A Good Old-Fashioned Trade

I made my first trade on Etsy, though it was sort of a stumble-upon occurence. It started with a treasury. A couple of weeks ago, I made two treasuries featuring the lovely ladies of the Busy Moms Team. One was items for moms and the other was items for kids. In the kids' treasury I included a friendly monster and snuggle blanket set made by onthefray that I thought was adorable.

I got a message back from the shop owner, Jenn, who thanked me and said how she liked my shop banner and avatar, and did I do them myself. She was in the process of changing the look of her shop, so I told her that I did do mine myself from photos that I had, and if she wanted to send me some of her photos, I could try and come up with something for her. So she did! After one dud and a few sizing issues I came up with the banner is now in her shop! I'm really happy with how it came out, and I'm so glad that Jenn is pleased with it. In return, Jenn sent me a friendly monster set for my own favorite little monster! It just arrived yesterday and it is just as cute as the pictures and is soft and snuggly. It was so nice of her to do.

You can get your own friendly monster here, and I'm happy to let you know that there will be a shop interview with Jenn posted soon, so you can learn more about her and her shop.

Trades are new to me, but from what I understand, it's a pretty common thing. Because everyone on Etsy is making and selling goods, everyone has something to barter with. So has anyone else done a trade on Etsy or otherwise? How did it go? Is it something that you have an interest in? (And apparently, given the right photo, I can do banners now, too!)

Oh, Sweet Friday

It's raining and I'm sick, and it's been a long and busy week, and so I decided I needed a little Friday treat. One of the best sweet recipes I have is again from my mother-in-law. After having these cookies on a visit and forgetting to ask for the recipe, I had to have her e-mail it to me. These are quick and easy and one batch makes a lot, so I end up keeping some out and then freezing the rest. They are excellent when reheated in the microwave for a few seconds, too. You can mix up what you add to them, too- I sometimes do dark chocolate instead of semisweet, or not add the nuts. They do get crumbly pretty quickly, though, so make sure you double-Ziploc bag them or put them in a sealed container.

Triple Chocolate Chip Cookies

9 Tablespoons room temperature butter

1/2 Cup granulated sugar

2/3 Cup firmly packed brown sugar

1 extra large egg or 2 small eggs

1 2/3 Cup all purpose flour

2 1/2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

2/3 cup bittersweet chocolate chips and

2/3 cups white chocolate chips

2/3 cups walnuts or pecans if desired

Heat oven to 350. In large mixing bowl combine butter and both sugars. Beat with wooden spoon or mixer until the mixture is soft and fluffy. Set aside. In a small bowl, break the egg and mix with a fork. Add egg to the mixing bowl.

In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients into the bowl. Mix until just combined. Add all the chocolate chips and mix until thoroughly combined.

Roll by tablespoons into balls and place on baking sheet about 1 1/2 inches apart. Bake for about 15 minutes. Let cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. Makes about 24 cookies.

That's all there is to it. My only trouble is remembering to set the butter out to soften- happens every time! Enjoy!

To Facebook or Not To Facebook?

Ok, so one other things first. Last week I had a shop interview with Amanda from Divine Domestication, and now she returned the favor by doing a spotlight of By The Book Paper on her blog! So if you want to read a little bit more about me you can check it out here. Her blog is a fun read, and I really appreciate the post!

And now, To Facebook or Not to Facebook? That is the question I've been asking myself since I started my shop on Etsy. Just about everyone has one. I feel like I should have one. But I'm not sure. I don't (really) know how it works, though I'm sure I'd be able to figure it out. I'm using Twitter, which I never thought I'd use, though I'm still trying to understand all those hashtags and retweets, etc. Like Twitter, I don't know if Facebook would be helpful to me or not. How do people find you on Facebook any easier than they would on Etsy? If you get "like"d on someone else's page, then I suppose all the people looking at their page will see yours? But what makes them click?

I suppose what I'm going to have to do is go in, sign up, and see what I can figure out. It's helpful that my teams have posted a lot of information about it, and have given their page links so I've got something to look at. So, readers, do you have a Facebook? Do you find it useful? is there some magic formula to it? I'd like to know!

Announcing.....Announcements!

I had a busy couple of days designing and making lots of new things for the shop and I'm very excited about them all! In particular, I've developed a line of announcement bookmarks- a creative way to send information to someone and they are reusable, so maybe, just maybe, they won't get thrown away right away (I hope).

