Monster Mania

MONSTER INSPIRATION: I’ve had a monster themed classroom in my head for some time now. To be honest, I could see this being appropriate for every single grade level. Monsters are silly and just plain FUN! I can picture “monster building” as a great team project, then displaying them around the room to decorate your space! The possibilties are endless with this theme! When I came up with the patterns, I looked at my children’s clothing. One of my favorite brands of clothing for my children specializes in bright stripes, polka dots, and playful patterns. I used those patterns as inspiration to create a one-of-a-kind classroom collection for those grown up teachers that have “Big Kid” personalities!

This is the theme that I am currently using in my classroom! I tried to hide it as best as I could in my Facebook/blog photo. However, I did give you a little sneak peek right before I hung up my new Monster calendar!

What I love about this collection is that it has both primary and bright colors…the perfect combination for those teachers that unfortunately, inherited a funky color scheme when they moved into their classrooms! This theme can match any of your existing colors and it will look AMAZING, regardless of any less-than-perfect counters, wall colors, classroom furniture, etc.

Here are our brand new Jelly Totes! I love how colorful they are! I use these in my own classroom for my student’s classroom supplies. They look adorable with a coordinating tag and ribbon!

How cute are these little monster tags?!? Add them to pencils, goodie bags for your students, baskets, or anywhere you would like to add a little FUN!

This collection also includes this adorable Monster Welcome Banner! Once you own the Monster file, you can save any of your printables on a thumb drive and take it to your local copy center. I went to Staples and had the sign printed on an 18 x24 sheet of regular paper. I think it cost around $5. The best part…you can make it as BIG as you like! You could potentially print it out to stretch above your bulletin boards or above your classroom door! I always use photo paper for my printables and this was just regular white, thin paper. Look how vibrant the colors are?!? You can also laminate this for durability and the colors will become even brighter!

One of my favorite parts of this collection is that it comes with the biggest selection of hands, feet, shoes, eyes, mouths, horns, antennas…everything you need to make an adorable and unique monster! Just use a pom (I like the 19 inch poms for this) and hot glue the monster parts on for durability. If you follow me, you know that I only had two days to decorate for my Kindergarten students. I grabbed a bunch of poms, added some crazy body parts, then hot glued my monsters to the wall (shhhh! Don’t tell!) for a quick and easy way to decorate! You can also staple them to the corner of your bulletin boards or hang them above your tables!

I love putting all of these playful patterns together to create the CUTEST pennant banner! This is such an easy way to decorate too…string them above your whiteboards, your windows, or like me, I had a big empty space above my coat hooks in my classroom and with a few Command Hooks, I draped them along the length of the room for an added touch of color! The best part about printable decor…you can print out as many pennants as you need. No need to purchase multiple packages of decor to only have a few of your favorite patterns. Everything is so easily customizable…choose your favorite colors, patterns, and print out only what you need.

I added these inexpensive rugs from Ikea to finish off my space! I adore the pattern on pattern concept. The crazier you can get, the better. You can’t mess up with this theme!

Also, you need to check out the bulletin board paper in the background! Isn’t it cute? We are now carrying patterned paper in the Schoolgirl Style Shop! When you head over to the shop, make sure you stop by and take a look at all of the pretty patterns available!

The WELCOME banner is one of the cutest pieces to this collection! I love the bright stripes and a BIG monster bite taken out of each corner!

A stationary set, binder covers, and desk prints also come with the collection!

Each new collection comes with an alphabet line that can be hung with a coordinating clothespin. This look is very trendy right now! You can either create an alphabet line OR make a custom banner for your classroom!

Coordinating paper is included in each collection. You can use this paper for any classroom craft project that you may need. You can also use it to create one of my favorite things…covering cans for supply organization or for an added touch of cuteness to your desk! Check out the paper application below…
Here are the new “Jelly Totes” from Schoolgirl Style in an array of bright colors! You can find these in our shop under “Classroom Organization.” The more pops of color you can bring into your classroom, the better! These would look amazing lined up on a shelf or sitting at your student’s tables!

Our medium and large Jelly Totes are big enough for book baskets or to store your classroom supplies. I love how these are durable and they don’t have any holes for your supplies to fall out!

Each new collection from SGS has a coordinating calendar set! Each set comes with 12 calendar headers, a blank calendar grid, calendar numbers, birthday and special occasion pieces, a Days of the Week sign, and coordinating cut outs to add some pizzazz to your calendar area! Again, once you buy the file, you can save the calendar on a thumb drive and take it to your local printing store. You can blow up the calendar as big as you like! Make sure you laminate for durability. I have this same calendar in my classroom. I like to stick velcro to each grid and attach my calendar pieces that way!

If you are looking for an awesome planner, I highly recommend this coordinating planner from A Modern Teacher. You can either take the file to your local print center or we can print it out for you and ship it to your front door!

To find out more about the Monster Mania Planner, click on the video below!

Okay, I need to show you ONE last picture. There’s a little story behind it.

My mom typically comes over and helps me with my photo shoots…it’s just helpful to have an extra pair of hands. Anyways, we were in the process of making these adorable pom monsters and she came up with a BRILLIANT idea (well, it was brilliant only in her eyes). This is how the conversation went…

Mom: I have an idea! We can make a monster out of a lantern!

Melanie: No. I don’t think that would look very good.

Mom: Yes! You can do it both ways…you can use a pom AND use a lantern. You need to show your followers that they can do it TWO ways.

Melanie: No, mom. What we have is fine.

Mom: Yes! You need to do it!

*Insert some arguing.

My mom won’t give in.

I’m done with the room and I’m ready to call it a night, however, my mom won’t stop working on this and insists that it needs to be done. Exhausted, I walk away and leave her to her creation. Time passes and she’s still not done. I want to go to bed, so I head back to the photo shoot room to check on her. As I go back, she is finishing up her monster lantern. Needless to say, it was very…UNIQUE. I told her that there was NO way I was taking a picture of it and putting it on my blog.

*Insert some arguing again.

My mother insists that it is “cute” and I should show everyone.

Ummmm…. Okay, Mom.

Here is YOUR monster lantern….

Wait for it….

Wait for it… HAPPY MONDAY!