USING A CRICUT TO CREATE COOL CLASSROOM DECOR

I am not a crafty person by nature.  Painting and I don't really get along. Scrapbooking just ain't my thing.  I cannot draw to save my life. And, let's be honest . . . I can't visualize which colors and fonts will look good together until I actually see it.  Let's just say that it is good that I teach first grade . . . that's about the level of my artistic ability.    

Well, despite all of this . . . I went out of my comfort zone a bit and got myself a Cricut Explore One a few weeks ago.  I have multiple friends who rave about their machines and I decided to try one.  Well, I am so glad that I jumped on this one.  The Cricut does SO MANY COOL things.  

Here's an example of something really basic and cool that the Cricut can accomplish.  For those of you who follow me, you know that I moved schools this year.  I spent ALL summer setting up my classroom.  Part of setting up included painting my new mailboxes (scratched up white just wasn't my style). To finish up the project, I needed to label these little cubbies with numbers. After multiple attempts, I couldn't get anything to stick to the freshly painted and spray coated surface.  Well, that is, until I pulled the vinyl out of my Cricut order.  Check this out . . . 

Again, this isn't anything super fancy.  However, it solved a huge problem and it looks great.  I used my Cricut to cut basic numbers in a font that I used for everything else in my classroom.  Yep . . . the machine software allows you to access all of your fonts. The best part is that they actually stick! Thank you, sweet Cricut!

After I completed the easy task of cutting numbers, I was ready to push myself a bit more in the craft department.  When I learned that my new school runs with something called Greatness Words, an idea popped into my head --- what about making a growing bunting with these awesome words??!!  Every month our school embraces 2-3 new words that get the kiddos thinking about making good choices, being helpful, and the best they can be. September marks the first set of words.  So, I whipped up some bunting flags on my Cricut.  

I cut the letters out and this was left over.
I dig the way these look, but I wanted the words to pop a bit more.  

I cut out a new flag/bunting background.
Those letters that came from the cut outs above were glued onto the new background.
I am in the process of doing this will all of the flags this weekend.
These will be hung across the top of my white board.
I will continue to add to this bunting as additional Greatness Words come into play!

Alright, so there you have it.  Dolling was actually able to be crafty in her classroom thanks to her handy-dandy Cricut.  I can't wait to keep playing with it as I know this is only the tip of the ice burg when it comes to what this machine can actually do.  

Did you know that you could win BIG with Cricut during this back to school season?  They are giving away 70 prizes over the next 7 weeks.  Yes, you read that right.  SEVEN - ZERO . . . 70 Cricut goodies.  Go to their Facebook page and get yourself entered to win!  

Alright my friends, I am out of here.  Check back tomorrow as I am in the middle of finishing up a helpful post for primary.  Big hugs and merry weekend :)