Make Your Masterpiece

Alright...heading into week 3 of the TpT Seller Challenge.  This week's challenge is to "Make Your Masterpiece."  It's a known fact in the TpT world that we hit productivity blocks and need to step away from making products and live life a little.  The time away from creating is sometimes all it takes to get the creative juices flowing again.  One major hiccup in my summer product creation motivation has been my *attempt* to wean myself from Diet Coke.  Yep.  The time has come.  I decided to do it over summer since I lose control during the school year with all the lunches and treat days.  If I can kick this habit now, hopefully my tastebuds will decide that Diet Coke is no longer a necessity! Is it wrong that I want this necklace?

Errr, I guess it is a little too much evidence that I like DC waaaay too much!  Let's face it, it causes major Mentos explosions, right?  So it's gotta be bad on the innards.   

Anywhoo, I've veered off course.  What was I talking about?  Oh, yes, the "Make Your Masterpiece" challenge.  I mustered up some energy (on bubbly San Pellegrino) and came up with this fun product:

It's an accordion-style book of national symbols, memorials, and monuments.  Fits perfectly with my 3rd grade Social Studies curriculum.  Here's the link in case you want to check it out:  MASTERPIECE

Here are the links to the fabulous creators of this fun challenge:  Third in Hollywood, Sparkling in Second Grade, Peppy Zesty Teacherista, Teach Create Motivate   I can't thank them enough for the motivation and creative push that we sometimes need!

Dare to Dream

It's HERE!  Week 2 of the TpT Seller Challenge has arrived.  {I'm still doing my cover makeovers from last week's challenge~only 30 more to go! Whew!}  Here are the links to the fabulous creators of this fun challenge:  Third in Hollywood, Sparkling in Second Grade, Peppy Zesty Teacherista, Teach Create Motivate

Now, it's one thing to dream.  It's another thing to put your dreams into writing, for all the world to see.  I do believe that there's power in putting your thoughts and dreams into writing, then shooting it out to the universe.  Hopefully, it will swirl and spin, mixing with the right elements to come to fruition.  Here I go...

Family Vacation:  Last summer, we were fortunate to have TpT funds to take us to the east coast~ Washington D.C., Pennsylvania, and New York.  It was a family dream of a lifetime!   My latest dream to splurge on from my TpT savings is to go somewhere tropical with my family.  The Bahamas, Hawaii, the Caribbean would be just fine, thank you!  We want the white sands, high-calorie fluffy-blended drinks, whales breeching in the distance, and NO agenda!!

Bye Bye Visa:  This one is on my last nerve!! Darn visa bill!  We pay it off, then it creeeeps back up on us.  I hate debt and want it GONE for good!  

RAKs:  I love to do Random Acts of Kindness, and would love to do more without worrying about it.  I do have a few homeless people in my city that I keep encountering, and have started recognizing.  I love giving them money, especially Diane.  She is so sassy, and has the sweetest pup companion.  When I give her money, she thanks God first, then says, "Thanks, hun."  There's also a mysterious homeless woman that I see on the way to work almost every day.  I'd love to stop one day and give her a care package or a bundle of cash to make her week go by a little easier.  

So, those are a few of my dreams.  There you go, universe...have your way with them! Also a HUGE shoutout to Teachers Pay Teachers for already making my dreams come true.  What a blessing you've been in my family's life!

What are your dreams?

TpT Seller Challenge

I'm finally emerging from my "Beginning of Summer Coma. " The naps were coming on strong.  My kids were laughing at me, because whenever I sat still long enough, I was falling asleep.  Ha ha!  It takes me about a week to decompress from the end of a school year.  Today, the sleepy fog has lifted, and I'm joining the TpT Seller Challenge.  Yay!   When I saw it, I instantly knew that this was a challenge I was up for.  I'll tackle my house cleaning *later* m-kay? Here are the links to the fabulous creators of this fun challenge:  Third in Hollywood, Sparkling in Second Grade, Peppy Zesty Teacherista, Teach Create Motivate

So, for the Week 1 Challenge, Makeover Madness, I was challenged to makeover a cover or product.  I decided to feature a product cover that is part of a series.  I make "Story Booster Packs" for the stories in my reading series, and have been s-l-o-w-l-y revamping their covers.  This series is one of my firsts on TpT, and probably the most popular.  Teachers are always looking for ways to supplement the stories, so that's where my Story Booster Packs emerged.  Once upon a time, I was very proud of the covers.  Honestly, in my two year journey on TpT,  I have learned SO much!  I cringe when I look at them now, so these covers were the first on my hit list.  I'm already feeling relieved, and have at least 15 more to go.  

Here are my "Before" and "After" photos.  

So, there you go!  Yes, it's embarrassing to see that "Before" shot, but hey, look at it now!  Woo hoo!  I would also like to comment on my very first experience with clip art, which was using free images from My Cute Graphics.  A HUGE shout out to My Cute Graphics!! Her clip art is perfect for TpT products, especially for when you're brand new, and just getting started on TpT.