Now, I'm not a graphic designer, so I don't have those cool custom designed backgrounds that you see on the beautiful invitations and announcements that other people offer on Etsy. In simple terms, that means don't have a lot in the way of graphics. Still, I think these are classy enough to get the information out, and I like to think that the paper layers provide some visual interest. And they're different! That counts for something, right?

I had a few Save the Date bookmarks listed previously, but honestly, they were kind of crude and I wasn't completely happy with them. It's certainly a learning curve when trying to develop something new. I finally decided to overhaul them when I got the chance to make some college graduation announcements for a very nice woman I connected with through Alchemy on Etsy. She wanted something different than the standard announcement done in her school colors. So I came up with these, although I've changed the name and enough of the information to make them samples. I think they're pretty fun and interesting. We crammed a lot of wording onto that 2 1/4 inch space!

Once I did those, I really wanted to get to work on those Save the Dates. And so I came up with these, customizable to the client's information and color scheme.

Who wouldn't be excited to get one of those in the mail?! I did have some baby announcement bookmarks listed but I need to work on those, too. I think the ones below are super cute; the problem is, people are really excited to show off their new baby, usually with a beautiful photo, and I just don't have the space for that! So those are on the back burner for a while.

Old baby announcements- needs work!

On a similar note, I've got bookmarks listed as table favors: a takeaway treat for party guests! They can be customized for the event in color and wording. I would love to do them for an event where everyone gets their own personalized bookmark with their name on it. How special would that make people feel? Can you tell I'm excited?

There are so many options with these bookmarks. Now I'm hoping to find some people who want to be a little creative!

Sunday Special

Two days ago, it was pushing 60 degrees here. Today, we're putting on a fire and waiting for overnight snow. So in that spirit of winter that just won't end, I'm going to give you my recipe for a great, easy, warm-you-up beef stew. Technically, it's not my recipe- it's my mother-in-law's (and she may have gotten it out of some cookbook or magazine, but I don't know that to cite it). She is a great cook. Whenever we visit I always end up coming home with a recipe or two, particularly desserts (more on that to come). This is a great recipe because it's one pot, everything is rough chop, there's little muss, little fuss, and it can even be done in the slow cooker if you have one. It comes out thick and rich, unlike all the other stew recipes I've tried. I'll give you the basic recipe and then give you some options at the end.


Beef and Barley Stew

2 1/2 lbs. stew meat or beef chuck cut into small chunks
3 T flour
1 tsp pepper
Salt or garlic salt to taste
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 T olive oil (or other oil)
4-5 petite red potatoes rinsed and cut into chunks
1 large onion rinsed and cut into quarters
4 ribs celery rinsed and cut into pieces
8 ounces carrots cut into chunks
1-32 oz box beef broth or 4 cups water and 4 tsp. beef boullion
1-14.5 oz can Italian style diced tomatoes
1 bay leaf
1 cup quick-cooking pearl barley (in the rice aisle)

Heat the oven to 325 degrees. Coat the beef chunks in the flour/pepper/salt mixture and cook in a dutch oven or other large pot in the oil over medium-high heat until browned. Add all the other ingredients except for the barley, cover the dutch oven and put it in the oven for 2 1/2 hours. Add the barley (it will still look runny at this point) and cook for another 45 minutes. Remove the bay leaf before serving.


It's as easy as that! If you are a slow cooker person, follow the recipe- browing the meat on the stove first- then instead of adding everything and putting it in the oven, put the meat and everything else but the barley in the slow cooker and cook 4-6 hours on high or 8 hours on low. About an hour before serving, add the barley and let that cook for an hour (until barley is tender). Remove the bay leaf before serving. I haven't tried it in the slow cooker, so if anyone does, let me know how it comes out!

Helpful hints and options: I mix the flour with the salt and pepper in a Ziploc bag, add the beef, and shake it up to coat it. Then you can just pour it into the pot. To make it even easier, I use baby carrots, which means no peeling and no chopping. I just throw them in whole and they get soft enough to cut with a fork. Instead of red potatoes I usually use 2 russet potatoes because that's what we have hanging around most often. I also rough chop mushrooms and add those, and throw in some frozen corn and peas. The more veggies I can cram in, the better. I do check the stew as it's cooking, giving it a stir, and adding some water or broth if it looks like it's drying out.

