A throne for the Queen.

I've always joked that I am the "Queen of my Classroom".  So I thought it was about time for me to get a throne!  LOL, just kidding.  I actually have had this plain wood stool in my classroom for the past two years.  I use it when I'm teaching and occasionally, the students will sit on it when they are sharing.  Well, I saw the cutest stool on Pinterest that someone had painted. Of course I wanted one of my own.  Here it is.  I'm pretty happy with it.  I used acrylic paint and applied a gloss sealer after finishing.  I used a paint pen for the zebra design on the top which I am quite proud to say I actually free handed the drawing.  For the name, I printed off my name using the computer.  Then I took transfer paper (you can get it a Hobby Lobby) to trace it on the stool.  I just filled it in with the paint pen after and hot glued a feather boa around the seat.  Voila!!! Fit for a Queen.

A sticky situation.......

So, I've been working on some classroom projects as I get ready for this school year.  One of my projects is just an improvement on something I used last year.  Teaching first grade, I like for my students to be able to go and select words from the word wall when they are writing.  It is hard for them to copy words from the wall.  Last year, someone shared the idea of using a plastic tablecloth sprayed with adhesive to create a word wall that was sticky.  I did it and it worked great.  However, the plastic tablecloth didn't last very long before tearing and wrinkling up. 

This year, I took my word wall a step further.  I purchased 3 yards of outdoor vinyl from the bargain store (you can find it at Hobby Lobby or other fabric stores as well).  I stapled it to my wall (you could use hot glue). I laid newspapers on the floor and then sprayed it heavily with spray adhesive purchased at Walmart in the craft section.  After the spray adhesive was applied, it became a sticky surface.  I used foam sheets cut out into rectangles to write my words on.  The foam can be peeled off and re-stuck as many times as the kids want to use it and the vinyl is very durable and will be able to be used several years.  I can even change the border to change themes.  It is really cool.  AND students think it is magic that they just stick up there.   See my attached picture of my finished word wall????  I love it.