What’s Hot for Innovative Educators Around the Globe

Lisa Nielsen is The Innovative Educator. She found school boring and irrelevant. That ticked her off so she became a public school educator who works to help change that for others. She does this by finding and sharing innovative ways to prepare students for relevant and real-world success. We are excited to share her education tips!

When it comes to education, it seems no matter where in the world you are from, the same innovative practices bring us together. This week at Microsoft’s Partners in Learning Global Forum hundreds of educators from more than 80 countries came together to showcase, learn, discuss and think about innovative teaching, learning, and leading practices.

Take a look below to see what was hot around the globe and think about how you might tackle one or some of these where you work in the New Year. When you find a topic of interest, click the link to read, watch, discuss and learn more.

Personalized Learning

How can we help ensure student voice and choice are top priorities; education is responsive to students’ needs, interests and aspirations; and that they’re given the skills and experiences vital to success in the 21st Century?

Student Voice

How can we help to ensure students have a say in what, when, where, how and why they learn? What are ways we can listen to students’ needs, interests and concerns? How can we empower youth to understand and act on the world's greatest challenges?

Read More Here>>>>  The Innovative Educator

Japanese Paper Flowers With Westcott Shredder Scissors

Carmi Cimicata is an artist who collects art - all kinds of art, Russian painted boxes. pins, vintage jewelry, Frida Kahlo clay dolls by Josefina Aguilar, and much, much more.  Carmi's goal is to work large scale in the next decade. We are excited share Carmi's post:

This bouquet of paper flowers will add some extra colour to my studio on a day where the outdoors is completely white with snow.

Westcott has special new scissor for anyone concerned about throwing important paperwork into the trash.  These paper shredders will turn any of your bank statements, bills ect into shredded piles of paper.  Of course, you can do more than shred paper.

TO READ MORE FROM CARMI HERE>>>> Click Here

The All Purpose Shredder Scissors are available online only.  Click Here to Purchase Yours!

Or if you are shopping in Canada:

Click Here for English

Click Here for French

Eight Ways to Save Money on School Supplies

Edutopia dedicated to improving the K-12 learning process through innovative, replicable, and evidence-based strategies that prepare students to thrive in their studies, careers, and adult lives.

Terry Heick is an Edutopia contributor and educator focused on social improvement through learning innovation.  He is the Director of Curriculum for TeachThought and the Social Learning Facilitator for the Institute for Habits of Mind.  We are happy to share his post:

According to a study by the National School Supply & Equipment Association, teachers spend an average of $356 out-of-pocket on school supplies and resources (NSSEA, 2011).

Fortunately, there are ways to reduce these costs. If you're in need of supplies and the school year is either looming or already begun, here are some ways you can save money while supplying your learning environment with the (stunningly wide) variety of items that are needed over the course of a semester or school year.

Read Terry's 8 Tips to Save Money on School Supplies >>>>

Decoupaged Deer Heads At Westcott

Carmi Cimicata is an artist who collects art - all kinds of art, Russian painted boxes. pins, vintage jewelry, Frida Kahlo clay dolls by Josefina Aguilar, and much, much more.  Carmi's goal is to work large scale in the next decade. We are excited share Carmi's post:

Here is a very look at the paper mache deer heads that were created in the Westcott "lunch and learn" class on Friday.  It is such a pleasure to be in a company headquarters that appreciates how wonderful a creative event can be for staff.

For this special event, the "lunch and learn" started at 9am and everyone crafted through the lunch at noon.

Everyone entered the board room to see this blank paper mache deer head and a bottle of Traci Bautista Collage Pauge at their seat.

To create these special heads, we also had a large selection of tissue paper to choose from.  It took only a few minutes for everyone to select a favorite colour palette.  Our table was quickly covered!

Read More: http://carmicimicata.blogspot.ca/2014/11/decoupaged-deer-heads-at-westcott.html

Handmade Holidays Blog Hop - Day 3 - Molded Rowlux Flower Pen by Marisa Pawelko

Welcome to the final day of the 4th Annual Handmade Holidays Blog Hop! We hope you enjoyed the projects from the last 2 days! A few years ago we were looking online for handmade gift ideas and thought it would be great if there was a resource dedicated JUST to handmade gift ideas. Enter the Handmade Holidays hop! We've gathered over 100 of our creative blogger friends in the craft industry as well as some of our fellow product manufacturers to bring you a plethora of inspiring gift ideas you can make now to give to your friends, family, and colleagues. Pin and bookmark these ideas for this holiday season and to use throughout the year! Each day of the hop features approximately 30 gift projects and you can "hop" from one blog to another to check them all out.

