Teacher Gift DIY- Personalized Clipboard

Teacher Appreciation Week takes place the first full week in May,

so it 's the perfect time to start thinking of what to do for your child's teacher.

Here is a simple, but cute DIY:

a personalized clipboard.

It's so easy that you could make several of them: for the secretaries and principal, too!

To make one, you'll need:

one clipboard (doesn't matter if it has this kind of clip or the old fashioned bull clip)

3 pieces of 12"x 12" pattern paper

Mod Podge or spray adhesive

paper trimmer

For the front, you'll take one of your papers and cut it to the width of your clipboard.

It should cover all but the bottom 3" of the board.

Before adhering it, you need to cut out a space for the clip. Start by holding the top edge up to the clip and make a mark at each edge of the clip.

Then measure how far down the clip is on the board. Cut this small part out the top of the paper. 

Using Mod Podge or spray adhesive, adhere this to the board. After laying it on the board, press all along the surface making sure it sticks paying special attention to the edges.

Now trim a second piece of pattern paper as wide as the board and three inches tall.

This will go below the first piece.

Optional: If you're using a third piece of pattern paper, trim it to the width of the clipboard and 1/2".

Adhere it along the top edge of the bottom paper.

For the back, trim a piece of pattern paper to the width of the board. Cut it into two pieces measuring 9" long and one measuring 2 1/2" long.

Adhere the larger piece along the top of the board.

Use a strip of your second pattern paper measuring the width of the board by one inch.

Adhere this under the first piece.

Now place your last piece of paper (2 1/2") below that one.

Press all along the board making sure the paper is sticking.

I used a rolling pin to help with this step.

Carefully rub sand paper along the edges to get rid of any paper hanging off the edges 

and along the corners.

Allow to dry for 24 hours.

To take it a step farther, you can tie ribbons along the clip or add a name tag to the back of the board.

You can go here to see other teacher gift ides.

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

Oh, sing to the Lord a new song! 

Sing to the Lord, all the earth.

Psalm 96:1

 This post is linked to Pretty Handy Girl, Artsy Fartsy Mama, Too Much Time,
The Crafty Blog Stalker, and Tatertots and Jello.

Alphabet Vase DIY

School is set to start in one week.

In some places, it has already begun.

Here's a little something that would be a great teacher gift or even cute classroom decor.

It's an alphabet vase.

I got everything I to make it at a dollar store.

1 large vase

1 medium vase

ribbon

2 packages of alphabet/letter magnets

I started with two vases- one should be able to slide into the other

 with just a little bit of space around it.

Then I dropped the magnets one at a time into that little space.

By dropping them individually, I was able to make sure they didn't double up on each other.

This photo shows that the interior vase isn't as tall as the outer one which is ok

 because that part will get covered up in the next step.

Then I added a bit of tulle. Ribbon would have worked also.

The final step was adding flowers.
I used silk flowers, but real would look beautiful, too.

Here's to the last week of summer!
Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

The lamp of the body is the eye.

 If therefore your eye is good,

 your whole body will be full of light.

Matthew 6:22

This post is linked to Natasha In Oz, Plucky's Second Thought, Lil' Luna, and It's Overflowing.

Lovelies That I Love

School is going to be out in just a few weeks.

If you're thinking of getting your child's teacher a gift and don't have the time to make something,

take a look at these ideas that you can buy. . . 

This shirt is darling, don't you think?

It says, "Live, Love, Teach."

I don't think you could go wrong with a personalized necklace.

I love that this one has a ruler charm, an apple charm, plus two stamped charms.

I love these personalized name plates!

This is something she could use year after year.

I think these tumblers are awesome.

I keep a cup of ice water with me at all times, and I love it when I get a cute cup.

These can be personalized as well.

Even though this isn't necessarily a teacher-specific gift, I had to share it because 

what teacher wouldn't love a globe necklace?

I know I would if I were a teacher:)

(I love anything having to do with maps.)

I appreciate all teachers- I know it's a hard job.

