Wrap it up Thursday - Back to School Teacher Gift

What is the connection between teaching and apples.  I did a little research and two theories emerge.  One, it was a gift of food for poorly paid teachers and the other,  it represented a gesture of good health.  Perhaps it is a combination of the two, but for whatever reason, apples have become representative of the relationship between teacher and student.

I thought it would be cute to take the little eos lip balm in melon (almost red don't you think?) and add a welcome back to some paper leaves and when that looked too plain I cut off an actual apple stem.  The leaves and stem were easily attached with a little sticky - tac.

A nice gesture for the first week of school, I thought.

But hey, if your teacher is really special (and what teacher isn't) and you have the time there are a few other little things you could do ...

The classic apple was reimagined as an adorable cupcake by the authors of  Hello Cupcake. (top picture)  I love the Back to the Grind from Jacolyn Murphy. (there is a tea one as well)  The sweet lined paper pouches are from Heather Shaw's Pi'losale on Etsy.  Bakerella opted to do pencils as a push- pop instead of a cakepop.  I really want to try to make cupcakes like that!   I struggle with cake pops but The Crafting Chicks via Skip to my Lou made an adorable mini oreo pop that might be a little easier than a traditional cakepop.

Well ... Back to School ... Back to Reality ... Back to the grind.  Just like the fresh new notebooks of school - I'm starting fresh this fall - into the throes of purging out the old and unnecessary and focusing on a clean fresh start for the new year of school.  Instead of feeling sad at the summer ending, I'm welcoming back clean, crisp air and a new year of possibilities.

Wrap it up Thursday - Teacher Gifts

As mentioned last week, I wanted to wrap up my purchased (Yeah!) Teacher Gifts with something simple.  To have this almost complete a couple weeks before school is out is a major accomplishment around here. (Remember our holiday gift)  So when I considered chalkboard cookies or making a key,  for our tag, one of my two daughters had to remind me that we were going with a ready to go gift in order not to have a stress during exams.  

Okay, all right, but I couldn't help making them a little extra special and when we found this chalkboard style quote from Balancing Home, we knew we had a theme.  

After a download(following their directions), print and mount on black construction paper, we added a name tag, chalkboard style with a white watercolour pencil.  On the box there is one picture showing our water bottle with an infusion of cucumber.  I found some recipes from NancyCreative.  Yumm .  I've been trying them the last few days to perk up my filtered water at home.  I love the citrus and fresh mint (centre)  We wrapped up the print-out of  recipes with twine and we will place it in the bottle, for ideas on how to use the water bottle.

I hope it comes in handy for all our teachers, office staff and bus driver.  I really respect the work that our teachers do and I can truly say that,

A Teacher takes a hand, opens a mind & touches a heart

ps.  sorry wrap it up Thursday is on Friday - it's been a busy week

Wrap it up Thursday - The Key to Great Wrapping

1- oh hello friend      2- helana and ali  3- making it yourself - Craftberry Bush

4- better homes and gardens      5- united with love

I finally came up with a great teacher gift - all ready to go.  However, now of course, instead of making all the little elements of the gift, I feel the need to wrap it up nicely.  I have to make sure that I don't go too crazy on the wrapping - I mean come on - 

but still I plan...

I've been thinking about adding a little key - you know - "you are the key to a great year" ... I can see the girls rolling their eyes now.  It might not pass the sniff test but it is an idea nonetheless.

I got a deal on these little babies.  Actually they aren't that little but I showed them to my niece, a teacher, and she thought she would appreciate it if she got it as a gift so that was good enough for me.

The box itself is great (don't have a picture but trust me it is cute) and I don't want to cover it up.

So a key with tag may be my answer.  

tag water carafe

Key or no key, whatever I come up with, I will share next week.  And maybe show a few other teacher gift ideas - I know - I can't help myself.

Wrap it up Thursday - Last Minute Valentine Round-up

 Sweet - Valentine Pouches.  I simply love The Purl Bee.  I was in my glory when I went to their shop in SoHo and I have made many of their projects that they share on line.  I think this is one of the sweetest ones yet and although it is one of the more ambitious projects in this valentine round-up, it is still very doable.  The project is laid out with beautiful simplicity and even if you make just a couple for your sweeties (instead enough for a whole classroom!) it is sure to bring a smile.

A gumball necklace. I made this last year for my girls.    It is the presentation that makes it work. So simple and so charming.  This project is from One Charming Party.

