Gift Ideas for Son's Teachers: Unique & Inexpensive Options!

[pamperedlinda]

Oh geeze....now I need to find out how many teachers DS has! I was only thinking about the Teacher, the Para-Pro and the Bus Driver.....Lets see, there's a PE teacher, Music Teacher....what else? DS is only in Kindergarten!

 

[ChefBeckyD]

Oh geeze....now I need to find out how many teachers DS has! I was only thinking about the Teacher, the Para-Pro and the Bus Driver.....Lets see, there's a PE teacher, Music Teacher....what else? DS is only in Kindergarten!

Mine is in 3 yr old preschool - I hadn't even thought about teacher gifts.....yikes!

 

[J.Corley]

Ok, the tool turn abouts...Anyone know how to do that adorable decorating?

 

[heat123]

Mine is in 3 yr old preschool - I hadn't even thought about teacher gifts.....yikes!

I gave teacher and teacher aides gifts both years my oldest was in preschool, now it's the youngests turn!

Year one I gave them: Batter bowl to teacher and SBCBs with candy to the aides.

Year two: SA coffee mugs filled with candy, wooden spoons, gourmet hot cocoa package and SBCBs with candy again to aides.

This year for my younger DD I am doing either the Trivet or Batter bowl with a new teacher and mini preps for the 6 aides filled with bath salts or hot cocao and a wooden spoon wrapped in cellaphane.

And the Trivet or BB gift for my DD in kindergarten, haven't decided which? I love the holidays and spending $$$$! LOL

 

[pchefkristin]

Ok, the tool turn abouts...Anyone know how to do that adorable decorating?

Its totally easy! I used regular 12x12 scrapbooking paper (The ones in the picture are from Basic Grey's BLUSH line) The bottom compartment needs 3 strips of paper that are about 3 1/4 inches in length. I think the middle section is about 1 1/2 inches and the top in one inch even. I used Mod Podge brushed onto the tool turnabout as adhesive glue and gently and carefully placed the paper on each section at a time. Then continued to the next section. The letters are just die cuts, but you could use stickers if you wanted to. I wrapped the top of each section with black ribbon and put on a few Scrapbooking rubons. Then after that I mod Podged over it all to seal it all. My gals were here the other day and each did their own in about an hour, with no experience at all.

 

[J.Corley]

Kristin you give me hope I could do it but I don't know what Basic Grey's Blush Line is, nor any other scrapbooking term. I do find myself crafty sometimes so I am willing to try.

 

[pchefkristin]

Kristin you give me hope I could do it but I don't know what Basic Grey's Blush Line is, nor any other scrapbooking term. I do find myself crafty sometimes so I am willing to try.

I got my papers from that website that hosts that photo. Though you can go into your local scrapbook shop and find more paper than you could ever know what to do with. A girlfriend of mine just used some of my Blush line for a purse album yesterday, but let me dig through my stash for you. Do you like the colors of mine? I can cut everything to fit for you and send it off if you want. Let me know.

 

[pc ri lisa]

How about a measure all cup filled with candy and a note attached that says no one measures up to you or a bar board with and apple wedger attached to it and maybe an apple and then wrap it in cellophane looks adorable!

 

[krzymomof4]

We decided to fill our TTA with school supplies that we got at the beginning of the school year. I have some friends that are teachers and one of their chief complaints are that they have to buy supplies from their own pocket in most cases. I added stickers that she could put on papers like "good work, nice job, etc", crayons, washable markers, scissors, etc.
I was probably only out $25. I wanted to decorate it more, but I am not very crafty.

 

[catlwilles]

We buy gifts for my husband's employees and we've done the Mini-Whipper with a can of hot chocolate. Last year we gave them a brownie mix with the Mini Serving Spatula and a bunch of brownie recipes attached. We have to try and keep them around $5 since he has so many, but you could always add a little more.

What about doing a cookie basket since the Cookie Press will be on sale in December? You could add the Mini Serving Spatula, or Cooling Rack to go with it.

