Halloween Spell Book Tutorial

This is essentially a repost of something I wrote last year.
It is WAY too early for me to start decorating for Halloween!
BUT.....
Some of YOU...are way ahead of me and actually planning and making decorations for next month.....and I thought you might like to try this fun project!

I love this wonderful decorative set of Halloween Books that my daughter gave me a few years ago.



They came from "The Shop Around the Corner" that I told you about from our Weekend Wander in Waconia!

Alas....this cute little shop is now closed....and I sure will miss it!

Last year I put the books on the entry hall  table with the Owl I splurged on....

We even saved the "perfect" branch to use again this year!

When the time comes....I will probably do something similar to this!


I loved the idea of these books  so much that I wanted some for my school Halloween display....and of course I didn't want to spend the money to buy the "real" thing....

I did a knock-off version and only spent $7 instead of the $25 for the originals.

Since this was BB (before blog), I can't do an actual tutorial with photos.....
so I will try to explain how I made them!

I bought these paper mache books in a set of 3 from Michael's for 6.99

• I painted the outside with flat black craft paint.

• I painted the book page area with metallic gold paint.

• I printed out the cover and spine images on my computer

• I used Modge Podge to attach the printed titles and cover to the books

And here is the finished result! 
I left them loose....instead of gluing them together....so I can stack them every which way!

I will put them on the center table in the Media Center with all of the Halloween books for kids to check out.....
Last year a kid actually tried to check one of them out.....He was so disappointed when he found out they weren't real!

I still have these photo albums that I bought at Goodwill.....hmmmm


I am thinking I will distress these....add some Halloween themed titles and have another set....


I meant to do this last year and never got it done!!!  Maybe this year!
Wish me luck!




Speaking of Halloween....there is really nothing better than a good spooky book to read to your kids.....check out this post with lots of suggestions!

There is plenty of time to get to YOUR library and check them out!!!

 Halloween Books for Kids!


Enjoy!!!  I am going to relish the rest of September and NOT rush into Halloween!!!

Link Parties
Throwback Thursday  

An Unexpected Day Away From School!

A water main behind the school needs repair....no water for us!
Better yet....NO SCHOOL for us!




And they are letting us work from home!

I am spending the day cleaning....my laptop files....my iPhoto library....my over loaded school email inbox!

I am updating the resources on the school website Park Spanish Immersion!

If you are interested in learning about what happens at an immersion school, or are looking for some great links to educational resources....check it out!

I am also planning some fun "Media Literacy" lessons for the week.....using Super Bowl advertising to help kids deconstruct media messages!
Helping children become media savvy is such an important thing for all adults to think about!
This is a great link that sort of explains what that is all about!

Here is kind of a fun activity that you might try with your kids:
I found it on a blog called ASIDE which focuses on teaching kids through media!
See if your kids or you for that matter can identify the logos on these images.

I would love to hear how many your kids know.
I find it amazing that even really little kids "read" these logos so well!


Sorry this was such a "teachery" kind of post.....but it IS  a work day for me after all!


Now I am off to the book store to buy copies of the winners of this year's Caldecott and Newberry prize!

What a great job I have.....I NEED to shop for, buy and read wonderful books!

 

Link Parties

Sun Scholar

Naptime Crafters

Back to School Series #1-Reluctant Reader? Some Tips!

School started for me on Monday.
My days are spent getting the Media Center in my school ready for those excited young faces who will arrive next Tuesday morning.

I've been reading all the fun "Back-to-School" posts that show all kinds of crafts, teacher gifts, posters, etc.
That got me to thinking......there seems to be a lot of interest in "Back-To-School"

Well....since I have been "going back to school" for a whole lot of years, I thought I would do a series on "Back to School" too.

Now I love crafts, fun recipes and cute school clothes as much as any of you...but that is NOT what this series is about.
This series will focus on ways to help your child (and you) connect school and home....sort of your own little Parent Information Night....except you can come in your jammies and you don't have to sit in those little chairs!