Snazzy In Second

Currently {July}

It dawned on me last night that today was the first day of July! Oh, boy! Where has my summer gone?! Speaking of.... since it is the first that means I get to link up with Oh' Boy 4th Grade for July Currently!

*Listening: I am about to go to the gym and my husband & pup just left, so my house is very quiet right now. Ahhhh....so nice!

*Loving: I go to the gym with my teach friend, but we don't get to go as often during the school year. In the summer time you can find us in Body Sculpt class at the YMCA multiple times during the week.

*Thinking: Yes, this is my last month of summer. I have a ton to do still and am super sad about my few weeks left to enjoy is.

*Wanting: I love to bake! In the past I have spent my summer days baking cupcakes... well I haven't baked anything this summer. I am determined to change that today! Red, white, and blue cupcakes maybe?!

*Needing: My house has been ignored this summer. It needs to be vacuumed and dusted, but that will have to wait for another day... and probably another and another.

*4th Plans: This is how my husband and I roll on the 4th. We never have/make plans until the day before or even the day of. Fine with me! As long as we are grilling somewhere and I can see some fireworks.

Can't wait to read about what everybody else is currently doing.... after I get back from the gym! Ha!

A Must Read & Another Monday Made It! {June 30th, 2014}

I will admit, I got a little distracted when trying to decide what I wanted to craft last week. I love to read and summer is the only time I really get to relax with a book. I just finished this one by Emily Giffin!

So, I was uber lazy and did a bunch of reading this week.

But.... I did craft two things, so that I could link up again with 4thGrade Frolics for my another Monday Made It! Here is my first craft:

I made this cute banner with my Silhouette. My friend Jessica's little girl turns 2 this summer. She loves Mickey and Minnie Mouse and the color blue. I love making banners and my goal is to one day open a shop on Etsy.

My second Monday Made It is a FREEBIE! I got lots of great feedback for my Classroom Banners freebie, so I thought I would make another. Since USA is playing in the World Cup tomorrow and the 4th of July is also this week I made these fun banners. I appreciate any feedback on them of course.

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Red-White-and-Blue-Banner-FREEBIE-1298527

Click HERE to get your set!

I can't wait to see what everybody else made this week. I need some good ideas myself.

Monday Made It!

I am finally linking up with 4thGrade Frolics for my first Monday Made It of the summer! I have had a busy first few weeks of summer. My schedule is slowing down, so it is time to get crafty and creative!

My first Monday Made It was inspired by a friend’s front door. I saw her adorable mason jar door hanger, and had to have one for myself. Here is the finished product:

It was actually rather easy to make! I started by taking some old newspaper, folding it in half (like a hotdog), and drawing a mason jar.

I cut out the mason jar template and traced it on a folded piece of burlap with a Sharpie. I found this burlap scrap really cheap at Hancock Fabrics! Once I cut out the mason jar on the burlap I had two 'jars' (a front and a back).

The next step was to paint the jar! I used a yard waste bag to put under the burlap since I did not have a tarp, and I did not want to ruin the granite! I learned that paint does not spread well on burlap, so it takes a lot of paint. I used an entire small bottle just for the blue.

Once all the paint had dried I stacked the two layers of burlap. Then, I hot glued them together. As I hot glued them I also stuffed it with old plastic grocery bags to give it some dimension. To finish it off I made a little bow and added a loop of ribbon to hang it with.

Ok, this was easy, but it did take all day!

My second Monday Made It is for the classroom! I LOVE banners! I make them on my Silhouette for every occasion. I made some last year for my classroom, I use them in the corners of my bulletin boards to display the subject area. I thought I would make a set to share with everyone.... and it is FREE!

Click HERE to download it for FREE!!! Please don't forget to rate it and leave feedback.

I am working on my first editable TPT item for next week's Monday Made It! Ok, off to celebrate my sister's 30th birthday at the pool!

Hey Y'all! It's a Georgia Bloggers Blog Hop!

It's time to teach the country about yes ma'am and y'all.

Down here in Georgia, we talk with a drawl.

We're bringing you some freebies as sweet as our tea.

Enter our contest, you might get some things free!

I was born and raised in Georgia! I’m a true Georgia peach!

I grew up in Alpharetta, but my husband and I moved to neighboring Marietta two summers ago. I thought I would share a few of my favorite Georgia things with you.

As a child we always had sweet tea in the fridge. I recently discovered the best, in my opinion, and easiest way to make sweet tea!

Lipton’s Refresh Sweet Iced Tea K-Cups are divine! perfectly sweet and not too lemon-y.

We may be the peach state, but I am not the biggest peach fan. I DO love peach flavored anything… ice cream, pie, yogurt, candy.

I grew up eating these yummy treats: Peach Rings! A peach flavored gummy? I could eat them everyday!

I spent the first few years of my life living in Stone Mountain. I was young, so I don’t remember much, but I do recall going to Stone Mountain Park for the laser show.

It is fun for all ages. You can have a picnic and enjoy a light show. It is one of my favorite memories as a kid.

This weekend, we’ve paused from our peach picking to give you a taste of Georgia. Twenty-five teachers invite you on a road trip through our southern state. Hop through our blogs to get freebies!

You can get my freebie by clicking HERE.

Make your room SNAZZY next year with these adorable banners.

We’d also like to give you a chance to win a bushel basket full of our products. To enter from my page, just LIKE me on Facebook. You can enter from each teacher’s blog!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Go on now darling’! Get to hoppin’!

An InLinkz Link-up

Birthday + Blue Skies = BIG News

I am excited to share something BIG and exciting with you...

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Erin-Stephan

Click the picture to check out the sale!

May is my birthday month, and let me start by saying I am far from a birthday brat. I don't usually make a big deal of my birthday, but I decided this year I would. To celebrate my birthday my entire TPT store is going to be on sale from May 1- May 21st (my birthday). But wait... It gets better.

I will be donating all sales during that time to Blue Skies! What's Blue Skies you ask? Blue Skies is a week-long family retreat to bring the hope of Christ to families living through the emotional, physical, financial and spiritual challenges of pediatric cancer. It is is a week of healing, with new friends and a lifetime of memories they will cherish forever. The goal is that children who are sick will laugh and play again; that siblings, who often compete with illness, will feel cherished and valued; and, that marriages and families will be renewed and strengthened. Check out the Blue Skies site: http://www.blueskiesministries.org/

I first learned about this organization from my bestie Emily. She and her amazing mother volunteered on a retreat two years ago and shared their experiences with me. Their passion, generosity, and willingness to give of themselves for these families truly inspired me. So, this year when Emily asked if I wanted to go I didn't think twice about it. I am honored to be volunteering on a Blue Skies retreat in June.

I ask that if you can, please check out my Birthday Bash - TPT Sale supporting Blue Skies. You'll be giving children with cancer, their siblings, and their parents a life long memory. If you would like to support Blue Skies another way or make a donation please feel free to email me: Erin.c.stephan@gmail.com

Georgia Bloggers Meetup

A few months ago I received an invitation from Jayne at Smart Kids to attend a Georgia Bloggers Meetup. Yesterday was the big day! I got to meet 19 amazing teachers and blogger. We had a lot of fun sharing our tricks, creating business plans, and swapping products.

Here are a few photos from our fun day!

photo credit: Smart Kids