorts of lettering on line and also make it yourself out of Foam Board if you need a lighter version or Wood if you need it to with stand the weather. This look is all around classy and for those that are tired of using flowers this is a nice change.

Tip #6: The good ole stand by round floral wreath. This can be found on Martha Stewart.com and I would love to see the monogram lettering in black and I would actually attach it right on the door.

Mom & Me Craft Night Projects

Mom & Me Craft Projects
For each one of our crafts we finish we will be donating $1.00 to a Local Charity (Janie is still deciding which one, I have given her three choices and she is being very thoughtful in choice). We will be letting you know on the day of our event which charity we choose. We also will be doing door prizes and having yummy treats!
Don't forget and mark it in your calendars...
Saturday May 1st at 7:00 p.m. at Bomans House.
This will be a fun late night getting to know other moms and letting the girls giggle and have a good time while creating memories!

Book Markers $4.00

Note Book $6.00
White Sheer Singed Bow $3.50 & White Zipper Bow $3.00

Black Zipper Bow $3.50 (others in picture not doing)

Layered Hair Bow with Beads $5.00

Circle Necklace $3.50 & Bracklet to match $3.00

Rag Hair Bow $4.00