 

[jcwarr]

minute cakewhat about the minute microwave cake mix in the cup? i LOVE the recipe - it is so tasty - easy to make - you can wrap it up with the directions and the recipe for them to make more! i would have loved that when i was teaching! anything yummy!!!! my one suggestion would be to NOT give anything apple related. most of my teacher friends and myself did not enjoy those. and the trivet is a nice idea - but it is really something that won't be to everyone's taste. you cannot go wrong with the plain white mug and some tasty chocolate! also - some of my favorite gifts from when i was a teacher - were just homemade treats!!! i had some families that were really great cooks/bakers - and it made my day!!!! one family made me lunch one day - and another made me dinner the next day. it was perfect!!! i now that isn't giving a pc product - but i agree that you don't want to seem too self serving. let me know if you want to micro cake in a minute recipe!

 

[ChefBeckyD]

When I was little, my mom would always make a batch of her prize-winning homemade dinner rolls for our teachers for Christmas. As kids, we were actually embarrassed by giving a "homemade" gift, when everyone else gave a boughten gift.....but our teachers always gushed about those rolls. Now, as an adult, I understand why! :thumbup:

 

[janetupnorth]

Last year and this year we made a batch of Dutch Apple Pie Jam and gave a jar to each teacher. As a special gift for her kindergarten teacher last year, we gave her a GC for a 15 minute chair massage.I'm liking the trivet idea for a "bigger gift"...

 

[DebbieSAChef]

Yummy!!

When I was little, my mom would always make a batch of her prize-winning homemade dinner rolls for our teachers for Christmas. As kids, we were actually embarrassed by giving a "homemade" gift, when everyone else gave a boughten gift.....but our teachers always gushed about those rolls. Now, as an adult, I understand why! :thumbup:

OHHHH the smell of homemade bread and dinner rolls. I wonder if they could bottle it and sell it as a perfume!! LOL But then the animals in the neighborhood might chase me down when I go for a walk. Well maybe the people in the neighborhood would chase me down for a whiff!! LOL

Homemade gifts are the best. I always make homemade goodies and put them in a beautiful basket for the holidays for gifts!! Everyone loves them!

Is that recipe secret?? Or can you share??

Debbie

 

[ChefBeckyD]

OHHHH the smell of homemade bread and dinner rolls. I wonder if they could bottle it and sell it as a perfume!! LOL But then the animals in the neighborhood might chase me down when I go for a walk. Well maybe the people in the neighborhood would chase me down for a whiff!! LOL

Homemade gifts are the best. I always make homemade goodies and put them in a beautiful basket for the holidays for gifts!! Everyone loves them!

Is that recipe secret?? Or can you share??

Debbie

Debbie - I will find it and post it!

That is what my mom always did - put the rolls in a basket, with a jar of homemade jam. There is NOTHING like a roll fresh from the oven, dripping with homemade strawberry jam! (where is that licking my lips smilie???)

 

[jcwarr]

Dutch Apple Pie Jamjanet - this sounds so delicious!!!!!

i agree - hot rolls are the best - except for maybe hot biscuits!!!! and i'm not even a 'southern' girl - but oh boy do biscuits make my heart sing!!!! :blushing:

 

[janetupnorth]

janet - this sounds so delicious!!!!!

i agree - hot rolls are the best - except for maybe hot biscuits!!!! and i'm not even a 'southern' girl - but oh boy do biscuits make my heart sing!!!! :blushing:

It is - I made the cards on Vista Print to hand out with my shows...it is a recipe using Certo...let me see if I can find an electronic copy to post here...

 

[janetupnorth]

Dutch Apple Pie Jam3-1/2 cups prepared fruit (about 1 lb. Granny Smith or other tart green apples)

1-1/2 cups water

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp. ground allspice

4-1/2 cups granulated sugar, measured into separate bowl (See tip below.)

1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

1/2 tsp. butter or margarine (optional)

1 pouch CERTO Fruit Pectin

BRING boiling-water canner, half-full with water, to simmer. Wash jars and screw bands in hot, soapy water; rinse with warm water. Pour boiling water over flat lids in saucepan off the heat. Let stand in hot water until ready to use. Drain well before filling.

PEEL and core apples. Chop finely or grind. Add water. Measure exactly 3-1/2 cups prepared fruit into 6- or 8-quart saucepot. Stir in lemon juice, cinnamon and allspice.

STIR sugars into prepared fruit in saucepot. Add butter to reduce foaming, if desired. Bring mixture to full rolling boil (a boil that doesn't stop bubbling when stirred) on high heat, stirring constantly.

