Thursday, August 15, 2013

20th Day... Writing Supplies (Or: The Battle with Modge Podge)

I am the least crafty and creative person I know. Truly. I could use my crafting skills as an opportunity to teach Integers... The teacher had a craftivity skill level of negative seven...
I can line things up and color code them, but give me a bottle of Modge Podge (I know... I learned the name wrong a hundred years ago and it just stuck!) and a brush (or three) and I will have that gluey stuff in my hair in less than five seconds. The paper bubbles, the "smoother" pokes holes, and the results stay wet for days, making me worry that the item will be moldy before it is ever dry.

Still, I couldn't go through the ENTIRE summer without one Monday Made It... even if this does post on a Thursday. I just love Tara and I wanted her to know I was trying one more time. Trying unsuccessfully, but still trying.

In my classroom, I have a "tower" of writing materials for my students to use. It looks like this...


Students keep their table boxes filled with supplies from this area and it is also the place where they find envelopes and paper clips and other things needed for reading or writing. You can see that there are two sections stacked on top of one another to save floor space.

This summer, I decided it needed more color. Why I made that decision remains unknown (and ill-advised). The drawers held paper just as well without being adorned with Modge-Podged scrapbook paper (maybe even better?) Why couldn't I just leave it alone?

I began this project at 7:00, and it is now just past midnight. The results are not pretty. After five hours, I am only have half done. I've now decided to tackle the second section another day. Currently, the drawers are dripping with Modge Podge. (As I type, I can imagine the paper disintegrating into a soggy wrinkled mass of goo...) There is Modge Podge in every room of the house. It is on the kitchen counters, it is on the living room rug. It is in the bathtub, which now has an iridescent shine after I tried to wash off a few failed attempts on the drawers, and now I am left with the question of how to get Modge Podge out of the tub. And I just noticed that my fingernails are covered in Modge Podge--as if I painted my nails in the dark... since the "polish" extends the length of my fingers!

That's it! Step away from the Modge Podge, Kim...

Love my Hello Lori font from Jen Jones HERE

I put the labels on the outside while the insides of the drawers were still saturated with my nemesis, the Podge of Modge... just so I could take a picture for you. Those places that look like vanilla ice cream? Still WET!

And now here is my solemn promise:
Whew! That was an adventure. I'm hoping that your projects come together more easily, and I am confident that you can beat me at Craft Wars any day without trying. That's okay. I saw another drawered organizer online... And it comes with colored drawers!

You can still check out some REAL crafty projects at 4th Grade Frolics. They're still there... Even if it is already Thursday!

18 comments :

  1. You may think it looks like Hodge Podge, but I think it's awesome! Don't give up on Modge Podge just yet.

    Barbara

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    1. OhMyGolly. This was an epic battle. And believe me, up close, it looks much less... attractive!
      :)

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  2. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate your honesty about these crafty things. I always feel like a sub-par teacher for not spending countless hours doing these types of things for my classroom, and this post has just verified that it's not necessary... even if it IS pretty in the end. I'd much rather spend that time working on lessons!

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    1. I'm pretty sure I could have planned--and taught--the entire first chapter in the math book in the same amount of time! And I'd have less to clean up...
      :)

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  3. I am not crafty either...I totally feel your pain. It looks great in the picture! Sorry it was so frustrating for you.

    Hunter's Teaching Tales
    Find me on Facebook

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    1. Thanks for the sympathy, Bethany! I don't venture out of my comfort zone very often. I'm counting it as a "growing experience."
      :)

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  4. This post made me smile. I try so hard on craft projects only to have them fail miserably. I'm getting ready to attempt some sewing projects here in a minute...I may have a similar post later on. :)

    Simply Sixth Grade

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    1. Oh. Sewing. Disaster with a machine involved. Good luck with that--I'll look for a post about your success...
      :)

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  5. I am right in the no crafty zone with you! That is why I'm super grateful to for the new assistant I am working with this year. SHE is like Martha Stewart on steriods! The things she does with a couple of flowers and a hot glue gun.. amazing! LOL. I'll be using her craftiness to full advantage. :) PLus she is an awesome baker. I better get back into my running routine before school starts, i'll be on carb overload!
    Michele

    Coffee Cups and Lesson Plans

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    1. WOW. Lucky you. Carb Overload is my middle name.
      I'm glad you have someone to partner with on your craft ideas...
      :)

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  6. The part about the mod podge all over your house had me cracking up! It is too funny that you called it modge podge throughout the post. Haha!! I have had some issues with paper bubbling and it can be so frustrating trying to fix something when your hands are covered in goop! I don't think you should give up just yet though:) You might find a use for the rest of that bottle!
    ~Holly
    Fourth Grade Flipper

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    1. Holly: That is so funny because I forgot that I renamed that stuff long ago. (I think my name for it is a better fit!) Now anyone searching for a post on the real stuff won't be led here (Luckily!) Still no ideas for the remainder of the bottle (although spilling it twice helped empty it some!)
      :)

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  7. Okay, I seriously thought it was called Modge Podge! Thank you for taking this crafting adventure so that I would not have to!

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    1. Don't you think that sounds fitting?! (I had some pretty good adjectives accumulating during the process...)
      :)

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  8. feel your pain as you well know!

    Elizabeth
    Hodges Herald

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    1. Yes, Elizabeth, you do! We need "Just say no to Mod Podge" t-shirts!
      :)

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  9. Suggestion, next time just use clear packing tape...it is almost the same width of the drawer & less messy. I looks really colorful though...E for Effort!!

    Melissa
    http://az6thgradeteacher.blogspot.com/

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    1. At this point, E for Effort sounds good to me. I'm a little worried I will never finish the bottom half!
      :)

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