The Art of Clipart

When I started this adventure of entrepreneur-ship I decided I didn't want to use the same clipart everyone else was using....(aka-I'm super cheap!) So, I decided to try to make my own clipart.  It has been a fun and gratifying process and I wanted to share how I do it!

I usually start out with a list....That helps me stay on task!

Here is a couple of samples that I had done and crossed off my list. ( I was working on an ABC clipart packet to sell.)

I begin my light sketch......(sometimes I google some pictures to get an idea of how to form the body or what position I like the best.)

Then I trace them carefully with my fancy black felt tip markers! (I LOVE THEM!!!!)

I go back through and erase any pencil marks I might see because they will show up when I scan them in.

And my favorite part....Marking it off the list! (Or in this case, tracing the pink with black!)




























I then scan them through a copy machine use some pretty cool (aka-expensive) programs to convert the image to the special files that are best for clipart.  I use the Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop to convert and color.  These are what work best for me!  I hope you found this interesting, lol!

Sparky Came to Visit

Sparky the Fire Dog came to visit us and we had so much fun! 

We watched the firetrucks spray water in the field!

We learned how to crawl to safety

Sparky gave us a Hi-Five!

We got to look in the different fire trucks which was so cool!

Gobble, Gobble!

This is one of my favorite times of the year! All the good food comes out, people seem to be cheerful, the smells of the holidays are so wonderful, and let's not forget the music!

One of my favorite things last year was my math strategy builders we did each month.  The kids loved them because they were half size and have festive pictures that go with the problems. (It's crazy the things that make them happy!)

We got them going for November and love problem solving with them! 

 If you want to try out my strategy builders check them out at my store HERE

Check out these cute Thanksgiving projects my coworker made! Not sure if I'll have time to get to make these this year but definitely want to try it next!

We've also been working on "making 10" to add problems that equal a sum of greater then 10.  It's a pretty hard concept to internalize, but they love anything that has manipulatives!

October is here!

So, the year has started off wonderfully! We are coming up on the 44th day of school.  Pretty cool that we have survived that long, lol!

We have been getting math tubs started and working on a few Halloween crafts for the end of the month! 

We have been practicing some challenging word problems this month too! 

 

We also started our Halloween fun!  We loved to read Where's My Mummy!

These kids have such good smiles!  Makes you wish you could cut and glue all day, haha! 

We also had fun with another writing prompt! The students used adjectives to describe themselves for people to guess which ghost belonged to which student! SIPER CUTE! 

Week one, check!

Well, we all survived the first week madness!  I love starting a new year and getting to see the potential that is coming!  Granted, it can be scary to see the surprise challenges and obstacles that can make it harder!  My goal is to have a positive attitude everyday and work my hardest to push each one of my new kids as far as they can go.....(which feels almost literal at times!)

Here are a few snaps of our first few days of school....

We warmed up our brains with a little number review and manipulative exploration! 

The we learned how to "shop" for books before "Read to Self". 

We worked on "Stamina" (practicing reading independently while following classroom expectations)

Building "Stamina" can be challenging.  We compare building "stamina" to working out at the gym. I make the analogy that if you work out wrong at the gym your muscles will build wrong and look funny (gotta bring it down to there level, remember).  And if you practice reading wrong then you brain will not learn it right.  

Something new I've been working on are ABC tracing cards.  I went to a workshop this summer and read in one of the books of a study done with tracing cards and the rate of letter/sound recognition success.  

My little girls were eager to be the first ones to use them! 

 Next step is laminating and putting them on a ring! I'll tell you how they work later!

You can snag them at my Store.  ABC Tracing Cards\

 











You can also grab my ABC Beginning sounds Clipart pack ABC Clipart