We always have leftovers with this meal, and it's even better the second time around. Give it a try on any busy day when you need to get a meal together but don't have a lot of time to spend on it.

Who Gets to Name Paper? And, Other People Have Really Good Taste

I had the opportunity to make some very cute custom thank you cards this week and as I was making them, I happened to notice the names that the papers had. The solid stocks were Rain, Mud Pie, Cool Cantaloupe, Yukon Gold, Palo Verde, and Burning Ember. And I thought, who gets to name the papers? Is that someone's job? Is there a person at the paper company who sits there and determines that this shade is Bubblegum, while the next shade is Blush? Plus, they are so accurate! The paper that is called Mud Pie is appropriately named and is different from Chocolate Mousse, which is right nearby. How do they do that? I thought about the same thing when we were painting in our house, picking paints named Southern Breeze, Blue Fox, Mystical Sea, and Sandstone Cove (which are all quite lovely!). There are probably thousands of different paint chips out there and they all have a different name. I really would like to know how that happens.

Anyway, here are the notes, which I think turned out great. Oh, which leads me to my other point: other people have great taste. I was given an idea of what to look for for background paper and I came back with many, many pictures of stuff that would fit the bill, and these backgrounds are what were picked. I myself would have totally gone for the paisley and the flowers, but not the stripes, and I think I actually like the stripes the best. Particularly the first one, which I think is quite 50's retro. That's why it's so fun to make custom things for people- they pick stuff I might not otherwise, and then I always love how it comes out. (P.S. The images are a smudgy where the personalization goes just because they are made for someone else. They don't actually end up like that!)

A Shop Interview with Divine Domestication

By The Book Paper is proud to spotlight some of the great artists and shops on Etsy! Check back for new interviews with shop owners every few days.

Today we get to talk with Amanda Floyd from Divine Domestication.

Tell us a little bit about yourself. Who are you when you're not on Etsy?

I am proud to be a full time mother and homemaker. In my former life (prior to having children and following my husband around the country) I was an attorney. I have three wonderful boys ages 8, 6 and three who constantly keep me on my toes. They (and my darling husband) are my inspiration. I always thought I would have a little girl to sew for. Instead, I have found that I can make wonderful things for my boys that I can't find anywhere else. We love to be outside. We camp, hike, bike, ski and just enjoy the outdoors whenever we can. In the past 8 years, we have lived in Utah, Virginia, Kansas and are currently in Iowa. This summer we will be moving to the Twin Cities area where we plan to stay long term.

What is your shop name and what do you offer?

My shop is Divine Domestication. I make a variety of items for home and family. I currently am focusing on ties for boys and men (and for wedding parties), tea towels for the kitchen, and toy bags for kids.

How did you get started?

I've been sewing for myself all of my life. It was only recently that I began to sell my work. About 3 years ago, my then 2 month old nephew was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. My sister wanted to raise money to donate to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and planned a boutique. I made a number of various items and donated them to the boutique. I did this for three years, and finally, this past November after lots of encouragement and urging, opened my Etsy shop.

What is your favorite item to create and why?

My favorite item to make are bow ties for little boys. I have always loved little boys in ties, and it's even more fun to make ties my boys love! The photo is of my oldest son in his favorite tie.

What is your best selling item, and why do you think it is?

My best selling items are my bow ties, but the most popular has been my red and white striped bow tie. I think it is the most popular because it is such a classic look. Red and white goes with almost everything!

What is your biggest shop/design challenge?

My biggest challenge is deciding which fabrics to use. There are so many amazing designers today, and I find thousands of fabrics that I love. That's why I love doing wedding ties. I get to let the bride and groom choose, and I love the fabrics they use!

What new skill/technique would you like to learn?

I have made several (poor) attempts at learning to knit and crochet. I would love to really learn these skills and become proficient at them.

What’s up-and-coming for your shop?

I am currently working on spring neckwear. I just got some wonderful green fabrics for St. Patrick's day ties, and lots of bright happy spring colors for Easter ties and weddings.

Who do you heart on Etsy?

I love all the vintage items on Etsy. I'm completely obsessed with Mid century items. I love all the lines and the colors.

Read any good books lately?

Reading is one of my escapes in life. I just finished The Glass Castle (a must read) and Let the Great World Spin. I would highly recommend both of them.