Brighten your child's teacher day and get her a nice thank you.

I'm not affiliated with any of these companies, I just like their stuff.

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

But shun profane and idle babblings, 

for they will increase to more ungodliness.

2 Tim. 2:16

This post is linked to Plucky's Second Thought, The Cottage Market,
I Heart Naptime, and My Girlish Whims.

Quick and Easy Gift Idea

Recently a friend and I had to come up with a gift idea for Mother's Day
that we could quickly and easily make for around 30 ladies.

That's not necessarily an easy task when trying to keep it low cost, too.

Here's what we did--
it's a great idea if you need to make several gifts--
perhaps for Teacher Appreciation.

It's a recipe card holder
made from a binder clip!

It could also act as a photo or gift card holder.

We got the binder clips at the dollar store; they came six to a pack.

Then we cut small strips of paper to cover the bottom (black) part of the clip 

and attached the paper with Mod Podge.

For a finishing touch, we added a little bow to each clip using a glue gun.

We only spent money on the clips. The paper and bows I already had on hand.

Even if you have to buy some, the amount of paper and ribbon needed is so little that this project would still be very affordable.

We added a "recipe card" with a poem and placed a gift card behind that.

Here's what the poem says:

Recipe for Life

Ingredients needed: 

1 cup good thoughts

1 cup consideration for others

1 cup kind deeds

3 cups forgiveness

2 cups well-beaten faults

4 cups prayer and faith

tears of joy, sorrow, and sympathy

Directions: Mix good thoughts, consideration, kind deeds, forgiveness and well-beaten faults. Add tears of joy, sorrow, and sympathy for others. Fold in prayers and faith to lighten other ingredients and raise the texture to great heights of Christian living. Pour all into your family life. Bake well with the heat of human kindness. Serve with a smile!

Quick, cheap, and easy.

Not to mention. . . cute!

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, 

to which you were also called and have confessed

 the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

1 Tim 6:12

This post is linked to Too Much Time On My Hands, The Crafted Sparrow, and I Heart Naptime.

It's Teacher and Nurse Appreciation Week

This week is Teacher Appreciation Week

and Nurse Appreciation Week.

Teachers and nurses have such important jobs.

If you need any ideas for simple gifts, take a look at these. . .

This clothespin could hold a gift card, photo, or note.

What teacher couldn't use a handy handmade notebook?

Go here to see how to make a super simple gift idea for a nurse.

 

Here are some more low cost teacher gift ideas.

Thanks so much for stopping by and God bless.

The earth, O Lord, is full of Your mercy

Psalm 119:64

 This post is linked to Today's Creative Life, My Repurposed Life, Too Much Time On My Hands,
and The Crafted Sparrow.

MORE Low Cost Teacher Gift Ideas

Last week I showed you a few inexpensive gift ideas
for teachers as back to school gifts.

Here are a few more ideas.

Just follow the links to see more details.

  

 

Large Clothespin Photo Holder

 

All you need to make this is a little bit of scrapbook paper and a large wooden clothespin

 which you can find at Hobby Lobby.

 

Class Photo Clipboard

 

Clipboard + scrapbook paper= display for class photo

 

Dictionary Definition Necklace

This gift is easily personalized depending on
which word you choose to feature on the charm.

I hope everyone's school year starts off with a bang!

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

Be strong and of good courage, and do it;

do not fear or be dismayed,

for the Lord God... will be with you.

He will not leave you nor forsake you

1 Chron. 28:20



 This post is linked to It's Overflowing, Daisy Cottage Designs, I Heart Naptime,
 and Plucky's Second Thought.

Low Cost Teacher Gift Ideas

Here are a few low cost ideas for back to school teacher gifts.

 

 

For this school themed can, I used a container that had contained peanuts.

I washed it out, then trimmed scrapbook paper to fit along the outside.

I chose two different patterns and adhered them with Mod Podge.

Then I placed a school sticker where the two papers overlap.

I also added red ric rac (attached with Glue Dots) to cover the seam of the papers.

