Last Minute Teacher Appreciation Gifts

Although Teacher Appreciation Week is well underway, I wanted to share a few last minute ideas with you.  As I mentioned in my last post about this, I decided to stick with the same gifts from last year.  But as I’m moving along, I’ve added a couple twists.

• I gave the bucket to the teacher empty, instead of full of notes from the kids.  This way the kids can pop their notes in the bucket throughout the week and she can get a little something every day. 
• Each day a new goody will appear in the bucket from the kids too. 

 

Day One 

M&M’s with the M&M poem using a printable from 2 Silly Monkeys.

Day Two

Simply Lemonade with a tag that says “You’re simply fabulous!”

Day Three

A ruler with the note “Teacher you rule!”  {printable from Create.Craft.Love.}

Day Four

A bag of glue sticks with a tag that says “You’re the glue that keeps us together.” {Glue stick printable via g*rated}

Day Five

A candle and artwork – These gifts will wrap up the week.

The candle wrap is actually a chalkboard background, but my ink was running out and did this ombre color effect.  It works out though because our teacher’s favorite color is purple.  Love this quote.  {Candle Wrap Printable via Create.Craft.Love.}

And just like last year, I was able to “frame” this subway art for free by using a piece of cardboard and some washi tape to frame it out.  {Subway art printable via Eighteen25}

Here’s what this year’s bucket looks like.  I opted for the bigger bucket and bigger cards for the kids to use.  The cardstock was sold in packs already cut to size, which was a big time saver.

It was fun to add a little twist to our bucket filling this year.  I hope our teacher likes it too!

Crate of Crayons

Looking for the right color of crayon was like looking for a needle in a haystack at our house.  The old system was a scattered pile of crayons in a plastic shoebox.  Easy storage, yes.  User friendly, no.

About a year ago, I tucked away an idea I saw on Little Lucy Lu and was reminded of it when I saw a similar post at A Thoughtful Place.  Color coordinated cups of crayons.  Why didn’t I think of that?!  My son’s first grade teacher has a system like this in her classroom too.  So smart.

My quest to reclaim the plastic shoeboxes for my closet, inspired me to finally tackle this little project. That’s how I ended up organizing my washi tape too.  Who knew those shoeboxes would sprout so many other projects?

For my version, I recycled a clementine crate, covered it with contact paper and used 4 oz. mason jars. 

This little clementine crate went from this…

…to this.

One side says, “dream in color” and the other…

…“color your world.”

It was kind of therapeutic to sit there and color coordinate the crayons.  My husband and I were laughing because there we were, sitting in chaos, but I was spending my time on the very important task of color coordinating crayons.  But hey, even the smallest organization projects are a step in the right direction.

Bonus, it was another purging moment.  Sent this gallon-sized bag of crayons to my son’s classroom.  We might have had a bit too many crayons…

Washi Tape Org {if you love it, put a ring on it}

It’s funny how organizing one space, can lead you to another, which leads you to another.  It’s a good/bad thing.  Suddenly you’re organizing three spaces, but haven’t finished one.  Anyhow, unloading craft supplies out of plastic shoeboxes so I could use them as actual shoeboxes, lead me to this light bulb moment.

Washi tape.  So fun, so versatile, so easy to lose.  Just pop them on a book ring.  You can find them at office supply stores or the office section of your favorite store.

The rings also allow you to color coordinate them, which is nice.

I love that I can leave the roll on the ring and still be able to easily grab a piece of tape.  Super user friendly.

Whether your throw them in a bowl or hang them on a hook, the rings keep them together for easy access.  One more mini organizational victory.  Yippee!

Cheerful, Colorful Easter Place Setting

After a long, gray winter, I’m craving some color, aren’t you?  So I pulled out some fun, colorful wrapping paper to wake up my Easter place setting from Monday’s post.  I feel better already.  Just makes me happy inside.

I also decided the egg was looking a bit lonely, so I added a tag stamped with a springy word and trimmed with a bit of washi tape. 

I have 13 tags to fill, so I think I’ll have fun with it and do a different word for each.  Blossom, awaken, shine, grow, soar…adding a hint of inspiration into the mix.  You could also put your guests’ names on the tag instead.

Both looks are pretty.  Just depends what look you’re going for.

This year I’m craving color and cheerfulness, so option two it is.

Linking up at the Hop To It Link Party and here.