Teacher Gifts

Growing up I remember our teachers awaiting the Menzie children Christmas & end-of-year gifts because it was always something homemade and yummy...usually the signature fresh & warm homemade loaf of bread with a jar of homemade jam to go with it. Or sometimes at Christmas, it was a massive homemade gingerbread house made out of real gingerbread, all decorated with the teacher's name above the doorway. Life was simple back then.

I'm a homemade kinda mom too...but just not the same kind. I make out-of-this-world brown sugar cinnamon rolls and chocolate chip banana bread like my mom, but I don't make homemade bread all that often---maybe once every 5 years. Yes, pathetic. Not exactly following in the footsteps of my very resourceful and talented mother. I am my own person....also NOT a professional seamstress like her, but I fake it really well sewing my decorator pillows, drapes and duvets.

But I have other skills...the crafty kind, like most Mormon women these days. I see an idea and I can't bring myself to buy it; I want to reproduce it and put my own spin on it. Typical Mormon attitude, I know...every boutique's worst nightmare! I'm known to spend hundreds of the green stuff inside TaiPan Trading and Rod Works...hey, I know a good deal when I see it, and I also know my limitations! But when it comes to cute crafty projects, the sky is the limit.

A couple or 3 years ago my sis, Tallie, made this great project using clear vase gem fillers backing them with fun scrapbook papers and a magnet for a customized refrigerator magnet. It was all-the-rage at the Utah County boutiques and craft malls. Then she put a creative spin on it and took head shots of her family and used those to make the magnets instead. Instant personalized cute gift!

I am all about NOT re-inventing the wheel...one of the many lessons I learned while trying to be the creative and out-of-the box elementary teacher many years ago. So I had my older kids help me make a 'family of magnets' for my mom last Christmas with our latest head shots so she can always look at us when she opens her fridge. Delightful, I know. Makes you want to eat more, eh!


Then, my other cute sis, Becky, posted about their teacher appreciation week gifts a few weeks ago. So thanks for the reminder of this great project, and thanks for the teacher-gift spin on it! I am a copycat, I admit. So here's my kids' teacher end-of-year gifts with the Shay-spin on it. Yes, and it's in the classic Shay 'let's say it in 3000 words instead of 50', so bear with me...

Wanna copy? Here's how:

So I first have to tell you that I've tried this many ways. Typically, you would need to use a laser printer (not an ink jet which is the more common kind) because the ink would run once the glue was applied. SO, I don't have a laser printer...the work-around is to use your ink jet printer, and apply a VERY SMALL micro dot of glue...so that it does NOT run through to the back of the paper, which is what causes the bleeding....glue over-saturation. I've also used a thin layer of mod podge instead of the glue, which does not bleed the laser jet ink. Additionally, I have used the 3M spray, only because that's the only adhesive I had in my very stuffed craft closet at the time. But it worked masterfully! So, there's your three options on gluing and what has worked for me.

Supplies:

1. jewel-It glue (Michaels 3.99)
2. clear vase gem filler in floral dept (2.29 for a 12 oz. bag...3/4 " ones yield about 75; 2" ones yield about 20) They are actually called 'glass marble accents' It's hard to find the larger ones in clear... my bag came mixed with clear & blue-tone ones (cant' use the blue ones because can't see the design of the paper/expressions/photos through the blue tint).
   
3. circle magnets (6.59 for 50)I've used the hefty 3/4" ones and smaller 1/2" ones--both work great.
   
4. craft hole punch to match the size of the gem (7.99) tip: Michaels has a 50% off coupon right now.
   
5. patterned paper--smaller designs work best, because as the gem is put over it, the gem acts as a magnifying glass--smaller designs will be noticed...larger ones just look like smudge.
6. Gift card tin (1.00 each)
   

NOTE: I am the retard who sat and traced each gem (the 2" ones) for an exact headshot cut-out. Never dawned on me to, um, use a hole punch until Becky posted hers. Thanks for the tip, Becky!

Method:

• Print expressions on paper. I once again copied some of Becky's, but added a few of my own.

School teachers: Inspire, Teach, Joy, A+, Fun, friendly, Smart, Involved;
basically describe them.
Dance teachers: Inspire, Teach, Joy, Fun, Friendly, Involved, Grace, Dance, Sing.

• Punch them out with the hole punch, centering each expression. Set aside.
• Lay the magnets out and put a bead of glue on each (or lay them out on a newspaper outside, spray them with 3M spray--works like a charm).
• Add the paper, pattern/ink side up, press to secure.
• Add another tiny, tiny bead dot of glue...
• Add the gem, flat side down and press gently to spread the glue....and hopefully the ink won't bleed!
  

It will dry clear, I promise! Here's what I did to personalize it:

• I took a picture of each of my kids with his/her teacher and did a larger 2" head shot magnet to further personalize it. They turned out darling.
• I then lined the inside of the cute gift card tin (magnetic) with solid paper and placed each of the magnets inside...walaaa! A personalized great teacher gift.

If you started this project and had none of the supplies, but used two coupons on the highest priced items, it would end up costing less than $4 each from start to finish with the gift tin and all. Wrap a ribbon around it and you're good to go! Darling personalized magnets for cheap, cheap, cheap.