Be sure to enter the MEGA GIVEAWAY at the bottom of this post to win amazing prizes courtesy of all of the creative product manufacturers who've sponsored this inspired handmade holidays blog hop!

For today's hand made gift project on the blog hop, Westcott's resident craft expert, Marisa Pawelko of Modern Surrealist created this awesome Rowlux flower pen bursting with color! This pen can be customized to suit the gift recipients unique sense of style! Try making recreations of your friends favorite flowers. Go realistic by making roses, or make them tropical or even fantastical! The possibilities are endless! These flower pens make the perfect gift for a friend at the office to brighten up their desk during cold and dreary winter!

Scroll down for a full step by step project tutorial!

Gather Rowlux in assorted colors.

Cut free form flower shapes with Westcott Brand Titanium Bonded Scissors.

Cut some additional foliage.

With your Westcott Brand Cushion Grip Hobby Knife and Cutting Mat, carefully cut holes in the center of each of the flower shapes.

Get out your heat tool and carefully mold the flowers into three dimensional forms.

Layer up the flower pieces on the end of the pen and secure with Dodz by 3L Scrapbook Adhesives,

The Dodz stick really well to the Rowlux.

Cut out some Rowlux foliage. The Rowlux sure cuts just like butter with Westcott Scissors!

Secure a gem to the center of the flower with more Dodz. Then use a thin strip of green duct tape (cut with your Westcott Titanium Bonded NonStick Scissors of course) and secure the leaves in place. Then wrap the "stem" of the pen in more tape. And lastly, roll the leaves to give them a natural curling shape. You could also use this Rowlux same flower creation technique on other gifts, such as a barrette, brooch, wrapped gift, headband and much, much more!

Are you ready for lots more creative handmade gift ideas and projects??

Follow along on our blog hop! Simply click on each of the links below to be taken to that post with additional information and photos on how to create a handmade gift project. Have fun and pin away!

  Clearsnap  Westcott  Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L  Ellison Educational Equipment  ICE Resin  Neat and Tangled  Therm O Web  Walnut Hollow  Elizabeth Craft Designs  Rowland Technologies  Graphic 45  Hydrangea Hippo   Pink and Main  The Buckle Boutique  Tami Mayberry Art & Design - Tami Mayberry  Jamie Dougherty - Jamie Dougherty Designs  Elizabeth Craft Designs - Raquel Mason  Meagan - The Charming Farmer  Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L - Angela Ploegman   Carolyn Dube - A Colorful Journey  Pink and Main - Mistyana Wright  The Buckle Boutique - Niki Wilson  It’s Sew Lorine - Lorine Mason   ‎ Therm O Web - Andy Knowlton  L. Grace Lauer - Uniquely Grace  Clearsnap - Meihsia Liu Oh Snap Lizzie - Lizzie Sanchez Graphic 45 - Katie Zoey Ho Charity Wings ICE Resin - Tatiana Allen Polly Carlson - Pieces by Polly Ellison Educational Equipment - Jan Hobbins  RoseRedd Paper Studio - Rochelle Washington 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Follow our Handmade Holidays Gift Ideas Pinterest board for even more inspiration!

Follow Jennifer Priest of RainMaker Media Works + Hydrangea Hippo's board Handmade Holidays on Pinterest.  

A huge thank you to our sponsors for this hop - please visit their blogs & websites below and follow them. And be sure to come back tomorrow for another 30+ amazing Handmade Gift Ideas!

 

Clearsnap || Ellison Educational Equipment || Walnut Hollow || Graphic45 || Westcott || ICE Resin || Therm O Web || Rowland Industries || Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L || Pink and Main || Elizabeth Craft Designs || The Buckle Boutique || Neat and Tangled

Additional Sponsorship provided to bloggers by:

Sakura || Fairfield Processing 

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Follow our Handmade Holidays Gift Ideas Pinterest board for even more inspiration!

Follow Jennifer Priest of RainMaker Media Works + Hydrangea Hippo's board Handmade Holidays on Pinterest.  

A huge thank you to our sponsors for this hop - please visit their blogs & websites below and follow them. And be sure to come back tomorrow for another 30+ amazing Handmade Gift Ideas!