To finish it off, I added a tag to the lid.

 

This would be cute filled with candy or erasers, paper clips, or other school supplies.

 

I used the same method to make this gift out of a Pringles can.

 

 

For the tag, I used stickers on white cardstock to spell out "My Teacher."

Then I matted that to some pattern paper and placed a sticker along the right edge.

 

I overlapped three different stickers to make the tag on the lid.

 

Easy-peasy, huh?

I thought this one would be cute filled with pencils.

 

My last low cost gift idea is this bin for paper storage.

I got the plastic container at a yard sale for a quarter. It originially held pamphlets for some company.

You should be able to find something like this at an office supply store.

 

 

I trimmed a large piece of paper to fit along the inside.

Then I covered the front panel with some coordinating pattern paper

and a tag that says "Due Papers."

 

Cute, cheap, and easy.

I hope you all enjoy this last weekend before school starts!

 

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

 

Now therefore, our God, we thank You and praise Your glorious name.

1 Chron. 29:13

 

This post is linked to The Creative Collection, My Repurposed Life,

Be Different, Act Normal, and Tatertots and Jello.



Teacher Gift Idea: Crayon Wreath

The school year is ending which means it's time to start thinking about teacher gifts.

Teachers work so hard and it's nice to give them a little something to show our appreciation for all that they do for our children.

 

Today I have a fun school themed project to share.

 

It's a crayon wreath.

 

I had a couple of large boxes of Crayola crayons on hand that I had bought when they were on sale, so I was excited to try this project.

 

 

I used two embroidery hoops measuring 5" and 10".

I set the little one inside the big one, then I laid out my crayons before attaching them.

Once I got an idea of the spacing, I hot glued one crayon at a time to both hoops.

I finished it off with a ribbon for hanging and a sign with the teacher's name. To make that, I attached a piece of pattern paper to chipboard, then used letter stickers for the name.

 

It was easier than I thought to make this.

Now I still have two more big boxes of crayons to find a use for. . . :)

 

Come by on Monday and I'll show you how to make a simple school themed mini album which would also be a lovely teacher present.

 

I hope you all have a great weekend!

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

 

For the Lord Most High is awesome

Psalm 47:2

 

 This post is linked to Tatertots and Jello, The Creative Collection,
 and Too Much Time On My Hands.

St. Patrick's Day Treat Bags

Happy St. Paddy's Day, my friends!
 

Here's a quick and easy treat to make for your kiddos to take to their teachers

or their fellow students.

 

The treasure at the end of the rainbow: Rainbow Twizzlers and Rolos.
 

 

All it took was placing some Rolos and Twizzlers in a baggie.

I finished it off by cutting some green and white paper to fold over the top of the bag.

 

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

 

Be of good courage,

and He shall strengthen you heart,

all you who hope in the Lord.

Psalm 31:24

 

 This post is linked to Skip to My Lou, I Heart Naptime, and The Dedicated House.

Chalkboard Ring

I've got an unusual piece of jewelry to show you today...

a chalkboard ring!

 Cute and unique, huh?

I started with a round frame pendant (after clipping off the necklace hoop).

I placed a piece of masking tape over the top. Using a pair of small scissors, I cut the center of the tape out leaving only the edge covered.

Then I gave it a quick coat of chalkboard spray paint.

After it dried, I used E-6000 glue to attach it to a ring blank.

I prepared the chalkboard by rubbing the side of a piece of chalk against the surface,
then wiping it off.

Now I have a customizable ring.

I can personalize it with my initial,

 write a word on it,

or draw a picture and have a holiday ring.

Wouldn't this make a cute gift- especially for a teacher?!?

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?

Psalm 27:1

 This post is linked to I Heart Naptime, My Repurposed Life, Be Different Act Normal, and Too Much Time On My Hands.

Layout of the Week #65- Making a Layout on a Clipboard

     I'm super excited about today's Layout of the Week. . . I thought it would be fun to put a layout directly onto a clipboard which would act as a photo display for class photos!

