Teacher Gifts (Christmas)

[fletch95]

I am wondering what everyone is making/giving to teachers this season?

Thanks in advance!!!

[guineverelady]

oh good question! Subing to this thread for all the great ideas. My daughter is in kindergarten so I really need some help here !hehe

[sewsplendidstamper]

My son's K teacher has a MAJOR sweet tooth so I'm making her some peppermint bark and a jar of sugar scrub for her shower
Four easy, homemade gifts | Two Plus Four

[dougnat]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sewsplendidstamper

My son's K teacher has a MAJOR sweet tooth so I'm making her some peppermint bark and a jar of sugar scrub for her shower
Four easy, homemade gifts | Two Plus Four

these are great! thanks for sharing!

[Jana Z]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sewsplendidstamper

My son's K teacher has a MAJOR sweet tooth so I'm making her some peppermint bark and a jar of sugar scrub for her shower
Four easy, homemade gifts | Two Plus Four

These look great! I think I will make some for my friends. Thanks for sharing!

[bradley's_mom]

I am doing a basket with popcorn seeds, an altered starbucks cup like I saw on another board, some seasonings, a gift card for a movie and a few other things. I'll probably make some cards too.

[cpw3431]

Dumb question here.

Just curious! I have seen the sugar scrubs before and wondered. Does it end up making you feel sticky?

[jactop]

I think the brownies that you bake in a mug in the microwave are a really neat idea so I'm making some hand stamped mugs with matching coasters.

Here's a pic and tutorial Addicted to Stamping: Mug Rugs

[postcardgirl]

Can't find the "recipe" right now but when my girls were in kindergarten, I made the teachers "survival kits" to survive the winter cold - it had Kleenex, chicken noodle soup, cough drops, hand sanitizer, chap stick, warm socks, lotion, etc., all in a snowman container - the teachers LOVED it!

[nancystamps]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cpw3431

Dumb question here.

Just curious! I have seen the sugar scrubs before and wondered. Does it end up making you feel sticky?

I don't think you're question is dumb! I've wondered that too. I also wonder how much time it will take me to clean my bathtub after I use it! LOL

[sewsplendidstamper]

You use a little bit on a cloth or in your hand. Scrub arms and legs, elbows and knees for sure, feet. Rinse off. I wouldn't use it in the tub as there is oil in there too. But it's for a fast scrub not a soak.

[sewsplendidstamper]

Oh and the milk bath is basically a scented oatmeal bath so yeah there will be clean up after that but it's sooo good for your skin especially if you have any itching.

[uncbballfan]

The teacher's journaling jar and journal, shown on Nichole Heady's blog. But NO apples. The teacher I'm making this for loves butterflies, so I will use that theme.

[kinglake]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jactop

I think the brownies that you bake in a mug in the microwave are a really neat idea so I'm making some hand stamped mugs with matching coasters.

Here's a pic and tutorial Addicted to Stamping: Mug Rugs

wow thanx for sharing your ideas with us.I had a look on your blog,you have some wonderful creations on there. xx jo xx

[cpw3431]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jactop

I think the brownies that you bake in a mug in the microwave are a really neat idea so I'm making some hand stamped mugs with matching coasters.

Here's a pic and tutorial Addicted to Stamping: Mug Rugs

Are the brownies actually baked in the mug or is it the ingredients to make and bake in the mug?

Have a recipe you could share?

[flamingolady]

I'm making the tissue box covers featured here on SCS. What teacher doesn't have kleenex in the classroom?

[kspiv]

Quote:

Originally Posted by flamingolady

I'm making the tissue box covers featured here on SCS. What teacher doesn't have kleenex in the classroom?

I am making some mini tissue covers! I found an 8 pack of the travel tissues at the $ store and you can get 2 covers out of 1 piece of regular sized cardstock. They are cheap, easy and super cute!

I just posted a tutorial today on my blog. Here it is: Great if you have a bunch of teachers, co-workers, church friends, etc to give to.

Southpaw Paper Arts: Need A Tissue?

I am also making Snowman Soup in tins and glass mugs. I like the tins the best tho...they are so cute!

Southpaw Paper Arts: It's H{ippity} Hop time again

[tynmicsmom]

I made both teachers (one male and one female) A Christmas Glass block with a nativity scene. I put lights and potpourri in them.

thanks,
Bonnie

[jactop]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cpw3431

Are the brownies actually baked in the mug or is it the ingredients to make and bake in the mug?

Have a recipe you could share?