Clearsnap || Ellison Educational Equipment || Walnut Hollow || Graphic45 || Westcott || ICE Resin || Therm O Web || Rowland Industries || Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L || Pink and Main || Elizabeth Craft Designs || The Buckle Boutique || Neat and Tangled

Additional Sponsorship provided to bloggers by:

Sakura || Fairfield Processing 

Handmade Holidays Blog Hop - Day 2 - Scalloped Fleece Boa with Ice Resin Brooch by Marisa Pawelko

Welcome to day 2 of the 4th Annual Handmade Holidays Blog Hop! A few years ago we were looking online for handmade gift ideas and thought it would be great if there was a resource dedicated JUST to handmade gift ideas. Enter the Handmade Holidays hop! We've gathered over 100 of our creative blogger friends in the craft industry as well as some of our fellow product manufacturers to bring you a plethora of inspiring gift ideas you can make now to give to your friends, family, and colleagues. Pin and bookmark these ideas for this holiday season and to use throughout the year! Each day of the hop features approximately 30 gift projects and you can "hop" from one blog to another to check them all out.

And be sure to enter the GIVEAWAY at the bottom of this post to win tons of awesome prizes courtesy of the many amazing craft product manufacturers sponsoring this inspiring blog hop!

For today's blog hop Westcott Brand's resident crafter extraordinaire Marisa Pawelko of Modern Surrealist created a cozy and festive fleece winter boa accented with a custom upcycled Ice Resin Brooch! This scarf and brooch combo is super easy to recreate and can be customized to suit the gift recipient's unique sense of style! 

Scroll down for a full step by step tutorial!

Fold fleece in half on the table. You could also try this with other fabrics!

Trim off selvage edge, adjusting the tension on your Westcott ExtremEdge Titanium Bonded Scissors as needed.

Measure and cut strips that are 9" wide all the way across the fleece.

Lay the strips over one another and use them for a guide while cutting.

Cut at least three long strips.

Lay the strips on top of each other.

Using your Westcott Ruler, lay a piece of tape for a guide  4.5" from the needle on your sewing machine.

Pin all three layers together along the outer edges.

Sew straight down the middle down the length, keeping an eye on the tape guide.

Remember to back stitch on both ends.

Remove the pins.

Cut strips evenly all the way down the length of the assembly.

Depending on the style you are going for, you can cut wide strips, thin strips, wavy strips, etc. For this scarf the designer cut wide strips with a rounded end.

The ExtremEdge Scissors are great for cutting though multiple layers of fabric.

For people with mobility issues or arthritis, or if you've used many layers of fabric, we hightly recommend our large handle Titanium Bonded Precision Tip Scissors. They are ideal for fussy cuts, and repetitive cuts and offer superior leverage and control!

Adhere a strip of the excess fleece, to the outer edge of a clean jar top using Dodz from 3L Scrapbook Adhesives.

Then arrange trinkets into the jar top and hold in place with more Dodz from 3L Scrapbook Adhesives. Add some coordinating glitter for  touch of sparkle! Seal the components in place with Ice Resin and allow to cure for 3 days. Once cured, glue a pin back to the back of the jar top.

Use the funky new brooch to amp up this winter scarf gift! Use trinkets that reflect your loved one's interests. For instance, favorite colors, sport teams, mementos, etc.

Fluff up the scarf and you've ready to give this super stylish handmade gift and keep your loved one warm and cozy all throughout the winter!

Are you ready for lots more creative handmade gift ideas and projects??

Follow along on our blog hop! Simply click on each of the links below to be taken to that post with additional information and photos on how to create a handmade gift project. Have fun and pin away!

  Clearsnap  Ellison Educational Equipment  Walnut Hollow  Graphic 45 Hydrangea Hippo Westcott Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L Rowland Technologies Neat and Tangled ICE Resin Therm O Web Elizabeth Craft Designs Pink and Main The Buckle Boutique Clearsnap - Vivian Keh Ashley Rader - Giddy Upcycled ICE Resin - Jen Cushman Candy Spiegel- Candy Scraps Graphic 45 - Andrew Roberts Rina Gonzales - Mothership Scrapbook Gal Therm O Web - Amanda Niederhauser Cori Warner - The Flying C Yana Smakula - My Cardmaking & Scrapbooking The Buckle Boutique - Shawn Mosch Eileen Hull Designs - Eileen Hull Angela Muir - Handmade in the Heartland Krista Winters - eat, knit & d.i.y. Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L - Erica Houghton Katie Smith - Punk Projects Elizabeth Craft Designs - Karen Aicken Jeanie Hevener - Create & Babble Ellison Educational Equipment - Hilary Kanwischer Fancy Shanty - Stacy Molter Liz Hicks - Blogerisms a Rafflecopter giveaway

Follow our Handmade Holidays Gift Ideas Pinterest board for even more inspiration!

