Worship Album - Release 2010

Our first worship album is COMPLETED, and will be available on www.CDbaby.com by March 20, 2010.  It's mastered, licensed, and printed!  You can listen to a CD preview here.  For all you who know our church, Ekklesia, it will be available there as well, probably sometime in April.  Here's a sneak peak at the Cover.

Color Spot Incentives

Use these color spots on student's desks or in a folder.  Color in a spot (or use stickers) for exceptional work or behavior.  When kids fill up their whole sheet, you can reward them in whatever way you like.  (Hang it on the wall, free assignment, eraser...etc)

Classroom Incentive Cash

Just insert your face (or whatever object/animal you like) in the space provided, and you've got your very own classroom cash.  Let kids purchase items from a school store, or do an auction.

 

  

  

 

Moon Phases

I had the pleasure of teaching a 6th grade science class in Tennessee a unit on Space.  Here's a project we did for the moon phases.  Take every opportunity to let your students work together, and do hands on projects.  They almost all aced the moon phases part of the test.

 

 

Photo Painting

If you get your hands on a Michael's 40% off coupon, get a light projector.  They are so much fun.  Mine was regularly like $60, but I got it for $30 (on a rare 50% coupon week).

You can print off clip-art online like this one and project it onto a canvas.  All you have to do then is trace it either with paints on a brush, or those cool paint pens!

Save Water Poster Phrases

If you're like me, it's hard to remember to do little things to save money on your water or heating bill.  I wrote some really stupid phrases and printed them out on little posters that I put around the house (by the sink, washer, dishwasher soap...etc)

 

  

Marisa's Symphony

I finished my symphony!  Scott had it mastered, and it's posted on YouTube if you want to listen.

Watch it Here

Key-chain Pick Holder

Okay, coolest craft ever!  Make a key-chain that can hold your guitar picks.
Use this template to cut out your fabric.  I used special scissors to get the jagged edge.  You can either hand-sew, or use a machine. 

Materials needed:

• thread, needle (or a sewing machine)
• material
• 1 snap (there should be 4 pieces total)
• pliers (or a snap press)
• an eyelet

Before folding your material and sew around the complete edge.  Affix the 2 snap sides at this time using either the pliers or snap press.  Then fold the end where the picks will hide and sew the sides shut.  Affix your eyelet using either the pliers or snap press.  Put in your picks, and you're done!

Isaiah Journal

Last year a friend of mine, Caley Peterson, and I decided to do a study through Isaiah.  It was amazing.  We made ourselves some journals and broke Isaiah up into about 100 days (which is exactly how many pages our journals had).  We asked every question we could think of and didn't rest until we understood the answer to every question we had.  Wow, are there some amazing prophesies about Christ in that book.  Learning the history was so powerful to me that now during sermons, I feel I have a way better grasp on Old and New Testament significances.  Here's the journal cover I made if anyone else wants to use it.  (I just used Modge Podge to paint it onto the blank journal cover).

Painting your Kid's Room

I love to decorate!  A few years ago I painted a room at my mom's house to be the kid's room.  I borrowed an overhead and printed out a large silhouette of a skyline.  After painting the main part of the wall yellow, I projected the skyline on it and painted it black with chalkboard paint.  Then, I added the pink sun which was also on the overhead I printed out.  It's so great, because my niece can draw right on the wall with chalk.

Last year I decorated my own daughter's bedroom.  People were puzzled when I told them I was painting the walls gray, but I think it's important to consider a muted background at times, so when you add the accents, they really pop.  I was doing accents using black and white Fleurde-lis patterns and very light pinks, as well as earthy greens. Also, the two-tones walls helps to break it up and help a small room feel taller.

Whatever you decide to do, be yourself & go for it.