The brownies are mixed and baked in the mug. If you google "brownies in a mug" a ton of recipes/instructions come up so I'm guessing it's been popular for a while and I've just missed it. Not the first time I've missed the boat.

[kspiv]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jactop

The brownies are mixed and baked in the mug. If you google "brownies in a mug" a ton of recipes/instructions come up so I'm guessing it's been popular for a while and I've just missed it. Not the first time I've missed the boat.

LOL...Well I dont know about that Jackie but you are a master at lots of stuff so dont feel bad about missing the boat on that one little thing!

I meant to mention in my post about something you created a few years ago that I gave to my son's 4 teachers when he was in 5th grade and it is a WONDERFUL gift!! Your Stationery Box set!!!! If anyone has the time to make these for a special person, they are SO WORTH IT and such a WOW factor that the recipient is in awe of them. They are so awesome!

I know Jackie has the tutorial on her blog but it was recently one of the tutorials here on SCS too. Totally worth checking it out. And if you can find a Simply Scrappin Kit you like from Stampin Up, I made 4 of the boxes that year from just 1 SSK and a few sheets of white cardstock. It was a great thing!

[Rubbernecker]

Quote:

Originally Posted by postcardgirl

Can't find the "recipe" right now but when my girls were in kindergarten, I made the teachers "survival kits" to survive the winter cold - it had Kleenex, chicken noodle soup, cough drops, hand sanitizer, chap stick, warm socks, lotion, etc., all in a snowman container - the teachers LOVED it!

That's an adorable idea! Thanks for sharing!

[linda101274]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sewsplendidstamper

My son's K teacher has a MAJOR sweet tooth so I'm making her some peppermint bark and a jar of sugar scrub for her shower
Four easy, homemade gifts | Two Plus Four

These are great. TFS

[sewsplendidstamper]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sewsplendidstamper

My son's K teacher has a MAJOR sweet tooth so I'm making her some peppermint bark and a jar of sugar scrub for her shower
Four easy, homemade gifts | Two Plus Four

I wanted to point out that this is NOT my blog. My blog has long ago gone the way of the Dodo. In fact it wasn't even me who found the blog/link but a friend. O not only did I not develop this recipe, I didn't find it or even search it LOL

[Pamstamps2]

A few years ago I bought unscented candles from HL and then did the tissue paper technique on them. Everyone liked them. My neighbor is a teacher and she said that she likes stuff she can use and gets way too much food! I love the stationery box. I can use that to give to friends. These ideas are nice for co-workers too!.

Thanks!

[mesmark]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jactop

I think the brownies that you bake in a mug in the microwave are a really neat idea so I'm making some hand stamped mugs with matching coasters. ...

Those mugs are great! Quick question. Did you go ahead and do this? What recipe did you use for the brownies.

I'm actually a teacher, but I run my own school and it might be a nice idea for gifts for my students.

[bound4london]

I am making Post it Note holders and hopefully attaching mini pens too if I can find them. I am doing them like these

post it note on coaster by craftsrlb - Cards and Paper Crafts at Splitcoaststampers

[cpyrch]

Being a teacher, one of the things that I have found as a great gift is a set of mongrammed note cards. They are much appreciated and the teachers love sending them as they get gifts during the holiday season.

One more thing, to Nancy about the sugar scrubs. They don't leave you sticky, but if you use the right combination of soothing oils, your skin will feel wonderful, especially in the winter months. With that said, since I am a soapmaker also, I have made salt scrubs in the past. The only thing I would advise is to clean your tub or shower out after using it, because it can make for a VERY slick surface.

Hope this helps.

Chris

[theah]

As a former teacher I beg you PLEASE no more mugs! Every year I used to head off to Good Will with my box full of mugs

[CAmomof2]

I am making these tins (filled with 9 tealight candles) for my son's K teacher and all of the staff at my daughter's preschool (I'm on the BOD).

[Stampin' Sooz]

I kept the fries container from our last trip to McD's and used it as a template to make some out of Christmas cardstock. We are going to fill with a baggie of ranch flavored oyster crackers and a recipe card.

[geogymnast82]

I haven't finalized my choice for this year but I like to make personalized notebooks (like the coil ones you find in the $1 section at Michaels and other places) with a personalized pen and the monogrammed notecards. For the "main" class teacher I do that and usually put together a bucket/box for quality school supplies that I got for free or ultra cheap during various back-to-school sales. I never need all the ones I'm allowed to purchase, so I give my kids what they need and put the rest away for teacher gifts. The teachers are always sending home notes after the first semester asking for certain types of supplies since they've already used up the class stash. I usually add some sort of chocolate something in, too.

