Top Dogs Classroom

Last week was such a crazy week! With my little boy starting kindergarten this year, I decided to stay involved by joining the PTA as the Health & Safety Commissioner. . . GULP! I was busy helping to get things ready for his school's back-to-school night, as well as get my BFF's classroom decorated and ready for her back to school night (she is in a different school district, and luckily they were on different nights)! I had fun, but I am glad to have it done so I can sit back and relax. . . at least for a few minutes seconds anyway! Do you see my little guy? He hasn't wanted his picture taken lately, so as soon as he saw I had my camera out, he tried to duck down behind a desk. Luckily mamma is super quick on the trigger! He was our little "helper" for the day. . . yes, he did help, I think. . .

I created most of the elements for the decorations in My Digital Studio, and then added some traditional paper-crafting techniques to make some of the decorations 3-D. Though MDS has plenty of  things I could have used, my BFF saw a dog inspired classroom done by School Girl Style, and chose to use it as her theme as well. So, off to work to create my own knock-offs! Because of time constraints, I didn't quite get everything done that I would have liked too, but I am still happy about the finished result.

 (Sorry for the lighting on some of these photos, I am still trying to figure out my new camera!)

Each table has a banner hanging down to identify their table number. The chevron paper was created in MDS using the Chevron Punch Kit digital download. (Be sure to check the end of this post for a short video tutorial on how to make your own digital patterned paper.) The dog and paw silhouettes are SVG files that I brought into MDS. After printing the elements out, I added some black glitter to the paws to make them sparkly!

Each table also has a color coordinated tag on the basket that the kids keep their supplies in, as well as their own folders with their names on them.

Every year, BFF likes to change out her bulletin board to be  a coordinating theme, this years theme? Top Dogs! Now, there was a little debate between my husband and I (as my friend had recently had gall bladder surgery and wasn't available to make the decision) about whether or not it should be "Top Dawgs" or "Top Dogs". I thought it should be the first, as it refers to a certain "coolness", get me dawg? My husband though it should be the latter, as "it is for school, it should be spelled correctly." Given his logic, I reluctantly went with "Top Dogs". I then printed out a paw with each of the students name on it which they can take home at the end of the year.

Now, this is my favorite part! For back-to-school night, BFF likes to give all of her new incoming students a little treat. Lately I have had an obsession for making (and eating) cupcakes, and couldn't resist making some with a graham cracker Scooby Snack for her new "Top Dogs"!

Hope you enjoyed "visiting" my friends class!

supplies used: My Digital Studio; Chevron Punch Kit digital download; Petite Pennants Punch digital download; Fabulous Phrases stamp set; Whisper White, Rich Razzleberry, Raspberry Ripple, Calypso Coral, Daffodil Delight, Pear Pizzazz, Pool Party, and Basic Black cardstock; Basic Black ink pad; Basic Black 3/4" Chevron, and Raspberry Ripple 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon; Heat & Stick Powder; Black Glitter. other: Silhouette Cameo; dog and paw SVG files;