Colorful 3D Bulletin Border

Here is coat #4 and finally it is looking like it should.  I also spray painted my baskets, which were many different colors.  This was a much cheaper way to get a new color scheme.  These are the eight that I have done.  I can't wait to start putting my books in them and put my shelf back where it belongs. 

Now onto the fun stuff! Over at Peace Love And First Grade I found the beautiful "scrunchy" border. Here is what Laura's looks like:

She used long strips of paper - you can find directions at the link above.
Our paper supply at school is out (not sure if they'll be replacing it) and I still wanted to do this. So I got crepe paper.  I started out using a single roll - but this didn't work out so well.  So I did two rolls side by side and it seemed to work out well! Here are my results:

 

This is the first side - you can see how I have the two rolls side by side.

This is the corner - the hardest part!

Then, here is my final result. Yeah, I'm so proud.  Thanks Laura for the great idea!!!

Here is another great idea I found from pinterest that helped me with my bulletin boards.

I used green colored staples with the green crepe paper and blue staples on the blue paper.  They are hidden so well, and so easy to make.  All you have to do is color them with a permanent marker.

What kind of fun, out of the box, borders or bulletin board have you created?

Two awards! Yeah!

Jen at teaching, life, and everything in between has awarded me two awards...

 

Thanks Jen!  These are my very first woo hoo!!

Here are the rules for the 'One Lovely Blog Award':
1. Follow the person who gave you the award.
2. Link back to the person who gave you the award.
3. Share the love! Pass the award onto 15 new bloggers!

Rules for "The Versatile Blogger" Award:

1. Thank the blogger who nominated you.

2. Include a link to their site.

3. Include the award image in your post.

4. Give 7 random facts about yourself.

5. Nominate 15 other bloggers for the award.

6. When nominating, include a link to their site.

7. Let other bloggers know they've been nominated.

7 Random Facts about myself:

1.  My middle name is Wynter (yes with a y).

2. I love to dance when no one is looking!

3. I am originally from Maine.

4. I like to fold laundry.

5. My favorite color is blue - when I was a teen I even dyed my hair blue.

6. I have a pug named Milo.

7. I am right handed.

Here's the 15 blogs I'm nominating for both awards...

4 The Love of Teaching

Wild About Teaching Kids

Teach in Pink
5th Grade Rocks 5th Grade Rules
Love to Share
Apples from my Basket
Black Board and Beyond
Fabulous 4th Grade Froggies
Fearless in 5th
Guided-Math
Jack of all Trades
Rundes Room
Teaching with a Twist of Liam
The Teaching Thief
We Read We Blog We Teach

Painting... and Some Questions For You!

First of all... I know it has been forever since I've written on my blog. I am going to try to be more faithful to it, and hopefully when school start I will have a routine in order.

So... I have been in my classroom... painting. I had a nasty bookshelf that I wanted to bring to life. Here it is with the first coat. You can see the original blue color has dings and scratches and just needs a little life.

Sadly... painting is a whole lot harder than I imagined it to be.  I don't do it often enough, and every time I do it I think it's going to be this magical, fun event.  Yea.... no!  This book shelf needed like 3 coats of paint.  Here is the final last result.  I still have some more paint so I am going to do one more coat.

Like I said I think one more coat will make it look better.  The back panel is made from plywood so the paint does not get into all the groves very easily.  I'm not too worried about this because my book baskets will cover it up.  The next shelf was only $5 at the Re-Store (Habitat for Humanity).  I was so excited!  It was really gross and needed to be cleaned up.  I washed it down, took some of the hardware off and have plans to make a bench cushion for the top. (Like something I saw on Pinterest!)  I love the color, and will post pictures when it's all set up!

Okay, so here are my Questions for you!

1. I am currently reading the Daily 5 and I am trying to figure out how to incorporate it into a fifth grade classroom. I am looking for comments and resources from anyone who uses Daily 5/Cafe in the upper grades. 

2. In the Daily 5 book, it mentions getting away from having a desk. Has anyone gotten rid of their desk? I am seriously considering it.  I imagine all the space... and then I sit at my desk and look at all the little things on my desk. What do you do with all those things? Let me know if you've gotten rid of your desk, what do you use instead?