Wonka Mystery bags

So my son just had his 9th birthday and he wanted to do something different for his classroom treat this year.  I might have gone a little over board...


I wanted it to flow with what he was studying in class, they were reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.  So Gracin and I came up with mystery bags.  Each bag would contain clues and the the student would have to guess what character they were from these clues.

This is what I came up with:

Since it was a birthday there had to be a sweet so I made chocolate chip cookies with Hersey bar pieces and labeled them Wonka Bar Cookies.  Every bag got one of these.

Charlie Bucket

Juice box wrapped with Happy Birthday wrapping paper, and a dime (I tapped it to a piece of paper so it would not get lost in the bag).  I brought Wonka candy for the students who received a Charlie bag to buy since that is what he does in the book with his dime.  

Augustus Gloop

Chocolate milk, and a lollipop wrapped in a tissue

Veruca Salt

A pink and purple tutu made from crepe paper around a juice box and a bag of peanuts stamped BAD. I know, my son must be in the last school on Earth that allows nuts, we are lucky :-) I wanted  fake walnuts to stamp BAD on but could not find any.

Violet Beauregarde

Berry juice (blueberrry if you can find it) and bubble gum

Mike Teavee

Juice box dressed up like an old TV with pixie stix antenna and a candy TV dinner

I used a SpongeBob crabby patty and runts.

Willy Wonka

Juice box made into a top hat and gobstoppers 

Oompa Loompa

A leave cover chocolate milk or juice box and cocoa beans (I used coffee beans)

I finished them with gold curling ribbon and a golden ticket.  It was a huge hit! 

Even with the time it took to make them, I would probably do it again over doing cupcakes.  They kids got to do an activity that related to what was going on in class and they enjoyed it.  I bought most of the stuff at the dollar store so the cost was around the same as buying cupcakes and drinks for the class but I think they will all, especially the teacher, will remember this for a long time.  

DIY Keep Calm and ... Sign

DIY Keep Calm and... Sign

So I was scroll through Pinterest one afternoon, like I normally do, when I came across a DIY Song Lyric Wall Art project.   I thought to myself, Wouldn't that make a great gift and Christmas is like 90 days away! So I pinned it. I have to admit I did not read the entry, I just looked at the photos.  Here is the link to the site, A Beautiful Mess. So after looking at the lovely photos and buying some supplies I dove right it with a sign for my son.  This is what I got...

I had major problems with the letter stickers ripping the paper.  I had to go in and delicately cut pieces to fit the tears and rips.  So I thought about what I could do to fix the situation.  This is what I came up with.

What you need:

Canvas - I used 8x11

Scrapbook paper, wrapping paper, newspaper, whatever you want your background to be

Letter stickers - I used vinyl ones found at Micheal's in the art department

painter's tape

Xacto knife

Mod Podge

Acrylic paint

sponge brushes

1. Apply a thin even coat of Mod Podge and press paper onto canvas.  It took a about one and a third sheets because I wanted to wrap it around the edges.   I placed a book under the canvas to have something to push against.

Yes, it is wrapped in a paper towel.  I love all my book and want nothing bad to happen to my babies. 

Now wait for it to dry completely.  

Note: I wrapped the sides just like you would a present using the Mod Podge to hold it in place.

2.While it is drying you can get started doing the most time consuming part of this project.  I laid the stickers on top of the painter's tape and cut them out with the Xacto knife.  I know, I know, this sounds like a lot but you will be happy you did this.  You paper will not tear and when you are placing the letters they can be moved easily.  

3. By the time you are done doing this, the paper should be dry.  Now you can place your saying on the canvas.

I did a thin line around the edge too. 

4.  Apply the paint with a sponge brush.  You could probably spray paint it but I haven't attempted it yet.  It took two coats to get it to where I wanted it.

5. Once it is dry to the touch, I think I waited 10 minutes, carefully peel up the letters.

I had a little bleeding of the paint but I was still happy with the over all look.

6.  When it is completely dry I do a thin coat of Mod Podge but I would not say it is necessary. 

Now I have a really cute give for my son's teachers for Christmas this year.  And to tell the truth I am not done. I really enjoyed making them and the possibilities are endless.  I am thinking about making one for my instructor for a holiday gift too.  

If you make any, I would love to see them!