Scrap Art

Easy art project: just provide scraps. And kids will do the rest.

Grandmother's Hearts

Every January or so I do this. When it's time to decorate for Valentine's Day in the classroom,  I open the ol' blue box simply labeled "Valentine's". And inside, sometimes buried, sometimes near the top, depending on how I threw it in the box, I mean, organized it after a crazy first grade Valentine's Day party the year before...I find Grandmother's love for me and my classroom.

Grandmother Romberg was Vaughn's grandmother, actually, but I claimed her as mine. Everyone wanted to be hers.

I remember when she was making these adorable, definitely granny-chic heart mobiles. She noticed me admiring her work (it might have been a little obvious I WANTED one like crazy) and the next time I was visiting, she had my own special mobile packaged up just like only Grandmother could do (and pull off).

I completely adore this part. My name in her handwriting.

Inside a previously-used, sorta ratty-looking plastic bag (she was green before her time), she had placed the July, 1998 issue of Reader's Digest, with the individual hearts tucked in and out of the different pages. A perfect way to keep it from getting tangled.

She died later that year.

So I hang it. And really love, love, love it. And remember her love for me.

And after Valentine's Day, I pack it back up, just as it was so many years ago...between the pages, inside the ratty bag, with my handwritten name on top. To be surprised by her love again the next time I unpack that box.

Valentine Mailboxes

For more years than I can CARE TO remember, these mailboxes have been a part of Valentine's Day in my first grade classroom. This year's no different.

It all started with Sue Anderson, my first grade teacher forever friend. When she retired, she passed the pattern to me. Before that, her husband Jerry had helped her create one per student every year. I was extremely jealous of those adorable red mailboxes lined up on that counter top.

Until the passing of the pattern, I busied myself dreaming up new sacks, bags, paper covered tissue boxes, every year.

Nothing came close.

So now the mailboxes are my responsibility, but making them happen takes a team. Meridith Taylor, the most fantastic teacher assistant forever friend ever, helps by cutting out the poster board and paper parts. Vaughn and his guys at the shop cut out and paint the wood bases and craft sticks, then assemble each mailbox before delivering them to my classroom.

I'm sure I have a part or two in the preparation. But I can't for the life of me think of them at this moment.

The boxes are lined up in alphabetical order by first name. (Oh! That's what I do!) As my students pass out their valentines, their job will be easier as they think, "beginning, middle or end of the alphabet".

Some of my prior students, even 9th and 10th graders, have told me they still have their mailboxes.

Joy.

Vintage Valentines

Vintage valentines are some of my favorite things.

I love that some of them had to be punched out. You had to work to get them apart.

I love the cute kid handwriting on the ones I have collected, mostly in pencil.

Ahhhh. How I loved making the selection...oh, and writing each classmate's name on the front of one of those flimsy little envelopes. It was such fun (but intense) picking out which one would go to who.

In certain grades I had to be particularly choosy about which ones to give to the boys. Couldn't have anyone getting lovey-dovey ideas.

This is one of mine I found in my old Bible. Hey. Wonder why I got the porcupine? That's almost like a skunk.

Look at this little girl closely!

Now look again! She wants a hug!

And there was always a teacher card in each box. I remember feeling so proud to write her name on that card and take it to school. To see her face light up! (Uh-oh...better make sure MY face lights up for the cards I receive too, huh?)

I have some vintage teacher valentines that belonged to a former neighbor of ours, Oleta Turpin.

I also have her red and white plastic heart earrings. I am just sure they were a gift from one of her students. When I first started teaching first grade, I used to wear them to my Valentine's Day parties, just for kicks. Now they have a special place of honor here with other super meaningful, non-valuable-in-the-ways-of-money-things.

Enjoy the season of love, Friends.