Last month, I flew to North Carolina to work with Carson-Dellosa on their Color Me Bright and Carson Kids decor sets. Despite being REALLY sick with a virus, I made it through the weekend and even enjoyed myself.
Thursday night, I was all packed and ready to go Friday after work, when the virus hit. A friend came to the rescue with anti-nausea medication and I made it through the rest of the weekend without puking! The fever, chills, and aches were kept at a manageable level with lots of Advil.
As you can see above, my cat thought she could hitch a ride in my leopard luggage! This luggage is so old and by DVF. I love it because it is so easy to spot at luggage claim.
Finally, I arrived at my hotel in Greensboro, NC and waiting at the desk was a sweet care package from Carson-Dellosa.
The next day, I was so excited to meet the other bloggers and the Carson-Dellosa team. Only five bloggers were selected to attend the summit: Cheryl Saoud of Primary Graffiti, Anna Brantley of Crazy for First Grade, Denise Boehm of Sunny Days in Second Grade, Erin Klein of Kleinspiration, and me! What an honor!!
Cheryl and Anna were my first two blogging friends! We have actually met several times before. They are always so sweet and I love catching up with them. I had never met Denise and Erin before, in person, but knew them from the blogging world. They were awesome and I am so glad I got to know them in real life! I cannot wait to see them again in Vegas this summer.
This is what I started with:
Carson-Dellosa Color Me Bright, Carson Kids, Ikea furniture, and some Target bins.
We did a quick trip to Hobby Lobby for some more accents. Oh my word! I had never been to a Hobby Lobby before and that place is just AMAZING!! I wish we had one on Long Island.
Despite being really sick, I enjoyed sitting down and working with the Carson-Dellosa products. I love the brightness of the Color Me Bright set. It makes me want to re-do my classroom!
Color Me Bright File Folder Word Walls, a Carson-Dellosa file folder pocket chart, and a lime pom.
I made the “Be the most brilliant color in the box” sign for the yellow Hobby Lobby frame. You can snag it below by clicking the image. I also made signs for Cheryl’s Bubbly Blues Decor Set and Anna’s “Buggy” for Bugs set.
Make sure your printer is set at 100%, when printing.
The pencil cutouts are part of the Carson Kids bulletin board set. I wrapped tulle ribbon around mason jars to hold the pencils.
I wrapped and glued Color Me Bright boarder around this pop-up organizer by Carson-Dellosa.
The bins above are from Target.com. The labels are part of the Color Me Bright Sticker Set. The ribbon is from Hobby Lobby as well as the straws. The borders, “centers” letters, center pockets, and circle cutouts are from the Color Me Bright Line. The kids are cutouts from the Carson Kids line.
I created labels for these shoe box bins using the Color Me Bright stickers.
I hot-glued ribbon from Hobby Lobby around the Ikea table.
The desk is a mix of Color Me Bright and Carson Kids.
On the left on the bulletin board above is the Carson Kids Best Behavior Bulletin Board Set. On the right, is the Color Me Bright Calendar Set and pockets.
Hobby Lobby bins with tulle ribbons and Color Me Bright Cutouts. I printed the labels on regular paper and just glued them on. The font is by KG and is called Second Chances Solid.
The pinwheel, sitting puffs, and bins are also from Hobby Lobby. The pocket charts, file folders, games, borders, cutouts, and nonfiction books are by Carson-Dellosa. Again, I used KG fonts, typed names/labels up on my computer and glued them onto the cutouts.
I hope you enjoyed this post and will check out Carson-Dellosa for the products showcased in this post.
I would like to thank the whole Carson-Dellosa team and especially Sarah and Nicole for arranging the summit and Amanda and Leah my two “assistants” for the weekend. You all did an amazing job of making us feel welcome!
Keep Calm and Love First Grade
This looks AMAZING!!! I bet it was tons of fun… I just love decorating. I also love polka dots. Thanks for sharing your exciting venture with us. Super Job- and you're right. Hobby Lobby rocks. The first time I went to one, I didn't know which way to look…
Melissa
Keep Calm and Love First Grade
We Teach Like A Rockstar
WOW….very colorful post. I want all that stuff in my classroom. I loved reading your post! Amber ~ Kindergarten Rocks Blog
Emily Wells
I'm loving the ribbon on the IKEA table! Definitely a cute touch! I love all of the decorations! Totally digging the Color Me Bright Set! Thinking it will be making an appearance in my room next year!
I {Heart} Recess
I love all of your ideas! You did a fabulous job of brightening up simple boxes, tables, and bins!
Jess
I {Heart} Recess
Shelly Sitz
Wow, you did an awesome job decorating! Everything is so bright and cheerful. I love it!
Shelly
Smiling and Shining in Second Grade
Erin
This looks awesome! You're living my teacher nerd dream by designing room ideas with Carson-Dellosa!
Erin
Short and Sassy Teacher
MRSF!
Im glad that you posted this because I was interested in what you were going to do. I also felt bad for sounding a bit negative and making a comment that I hoped that the company was paying you to do this. You inspire teachers with great ideas. You are very creative. I hoped that you got credit for your ideas and that you were paid. (My justification: Teachers are not paid enough! I work in a Catholic school and really am not paid for the amount of time, love, care and extras that I put into my job. I assume you didn't either.) I should have just stuck with- Hope you get paid for your good ideas and thank you for inspiring others like me!
Tiffani Mugurussa
What a fabulous opportunity!. I love how creative you were with all the pieces, being able to bring it all together shows how talented you are. The bright colors makes me want to redecorate my room.
✿Tiffani Time 4 Kindergarten
Jennifer Tice
It all looks fabulous! Way to go girl!
Rowdy in First Grade
Jane Howard
Wow…I really love my room and how it looks this year. So excited about these new products and so glad they will co-ordinate with your polka dots I am using! Thanks for sharing so many wonderful ideas and updates!
Growing Firsties
I was so excited to read that you were selected, Erica! What an honor! And then to be able to hang with your bloggy buds and meet a few more IRL?? Soooo much fun!!! Had to send healthy vibes your way all day when I heard you were sick.
And NOW??? Look what you did while you were sick!?! You are AMAZING, girl!!!! This post made me happy happy happy!!!!
Growing Firsties
Mrs. Tolbert
Awesome job! You are so talented. 🙂 I plan on using some of your ideas in my classroom next year. Thanks for sharing!
~Jada
Daisy Days for Learning
kpoindexter
Your finished room looks AMAZING!! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Mrs. Frost
This looks so amazing! I think you may have a new career in your future, classroom design. Where is the desk from, IKEA? I loved the desk! I have some of those Target bins and they are great, I love the sticker tags on them. So great!! What an amazing opportunity. They should offer workshops for teachers to promote their items, it looks so FUN!!
Mrs.Frost's Kindergarten
maria bohrer
You did a fabulous job with Carson-Dellosa's supplies! So colorful…what child wouldn't be happy in a room decorated like that! Bravo, Erica!
Nicole from Teaching With Style
I love all the bright colors!