I stapled some sheets of paper inside of a security envelope last week.
“LOOK!” I blurted out. “We can make these!”
Picture 25 craft monkeys in unison shouting “WHEN?”
Picture me saying, “As soon as you bring in an envelope!”
The next day the envelopes started rolling in. Some kids didn’t have any, other kids brought extra. By that I mean one kid brought in an entire crumpled box in his backpack. In case you don’t know or have forgotten, kids like things that are little and cute (like them). They took to the envelope book slash visual journal like ducks to water. Quack quack. Bringing in their own envelopes to use, tracing and measuring all of their very own pages makes them feel more ownership towards their books. Plus I’m too lazy to prep all of them.
On another day recently, we made these torn paper collages. I’m in love with all of them, but this might be my favorite. A sense of the divine combined with a sense of the absurd. A craft monkey after my own heart.
At the scrapbook store in Berkeley I found this luggage-tag-esque chipboard mini-album.
For under 3 bucks I couldn’t resist. I sprayed some of the “pages” with glimmer mist and covered the rest with a combination of journal page copies, ledger paper & scrapbook paper.
It’s turning into a Cat Posse mini-album for Mama Moss. This one by Maya Road. Raise your hand if you knew that scrapbook stores carry A LOT of chipboard products?
And stickers. And chipboard stickers. 
When it comes to the scrapbook world, I’m on the clueless side, but after my stint in Berkeley this past weekend I must conclude that there seems to be plenty of fun little projects into which I may be unashamedly sinking my teeth. Heretofore I had only bought chipboard to use in spraypainting projects ( which make fabulous masks by the way!)
I don’t think another chipboard mini-album for the classroom is out of the question. Let me finish this one up first.
Next up: Mary Ann buys a giant chipboard apple necklace & earring set and a festive holiday sweater with chipboard reindeer appliqued down the front.
Your blog is one of my favorites…imaginative, fun, colorful, inspiring…thanks for sharing your artistic life. By the way, how can one get a copy of the beautiful Papaya catalog??? Thanks…
Those craft monkeys are so lucky to have you. I’ll bet they can’t wait to get to school every morning!
Hi Mary Ann, I like very much your collage work! Lucky kids! The mini album is fantastic 🙂
sweet stuff! I can’t wait to be your student 🙂
You are the best teacher ever!
Yep, the scrapbookers have some awesome little toys…I use them a lot in mixed media fiber art. I love it that you helped your kids make the book. What an awesome teacher you must be!
Although I don’t like the sometimes literally cookie-cutter cleaniness of scrapbooking, if I can grunge them up a bit and give them my own little twist I love using scrapbooking materials.
“Mary Ann buys a giant chipboard apple necklace & earring set and a festive holiday sweater with chipboard reindeer appliqued down the front.”
This cracked me up. Brilliant.
Wonderful, this put a big smile on my face this morning!
Maureen – a kind blog reader donated an entire alphabet punch set in its own carrying case to the class last school year! We love it and use it all the time!!!
I used to have a festive holiday sweater or two. They were tacky as hell and I loved them. Wish I still had them – maybe it’s time to go to Ross, except that I’ve already been twice this week, and last week, and…
Anyway I hear chipboards mentioned all the time, and I don’t know what they are, but yours are really CUTE!
Those torn paper illustrations are sensational. Perfection!
I am loving those pages the kids did made my eyes mist up. I wish i had a great teacher like you when I was growing up…creativity is a great thing for children . I am also liking your mini chipbook. Did you know at least in canada you can buy little chipboard mini albums in there dollar bins.
Mary Ann, wishing I were a kid in your class as always. Now for an adult question…how did you/they punch out the letters of their names?
I love what you create and I love that you love those little “craft monkeys”…what could be better than that? Life is at best confusing and sometimes scary..but if you are blessed with the small ones and their abounding love for life…………and your creativeness……….what could be better?
I would love to have had one of my wee ones in your so creative life..alas…they are all grown up and I am oldish….but, and but..not the artist…I was the teacher who loved to say, “What the heck..let us do it and try it and throw caution to the winds…let’s have some fun.
Too many …and whatever, but I do hope that you get the drift. Such wonderment here…and too many words from me.
My sister and I spent about an hour in that scrapbook store on Sunday. We did much damage and yes I saw a lot of chip board I just had no idea what to do with it. Leave it to you to show me!!!!
Sumptious post!
Oh that mosaic!
Oh the wonderful Monkey-makings!
Oh altogether!
(And can we please see pics of your splendid new chippy outfit?…)
xxx
that scrapbook store is only about an hour from me. but I can’t go there. you wouldn’t find me for a week.
your kids’ art is (are?) awesome, truly fantastic – just wow! they never cease to amaze me!
Meowr! Very cool!
I swear they have stock in chipboard or something.
The Craft Sock Monkey Artist is awesome!!!! You shepherd some good munchkins-very talented!