[smaverick1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by theah

As a former teacher I beg you PLEASE no more mugs! Every year I used to head off to Good Will with my box full of mugs

LOL - most of the teachers I know would rather get nothing than another mug.

There's so much food at the holidays, as yummy as the brownies may be, more chocolate is often not as well received. As a teacher, chocolate ranks right up there with more chocolate.

[sv133]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cpyrch

Being a teacher, one of the things that I have found as a great gift is a set of mongrammed note cards. They are much appreciated and the teachers love sending them as they get gifts during the holiday season.

One more thing, to Nancy about the sugar scrubs. They don't leave you sticky, but if you use the right combination of soothing oils, your skin will feel wonderful, especially in the winter months. With that said, since I am a soapmaker also, I have made salt scrubs in the past. The only thing I would advise is to clean your tub or shower out after using it, because it can make for a VERY slick surface.

Hope this helps.

Chris

I always give notecards as a gift. I have the TEACHABELLA stamp and many of my daughter's teachers actually have that pretty bouncy hair. This year I am making assorted cards -- teachabella, monogram, LawnFawn's Just My Type set, and some thank you cards. I have noticed over the years that teachers send parents alot of cards so they can never have too many.

I would love a salt scrub recipe. I had a scrub that I purchased from Arbonne. It made my skin feel fantastic but it is very pricey.

[Betty]

Quote:

Originally Posted by uncbballfan

The teacher's journaling jar and journal, shown on Nichole Heady's blog. But NO apples. The teacher I'm making this for loves butterflies, so I will use that theme.

I used to work in a school so your so right, NOTHING APPLE and nothing TEACHER. They get way to much of that and hate it. One teacher liked frogs and EVERYONE gave her frog stuff, she got the point she hated frogs too. Give them something you would like and enjoy, like the movie idea was great. I think the best one a teacher got was someone got ahold of everyone in the class an collected a couple dollars from each and gave a gift card to a restaurant. She loved that.

[Amanda H.]

Following this thread as well

[maryrose]

As a former teacher, I have to put my two cents in:

I had enough ornaments to decorate eight trees.

I had enough coffee mugs to open my own cafe.

I had enough bath and bodyworks stuff to open my own spa.

I had enough candles to light up a small city.

Some items are just really personal. While the rest of the world may walk aorund smelling like Sweet Pea, it's not my favorite fragrance. And while everyone else burns Yankee Candles, i prefer soy.

That being said, I appreciated all the gestures of kindness. Some gifts were just appreciated more than others. Some faves:

Handmade items from the children, like cards or pcitures.

A box of microwave popcorn and a gift card for movie rentals. My whole family appreciated this gift!

A big plate of assorted homemade Chrstmas cookies. I never had time to make my own when I was teaching!

Gift cards for Starbucks, or for local restaurants near the school. It was very handy to use these during school lunch breaks.

Live plants...Poinsettias at the holidays, potted outdoor plants in the spring.

I love to craft as much as the next person, but some handmade items are just more useful than others. I only give a gift that I'd really appreciate getting, too.

[maryrose]

Forgot a few gift ideas:

Photo albums for the classroom. A handmade scrapbook of photos from the class or from field trips would be awesome! Maybe a disposable digital camera to go with it!

Gift certificates for office supply stores or teacher supply stores.

Gift Certificates for book stores...teachers often spend their own money for a lot of those items for the classroom.

If some of these items sound pricey, may I suggest combining money with another family or two? Trust me, a teacher would love one really great gift a lot more than twenty-two mediocre items she has to drag to her car and find a home for.

[scrappy knitter]

As a teacher, I wanted to jump in too. I have always appreciated the thought, and therefore would like even just a card with a personal message (especially from the child). Anything handmade by a student of mine, I still have. I have also really appreciated books for the classroom library (especially when the child writes a dedication in it). And thank you cards would be nice, but only if you're not already a paper crafter.

[Joan B]

Oh my some of these posts make me smile. I was a Sunday School teacher for a few years and every Christmas I got Christmas ornaments and tchotchkes galore.

I think food and gift certificates are terrific ideas!

[pollybean]

Actually, you would think it would make you feel sticky, but they don't - I made some scrubs years ago using almond oil (which made these homemade gifts a little more pricey) as well, I used real vanilla beans. The scrubs are lovely - great for sloughing off dead skin on dry hands too and almond oil is a great moisturizer! :mrgreen:

Quote:

Originally Posted by cpw3431

Dumb question here.

Just curious! I have seen the sugar scrubs before and wondered. Does it end up making you feel sticky?