End of Year Balloon Party

I am doing a "Balloon" themed End of the Year Party for my third grader's class and am so excited!

For decorations, we will have balloons (obviously!), balloon topiaries (instructions HERE), and a banner that says "Up & Away to OMIS" (our kids go to a different school for 4th grade).  For the banner, I cut aqua, green, and yellow cardstock with my Silhouette using the "6 banner set" rounded shape.  I cut orange cardstock with my Silhouette using "Blueberry" font.  I also cut balloons out of all 4 colors.  I attached 3 balloons to each of the banner shapes that were used for spaces between the words.  I attached the orange letters, laminated each banner piece, and thread with orange tulle.  I used puffy paint to make the balloon strings and let dry.  Cute!

For food, we had drinks, cheese puff balls, grapes, and cupcakes.  We also had popsicles for after the games.  For the cupcakes, I used these cute Wilton cupcake liners with orange, yellow, green, & aqua polka dots.  I made cupcake toppers by cutting these fun aqua straws in half and attaching some more cardstock balloons.  Fun!

Now, to the best part, games!

1. Balloon Pop - this is a relay race where the kids pop balloons with their bottoms!
2. Balloon Bop - the kids get into a circle with the teacher in the middle.  The teacher tosses a balloon in the air and calls out a student's name and a body part.  The right student has to keep the balloon afloat by hitting the balloon with that body part.  If the balloon falls or the student uses the wrong body part, then they are "out".
3. Water Balloon Toss - the kids get into pairs and toss a water balloon back and forth.  If the balloon doesn't break, then the kids take a step back and do it again.  If the water balloon breaks, then they are "out".  The last pair standing wins!
4. Water Balloon Hot Potato - the kids get in a circle and pass a water balloon around.  If the water balloon breaks or if a kid is holding the balloon when the music stops, then they are "out".
5. Water Balloon IT - in this game, one kid is "IT" (I used the winner of the hot potato game as "IT") and stands on a side of the field by himself.  All the other kids stand on the other side of the field.  When "IT" hits someone on the other side with a water balloon, then they join the "IT" side and help him until everyone is on the same side!
6. Water Balloon Fight - this is a free-for-all with water balloons!

For the games, I used jump ropes to make 2 lines on the field that the kids weren't supposed to cross and I also told them to aim for shoulders and below (not heads!)  Also, I HIGHLY recommend the "tie-not" tool to make all the water balloons!  It was a great party!  The kids had a blast!

Tissue Paper Art Initials for Teachers

I made these initials for our teachers with the help of the kids!

I found these large wooden letters at Hobby Lobby.  I painted the backs and sides of the letters light pink (Americana Poodleskirt Pink acrylic paint).

The kids helped by making tissue paper art.  I gave them a 4x6" piece of white cardstock on top of a paper plate & paper towels.  The kids then placed tissue paper squares on the cardstock in whatever pattern they wanted.  Then, I sprayed the tissue paper with a mixture of half water and half vinegar.

Let the paper dry completely then peel off the tissue paper.  This results in cardstock with pretty pastel colors. (I found that the red, orange, and light pink tissue paper did not bleed onto the cardstock for some reason.  So, the cardstock was simply white where these colors were used.)  Here is the tissue paper cardstock we created:

Next, I cut all of the 4x6" cardstock into 6 2" cubes.  I brushed Mod Podge onto the front of the letter and onto the back of the cardstock cubes.  I placed the cubes all over the letter, not worrying about the edges.
I let this dry then used an X Acto knife to cut around the edges of the letter to trim off the excess cardstock.

I added another layer of Mod Podge over the top and let dry.  I glued pretty pink ribbon to the back of the letter to finish it off!I added the school name and year to the back of the letters as well.  These are so pretty and I loved that the kids had a part in making them!

Baseball Banner

I made a team banner for our baseball party that was so cute!

I cut navy cardstock into pennant shapes with my Silhouette using "6 banner set" pennant shape.  I added 2 small circles to the shape to thread the ribbon through.  Then, I cut white and red cardstock for the letters with my Silhouette using "Allstar" font.  I glued the inner red letter onto the whole white letter & glued the letters to the pennants.  I printed out Nationals clip art on white cardstock to use at the beginning and end of the banner and glued that on.  I laminated each pennant and thread with red ribbon.  Banners are so easy to make and we took a cute team picture underneath it!

Snack Baskets

I decided to do a group gift for the cafeteria workers and custodians at our school.  I thought they would enjoy some fun snacks for the last week of school!  I used their All About Me sheets (see HERE) to help me decide what snacks to purchase.  Ideas are:

• assorted chips
• assorted cookies
• popcorn
• caramel popcorn
• nuts
• assorted candy bars
• beef jerky
• donuts

I found the orange bucket at Dollar Tree and attached the "Orange you glad it's summer?" tag.  The adorable tag is from Coley's Corner and can be found HERE.  I hope they know how much they are appreciated!

All About Me Sheet

I've updated the All About Me sheet that I love to have my teachers fill out.  It helps me get them exactly what they want!  You can download it HERE.

Bookmarks for Teacher Gifts

I am in love with these adorable bookmarks!  They were so easy to make and I want one of each for myself!

I got the Jumbo Paper Clips with Glue Pads HERE.

I got all of the Cabochon Flowers from the Snap Crafty Etsy site HERE.

(I ordered 32mm Chrysanthemums, 32mm Peonies 24mm Garden Roses, & 27mm Blooming Sakuras.)

I got the mosaic tiles, E6000 glue, 4x6" jewelry bags, & ribbon at Hobby Lobby.

To make these, I just laid out the paper clips on top of some wax paper and arranged my flowers and mosaic tiles the way I wanted to glue them.

Then, I put a dab of E6000 glue on each paper clip glue pad and added the flower or tile.  Let them dry completely.  Lastly, I put sets of 3 into jewelry bags and attached a tag with ribbon.  You can download the pastel tag HERE or the brown/blue tag HERE, print on cardstock, & cut out with 2.5" scallop punch.  I wish the pictures better showed the vibrant colors!  These are seriously adorable!

End of Year Gifts for Classmates

My kindergartener is so silly and loves a good mustache.  When I found these at Party City, I thought they would be perfect for End of the Year gifts!  I simply attached the tag with some double sided tape to the package.  You can download the tag HERE, print on cardstock, & cut out with 2" circle punch (PS I always try to leave room on the tag for your child to add their name).

We are doing a "balloon" themed party in my 3rd Grader's class, so I got them Punch Balloons for their End of the Year gifts.  I put the balloons in 4x6" jewelry bags and added the tag with double sided tape.  You can download the tag HERE, print on cardstock, & cut out with 2" circle punch.  Just a little something to say "Happy Summer!"