How I... Edit My Photos

I often receive comments/emails asking how I edit my photos or how I add my blog name to each photo. I used to use Picnik. I absolutely loved Picnik. I even paid for their premium service. But then Google closed them down. I found a replacement which is slowly getting better and better. It's called Pixlr Express. It doesn't take as long to load/edit the photos as Picnik did.

Here's an example of the process I go through to edit one photo. It takes me about 2-3 minutes to complete per picture.

#1 Open a photo. Pixlr gives you the option to open from your PC, a URL, or webcam.

#2 Under Adjustment, I resize my photos to make them the perfect size for my blog posts. I always set the width to 525 - it doesn't matter if the photo is landscape or portrait. When you change the width, it will automatically change the height for you. Changing the file size makes the pictures load a lot faster on a blog as well. After resizing, there's a button you can click that will automatically zoom your photo back in to the perfect viewing size. Then I use the Auto Fix option to change the color.

#3 I change the color effects next. I always use Sanna, found under Subtle.

#4 Next, I add a border. I use Normal under Rounded Corner.

#5 I add my blog name manually to each photo. I haven't found an easier way to do it yet, but it doesn't really bother me since I'm editing the photos anyways.

#6 After adding the text to the photo, I'm all done. I save the photo and then close it to start editing the next one.

Pixlr also has a full version online that is free to use. It appears to be like Photoshop and has more options for editing. I haven't used the full version yet, so I don't know how it all works or if it's any good. I'd imagine it probably is since their Express version is good.

How do you edit your photos?

How I... Give Homework Each Week

I believe in routine and predictability for my students, as most teachers do. I give the same homework routine each week, and just tweak some of the activities to go with the spelling words and change the math homework to match our daily lessons. Here's what our homework looks like each week.

I change the spelling activities when I notice that they're becoming too easy for my students. I leave some easy ones so they have a break on one night a week and can do a quick spelling activity. I have separate homework for my students who need extra support and have only 10 spelling words a week. I've seen such a difference in their confidence and achievement since I've change their homework (and class work). They're finally feeling success.

I have my students on a number system. I alphabetized them by first name when I became their teacher in November. Then I assigned them each a number. This helps me (and my volunteers) see who is missing assignments, and allows me to put grades in my grade book a lot faster. The kids love having numbers. Who knew something so simple could make them so happy? Ha!

On Friday, I rearranged my classroom and got rid of my "teacher's desk". There's so much more room now! I really needed to move my small group instruction table to another location in my classroom. Some of my students were distracted by what's going on outside the window - which is nothing since we're on the 2nd floor and you can't see anything but a bare tree. Now we're in a better spot. I'll share pictures later this week or next Monday. I'm still in the process of rearranging and tweaking. LOVING my classroom now! =]

How I... Make My Printables

I often receive emails or comments asking me how I make my printables. It's easier than you think.

Microsoft Word for everything basic, Adobe Acrobat to make them editable.

The secret is out!

I didn't take a class to learn how. I'm self-taught. I've loved technology since I first used a computer when I was a child. Ever since I've been curious about everything, so I explore and play and practice with it all. I love lists and forms, so I started creating my own about 4 years ago.

I love sharing what I create, which is why I have so many free printables available. My husband says I offer too many for free since I have a "talent". Whatever. I like sharing - and it's a lot easier to share on my blog than go through the hassle of listing it on Etsy.

To be honest, I opened the Etsy store to make money when I was unemployed and searching for a teaching job. Now that I've found one, every dollar earned goes into my classroom, which is so helpful since our paychecks go to our student loan debt (yuck). Therefore, if you buy from me, you're supporting my classroom. {My students thank you.}

Questions?

How I... Organize My Recipes

I've been attempting to cook and bake for awhile now. I'm not very good -- somehow I always mess things up. I have been collecting recipes for the last few years anyway though. I first started with photo albums and put all of my recipe cards in the albums. I hated rewriting recipes from the internet onto a 4 x 6 recipe cards...most of the time it didn't all fit. Plus, I liked the pictures that came along with the internet print out. So I decided to create two recipe binders -- one with entrees and the other with the rest of the recipes (side dishes, appetizers, beverages, etc.)

Here's what I created a few years ago...

These two binders I bought from Staples. They're made by Carolina Pad.

For my category tabs I used decorative tab dividers that I bought at Staples. They're Carolina Pad as well. I put the tab dividers inside page protectors (I got that idea from Prudent Baby) so they stuck out further than the rest of the pages. It was kind of difficult to do, because you have to make a slit in the side of the page protector for the tab to stick through. If you make the slit too big, the divider will slide around.

One thing I didn't like about this was how flimsy the tab dividers ended up becoming. They were made out of something like card stock (not sure?), so after awhile they started to get crappy.

Printed recipes just got hole punched and inserted into the binder.

Recipes from magazines were inserted into a page protector with a piece of colored paper behind so that I could put another recipe on the other side without it looking funny.

Smaller clipped recipes were taped to a piece of paper inside of a page protector.

I used scrapbook letter stickers to label the front of the dividers and wrote on the tab dividers with a silver Sharpie.

I just wasn't crazy about the way that this binder was looking now-a-days. The binder, being plastic covered, started to crack/rip. I wasn't crazy about the tab dividers not being easily turnable. I also wanted to redo my categories. So I decided to just redo the whole thing.

Here's what my recipe binders look like now...

I bought these binders from Target. They're made by GreenRoom. They were kind of pricey, but it was exactly what I wanted and they seem really durable. Plus, they're really cute. =]

I bought these Avery Big Tab Pocket Insertable Plastic Dividers from Staples. I wanted these so I could put recipe booklets into the pockets and I love Avery tabs -- they're very durable. I bought the 5 tab dividers. They also make 8 tab dividers.

I have this huge stack of colored paper and luckily I have each color of paper to match my tabs.

The categories I used in the brown binder are: appetizers & snacks, beverages, bread, desserts, and side dishes. I used an Avery template from their website to type up and print on the tab inserts.

The categories I used in the cream binder are: beef, breakfast, fish, one dish meals & stews, pasta, pizza, poultry, sandwiches, and soup.

I didn't cram the clipped recipes together this time. I wanted to leave room to write notes about the recipes on the sides.

And as for the recipe albums, I still use those. I subscribe to Betty Crocker and Pillsbury cooking magazines. The recipes that come in the magazines are 4 x 6 sized, with a picture on the front and the recipe on the back. I also just received a bunch of hand written recipes from family at my bridal shower on 4 x 6 recipe cards.

How do you organize your recipes?

How I... Label with Vinyl

Last week I got out my Cricut and vinyl and started cutting labels. They are a bigger pain to use rather than using a labeling machine or scrapbook stickers. But the nice thing is I can choose the size and color, and I don't have to worry about running out of a certain letter like I would with stickers.

For the following tags, I cut the vinyl and put it on a piece of scrapbook paper. I then laminated the tag and punched holes so I could attach them to the DVD books with ribbon.

I created the following tags the same way as the previous, but I attached them to the boxes with 3M Velcro. It sticks nicely and allows me to change the labels later on, if needed.

I decided to re-do the protein label since it was previously too big.

And of course, Jazz just needed his picture taken. =]

And this has nothing to do with the post really, but I spray painted the clock hands white. The hands were previously gold and too hard to see. The hands are still hard to see since they're so small. I think I'll be buying larger hands in the near future.