Guilty pleasure?

My guilty pleasures are fabric and chocolate. I justify the fabric by making things for others. I justify the chocolate the same way. Every November and December, you will find me in my kitchen making thousands of cream filled chocolates, toffee, caramels and other assorted confections for friends and family. (And a few for myself as well)

A piece of advice?

My advice is to never be afraid to try because you might fail. No one can do anything perfectly the first thousand times, but by not trying, you miss out on the chance to grow by learning and pushing yourself in a new direction.

Where else can we find you if we want to know more?

I have recently begun a blog: http://www.divinedomestication.blogspot.com/

Thanks, Amanda! Go check out DivineDomestication on Etsy!

The Handmade Pledge

A few days ago I was visiting some of my teammates' blogs, and I came across this button (basically, a graphic to click on that links you to another page) that said "I Took The Handmade Pledge". I was interested. What is the handmade pledge? What does it entail? I did a little research on good old Google, and found out that the pledge was part of a collaborative effort between Etsy and several other handmade venues to encourage people to buy handmade gifts throughout the holiday season, although it is still alive and well online right now. The idea is that buying handmade links the buyer and the maker, supports our economy, supports the local artist, and allows for more individuality rather than everyone buying the same stuff from the same stores. You can read more about it here and if you want to take the pledge you can do it here. There are 52,824 pledges as of me writing this.

So this gets me thinking. I like the idea. I LOVE the things I find on Etsy and I would love to be able to buy so many of them. I have found things that could be gifts for so many people (including me!). I had already been thinking that I could get gifts just on Etsy from now on since there is so much to choose from. I always find something beautiful, interesting, or surprising. I myself could probably take the pledge. But part of the pledge is to encourage those giving YOU gifts to buy handmade. And therein lies the snag. I don't know if I feel comfortable requesting that of my loved ones, whom I shouldn't be expecting to give us gifts, who may not have the money to spend on something handmade, who may not be comfortable buying online, who may not understand WHY I would want them to do something like that when there are plenty of stores around with perfectly good stuff. I really do like the idea, but it's something I'm going to have to think about a little more.

What do you think? Is the handmade pledge something you could do? Have you already done it? Do you see yourself having issues with it? I'd like to know where you stand on this one!

The above graphic is from buyhandmade.org/badges. You can use the button on your blog or other webpage if you decide to take the pledge.

A Shop Interview With Pink Ginger Boutique

By The Book Paper is proud to spotlight some of the great artists and shops on Etsy! Check back for new interviews with shop owners every few days.

Today we're going to chat with Marcella of Pink Ginger Boutique.

Tell us a little bit about yourself. Who are you when you're not on Etsy?

I'm a full time mom of three wonderful boys and a wife to my husband of almost 15 years. I'm working hard to get my Etsy shop up and running. Hopefully one day I'll be a feature article on quitting your day job.

What is your shop name and what do you offer?

My shop's name is Pink Ginger Boutique. I offer hair accessories for babies, infants, teens, and adults. I will be adding Pettiskirts for infants, girls, teens and adults hopefully by March.

How did you get started?

I got started back in May of 2010. PGB was supposed to be an outlet for my creative side. Then I thought maybe if I took this serious I could actually turn my hobby into a business and actually be successful.

What is your favorite item to create and why?

I like to make fabric rosette headbands. Maybe because it took me hours upon hours (and then some more) to perfect my technique. I'm proud of them and I really enjoy making them.

What is your best selling item, and why do you think it is?

Prior to me adding the fabric rosettes, the silk flower headbands were selling. I think silk flower headbands are popular for babies.

What is your biggest shop/design challenge?

My biggest challenge is trying to stay up to date with the style of headbands and trying to be different and/or unique from everyone else selling headbands on Etsy.

What new skill/technique would you like to learn? Or, what new thing would you like to bring to your shop?

My husband surprised my with a sewing maching a couple month back. I'd like to work on sewing some custom burp clothes, nursing covers and baby blankets. It's actually on my ever growing to do list.

What’s up-and-coming for your shop?

I'll be adding pettiskirts really soon (hopefully by March). I will also be opening another store that will carry bridal accessories.

Who do you heart on Etsy?

Snazziedrawers. I've purchased a lot of her pdfs. I'll be adding some of her designs to my shop as well. But before I do, I need to perfect my technique.

Read any good books lately?