Follow Jennifer Priest of RainMaker Media Works + Hydrangea Hippo's board Handmade Holidays on Pinterest.

A huge thank you to our sponsors for this hop - please visit their blogs below and follow them. And be sure to come back tomorrow for another 30+ amazing Handmade Gift Ideas!

 

Clearsnap || Ellison Educational Equipment || Walnut Hollow || Graphic45 || Westcott || ICE Resin || Therm O Web || Rowland Industries || Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L || Pink and Main || Elizabeth Craft Designs || The Buckle Boutique || Neat and Tangled

Additional Sponsorship provided to bloggers by:

Sakura || Fairfield Processing   
 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Follow our Handmade Holidays Gift Ideas Pinterest board for even more inspiration!

Follow Jennifer Priest of RainMaker Media Works + Hydrangea Hippo's board Handmade Holidays on Pinterest.

A huge thank you to our sponsors for this hop - please visit their blogs below and follow them. And be sure to come back tomorrow for another 30+ amazing Handmade Gift Ideas!

 

Clearsnap || Ellison Educational Equipment || Walnut Hollow || Graphic45 || Westcott || ICE Resin || Therm O Web || Rowland Industries || Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L || Pink and Main || Elizabeth Craft Designs || The Buckle Boutique || Neat and Tangled

Additional Sponsorship provided to bloggers by:

Sakura || Fairfield Processing

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Follow our Handmade Holidays Gift Ideas Pinterest board for even more inspiration!

Follow Jennifer Priest of RainMaker Media Works + Hydrangea Hippo's board Handmade Holidays on Pinterest.

A huge thank you to our sponsors for this hop - please visit their blogs below and follow them. And be sure to come back tomorrow for another 30+ amazing Handmade Gift Ideas!

Clearsnap || Ellison Educational Equipment || Walnut Hollow || Graphic45 || Westcott || ICE Resin || Therm O Web || Rowland Industries || Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L || Pink and Main || Elizabeth Craft Designs || The Buckle Boutique || Neat and Tangled

Additional Sponsorship provided to bloggers by:

Sakura || Fairfield Processing 

Handmade Holidays Blog Hop - Day 1 - Wine Bag with Ice Resin Carafe Charm by Marisa Pawelko

Welcome to the 4th Annual Handmade Holidays Blog Hop! A few years ago we were looking online for handmade gift ideas and thought it would be great if there was a resource dedicated JUST to handmade gift ideas. Enter the Handmade Holidays hop! We've gathered over 100 of our creative blogger friends in the craft industry as well as some of our fellow product manufacturers to bring you a plethora of inspiring gift ideas you can make now to give to your friends, family, and colleagues. Pin and bookmark these ideas for this holiday season and to use throughout the year! Each day of the hop features approximately 30 gift projects and you can "hop" from one blog to another to check them all out.

And be sure to enter the GIVEAWAY at the bottom of this post to win tons of awesome prizes courtesy of the many amazing craft product manufacturers sponsoring this inspiring blog hop!

For today's project, our resident craft expert, Marisa Pawelko of Modern Surrealist created a gorgeous sewn satin wine bottle bag that's secured with an even more gorgeous Ice Resin carafe charm. The charm is functional as a closure for the bag but is also designed to be used as a label on a wine carafe, making this the perfect gift for your next holiday party!

This is sure to be the most memorable presentation of a bottle of Merlot in holiday party history! 

The hostess may even choose to wear it as a bracelet!

Here's an example of the type of carafe this wine type ID charm would look great on!

Scroll down for a full step-by-step tutorial on how to make this elegant holiday hostess gift!

Create a paper pattern with the dimensions noted here.

Pin the paper pattern to two layers of fabric with the right sides together. 

Trim away the excess fabric with Westcott Titanium Bonded Scissors.

Sew around the sides and bottom using a 1/2" seam allowance.

