Craftiness in Classroom Preparation

Lately my eyes have opened to many crafting possibilities. Ever since I perused the Scrap-A-Doodle scrapbook shop in St. Petersburg, Florida last month with two of my teacher confidantes, I have thought about creative ventures I can do at home to prepare for this school year. 

It all started with this: 

When my two friends exclaimed how cute this was, I really liked it. A few seconds later, I realized it was a booklet made out of paper lunch bags folded in half! Immensely creative! The inside was even more interesting: 

I thought I would share this creative idea with you as well. Your students may be able to make these! Here are the instructions, from a scrapbooking weblog called "Stamps, Papers, Scissors". 

After that, Krissy (Venosdale) got me interested in Pinterest. I had no idea what it was before visiting the site. After joining, I began finding wonderful images quickly. Here are some particularly creative ideas for the classroom: 

#1: Updating Discarded Magazine Images with "Photo Heads": 

This article is interesting because I remember being in middle/high school and walking past booths where YOUR face could be on the front of any magazine cover. I was amazed! As I got older and Adobe Photoshop became a reality, though, it was not fascinating any longer because I have realized I can alter images in so many ways. However, this idea I found through Pinterest is most definitely a unique way to reuse old magazine images: 

What's great for the classroom: Your students can write about their "experiences". 

#2: Power Towers: 

I love how Pinterest can direct you back to Blogspot! This third grade teacher found a great idea through another blog called "Power Towers", where kids answer questions and stack cups as they get the questions correct. The questions are written on top of the cups.This adds an awesome kinesthetic feel to "ordinary" lessons! It looks like the cups are stored in a recovered Pringles can.

#3: Another Amazing Photography Mini-Project: 

This is another sensational idea. It can be neat for other times of the year, but it seems to fit in best for Valentine's Day. I guess it can work for Mother's Day as well. Take a picture of a student holding out their hand, and then make a slit above and below their hand so they can "hold" a lollipop. 

#4: This blog includes an image for an interesting divider. It can be made out of piping and used to display student work.

#5: Build a News Stand: I will probably never build a newsstand for my classroom, but this is an AMAZING idea:

Here are instructions on how to construct a newsstand. 

These last ideas are some things I am currently working on. 

#1: A Magnetic Word Wall:

This word wall will be hung high above the CAFE board at the back of my classroom. It is made out of 10 11" x 17" scrapbook papers connected by electrical tape. It will then be spray painted with magnetic paint. The words will adhere with magnets. 

#2: Character Pillars Rocks: I actually came across this idea last night on Jen Runde's weblog. She wrote different pillars of character on smooth pebble rocks. Here is what I did to emulate her creative idea. I purchased black rocks and wrote on them with a silver Sharpie. 

#3: I made a creative Earth display on a piece of cardstock: 

It may not look like Earth up close, but it does from far away. 

#4: Last are my updated clipboards. I am in the process of painting the top parts black: 

What are some creative ideas you have found lately or come up with on your own?