Do you think my “It’s a Cinch” project this month has ulterior motives?
Ulterior motives that would get me and my daughter … but mostly me … in on good terms with her sixth grade teacher.
Can I share a little secret with you?
I’m a teacher’s pet.
Please don’t hate me. It’ not like I tried to be a teacher’s pet. Well, at least not at first …
I think it all started out of pity. Up until high school I was tiny. Teeny tiny. Runt of the class tiny.
Oh, and I was blind. As a bat. So I wore glasses. Teeny tiny little runt Linda with her big old Coke-bottle-glass-plastic-framed glasses.
So, much like the runt of the litter, there was an underdog vibe enveloping elementary and junior high school me.
As I grew older … and bigger … I’d become accustomed to my teacher’s pet status. And I wasn’t too keen to give it up …
So I added in that straight A thing. What teacher doesn’t like a straight A student? Especially a straight A student who could do a perfect cartwheel with straight legs and pointed toes?
And when I finally worked up the nerve to speak …
… I was painfully shy in my early years …
… it turned out I had a sense of humor too.
Straight A’s. Straight cartwheel legs. Straight man. Or would it be woman? Okay, more like girl …
I mean what teacher wouldn’t find me irresistible?
So now I’ll share a little secret with you …
… a seriously easy brown-nose-worthy teachers-pet-guaranteed pencil vase.
All you need are dollar store pencils. A soup can. And a glue gun. Oh, and for step #4, I put a bead of glue around the pencils along the bottom of the can …
… just a little A+ tip from a straight A student to give those pencils a bit more staying power.
My daughter loved it and happily presented it to her teacher on the first day of school last Tuesday …
… she (and I) are so in …
My son, on the other hand, remarked “hey, that would come in handy if I had a large circle I needed to erase.”
Yeah, that kind of snark will not win him teacher’s pet status …
… though it did crack up his not-quite-so-straight-laced mom.
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Once again, I’m not cinching alone. Be sure to check out my blog friend’s amazing easy peasy projects too …
Just click on the photos to be cyber-lined to fabulousness …
P.S. As I schedule this post I’m still uncertain about the fate of the school day in Chicago tomorrow morning … I’m thinking the teachers will be walking the picket line …
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Sharing:
* Between Naps on The Porch * Today’s Creative Blog * Home Stories A 2 Z * My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia * A Bowl Full of Lemons * Savvy Southern Style * The 36th Avenue * The House of Hepworths * Funky Junk Interiors *
Hi there! My name is Linda and I’m a Jersey-born-and-bred Midwestern transplant who lives in Chicago with my husband and two children. We've lived in our home since 1995 and over the years our style has changed and evolved. I wouldn't call my home a work-in-progress -- more like a rework-in-progress as I refresh and remodel things around here ... one room at a time.
we didn’t call them teachers pets – we called them kiss up’s!!
Teachers pet, brown noser, whatever you call it, your daughter is sure to be a favorite when she presents this to her teacher. All the other kids will be shamed because all they brought were apples!
Hopefully no strike – that means you gotta do a little homeschooling! That would conflict with your time spent gluing pencils on tin cans!
Kelly
Maybe if you made ALL the teachers pencil holders like that, the strike would end! OK maybe not, but at least it would give you & your kids something to do in the mean time…
Love the pencil holder!!
Soooo, what’s the strike status?!?! Luckily Molly has already presented the pencil vase so she’s on the in no matter what!! Nice strategy, Mom.
I saw on the news this morning that your teachers have gone on strike. I hope things get settled soon. I cracked up as well at your son’s comment. Both of my kids have been blessed with the smart-aleck gene so now when we all get together it’s quite entertaining. In all my years as a school secretary (and I’ve seen a lot of really bad teacher gifts) I’ve never seen anything like this. I think it’s brilliant.
)
Think I should have taught in Chicago all these years–don’t remember ever getting a gift on the first day! I’d certainly have remembered your daughter, moved her to the front of my pet line, and (most importantly) known which mom to call if I needed anything crafty done for the classroom!
Hope your strike resolves soon. They are so hard for everyone involved. Cane had to go out on strike last spring. Hope yours goes like his–he walked the picket line for all of half a morning before a settlement was reached. Such a waste of time, resources, and good will, in so many ways. Sometime when you’ve got a spare hour or two, give me a call and I’ll tell you about the time my 2nd graders had their teachers on strike for over a month! The same month we discovered mold through almost the entire first floor of our house…oh, that was a good time!
Oh, and I have to add: Your son is probably the one who would have been my real teacher’s pet!
Aw Linda! I was the runt of the class too – a full year younger than most and short and small. No coke bottle glasses, but my mom did my hair daily in 2 braided ponytails, looped in circles. Imagine a dog’s ears. Ya. Cruel and unusual punishment mom. Thanks ever so much for the memories.
Linda- LOVE this! Hopefully the strike will end before the end of the week!
I wonder where your son gets his sense of humor
The vase is perfect. I am sure it was greatly appreciated. Maybe those erasers can be used to erase those picket signs soon
I KNEW it! I knew you were a teacher’s pet! I’m sure you were the one she picked when she had to leave the room…..and you were the boss
Love the project and the flowers!
That’s so cute! I love it! I was a bit of a teacher’s pet myself in school, couldn’t help it haha.
That really is adorable!
Oh I can spot them!!! I knew you were a teacher’s pet but guess what…so was I : ) Yep…didn’t try…just was…for me it was my Campbell Soup cheeks that did me in : ) LOL!!!! I love this creation and thank goodness she gave it to her last Tuesday right…no school today…sure hope they get that straightened out soon for everyone’s sake…you did a fabulous job and hey — you never know if you have to erase a large circle…could happen and if he has one he will be ready : ) gotta love it. Applause and Appaws for you!!!!! hugs!
Cute project for a teacher’s pet or pet-wannabe. I love it- What a great thing for a teacher’s desk- xo Diana
Erasing a circle, he he he. Awesome vase, love it!
Hahaha I am a teacher’s pet as well, so I may have to duplicate this project. May I also suggest clam shells turned into candles? The more unique, the better
these are so cute! love them!
What a fun idea – do you think my 17 year old will buy in?
I ADORE THIS ONE! I might actually be able to do it!
The end must be near, right?
Thoughtful + cute = perfect
Your son is a hoot!
A giant circle to erase! Bahahaa!! It is very cute though, and you definitely passed on your teacher’s pet status. High five!
Don’t you just love living in Chicago??!! It’s always something, right? I have talk radio on but haven’t been listening so I have no clue if the strike is still on. I just feel badly for the students that need the shelter of the school not only for their education but safety (at least in some areas). Anyway…….. love your project! And way to go to keep in good standing even after all those years!!
So adorable! Great teacher’s gift…
We joined your club this year Linda cause I made the same gifts for my kids’ teachers! Brown Nosers Unite!
I seriously cracked up over your son’s comment since it sounded so similar to the kind of remarks my own son makes. They need their teacher’s pet moms to help them out, huh? 
Vanessa
SO cute! I’d give you – I mean her – straight As!
I really want to make this, except that my daughter’s school has a strict “no gifts” policy. It’s as if they could see all of us moms queuing up to craft and bake for them:)
Really, really cute “teacher’s pet” gift!!…teacher’s pets…yep, a great sorority to belong too!!….My daughter in law just started teaching again after spending years working on her Ph.D….so I think I shall make that for her “new classroom”…love it!