The last book I can remember is The Memory Keeper's Daughter. The movie is nothing like the book, of course.

Guilty pleasure?

Chocolate. Lots and lots of chocolate. I find myself eating a bag of carmel filled Ghiradelli chocolate in bed late at night.

A piece of advice?

Never quit or give up. Anything worth having is worth fighting for.

Where else can we find you if we want to know more?

Right now through Etsy. I'm working on getting a Blog and Facebook account going.

Thanks so much, Marcella! Make sure to stop by and visit her and her shop!

A Crafty Valentine

Here's another find from the student teaching box in the basement. I was going to wait to share until tomorrow, but I figured if anyone wanted to actually make it to use for Valentine's Day, then a little advance notice was in order. This is the easiest-to-make Valentine card holder. The design isn't mine- it's the work of the wonderful teacher I got to work with- but it's too cute not to share.

All you need for this is two pieces of construction paper in Valentine colors (11 x 17 makes a bigger envelope, but 8 1/2 x 11 works too), scissors, and a stapler. Start by folding each paper in half and rounding off one corner (on the non-fold side) with scissors.

Open one of the sheets of paper and lay it flat, placing the other one inside (fold-side facing the bottom).

Fold the remaining side over so it resembles a heart.

Staple the open edge all the way down to secure it closed.

You can add a handle by cutting one long strip of construction paper. If you have access to lamination, that helps it last, but it's not necessary. Staple each end of the handle inside the top of the heart.

And there you go! One Valentine card holder ready to decorate! You can also write a name on the handle so everyone knows who's who.

If you use the smaller paper, this is how it sizes up- pretty cute!

Decorate your envelope with multi-colored and multi-layered hearts. The easiest way to make a heart is to take a square piece of paper, fold it in half, make a half-heart shape with the fold to the inside, and then unfold!

Glue the hearts down to keep them in place. Use lots of colors and different sizes!

So there you have it! It's a fun and easy project that doesn't require too many materials. The kids (and adults!) will have fun making them, and you can save them and use them year after year if you like. Happy Valentine's Day!

A Nice Surprise

I'm sure you can tell how excited I am about the rainbow lettering note cards and bookmarks that I was talking about yesterday. So how nice it was to wake up today, check out what's going on in the shop, and find out that slovintage put my rainbow thank you cards (the accidental thank you's!) in an Etsy treasury!

If you've never seen or made a treasury on Etsy, then let me explain. A treasury is a selection of 16 items from sellers other than yourself that you put together in a collection, usually with some sort of theme. It's a great way to highlight the great items people are offering. My thank you's are part of a collection of white items. You can see it here.

I've made several treasuries so far- they really are a lot of fun. You can go here and click through them if you feel like browsing, and there are thousands of others as well. It's quite an honor to be selected from the hundreds of thousands of items available. So be included, all I have to say is:

An Accidental Thank You

I was working on some things for the shop, trying a little bit of this and a little bit of that, and I started to work on a note card with some lettering of different shades of purple. I backed it with a coordinating color, and viola! I liked how it came out.


So I decided to try it in a few different colors. I liked those too.


Happy with myself and what I came up with, I went to save my work. I had all the different colors listed one under the other, and I looked at it and had a flash of inspiration:


I love when things like that happen, and I love how these cards came out! They are so fun and since they are pretty neutral, they can be used by anyone for any occasion. You can check them out here and here in the shop.

And then came the bookmarks....

Of course I had to make a matching style magnetic bookmark! These are a new size for the shop- about the size of a business card. What's great about them is they can be used in two directions. Around the top of the book:

Or around the side:



The way they are designed, they won't fall out, and because of their size, they would be great in any size book. How great is that for someone who's always on the go? These are bold and cheery enough to brighten any day! Check them out here!

A Shop Interview with The Bargain Babe

By The Book Paper is proud to spotlight some of the great artists and shops on Etsy! Check back for new interviews with shop owners every few days.

Today we're going to chat with The Bargain Babe.

Tell us a little about yourself.

I go by TheBargainBabe online. If you saw my pic you might disagree with the Babe part. But hey, its the internet and I can be a babe if I want. ha! The "Bargain" part is because I *love* finding a good bargain! In the spring time, I'm out tracking down yard sales all the time! And yes, I am one of the crazy people who go out on Black Friday (but I never beat anyone up so don't worry).