 If all you do is cut up a simple banner like this and hang it up - it's a party.  This is from Rebecca Cooper Photography.

Here is a simple re-wrap - how easy is that.  Very, very clever - and I think so realistic from Living Lucurto.

I also did this last year.  Another rewrap.  This is from Eat, Drink, Chic. Just a simple way to dress up a favourite local coffee shop take out.

This is my favourite this year.  From Sweet Muffin Suite, another simple download.  I have another idea of what to put in, instead of the pencil but we'll just have to wait.  I don't want to spoil the surprise.

I think it is so wonderful that all these artists and crafters share their artwork.  It makes last-minute gift giving  easier ...but still special.

Plug in your printer, fire up your sewing needle and get out the scissors.  This valentine's day can be all wrapped up in no time.

Wrap it up Thursday - Teacher Gifts Part Two

You may recall from this post that I had hoped this year to have all my teacher gifts organized well in advance but I kind of think that isn't going to happen.  Well at least we know know what we are putting in.  Homemade marshmallows and caramels (find recipes here and here) Homemade Hot cocoa - our own recipe here. A sweet little battery operated votive and a cute mini cupcake.  The one I have ordered has a little snowman with earmuffs but it won't be ready until next week so the blue one is sitting in for the snowman.

 I have a lovely cupcakery at the bottom of our street and that is where I will get my special cupcakes and where I was able to get the plain, white bakery boxes.  The little tins are magnetic and can be used for craft supplies, spices or desk supplies when the hot cocoa is used up.  I continued making pom poms as I did here (Creature Comforts) to top off our teacher gifts.  

I will try to update this post with a snowman cupcake photo when he arrives - he's that cute.

Since I needed so many teacher gifts there is really nothing too large in the package.  I think the sweet labeling helps take it up a level - information on downloads can be found in yesterday's post. 
(Food labels Creature Comforts, outside labels Eat, Drink, Chic and Love vs. Design)

It's just a small way to say thank you to each of them for all their hard work.  However... someone please remind me that next year we are going to say thank you with a packaged candle and card ... I always seem to forget...

UPDATE - Here are the snowman cupcakes! :)

Hot Cocoa and the race to finish!

Well things are ramping themselves up ... why is it that? ... every year, no matter how hard I think I have things under control and ready ahead of time - it always seems to be a panic.

Time for some tried and true gifts for teachers and last minute holiday visits.

After some tweaking and combinations, here is one we have done for teachers many times before.

Hot Cocoa for Gifting


1 and 1/2 cups of milk powder
2/3 cup cocoa powder
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup crushed chocolate or mini chips


Optional:
cinnamon
crushed candy canes
vanilla bean


This should make enough for about 3 jars for gifts.  So double or triple for multiple gift giving.


Directions on gift label : 
Place 3 tablespoons of mix into mug with boiling water or hot milk.  Add a marshmallow and enjoy!

This year I am going to add some kind of fun tag - and there are so many great (free! downloadable!) ones to choose from.  Here are a few picks from this year and years' past.

1   Eat, Drink, Chic     2/3   Studio of Mae via Gifted (Creature Comforts)     4/5    Creature Comforts 

6  Orange you Lucky         7/8    Eat, Drink Chic          9  Love vs.  Design

I plan to get to work this afternoon and see how much I can get through.  You know ... before things really, really ramp up!

Wrap it up Thursday - Teacher Gifts Part One

This is the year.  The year we (my family) put together holiday gifts for our teachers well in advance.  So we aren't chasing them down the halls, out to their cars, leaving them unattended on their desks...in general not putting it together last minute.

Okay so I have some ideas... well we have ideas :)

 Clockwise from top  Peppermint Cocoa (my recipes.com),  Cocoa with snowman (the decorated cookie),  handmade mug (creature comforts),  hot chocolate on a stick  (giverslog)

Monogram mugs with cocoa (designmom),  homemade caramels (giverslog) ,

 monogram mug with candies (martha stewart)

For the past few years we have done a few of these things.  Mugs with homemade hot chocolate, hot chocolate sticks, homemade cocoa in a mason jar.  Last year we also added homemade marshmallows.  

So the story goes ... this year - maybe homemade cocoa, caramels and marshmallows.  I found the most beautiful shade of blue colored tissue paper and these adorable red chevron striped little paper bags ... that will be wrap it up thursday - teacher gifts - part two.  We have about 17 teachers combined ... plus office staff ... plus bus driver...

looking at about 25 ... better get to it!  

This is going to be the year ...