Day 3: DIY Teacher Gift + {FREE PRINTABLE}

diy teacher gift every teacher will love

On the 3rd day of Christmas, j. sorelle gave to you…a DIY teacher gift and free printable.

We decided that we couldn’t go wrong with a chalkboard for a holiday teacher gift this year. And with handwritten notes from kids on a free printable, it’s priceless. We love the DIY Teacher Gift we shared with Momtastic. It’s a gift from the heart that really makes the grade – an A+ grade – so it’s worth checking out.

{image via j. sorelle}

{free printable} I Spy Game for Thanksgiving

ispywithmylittleeye_jsorelle

One of our kid’s favorite games to play at the dinner table is I Spy. So this year, we’re happy to bring the tradition of I spy with my little eye to the Thanksgiving table. And, we’re also going retro with the use of a disposable camera. We can’t believe how ‘old school’ that seems with all the high-tech electronics nowadays. But for the kiddos, they can use and abuse the camera, and feel like a professional photographer for the evening, and you don’t have to worry about the state of your expensive phone. And, the best part of all – you can really see Thanksgiving through your children’s eyes. Don’t we all wish we could see the world through the eyes of our children on a daily basis – what a beautiful gift that would be?!

thanksgiving i spy with my little eye

Fleur de Lis created a cute and FREE printable for you that you can download here.

If you’re up for a DIY, we made the little DIY pumpkin napkin ring from a shower curtain ring. We wrapped the shower curtain ring in yarn, used a hot glue gun to keep the ends of the yarn in place, and topped it with a small branch and raffia bow. It took about 5 minutes!

thanksgiving i spy

thanksgiving i spy and diy pumpkin napkin ring

{images via j. sorelle}

DIY Witches Brew Halloween Gift and Favor

witches brew_jsorelle

We have exciting news…Jessica is a contributor to Momtastic. So, if you haven’t visited Momtastic already, make it a point to stop by. Whether you’re in the mood for Hollywood’s latest entertainment news, snack and dinner ideas, family and relationship advice, decor and entertaining tips, DIY ideas or the latest fashion trends, you will find Momtastic to be an amazing resource.

Yesterday, Jessica shared a fabulous, brewtastic Halloween favor idea and FREE PRINTABLE {by Jenna at Fleur de Lis} with an adorable poem, so don’t wait any longer and click here.

{image via j. sorelle}

Fall Party Ideas and Favors

fall harvest_astrobrightspapers

For us, fall is a time for football, family, crisp air, colorful leaves, scarecrows and fall harvest food such as apples, pumpkins and squash.

And, just like Anne of Green Gables, we, too, are so glad we live in a world where there are Octobers. So, we decided to celebrate all the things that make fall special…and we did it with Astrobrights Papers.

Honestly, {even with Jenna being obsessed with paper} we often overlook paper when it comes to party decor. We think about it for invitations and labels, but we forget that color paper can add creativity to every aspect of a party, from invitation to decor and table settings to favors. After our Fall Harvest party, we’ve come to the conclusion that…
1. We love Astrobrights Papers.
2. Color paper is a quick and cost-efficient way to customize and add color to any celebration.
3. Everyone needs to #ColorizeYourParty.

Here’s how you can #ColorizeYourParty for fall.

Fall #ColorizeYourParty Activity

  • Keep kids busy with a Dress Up the Scarecrows Activity. Find a scarecrow and clothing template like this, print on colorful Astrobrights Papers, then cut. The kids will feel so proud when their ‘art’ is on display too, so make sure to glue the scarecrows to a wooden popsicle stick, and stick them in a bale of hay.

DIY scarecrow dress up_astrobrights papers

DIY scarecrow dress up_astrobrights papers

scarecrow dress up_astrobrights papers

Fall #ColorizeYourParty Favors

  • Find a cute way to display the favors. We found that the best way to display our favors was a rotating card holder, of course colorized with cut-out images of harvest foods and labeled with cut-out paper letters.
  • Spread the love, and harvest food with seeds inside DIY pumpkin, apple and squash seed packets. Here’s a free seed packet template and how-to instructions are below.
  • Share the beauty of fall by printing seasonal photos of fall on white Astrobrights Papers, and add your favorite quote  to make it a piece of art.
  • Share your most delicious fall recipes with DIY pumpkin, apple and squash recipe cards designed by one of our own, Jenna. Print the fall recipe cards with this free template.

DIY seed packets_Astrobrights Papers

DIY seed packets_Astrobrights Papers

DIY seed packets_astrobrights papers

DIY seed packets_astrobrights papers

DIY recipe cards_astrobrights papers

IMG_6928

Fall #ColorizeYourParty Decor

  • Create a colorful background. Since we loved the quote “I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers” so much, we wanted it to be a main focus. We used our Silhouette electronic cutting tool to cut words from the quote out of yellow Astrobrights Papers, then taped an orange piece of paper behind it for a pop of color in the background.
  • A fall party wouldn’t be complete with colorful leaves, so make sure to layer and scatter paper leaves everywhere.
  • For a full harvest effect, create a Fall Market sign. Cut out paper pumpkins, squash, apples, letters and numbers and tape them to a vintage window pane so guests feel like they enjoying a stroll through a lovely fall market.
  • Incorporate seasonal crops such as apples, pumpkins, squash, sunflowers, lanterns and bales of hay.

diy fall market sign_astrobrights papers

fall harvest party_astrobrights papers

fall harvest party_astrobrights papers

Tell us, how will you Colorize Your Party? For inspiration, check out Astrobrights Papers on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Tumblr and Instagram.

Colorize your party_astrobrights papers{images via j. sorelle}

j. sorelle received products and/or payment for this post, however we love Astrobrights Papers even if they didn’t send us product, and all opinions are ours, we promise. View all of Astrobrights vibrant colors here

Bear Party Activities and Crafts for Kids

Before the bears go back into hibernation, let’s celebrate and learn about the furry, cuddly and powerful nature of bears.

Disneynature Bears takes us on a journey where a mother bear raises her young cubs in the big and beautiful world of Alaska. And, just like humans, she does her best to guide, protect and teach her young so they can one day survive on their own.

With the recent DVD release of Disneynature Bears, here’s 10 great ways to immerse yourself and your children into the wonderful world of BEARS this fall.

beary good day_jsorelle

1. Rent or buy, Disneynature’s Bears on DVD now.

2. Throw a mini Bears Party for your home movie feature, followed by a Bears Scavenger Hunt {free printable here} like we did.

3. Serve delicious and nutritious bear-inspired snacks for your hungry cubs that highlights magazine shared.

4. Crafty Morning shows us how to make adorable paper bear plates with these instructions.

5. Did you know a bear’s sense of smell is 2,100 times stronger than that of a human? You can learn many more facts about bears by downloading free activity pages from Disneynature Bears.

6. What kid wouldn’t want to end the day with a treat – gummy bear popsicles? Yes, please. Foodbeast invented the yummy and colorful idea.

7. Read any and all of the creative and sweet Bear Books by Karma Wilson such as Bear’s New Friend. This book series is a household favorite around here.

8. Make sure your little ones stays warm as the weather starts to turn cold with this Bear Scarf Hat.

9. Karma Wilson’s charmed bear character needs some help dressing for the seasons. Print the sheet for a fun activity for your kids.

10. Katarina’s Paperie keeps the day bubbly with DIY honey bear bottle bubbles.

{images via Highlights, DisneyCrafty Morning, Foodbeast, Amazon, Zappos, Karma Wilson and Katarina’s Paperie}