During the holidays, it is quite common to give teacher appreciation gifts. Here are a couple of ideas on how you can give inexpensive, yet heartfelt handmade teacher gifts to show your appreciation.
Homemade Christmas Treats
Christmas is a very busy time of year for the teachers, believe it or not, even more so than for the rest of us. In addition to the usual holiday preparations, they are often the ones organizing extra events, school plays, preparing report-cards and dealing with excited children all day! One of the nicest ways you can show your appreciation is to do something for them that they are too busy to do themselves, such as making home-made Christmas cookies, chocolates or other holiday specialties!
So while you are baking for your own family, why not make an extra batch of your specialty for the teacher gift?
It’s easy as 1-2-3!
1. Make your treats
2. Box it in a tin
3. Add a pretty ribbon and a card from your child
Crafty Containers:
You can go even further by making your own container. For inspiration, check out this Festive Tree Box idea from Michaels Craft Stores.
Flowers in a hand-crafted container
You can purchase potted flowers, or if you plan ahead, buy bulbs and force them to bloom.
- Christmas cactus
- Poinsettias
- Amaryllis
Forced blooms:
For an inexpensive and homemade gift, you can “force” flowers to bloom during Christmas time. The amaryllis, narcissus and tulip flowers are popular choices. Depending on which flower you choose, the “forcing” process may take as long as 5-10 weeks, so you need to plan ahead.
Crafty Containers:
To make your teacher gift more personalized, why not get your child involved? There is no better way to show teacher appreciation than giving a gift from child to teacher. One of the ways you can do that, is to help your child decorate their own container.
For younger children, I would recommend painting or covering with material.
Painting Method
1. Use regular craft paint to cover a clay pot
2. Add effects with sponging, decorating it with rubber stamps or stencils. For a really simple look, simply sponge white paint onto a bare container - this will give it a snowed on feeling
3. Let dry
4. Add your plant and a card from your child
To cover the container with material, choose cellophane or metallic fabric.
Material Cover Method
1. Gather material all around the container
2. Attach a ribbon - this will also hold the material in place
3. Add your plant and a card from your child
Older children can try their hand at decoupage. This is easy to do, you can be made with left-over gift wrap in a pretty pattern.
Decoupage Method
1. Cut the gift wrap into manageable pieces to cover the clay pot
2. Add a coat of glue (ie: Modge Podge glue) to your container
3. Place the gift wrap paper pieces on the container
4. Using a foam brush, add several thin coats of glue
5. Repeat until the entire pot is covered with paper.
6. Let Dry
7. Add your plant and a card from your child
Remember that the container need to dry fully, so it’s best to do this craft the weekend before. Happy gift giving!