Leave the bag inside out.

Cut the excess fabric at the corners at a 45 degree angle using your Westcott Titanium Bonded Scissors.

.
Fold over the top edge 3/4" and iron, being sure to open the side seams so everything lays straight and flat

Hem the top of the bag using the same 1/2" seam allowance.

Trim away excess fabric from the seams and turn the bag right side out.

Sharpen your pencil using the iPoint Evolution electric pencil sharpener.

Layer up some coordinating fabric onto Adhesive Sheets from 3L Scrapbook Adhesives and select your preferred Ice Resin Bezel.

Westcott Brand Titanium Bonded NonStick Scissors are perfect for cutting through all sorts of sticky materials!

Trace the bezel with your sharpened pencil and trim on the inside of the line with the NonStick Scissors.

Use this fabric piece for your bezel background and build your elements on top securing with Dotz by 3L Scrapbook Adhesives.

Arrange the elements within the bezel. Here you can see purple beads, mini green leaves and twirled wire were used to mimic the wine theme. Then the word Merlot was spelled out with letter beads. Then top it off with the addition of a mini wine bottle and a festive jingle bell!

Now mix up some Ice Resin according to the instructions on the bottle.

Protect your work surface with a Westcott Cutting Mat. Slowly pour the resin mixture over the assembly taking care not to overflow the bezel. Set bezel aside to cure for 3 days.

Cut a piece of leather or "pleather" that is 36" long.

Run the piece through one ring of the bezel, then around the neck of the bottle several times, then through the other bezel ring. Secure with a bow and you are good to go!

Are you ready for lots more creative handmade gift ideas and projects??

Follow along on our blog hop! Simply click on each of the links below to be taken to that post with additional information and photos on how to create a handmade gift project. Have fun and pin away!
 Clearsnap Ellison Educational Equipment Walnut Hollow Graphic 45 Neat and Tangled Therm O Web Westcott Elizabeth Craft Designs Pink and Main The Buckle Boutique Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L Rowland Technologies ICE Resin Hydrangea Hippo Clearsnap - Suzanne Austin Stencil1 - Ed Roth Graphic 45 -Nadya Lifa  Cookies for Breakfast- Beth Pingry Cupcakes and Crinoline - Mary Beth Sharkey  Elizabeth Craft Designs - Frances Byrne Lazy Mom’s - Joanna Grzeszczak Homemade Ginger - Megan Kapple Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L - Asia King Ellison Educational Equipment - Anna-Karin Evaldsson One Artsy Mama- Amy Latta Therm O Web - Alice G0lden Lovely Etc - Carrie Spalding ICE Resin - Clare Horner Pink and Main - Yolie Burke The Buckle Boutique - Stephanie Nericcio Modern Surrealist - Marisa Pawelko A Little Craft In Your Day - Tanner Bell Artsy Findings - Cheryl Waters Stampin Mindy - Mindy Baxter a Rafflecopter giveaway

Follow our Handmade Holidays Gift Ideas Pinterest board for even more inspiration!

Follow Jennifer Priest of RainMaker Media Works + Hydrangea Hippo's board Handmade Holidays on Pinterest.

A huge thank you to our sponsors for this hop - please visit their blogs below and follow them. And be sure to come back tomorrow for another 30+ amazing Handmade Gift Ideas!

 

Clearsnap || Ellison Educational Equipment || Walnut Hollow || Graphic45 || Westcott || ICE Resin || Therm O Web || Rowland Industries || Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L || Pink and Main || Elizabeth Craft Designs || The Buckle Boutique || Neat and Tangled

Additional Sponsorship provided to bloggers by:

Sakura || Fairfield Processing

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Follow our Handmade Holidays Gift Ideas Pinterest board for even more inspiration!

Follow Jennifer Priest of RainMaker Media Works + Hydrangea Hippo's board Handmade Holidays on Pinterest.

A huge thank you to our sponsors for this hop - please visit their blogs below and follow them. And be sure to come back tomorrow for another 30+ amazing Handmade Gift Ideas!

 

Clearsnap || Ellison Educational Equipment || Walnut Hollow || Graphic45 || Westcott || ICE Resin || Therm O Web || Rowland Industries || Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L || Pink and Main || Elizabeth Craft Designs || The Buckle Boutique || Neat and Tangled

Additional Sponsorship provided to bloggers by:

Sakura || Fairfield Processing