Solitary chicken - need advice

[soapdragon]

Having just come back from a beach holiday I now have loads of bits of pottery, glass, pebbles and shells scavanged from the foreshore. I'd like to get a bit arty with them - there are 10 'teacher's/TAs presents to be made for the end of term! I have some flat stones from last year's holiday and a few bits of wood on which to stick things but I am unsure as to what glue I should be using. I have found, from bitter experience, that 'all purpose' glue isn't. What would securely stick glass, pottery or pebbles to stone? Any hints very welcome!

 

Equally, I found a mass of limpet shells and would lie to thread them on thiskish twine or hemp string. What is the best way of making the requisite hole without shattering the shell...has anyone any recommendations, please?

 

Mind you, don't quite know when I am going to fit all this in between ferrying children round, dealing with school govenor training/meetings,carpet cleaning, work, housework, trying to deadhead the garden, plant veggies, keep a number of hamsters clean and niff free and generally lounging about on the sofa munching choccie digestives (one of those was a joke...can you spot which one!!??)

 

 

 

 

 

Sorry if the last para sounded ever so slightly hysterical...only 5 weeks left before school breaks up and its all going bear shaped, as Golidlocks said!

[Cat tails]

i know the feeling of end of year looming around the corner.

 

I would say glue gun or superglue. Although the latter doesn't work on porous materials I think. So might not work on bits of pottery.

[Alis girls]

Just dont stick anything to yourself. I stuck my fingers together when heavily pregnant. :shock . Managed to prise them apart. You might end up as part of the gift

[Grandmashazzie]

No help really,just wanted to say that's a nice thing to do. In my ones school it seems nowadays some parent appoints herself collector and asks each parent for £10. This is is then split between teachers and TAs. While it takes away the hassle it's a bit impersonal. I suppose you can opt out if you wish but I tend to just hand over the cash.

[mullethunter]

What is with all this giving money to school staff?! Pretty sure that still doesn't happen down here (ready for people to tell me I'm wrong )

[Cat tails]

Nothing here either!

[soapdragon]

ES is Y6 so just at the end of primary and each year at both Christmas and end of summer term teachers and TAs have had a handmade present. They have included home grown herbs all tied up with pretty cellophane and twine, home made biscuits half dipped in chocolate and wrapped in cellophane, keyrings made from glass beads, soaps (tho that requires lots of thinking ahead as it takes 6 weeks or so to cure!) handcream cooked up in a double boiler and, possibly the MOST memorable, handmade cucumber cleanser (which exploded if left unrefridgerated - apparently its still mentioned in the staff room from time to time!)

 

I remember the Head Teacher saying that, whilst she didn't want to be ungrateful, there is only so much wine you can drink or chocolate you can eat (Nooooooooo!) and it was nicer to have something with a bit of thought!

 

What I don't want, however, is for all the bits of glass, pottery etc to fall off once it all dries out hence the query as to the best glue to use (I promise to be careful, Ali's Girls, and not stick myself!!!)