Valentine's Day Teacher Gifts

THE MAN calls me a brown noser. I think that is slightly rude of him, but sometimes when he talks, I just plain old don't listen! 

If you are reading this blog from parts other than the US, let me give you a definition so you don't have to google it since I am hopeful you all don't have this term in your country. Be thankful I didn't use the urban dictionary definition...though. 

brown-nose

   [broun-nohz]  Show IPA verb, -nosed,-nos·ing, noun Slang .

verb (used without object)

1.

to curry favor; behave obsequiously.

So, teacher gifts to him fall into this category. In his simple man brain, by default teachers are doing a job, so why should they get extra gifts?

See? I knew you'd think he was just bein' a meanie. So, these people have my kids hostage captive  for HOURS every day. Sometimes I love having my kids for HOURS every day. Others, not so much. It depends on whether one is poking the other. 

Regardless, I can make them something for those times when my son looses his cool because he forgot his ice skates for gym and comes unglued. For the record, his teacher called me on both of my phones AND gave me her personal cell number and I was pretty sure someone was on their way to the hospital. It made listening to the person on one of my phones quite distracting while I was eagerly trying to get off and figure out how fast I had to drive and where. HOWEVER, I got his skates to him causing the planet to continue to turn and life was peachy. 

I think she either needs something chocolate OR something adorable. 

Hence four little heart shaped boxes! I made four because Lexi has an aide in her class. Luke had a student teacher for a bit, but not any more. Leaving him one extra box to give to a girl of his choice. I personally hope he picks the little girl on the bus who he insists sits with him and not the other way 'round. 

These boxes will be filled with special home made earrings made by Lexi. 

No photos of those, I can't give it all away! 

But, I can show you my process!

Bring out the cookie sheet!

Painted little boxes with gesso. These boxes are from Michaels and were perhaps a whole dollar. 

Let the gesso dry and then inked up the high spots and edges with ink pads. oh, you want a shot of the inkpads? They are not pretty...OH ok. 

These little work horse ink pads take the brunt of my dirty fingers and messy projects. 

And, here they are drying. After inking them up, I sprayed them with glimmermist, let that dry, and then used gloss modge podge over them to attach a doily and seal the colors.

Then decorate!

SORRY! I had to include this photo! I thought you might like a close up! Taking a picture ON a mirror requires an certain angle...

How do you like my mirror? It's a new find from North Country Neighbor. I'll introduce you formally at some point. Like, when it's actually hung and not floating around my craft room as a prop!