Terrific Handmade Teacher Presents

Great Ways to Say Thank You to Educators

Apr 15, 2009 Kelley Huston

Spring is the perfect time to say thank you to teachers. This article will give you some creative ideas to say thank you.

Teachers love getting personalized gifts especially when they are functional. Here's ideas for three fun gifts for students to make. The first two are from the entire class and the third from an individual student.

Handprint Bag, Sweatshirt or Apron

Materials

  • Sweatshirt or large plain tote bag or plain white apron
  • Thin permanent black marker
  • Tempra or fabric paint in various colors

Procedure

  1. Wash item to be painted, do not use fabric softener.
  2. Place cardboard or other solid material inside item to be painted.
  3. Using the marker, write the grade and year on the item in a good location. The teacher's name can be added as well.
  4. Put paint in shallow trays, such as pie pans or paper plates.
  5. Dip hands in paint and allow excess paint to drip back into tray. A paintbrush can also be used to spread the paint onto the hand rather than dipping.
  6. Press hand firmly onto item, hold briefly, and lift straight off.
  7. Using the marker, write the child's first name and last initial by their hand.
  8. Repeat steps 5, 6, and 7 for each student.
  9. If both sides of the item are to be painted, allow one side to dry overnight before painting the second side.
  10. Once the item painted is to completely dry it can be wrapped and presented to the teacher.

Class Photo with Personalized Mat

Materials

  • 5 x 7 photo of class
  • 8 x 10 picture frame with mat. Hole in mat needs to be cut to 5 x 7.
  • Thin markers in various colors

Procedure

  1. Take a photo of the class. The photo should include the teacher.
  2. Write the teacher's name, the year and the grade on the bottom center of the mat.
  3. Have each child write his or her name with their choice of color on the mat. Remind them many students need to write their names so not to write too large.
  4. Frame the picture using the mat.
  5. Wrap and present to the teacher.

Flower PenMaterials

  • 1 small flower pot with saucer
  • Spanish moss
  • Floral arranging styrofoam
  • 1 pen
  • Floral Tape
  • 1 medium silk flower

Procedure

  1. Using a hot glue gun, glue the saucer to the bottom of the flower pot.
  2. Cut a piece of the styrofoam to fit snugly into the pot. Glue in place with the glue gun.
  3. Fill pot with Spanish moss to cover the styrofoam.
  4. Pull or cut stem off flower.
  5. Glue the flower to the end of the pen.
  6. Cover the glued end and entire length of pen with floral tape.
  7. Push writing end of pen into pot.
  8. Present to the teacher.

Personalized Flower Pot

Materials

  • Terra cotta flower pot
  • Spray Clear coat
  • Tempra paints
  • Small Plant
  • Potting Soil

Procedure

  1. Paint any design preferred by the child on the pot.
  2. Allow paint to dry over night.
  3. Spray with clear coat.
  4. Plant plant in the pot using the potting soil.
  5. Present to the teacher.

The copyright of the article Terrific Handmade Teacher Presents in Crafts is owned by Kelley Huston. Permission to republish Terrific Handmade Teacher Presents in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
Flower Pen, Kelley Huston Flower Pen
   
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