I want to share with you today a fun and easy DIY teacher appreciation gift that not only is beautiful but something you kids can actually help you make! In my experience the kids are so much more excited to present a gift that they helped make than something their mom is forcing them to hand over. For this project I let my daughter pick out the color flowers we were going to make – pink and green – her teacher’s favorite colors!

Supplies:

• Bloom printable (12×16 or 8×10)
• White canvas
• Spray Adhesive
• Tissue Paper
• Brads
• Scissors
• Hole punch
• Glue

1. Print out your Bloom printable sign. I have a large format printer so I printed it at home but if you want the 12×16 size Costco prints 12×16 photo enlargements for $2.99. You can also print out the 8×10 at home, you’ll just want to size your tissue paper flowers accordingly.

2. Spray the spray adhesive on the back of your print out, focusing on the corners and apply it to your canvas. I’ve seen great priced canvas at Walmart lately, as well as weekly sales at the craft stores.

3. Fold your tissue paper, 2 or 3 sheets stacked together, into 2 and 3 inch squares.

4. Punch or poke a hole in the center of your square and insert a brad.

5. Cut your square into a circle.

6. Separate each layer of tissue paper by pulling straight up and crumpling into a cylinder. Repeat until all layers are separated and “crumply.” This is the part your kids will love!

7. Fluff your layers out to behold your beautiful flower creation.

8. Glue flowers to your canvas.

I really love the multi-color flowers, they are so much fun to make.

At the last minute I decided to add some “stems” to our canvas with a metallic marker and before handing it to her teacher I will have my daughter write her name on the bottom.

If you are looking for more great (and fast) Teacher Appreciation craft ideas please make sure you check out all the amazing ideas being shared during this round of Craft Lightning!

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Using an 18 inch flat styrofoam wreath form I used more than 40 yards of ribbon, beautiful orange and blue ribbon, to create this wreath. That’s over 350 hand-cut pieces of 4 inch long ribbon, sewn into 2 inch long loops, and then individually hot glued into place. There are no short cuts for this wreath that can have the same results.

And because the wreath wasn’t enough I created a multi-layered add-on pin to really hit the point across.

Sometimes you really need to be willing to give up a couple finger prints in order to get the wreath you want.

I think my door looks complete for football season now.

And there is no doubt with this wreath hanging up that In All Kinds of Weather I LOVE Florida Football!

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Ok, so now that you have your machine and your printable white sticker paper we are ready to go!

First, you can either import your own images to print or you can open the Silhouette Store inside Silhouette Studio and purchase a print and cut image. If you bring your own images in you will have to trace them so they are ready to cut. However, if you buy the print and cut files from the store they are ready to go.

This is how you filter and search for Print and Cut images. They will all have a small blue “P” in the corner of the image.

Second, turn the registration marks on. Turning the registration marks on will show you the workable surface you have left on your sticker paper. Those registration marks help the machine line up your sticker paper and guide it to where to cut. I like to load my workable surface up with as many designs or stickers as I am going to need. There is really no going back to reuse your sticker paper, so make it count!

Third, don’t forget you can zoom in to get a better feel for the sizing and design on your print and cut labels. You are free to use ANY fonts you have uploaded on to your computer!

Fourth, You MUST make sure that any of the text you added is not selected to cut. The best way to do this is to go to the Cut Style Window and make sure that ONLY the edges of your designs are going to cut. If you find any text or other graphics with a red line around them that you don’t want cut, just select the text/image and then click “No Cut.”

Fifth, once you are set with your label designs go ahead and send it to the printer. It will print out the needed registration marks. This photo got a little washed out but you can see the registration marks.

Sixth, line up the corner of your sticker paper with the upper left hand corner of your cutting mat. Make sure that the filled in square is in the upper left hand corner. It will not work if you position it anywhere else. Pick the cut settings for the “Printable Sticker Paper” and let ‘er rip. I mean cut. Once you’ve taken off all the “extra” sticker paper, or weeded the design, you should be left with this – a sheet of personalized labels!!

However, if you don’t pay attention to what your blade is set at this is what you will be left with. They can still be used it’s just a tad bit tougher to get the backing of the labels.

Seventh, and final, step – start labeling anything that will sit still.

Make sure no one takes your books!

Or your composition book!

These labels are great to create an organized art or homework station; just stick them on some mason jars!

