Five Fab Graphics Freebies!

OK, I know this post says Saturday, and it is supposed to be 'Friday' Freebies... but seriously, I thought it was Friday all day until my husband politely told me I was a day out. Does that happen to you over the holidays? Really, I don't think I had a clear idea of what day it was at all, it just kinda felt a little like Friday.

5 fab friday freebies

Anyways... here are 5 free offerings from our graphics store: Graphics From the Pond

These can be used commercially by teacher-authors. Please check out our terms of use here.

1. Big Dot Digital Papers - free

Use these for backgrounds on posters - just add a white rectangle to type into!

Big Dot Digi Papers

2. Fuzzy Bump Crayon Borders - free

Layer these behind text for posters and page frames.

Crayon Fuzzy Borders

Perfect for worksheets that contain student activities - they will not take up too much space or distract your students.

Edge it Frames

4. Pond Free Boss Font

Fun and decorative for titles and posters - our fonts provide some whimsical scrappiness to your next project.

Free commercial fonts

5. Free wavy heart borders

A delicate edge with a pop or color for your next project. 

Free page boarders


12 Things I Loved About Christmas

Christmas is my favourite time of year. We do not celebrate too many 'holidays' here in Australia, so Christmas is the BIG one! It coincides with the end of the school year, the summer break from school, and many families have time off work to relax and unwind for the year.

1. Family
Need I say any more? 

2. Chocolate
This big girl shaved a cool 5kg off on the lead up to Christmas, to have some room to indulge, and I think I many have popped them all back on over the last 3 days. I just inhale chocolate and go up a dress size, but it is too good to resist!

3. The smiles and excitement on my children's faces!
All parents will understand..... There is nothing like it, next to memories of your own childhood Christmas days!

4. Christmas papers and cards.
Me, paper and ink. 

5. Little Dutch Girl Teapot Cutie
My hubby knows that next to chocolate, tea is what warms my heart, and this little beauty will look wonderful in my collection!

6. Shortbread
Me. Sugar. Butter. You get the picture.

7. Husbands who FIX things.... eventually
I am blessed to have a Dad that can fix just about anything.... but I married a man who knows how to shop!
Christmas 2011, hubby followed my directions found this little tea infuser/cup and I was IN LOVE! Two days later he broke it. I'm not saying he is clumsy, just that A LOT of things in my house get broken... hmmmm. However, he finally redeemed himself with this addition to my Christmas stocking this year! 

8. Great big its been tooooooo-long hugs with people who you saw last Christmas and promised you would see sooner.

9. The anticipation of starting a fresh new diary and a fresh new calendar! Did someone say kikki k and boxing day sales??

10. Christmas Tea
This was the best present - honestly, its like drinking Christmas. I have had 6 already, and am dreading seeing the bottom of the tin.

11. Heartfelt thanks!
Love getting and giving heartfelt thanks for gifts and the end of a great year!

12. Santa
Love the big fat red man

Silence for Sandy Hook Elementary



FREE Green Paper Circle Christmas Tree Craft


Are you one of my Australian teacher followers, and just trying to hold it all together for the last 2 weeks of the school year? Packing up the room? Kids 'busy' with excitement for Santa, and end-of-year craziness! Presentation day looming? Party day?

I bet your classroom supplies have all but gone?

Do you have some green paper circles somewhere in the bottom of your tote trays? You need little else to create this little cutie with your kids!

Simple Paper Circle Christmas Tree Craft

My daughter and I stood in front of the craft cupboard today, and decided on something simple.
  • Start with a green paper circle...

  • A blue piece of paper for the background
  • And a scrap of brown paper..

  • Crayons, glue and scissors


  • Fold and cut circle in half.

  • Then a quarter...

  • And an eighth...
  • Stick them down, with a scrap brown bit for the trunk
  • White crayon some snow - as you know, its 35 degrees celsius here today, but its Christmas and even little Australians dream of a white Christmas!

Add some colour and a shiny star on top!

Voila! Pretty tree!




Make it interesting by using different papers and mediums - here is one we did with a paper doily and paint.



Craft foam and mini-ribbon decals.


If you don't have paper circles left, but you have a photocopier - then I have made a template for you! See, I know what it can be like this time of year in an Australian kindergarten! Nothing left!

Find it HERE at Tpt! And its FREE!

If you like craft with paper circles, you can find this nifty file there too!


And, if you really have no resources left in your store room and need something exciting to help pass the last 2 weeks (with some number learning as the focus) - photocopy these 'Print and Play' games to keep your little learners smiling all the way to Christmas! Paper, pencils and basic game equipment needed only!


What to give Santa!?

I read an adorable Christmas story with my daughter last night, that featured a little boy Sam that wanted to give a present to Santa.
 
The book is called A Present for Father Christmas and it is written by Dana Kubick. We loved discussing all the lovely things that we could give Santa. And as told in the story, my daughter is now convinced that Santa gets very little on Christmas day for himself.
 
The story ends with Santa reassuring Sam, that it is quite OK that he did not actually get to buy Santa a gift, and that he was just so happy that he was in Sam's thoughts. There was quite a few great themes for discussion that would work very well in the classroom in this story - themes of giving, thoughtfulness, thinking of others, and the sorts of gifts that matter the most.
 
For fun, why not brainstorm with your class what they would like to give Santa, should they get the opportunity! Have them fill out this worksheet with drawings or writing!
 
Download it from google drive (docs) HERE