Who are you when you're not on Etsy?

I'm from the midwest. My husband and I have 3 boys. Our oldest is in elementary school, our middle baby went to heaven, and our youngest will celebrate his 1st birthday this spring! We would like to add more children to our family in a couple years.

I've been a teacher, teacher's aid, and tax preparer. Right now I'm a full-time stay at home mom, going back to college in the summer.

On the weekends you'll find me watching movies, going to church, and TRYING to get caught up on the dishes!

What is your shop name and what do you offer?

My shop name is Zucchini Summer. No, I do not sell zucchinis. Or summer. I chose the name because zucchini is my favorite vegetable and they only really grow in the summer! I offer a selection of vintage dishes as well as handmade cards, etc. My newest product line is Lunchbox Notes. Perfect little cards sold in sets of 12 for sending your child or husband a note in their lunch.

How did you get started?

I joined Etsy in 2008 and never really did anything. Then, last December my Grandmother emailed to say she had made an Etsy shop. I thought, "If she can do it, so can I!" So I started filling up my shop, getting active in the forums, chats, and teams and having fun!

What is your favorite item to create and why?

Lunchbox Notes! I like to think about the child that might get them and how it will brighten their day. School is HARD for kids. They have so much pressure these days. A little "Good luck on your test" or "Have a great day!" card from Mom can make their whole day better.

What is your best selling item, and why do you think it is?

I've had a mix so far of my vintage dishes selling and my cards. I think people like the dishes because they are pretty (if I don't like an item it doesn't go in my shop) and take us back to a simpler time. The cards sell because they are fun and fairly priced!



What is your biggest shop/design challenge?

Keeping the shelves stocked! I keep trying to get up to 30 and then 50 listings, but then inevitable a few things sell. This is a GOOD problem to have though!

What new skill/technique would you like to learn?

Sewing! I took lessons in junior high (because I was sooo cool. haha) but that was ages ago and I've lost the skill. I'm actually about to start taking lessons locally here. I want to be able to quilt and pass that skill down to the next generation.

What’s up-and-coming for your shop?

More, more, more Lunchbox Notes! There will be some in all sorts of designs, something for everyone!

Who do you heart on Etsy?

jmaeson makes this really cool little crochet flowers. I bought a set to frame and hang in my bathroom.

zinniaridge has all sorts of stuff from the 40's (ish), sheet music, vintage cards, and more. I'm waiting (im)patiently for her to release some Easter things!

leealta makes hats, there was one I wanted and boy should I have bought it. It sold already!

auntcindysattic makes the neatest tshirt quilts! Great graduation gifts.

Read any good books lately?

Plum Sykes's Bergdorf Blondes was a fun read. A great beach read. Of course in my midwest state, I don't HAVE a beach so I had to settle for the couch.

Guilty pleasure?

Last night I hid the Hershey almond kisses leftover from making valentines. Then when my husband was in bed, I ate them.

A piece of advice?

Live a generous life.

Where else can we find you if we want to know more?

My blog is quite fun, if I do say so myself. It is not all "buy from MEeeee". There are crafts and tutorials, a giveaway coming up, and more!http://www.zucchinisummeretsy.blogspot.com/

Twitter. I said I'd never join. And look, I joined.www.twitter.com/zucchinisummer

Facebook Fan Page--sneak peeks, discount codes, etc...http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Zucchini-Summer-by-TheBargainBabe/126414784095402

Thanks so much for your time, TheBargainBabe! Make sure to visit her on Etsy!

Games Kids Play

While rummaging through some boxes looking for materials and ideas, I came across a few old learning games made for first graders during a student teaching experience, so I thought I'd hare in case you are stuck in the house in need of something to do. They are easy to make and simple to follow. The first is a set of flowers and stems. Written on each part is one of a pair of opposites.

The kids then make flowers by matching up the correct pairs of opposites. If you want them to practice handwriting, they can make a list of the opposites. You can also have them to make their own flowers to add new pairs to the game.

This one is just as easy. Each circle has a pair of words on it that need to be made into a contraction. Kids can write a list of the contractions to help them practice writing and spelling, or you could make a second set of circles with the contraction written on them and they can match them up. Challenge them by playing Memory, with the circles upside down.

These were used with a first grade class, but there's no reason you couldn't use them with older or younger kids if they're ready. Have fun!