{fab finds} back 2 school supplies and treats

Can you believe summer break is over?!? 

This actually happens to be one of my favorite times of the year :) Who can resist new school (now that I'm grown they're for the office) supplies? I still buy them even though my education is currently complete.

This week was the first week back for kids in my neck of the woods. I want to make all kinds of cute things for my sister's teachers, but I am not sure if they will think that's weird?!? They are in high school & middle school so I have to stay away from crayon themed projects - but there are still some uber cute ones out there!

Side Note: One of my coworkers gave me a huge compliment. She hoped that our future kids are classmates & that I'm their room mom :) I'm glad she enjoys my crafty creations.

Here are some of my favorite teacher themed freebies, goodies & projects:





I have been crushing on these oreo apple pops! Aren't they just darling?!?

I have candy melts and (mini & regular) oreos waiting to be made into these beauties. Amanda @ Shindig Parties to Go and also Brooke @ The Crafting Chicks have made & shared the tutorials on these back 2 school treats.

Here are school supplies done right:

Stunning & Creative are two words that come to mind with this tablescape!
The innovative uses of school supplies as food and treats are outstanding. One Charming Party is the mastermind behind this Back 2 School set up which was featured by The Tablescape Queen, Amy Atlas.

Details I love:
Paper clips used as a filler, composition notebook printed table top, erasers wrapped like salt water taffy, using paper clips to hold the banner together, and the extra touch to the pencil cake: pencil candles with eraser flames - ingenious!

Check out their blog for extra pictures, tutorials, and even more great school ideas!



Here's another fun take on a school supplies cake. This brightly wrapped goody is made by Leigh Ann @ The Butlers. I love all the brightly colored ribbons and flowers holding all the "treats" snug!



More apple cookies! I must have them on the brain :) 

From one of my favorite baking blogs, Sweet Sugarbelle created these cutie apple top marzipan cookies - she shares the recipe & helpful tips!

Love these! I like how she piped the leaf rather than using Air Heads like on the pops - that's exactly how I wanted to do my leaves. I might use a large chocolate sprinkle instead of a clove for these cookies.

Hopefully I have given you plenty of apple & pencil ideas for this school season! I have so many more ideas I want to share :)

Enjoy,  
 Amanda

{party envy} preppy graduation party inspiration shoot

Congrats to all of the recent & soon-to-be graduates!
You definitely deserve it! All the hard work & assignments the past 4 years has finally paid off!

*Special shout out to my Lambuth Alpha Gam sisters :)

Celebrate your recent accomplishments with a graduation party!

Loving the Preppy & Vintage style of this inspiration shoot by Tinywater Photography featured on Wedding Chicks.









This shoot is full of houndstooth & argyle - true patterns of a collegiate! The elements of keys (unlocking wisdom), book page flowers, apples, books, and typewriters play up the academic notes & undertones.

This would also be a darling engagement party theme for a teacher or college sweethearts!

Grab your "Yay" pennant because this party graduates with honors!

Check out Wedding Chicks for more inspiration shoot photos.

Enjoy!

Amanda

{FREEday} teacher appreciation - part 2

Never can have enough FREE stuff ;) Here's another round-up of teacher inspired printables!



Kristan & Amy @ Living Locurto made these adorable printables & even give you the recipe for the "ice cream" cupcakes. Too Sweet :)



Here's an all-around thank you tag that you can use for anything!

Thanks to Beth @ It Is What It Is!




Jillian @ Catch My Party featured these printables by Noelle & Kerry @ Sweet Craft Cakes.

Teachers definitely rock & it's time to show them that you're their biggest groupie :)



Whipperberry has the printable tag that you can attach to a pencil bouquet!

This tag could also work attached to a potted plant.

Enjoy!

Amanda

{party envy} classic school themed baby shower

Here's another beautiful school themed shower that I found featured by One Charming Party.



The invitation is modeled after a vintage flashcard, darling! The snippets to the right are FREE printables that you can use to throw your own school themed party.





The pretty pastel color scheme works so well with all of the classic books and shabby chic fabrics. The flashcard bunting is soooo cute.




Vintage school cards are held up by flower frogs to label the vegan party spread.




What a simple touch that just adds so much! I heart the baby pencil :)

Enjoy!

Amanda

{fab finds} teacher gift ideas

Need gift ideas?!?

Here's a round-up of teacher inspired gifts that make the grade!



My sister-in-law is a teacher and I believe on Easter she already had the countdown of how many days were left of school. I believe this feeling is mutual for all teachers! eighteen25 has a great tutorial & gift idea on this Countdown to Summer clipboard. Thanks for sharing!

I want to make a version of this that is a countdown to football season. A co-worker of mine is a die hard football fan and knows the days until football season. I think it would be cute happy for her :)




For the sewing girls out there, this "paper" bag is just too cute! Megan @ The Crafty CPA shows how to make your own fabric "paper" bag.

This skill could be used for so many more cute & fun crafts!




