Beginner Sewing/Quilting project: Placemat

If you have been putting off learning how to sew...what are you waiting for? You need to start this new and addicting hobby stat! Here is the perfect little project to get you started. I have a video to walk you through each step of this project as well as a print out {here} for the more experienced sewer that can just take the project and run with it. The printout has a reference image to help with the layout.

Supplies needed:

a. 8 coordinating fat quarters (or Scraps must be at least 19 inches in length)

     1.  2.5” x 19

     2.  3.5” x 19

     3.  2” x 19”

     4.  4” x 19”

     5.  2” x 19”

     6.  3.5” x 19”

     7.  2” x 19”

     8.  2.5” x 19”

b. 1- 5” x 10” scrap (for pocket)

c. ¼ yard (for binding)

d. 13 x 19 fabric (for backing)

e. 13 x 19 batting (optional but great for softness)

Sewing machine

Thread

Scissors

Rotary blade

Cutting mat

Pins

Cut your fat quarter (or scrap) fabrics into the widths as to where you want the fabric placed on your placemat.

Cut your binding 2.5” x length of fabric (43 or 44” generally).

Cut backing and batting to 13” x 19”.

Cut pocket to 5” x 10”.

Sew strip one to strip two with a ¼’ seam allowance. Sew strip 3 to strip 2, sew strip 4 to strip 3, sew strip 5 to strip 4.

Sew strip 6 to strip 7 (these are the pocket strips).

Fold pocket in half so you have 5” x 5” pocket.

Pin pocket to the bottom of strip 6 & 7 section.

Sew strip 6 to strip 5, sew strip 7 to strip 8.

Press.

Center placemat top onto backer and batting. Pin and sew on either side of placemat topper seams (or whatever pattern you want).

Make binding. Add binding with ¼” seam allowance all the way around placemat. Finish binding by stitching in the ditch.

Multiplication Bookmarks

I have had great interest in my addition and subtraction bookmarks and have had requests for some multiplication bookmarks.

Here you go! I hope that your students love these as much as the addition and subtraction bookmarks. These go from 1 through 12.

This is an idea of what they are like.

Aloha!

I have been feeling super creative lately and have decided to put my energy to good use. I have been having some fun with creating some fun clip art that are available in my Teachers pay Teachers site.  You can access my page by clicking HERE. If you are a teacher you can use them for all kinds of activities and worksheets. There are 28 clip art images, 1 background and 2 frames.

My love of Photoshop

Did you know that I love Photoshop?  No...really...I love Photoshop.  Whenever I get the chance to play I cannot resist.  I love to learn new things.  So my friend has this sweet little girl who is starting a little sucker business and needed a logo made.  I could not wait to jump at the chance to try some new techniques.  Here are the some of the designs I came up with.  I am no professional but hey...they are free!

I hope that they like them as much as I do!

Birthday Chart

I love to make each student gets special attention when the time is right.  There is no other perfect time than on their birthdays.  This cute birthday chart is a cute and easy way to display those birthdays each month.  If you laminate it you can re-use it over and over again.  WIN-WIN!  Here is the link to get the chart:   Birthday Chart!

Getting to know you

One of my goals is to get to know each of the kiddos that I will be working with.  I enjoy learning about each of them and what they enjoy.  I have created a simple template to get my kids to explore who they are and learn how to share information about themselves.  If you would like to use this template go HERE.

Teacher Assistant

I am starting out on a new adventure.  I am working on becoming a teacher.  Utah has a new certification program for those that already have a four year degree.  I have now taken on the role of being a Teacher Assistant to some cute and adorable first graders.  I can use this job to get my practical experience underway.  The school I am working with has two teachers and two classes that switch.  I move between the two of them.  One teacher teaches math and science.  The other teachers English.  Then different teachers come in to teach art, technology and they go to PE.  I love that I get to see the different styles of teaching from the two mentors that I have.  I have been doing some research on how the math teacher can best use some dominoes in his classroom.  We are currently working on number Associative Property of Addition.  I made this worksheet to use with dominoes to reinforce this concept to the kids.  I have it up on Teachers Pay Teachers as a freebie.  You can see it HERE.  Here is what it turned out like.  Happy Days my friends!