We even now have a place to store all of our sight word flashcards.

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If you need to bring Sharpie markers for your back to school supplies, or let’s face it, if you just want shiny new markers for yourself (because who doesn’t!) then you’ll want to head to Staples . Starting August 10th all Sharpie fine and Ultra Fine markers and highlighters will be on sale while supplies last. As you can see I picked up these 12 packs for $7 each!

That $7 was the total price of my project. I grabbed a scrap piece of wood from the pile in our garage (you’ll need about 8 inches) and used some spray paint I found in the garage. I was going to paint this Sharpie holder Pantone’s color of the year, Radiant Orchid, originally with just a chalkboard front but I went for the all out chalkboard finish. Either way would be very pretty.

Supplies:

Step 1) measure out your drill points using a pencil, ruler, and straight edge. I wanted the back row off-center so you could see all the pretty colors.

Step 2) Cut your wood down to size. Obviously you don’t need a big fancy saw like this but since we have it, I try to get our money’s worth out of it! Don’t forget your safety goggles.

Step 3) Next you’ll need to pick the right size drill bit for the Sharpies you’ve picked out. To do this just lay your marker end to end with your bits until you’ve found the correct size.

Step 4) Now comes the fun part. Once you’ve put your safety goggles back on you’re ready to start drilling. Once again, you don’t need this big, fancy drill press. Your standard drill will do just fine, just make sure you don’t drill through the entire depth of the wood. Drill all 12 holes, exactly where you marked them.

Step 5) Sand down all the edges, including all the holes you just drilled to make sure you have a smooth, splinter-free surface. Then prep your paint area, or spray paint area in my case, and get to painting! I did 1 coat of primer and 2 coats of the chalkboard spray paint per the directions on the back of the can.

Step 6) The hardest part – you have to let chalkboard paint dry for 24 hours before it’s ready to be primed. Prime your chalkboard surface per the directions on the can or bottle which usually just includes rubbing chalk over the entire surface and wiping off.

Once you’ve finished priming the surface the holder is ready to go! I used a white chalk marker to write the teacher’s name on the front and to label all the holes with the color marker it holds. Of course you can write anything you want on it, that’s the beauty of chalkboard paint!

Isn’t that a fun way to gift a teacher Sharpie® markers? And I know not everyone may be inclined to take out your drill so I am sure your kid’s teacher would also love them presented just like this…

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This fun mason jar themed tag was our meet-the-teacher/open house gift. I can’t help but love a good mason jar pun!

New Kids on the Block (NKOTB to the cool kids) rocked my socks off in the 5th grade and these cute write stuff tags are great for friends of any age!

These next tags, along with the great gift idea, were originally posted teacher appreciation week but I think they work great for any occasion!

Who couldn’t use a sweet treat in their lunchbox on the first day? Just print and staple to a fun size pack of M&Ms and you will be racking up the cool mom points!

And last, but certainly not least, the most Scent-sational tag of them all! This one was from our pre-school days, way before we knew what the fox says.

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What kid wouldn’t love to have their favorite character, animal, symbol, or name included in their lunch everyday? To make it even better I used these great containers I bought at the Dollar Tree!!

Using an SVG file that I purchased, I cut out ALL the layers in permanent, outdoor, glossy vinyl and layered them onto a backing before using contact paper to lift up the little wizard and place him on the container lid. If you need some help and general tips on layering please click over to my Vinyl Layering 101 tutorial.

You’ll notice that I said SVG file, and not an image I purchased on the Silhouette online store. If you want to be able to cut SVG files (which opens up a world of opportunity, just in freebies available alone) you will have to own the Silhouette Studio Design Edition. Luckily for you Silhouette has the Design Edition 40% off until July 31 when you use the code word KINDA at check out.

I couldn’t just stop at this little wizard!  Good things these containers stack and store so well, I see several more of them in our future.

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Supplies:

I used my Silhouette Cameo to cut out this shape that I purchased in the online store. Instead of cutting out the legs, I let the yellow pencils act as the flamingo legs. I also skipped the beak.

If you don’t have a cutting machine you can make yourself a template by cutting out a basic flamingo body on thick paper or a cereal box and use it to trace as many flamingoes as you need onto pink scrapbook paper. If you don’t feel comfortable free-handing a flamingo body search “flamingo clipart” in any search engine and print out one you like to trace.

