it's that time of year...
Summer for some is winding down.
all the Back to School supplies are in Target, the smell of crayons and paper is in the air. The isles are filled with kids and supply lists.
as a kid i loved this time of year, it meant new pencils, folders, markers and backpacks!
my Mom would take my sis and i up to Foothill to Dick and Janes and we would get to pick out 3 new outfits.
i remember my Mom hauling us to all the Back to School Sales at Grand Centeral, ZCMI and Caseltons.
being a kid was great fun.
i loved school, not because i loved learning really, i loved all the stuff that went with it. Friends and recess and field trips.
i loved back to school with my kids too.
we did the same traditions.
gathered lists & supplies, backpacks and new School clothes.
well, until i have a grand kid those days are gone for a while.
this year i guess i was feeling nostalgic.
i found this at my Mom's house last week.
yep, there i am, first grade smack dab in the middle wearing red! missing a few teeth.
this photo inspired me to create.
i love how it's over 40 years old, i love the clothing, the styles of glasses, our hair. i love the old school that i went too. Uintah Elementary, the same school my Dad attended.
feeling nostalgic i decided i wanted to decorate for Back to School with a vintage flair.
i went from this:
to this:
and here's what i came up with.
i am in love.
i didn't want to have to spend too much money so i hit the garage, my studio and the rest of the house to see what i could dig up...
you know me, i LOVE using stuff that i have "on hand."
so i gathered from my studio some fun Back to School Papers first.
this is a line Janet Hopkins designed for Bazzill a while back, it's timeless.
then i hit the garage, and my kitchen and gathered from all over the house.
because i don't have a fireplace Grant built me the mantle and i LOVE the way it breaks up the long wall over our TV in our Great Room. It is over 6 ft. long and he made it extra wide so i could load it up!
some of the other things i gathered were things i collect like Milk Glass, Globes, a favorite little typewriter i bought from Jenni and Jared Bolin a few years ago, a vintage lunch box, vintage flash cards and of course old books.
i have quite a large collection of old books and have started collecting colors that coordinate with the holidays.
the only thing i had to purchase were the Back to School supplies so i hit the Dollar Store first and spent less than $5 on Pencils, Composition Book and Glue.
My next stop was Walmart and i was able to find Crayola crayons the wooden rulers, 25cents each and the fun little Chalk Board. I only spent $5 there too.
all of the other supplies i had on hand.
Jute
Clothes Pins
Baker's Twine
Torn Fabric
Scrapbook Paper.
it's amazing what you can create when you gather and get creative!
i pulled the little sign with the quote right off the wall!
i created junque bows using old handwriting papers, torn fabric, jute and tucked a few #2 pencils in!
my primary colored old books are the perfect hit of color! and who doesn't love an old Coke bottle & daisy? I LOVE the Milk Glass filled with #2s. Using School supplies as my accent was just what the mantle needed.
a vintage Typewriter, vintage Flash Cards, a bouquet of wooden Rulers and the vintage mini Globe make me happy...
the large ruler is a 6ft hand routed, painted and waxed by my sweet Mr. He's the bomb. I have 2 and decorate with them and move them all the time! Perfect for my Back to School mantle.
thanks Husband!
i'm no chalk artist but when i found the mini Chalk Board i knew it would have a place!
of course my Buck had to get into the action too.
an easy ABC garland cut with my Cricut.
Finally one of my mantles isn't complete without a few garlands!
the top garland is just punched and hot glued to Baker's Twine and the bottom is vintage Flash Cards attached to ribbon using Clothes Pins. EASY! i backed the cards with book paper torn out of an old book. Nothing adhered, or glued so i can use in a future project!
i am in LOVE with the mantle.
it feels just like my inspiration First Grade Uintah Elementary Photo.
when you find the inspiration you just have to go with it!
i love this time of year, so many fun memories of my own and with my kids...
Now if i'd just get a grandkid or two!
wink!
happy Back to School!
Meg and i put together a few Back to School Crafting kits hopefully to inspire you to create!
We only have a few!
Contents include:
13 double sided printed papers
1 Ledger paper
Vintage Map and Atlas papers
Dictionary papers
Vintage Bingo card & Flash cards
Dominos
Crepe paper
Red Twine
Kitch Sticker Pad
Baker's Twine
Tags
Flash Cards
Party Sack
Tickets
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