STIR in pectin quickly. Return to full rolling boil and boil exactly 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Skim off any foam with metal spoon.

LADLE quickly into prepared jars, filling to within 1/8 inch of tops. Wipe jar rims and threads. Cover with two-piece lids. Screw bands tightly. Place jars on elevated rack in canner. Lower rack into canner. Water must cover jars by 1 to 2 inches; add boiling water if needed. Cover; bring water to gentle boil. Process 10 minutes. Remove jars and place upright on a towel to cool completely. After jars cool, check seals by pressing middle of lid with finger. (If lid springs back, lid is not sealed and refrigeration is necessary.)

 

[DebbieSAChef]

Mmmmmmm

Debbie - I will find it and post it!

That is what my mom always did - put the rolls in a basket, with a jar of homemade jam. There is NOTHING like a roll fresh from the oven, dripping with homemade strawberry jam! (where is that licking my lips smilie???)

That sounds so good!!

And something I would love to get as a gift!

Can you tell I love food? But not the after effects!! LOL


Debbie

 

[Gina M]

Although this is not PC related - at our elementary school - each year we have the book fair in the fall - each teacher makes a wish list for books for their classroom - we always buy a couple of the books from their wish lists and give them to the teacher for Christmas - that way it's something all the kids can use and doesn't take up any space in the teacher's home. Back when my kids were in pre school - the teachers specifically asked for no gifts but something for the classroom (still optional) and we did something similar with books or a small toy that everyone could use (and they could update their classroom at no cost to them). At the end of the year - I tend to do gift cards for restaurants/movie theatres or book stores and they always seemed to go over well. Just a thought!

 

[purrbal]

As a teacher, i think a TTA with a couple of essential tools (with those cute sayings, of course) would make a GREAT GIFT! Maybe a scoop for cookies, a citrus peeler for her lunch, small spatula. Or...this just came to me!!! Get a lunch bag personalized and put in an apple slicer, citrus peeler, and paring knife. These are GREAT lunchbox tools!!! :0)

If you do that I think you should add the bar board too

 

[raebates]

Just a word of warning--some workplaces will not let you bring a paring knife. This definitely includes some schools. The zero-tolerance policies get pretty strict in some areas. You'd be fine with the Apple Wedger, though.

 

[cathyskitchen]

If you do that I think you should add the bar board too

I bought 4 sets of the cranberry bar board and paring knife on the outlet at $5 each to give out to the art teacher, gym teacher, music teacher & librarian - the people I always seem to forget!

 

[ragschef]

Slice $ Serve ---thanks For Serving My ______
Batter Bowl Brownie Mix----you Really Measure Up
Dipper Thanks For Teaching Me The Scoop

Stainless whisk with a kiss inside and a ribbon on the handle "Thanks for whipping me into shape"

 

[tpchefrebecca]

Oh geeze....now I need to find out how many teachers DS has! I was only thinking about the Teacher, the Para-Pro and the Bus Driver.....Lets see, there's a PE teacher, Music Teacher....what else? DS is only in Kindergarten!

I like the TTA or the RUFTH for my kids main teachers. Then I was thinking of the sprinkles for the supporting teachers and bus driver (didn't think of him so thanks for that reminder) I know I would go broke if I gave each teacher a larger item. We also have a counsler, don't forget the principle, computer teacher, language, the list can get pretty big They are all worth it though!

 

[janetupnorth]

bus driver (didn't think of him so thanks for that reminder)

My daughter has 2 bus drivers!!!! :cry:

 

[purrbal]

When I was a kid we never gave our teacher gifts {man maybe that is why I was never a teacher fav well I had a few that loved me so it must be my winning personality} and when you add up all the people you are talking about OMGoodness you can go broke unless you do more homemade gifts.

Why not do the wreaths or bark and do something nice for the main teacher. I asked my girlfriend if she gets stuff for her kids teachers and she said nope but she might for her daughters this year because her ds had the same teacher last year and she likes her but she doesn't care for her ds's teacher this year.

 

[janetupnorth]

Going broke - hence why I'm going to make another batch of jam!

 

[janetupnorth]

Or Becky's roll idea!

 

[ChefBeckyD]

Or Becky's roll idea!

I bet your jam + my rolls = the perfect combination!

And if you want to add something PC - how about the all-purpose spreader?