 

Here's the layout we'll be creating.

Because it's on a clipboard, you can change out the photo every year!

 

To make it, you'll need:

clipboard

five pieces of pattern paper (measurements below)

letter stickers for the title

paper trimmer

adhesive (I used a glue stick)

small piece of sandpaper

 

My clipboard is 12 1/4"  x 9" which should be standard- if not, you my need to slightly

 alter my measurements.

 

Trim your first piece of pattern paper to 8.5" x 9"

Adhere it to the clipboard making sure that you lift up the clip. Slide the paper up as far as it will go.

 

This project will work with the other version of a clipboard, too.

 

Trim a second piece of pattern paper to 3"x 9". Adhere it to the bottom of the clipboard.

It's ok that there's a space between the two papers- it will get covered.

 

The bottom corners of the board are rounded- don't worry that the paper sticks off;

we'll fix it in a few steps.

 

Trim your third piece of pattern paper to 11 1/2" x 2". Adhere it vertically to the far right side of the clipboard.

 

Then trim your fourth piece of pattern paper to 1" x 9" and adhere it above the bottom

piece of pattern paper. 

 

Trim your last piece of pattern paper to a 3/4" x 9" strip. Adhere it above the other strip.

 

Use a piece of sandpaper to sand along the edges paying special attention to the bottom corners. Don't sand upwards or you may peel the edges up. This will get rid of any edges that may be hanging over the side of the clipboard. It gives it a more finished look.

 

Using your letter stickers, place a title in the bottom right corner.

I went with a simple title: "School Days."

That way it will work year after year with each new photo.

 

Optional: place a sticker on the metal part of the clipboard.

 

Just place the class photo under the clip. No adhesive needed!

 

 

You can even use this design for an individual 8" x 10" school photo with some slight trimming.

 

How handy is this for those annual pictures?

It could be hung on the wall or placed on a nice plate stand.

 

I think this would make a great gift for a teacher and also for grandparents!

 

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

To everything there is a season,

a time for every purpose under heaven

Ecc. 3:1

 

This post is linked to The Grant Life, Tater Tots and Jello, Ivy and Elephants, Embracing Change, Shabby Creek Cottage, and My Girlish Whims.

Teacher Gift Idea: Clothespin Photo Holder

Since school is about to start, I thought I'd make a quick teacher gift.

 

It's a large clothespin that can be used as a note holder or as a photo display.

This gift literally took me less than 20 minutes to make.

 

 

I covered the back of the clothespin with the same paper.

That way it looks pretty from either side- especially if it will be sitting on a teacher's desk!

 

If you want to make one, you'll need:

a large clothespin (you can find one here- I've also seen them at Hobby Lobby)

a strip of pattern paper

Mod Podge

foam brush

small piece of ribbon

 

Measure and cut your paper so it will cover the front of the clothespin.

Using the Mod Podge and foam brush, apply Mod Podge to the back of the pattern paper and press it to the clothespin surface.  Make sure you get glue along all the edges of the paper.

If you don't have Mod Podge, you could use a glue stick for this part. Just make sure you are very thorough when applying the glue.

Repeat on the back of the clothespin.

Give it a few minutes to dry, then sand along all the edges. Sand away from the edge of the paper, not towards it- otherwise the paper will start to peel up.

The sanding gets rid of any paper that's hanging over the edge

and also gets your edges good and tight.

To finish it off, tie a ribbon somewhere along the bottom part of the clothespin.

 

How's that for a quick gift?

 

I hand stamped a note, but you could easily print one off from your computer or buy a card.

You know what would really finish it off? A gift card. :)

 

I also have two ideas for teacher themed necklaces: a dictionary definition one here and a tiny chalkboard one here.

 

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

 

Serve the Lord with gladness; come before His presence with singing.

Psalm 100:2

 

This post is linked to Five Days Five Ways, My Repurposed Life, Tatertots and Jello, and Happy Hour Projects.