You can go all 1 color for your flock.

Or mix it up a bit!

The printable tags allow you to cut or punch from a 1.75″ shape up to a 2.5″ square or circle.

In the end I like the simple circle the best, but it’s a cute tag however you punch it! Simply write out your information on the back of the tag once you’ve cut it out.

Use a hole punch and use some cute twine or ribbon to tie the tag to the neck of your flamingo flock.

Now your kids can hand them out to all their friends and school and stay in touch over the summer!

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When I was searching Pillsbury’s Easy Meal Recipes on their website I couldn’t believe that I had never thought to use the biscuits in any other way than as biscuits. I mean, we eat a lot of biscuits, we are Southerns after all So when I came across this recipe for Grands!® Pepperoni Pizza Bake I was intrigued. We love biscuits, we love pizza, so how could I go wrong? Plus, I already stock all of these ingredients, BONUS!

Ingredients: (the full recipe and instructions can be found here)

• Grands! Homestyle Biscuits
• Pizza Sauce (I made my own!!!)
• Finely shredded cheese
• Turkey Pepperoni (you can use regular)

Slice each biscuit into 8 pieces and then throw them in a bowl with the pizza sauce and half the cheese.

Place the biscuit and sauce mix in the casserole dish, sprinkle with the pepperoni and the remainder of the cheese.

Bake for 20 minutes (that’s less time than it takes for the pizza man to come!) and serve.

Yup, it’s as good as it looks, probably even better. If you don’t want to take my word you can just look at my plate.

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I picked up most of the contents for my jar from the dollar-ish section at Michaels a couple weeks back. I noticed that some of these items are now 40% too! Including the door knob I added to my canning lid! Just use a nail or screw and a hammer to “punch” a hole in to the center of the lid that is large enough to accommodate your knob’s screw.

Then use a little E6000 or your favorite glue to secure the knob in place.

I went ahead and used hot glue to permanently attach the lid to the band so that it all comes off as one piece when you unscrew the band.

I also used hot glue to attach my ribbon and tag. If you like this tag please feel free to download them by clicking HERE.

From here the possibilities for these jars is only limited by your imagination. The great part about using the wide mouth pint sized jars and that it’s easier to get items in and out and you have more room for taller or larger gifts.

I thought I’d use a light turquoise theme pretty much only because I fell in love with these bejeweled clothes pins!

 Happy Gift Canning!

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• 2 – 10×20 frames (they also come in black and dark brown)
• 5 – 12×12 sheets of Bazzil cardstock
• Washi Tape
• Paper trimmer
• Command Damage Free hanging strips
• Command Hooks
• Galvanized metal sheet (from the home supply store)
• “Create” wood letter block
• Sticker letters, paint pen, or marker

 Step 2) Remove the backing of your frame but save everything from inside, you’ll need to place it back behind your scrapbook paper when you’re finished.

Step 3) Arrange your paper from the bottom up from dark to light. Play with the spacing until you feel everything is even.

Step 4) While the paper is still in the frame use washi tape (or painter’s tape or tape tape if you feel confident in your spacing) to join all of your scrapbook papers together.

Step 5) Carefully take your paper out of the frame and use sticker letters or just use a marker or paint pen to write out the days of the week (you could also abbreviate to make it simpler).

Step 6) Put the frame back together and follow the directions on the Command Damage Free hanging strips to hang up your frame and create your own Back to School Ombre Command Center!!

I repeated steps 1 through 4 a second time to also create a matching magnetic frame. I removed the glass from the frame and added a sheet of galvanized metal I picked up at the hardware store behind the scrapbook paper before hanging it up next to my write-on frame with the same hanging strips.

You can add hooks to the bottom for keys or other little items. I took a piece of trim molding that I found in the garage from another project and glued it to the bottom of the frame to hold my dry erase pens. You could hang little metal buckets from the frame or mount them next to the frame to hold markers, an eraser, a pen for signing permission slips, etc.

I really love this project and can’t wait to use it to help keep the entire family organized as we transition into this new, exciting phase in our lives! If you have any questions or want more information on any of the products that I used please leave me a comment and I will try to reply to you as soon as I can!

**I received compensation from Michaels Stores for this post but the project, ideas, and feelings about Michaels are 100% my own!!

Tatertots and Jello | Kids Stuff World

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