No Wrong Way

The class has a program that has monthly lessons on it. As I planned out December, I noticed that one of the lessons had an art project that went along with it. I showed it to the IAs. They thought it would work nicely. We set about getting the materials we would need for it.

Then came the day of the project. 

They were making tissue paper candle holders, much like the ones like this (see link). Instead of getting glass jars, I found little plastic ones at Dollar Tree. And our instructions were for them to use LED tea lights like these. 

I projected the instructions on our screen. We passed out materials. And we set them loose. 

And every student glued the tissue paper differently. 

Some alternated the colors and did it lightly. Some attached the tissue paper in thick layers. Some put all one color together. 

And I didn't say a word about it. 

The IAs made comments. I pointed out that it was an art project, and that there wasn't really a wrong way to do it. However their candle holders came out was going to be just fine.

They made a bit of a mess, but I think they had fun with it. 

I wish I had taken pictures. Everyone's came out great. And each looked so different from one another. I didn't even contemplate how many ways they could make the project their own.

Pumpkin Donuts With Sprinkles

The previous week, we painted pumpkins. I wrote about it here. 

It was the week before Halloween. And the teacher had stopped by to drop things off for her students before school. She wrote them notes. She left some candy. And she left behind some small pumpkins. 

One of the instructional aides and I discussed what to do with them. And that's when I remembered something I had seen when looking up design ideas for the painted pumpkins the previous week. Pumpkin donuts. 

I really, really wanted to paint the pumpkins like donuts. 

So, we did. 

Day one: we painted just the top to look like frosting. Then, on day two, we added sprinkles: 

I got to do a couple (for an example to the students):

So fun. 

(The instructional aide did one more pumpkin, and I have to share that as well...)

Pumpkins that look like donuts are good for Thanksgiving, right? 

Painting Pumpkins

One of the projects for last week for the class at the adult transition center was to paint pumpkins. 

We had the Nightmare Before Christmas fan: 

The student that likes purple: 

And Natalie did a paint pour technique: 

But the issue was with this one: 

This was Doris' pumpkin. 

Doris is non-verbal. She uses signs and her iPad to communicate with us. And she remains outside as she does not wear a mask. (I am unsure if she's incapable or if she just won't leave it on.) 

The day before the pumpkin project, she had a meltdown (read: screaming and hitting and throwing things around) after not being allowed into a chair someone else had brought outside for their use. She's adult-sized, so these tantrums can be dangerous to staff and students. 

On pumpkin painting day, she was called over to put her thumb prints on the pumpkin. (I filled in the ghost faces later.) And... She did not like this. At all. 

She reluctantly complied, but once she was released from painting, she started throwing equipment around (treadmills, elliptical machines). 

It was almost lunch time (so the other classes would need to be in the area so the students could eat), and Doris wasn't calming down. We were afraid she was going to hurt someone. So, we had to send her home. 

What we can't figure out, though, is what set her off. I thought it was a cute project. 

Potty Potion

Rather than another post on how I barely accomplished anything with another photo of the unfinished seven (and a half) year cardi, I'm going to show you the one thing I did do this week: 

Several years ago, I ran across a recipe for a concoction online, and I had to try it. I'm sure you've seen ads for a spray that makes your toilet not smell after using it. This was a recipe for a DIY version.

I've been using it ever since. 

I wrote down the recipe, but I have since lost the site where it originated. I did a quick internet search, but I haven't located it. (I'm sure I can find it, but right now digging through pages of search results isn't a priority.) This means that there are tons of other formulations to try, if you want to give it a whirl. 

One batch lasts me several months. Last week I ran out, so I made another. It's not all that crafty, but it's as close to a project as I got.

The recipe calls for using a spray bottle, but I found that a bit cumbersome, so I use a water bottle with the pop top head. I pour a small squirt in the toilet before using it, and it cuts the smell way down. 

Into the water bottle goes: 

• 3/4 of a cup of water
• 2 teaspoons of rubbing alcohol
• 2 teaspoons of hand or dish soap
• 40 to 50 drops of an essential oil (lavender, peppermint, eucalyptus, etc.)

I bought all the ingredients, including the water bottle but excluding the essential oil, at Dollar Tree. And as you can see from my bottles in the pic, I've still got plenty for the next batch when I need it. (At the rate I go through it, it'll be winter, probably.) 

The essential oil is the main expenditure, and that's more for a pleasant smell than for its odor cutting, I think. (I've never tested this hypothesis.) 

Have you tried the store bought variety? Isn't it amazing what projects you can find on the internet?

The Magic Formula

Have you seen this commercial?



I hadn't when I stumbled upon this article from Lifehacker (here's the video that accompanied it)...



I was curious. It seemed simple enough to me, so I thought I'd make up a batch and check it out. I finally got around to it this past week. I picked up all the ingredients (except for the essential oil which I ordered online) at the dollar store, making it a very cheap project.

Turns out, it works as advertised. I was surprised. Pleased. And I thought I'd share with you all, in case anyone wants to try it themselves.

And, of course, I must update you on my progress with my backdrop. Three weeks ago...

Today...

If all goes according to plan (and that's a very big if), I should have a final picture to show you next week.

Have you ever tried something you found on the internet? Did it work as expected?

Thumb Drive Jewelry

I just replaced my thumb drives. Flash drives. USB drives. Whatever they're called.

Since I store my stories on them (as well as everything else), I like to have backups. And they were on sale, so I figured it was time.

But they're tiny.

I got a little worried. What happens if I lose them?

Which is silly. I don't lose things. Not generally. I tend to know where I put things, and I put those things back in the place they belong when I finish with them.

But still, I thought I should have some insurance...

A little addition to make sure that these things aren't too small...

This should make them harder to lose, don't you think?