I am quite the school supplies hoarder which makes this a perfect craft for me! I love fall when all the new supplies come out; it is one of my favorite times of the year! It's sad that I am not in school anymore and don't have a reason to buy them (I still do). I look forward to children in the future so that I can buy supplies with a purpose!

Since I am such a supplies hoarder, I always have plently new supplies lying around. Patrice @ Lemon Tree Creations posted the how-to on making this push-pin & pencil bouquet!





Teachers help your children grow. Thank them with a potted flower!

Kami @ No Biggie shared this idea over at Skip To My Lou. Go there for the tutorial on making the "lolli" and get the printable!



I have been wanting to make some of these calendar date blocks! They are perfect gift for everyone, not just teachers!

Dacia @ Creative Mommas made these for her kids teachers and shares the deets over at her site. Go ahead and stop by!



This is a GRANDE project! It reminds me of the card we ordered from Tiny Prints. I am definitely putting this on the list of projects to make. Who doesn't love starbucks?!?

The J girls @ eighteen 25 (Seriously, this crush is going to be full blown soon!) share the printable and instructions @Skip To My Lou to make this coffee-tastic Thank You card.



Love the idea of personalizing a caraffe! Leigh @ It's All Small Stuff made this as one of the gifts for her kids teachers.

What they choose to fill it with is their choice ;)

Enjoy!

Amanda

{party envy} A+ teacher baby shower

Staying with the teacher theme, this baby shower by Whitney @ The Smith Family gets an A+!



The mom-to-be is a teacher and Whitney played off of that to create a breath taking baby shower.

Above is the invite *swoon*. Makes me think of flash cards and writing tablets

**This party was one of my first blog finds when I discovered the wonderul world of blogs last year**



Lunch consisted of salad, tomato bisque, and chicken salad sandwiches served true cafeteria style. The guests ate off cafeteria lunch trays - what a great touch!

Love Whitney's homemade bottle wraps and rickrack runner.




After a full day of school, everyone needs an after-school snack! Chalkboards were used to list out the goodies, and I really like that the snack included childhood classics such as PB&J and cookies.

PS - I hate using my handwriting as well! Chalkboards were waay worth it!



Covered books were stamped with different subjects and stacked as part of the party decor.



Favors: paper lunch snacks filled with hot tamales and a note from "mom"!

Party features that I really liked:
*Flashcards hung above the tablescape
*Giant chalkboard listing the "schedule" for the day
*Handwritten advice from the mom-to-be's students
*Personalized composition book to keep the party details in

Get the visual over at her blog!

Enjoy!

Amanda

{FREEday} teacher appreciation - part 1

Teacher Appreciation Week is next week! Are you ready?!?

I don't have any children, but I do have friends that are teachers and would they love to feel appreciated!

This week will be devoted to teachers. I have freebies and parties that I am excited to share with y'all:


These adorable printables were made for Back to School but they would work perfectly for Teacher Appreciation Week! Bird's Party has the goods!

In case you didn't catch it, these printables were used in a stunning Back2School party that I featured a few months back.



I am beginning to fall in love with the girls from eighteen25. I find endless amounts of inspiration on their blog!

Well, these talented ladies made this printable last fall and again this could be used for an easy teacher's gift!



An oldie but definitely a goodie! These Thank You Cards are from Kim @ TomKat Studio. Print & tie together with a ribbon for a quick gift.




Pam @ Keeping Life Creative featured these cutie-patootie book plates over at Tatertots and Jello. These would be great to give to a teacher to put in all the books that they have stocked in their classroom library.

Enjoy!

Amanda

{party envy} back to school birthday bash

Sorry I have been so AWOL! I have been incredibly busy this past week with work, and getting ready to go to our market in Orlando, FL next week which will be followed by a *much deserved* tiny vacay to Walt Disney World!

I am uber excited I have never been to Disney World and I am looking forward to fufilling a childhood dream. Teacups, here I come!!!



Anywho....I have found a darling birthday party on the ever-so-fabulous-&-talented Amy Atlas' blog. Leoni @ Just Call Me Martha created this party for her daughter's 4th birthday. I am beginning to think that Australia is PACKED FULL of talented people. I always spot great parties and ideas from down under....

Look at that tablescaping!!! Clean with great details. I really like that all the surfaces are essentially one giant chalk board. GREAT idea to use flash cards as a banner, fits the theme perfectly!

Using books as stands, writing in chalk, using pencils in place of popsicle sticks in the candy apples = love. PS - All of the items are edible. Those crayons on the far right? Yep, those too...Leoni has a tutorial showing you how to make them.

Custom hats & napkins as well as library bags which are hanging on the back of the seats. They each contain a book about apples, perfect touches!

What's a party without goody bags?!? Edible crayons are my favorite take-home-goodie from this party.


Great job Leoni! You have created a fantastic birthday party that is easily transitional into a party for back-2-school, teacher's appreciation, or even a college graduation (education major of course!)

Enjoy!

Amanda

PS ***Happy Birthday to My Wonderful Mother :)