DIY Appreciation Gifts for School, Work, or Friends
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My kids start school on Monday. ~takes a deep breath~ and while it will be a big day for them (and me!) it is also a big day for their teacher’s as well. Did you realize that when our kids are in school, their teachers spend more time with them during their waking hours than we do? I know we all appreciate the love and dedication they put into their jobs. I really like to bake things, but with a lot of schools no longer allowing that, I thought I’d bring you a few inexpensive thank you gifts just to show your appreciation.
These gifts are great year round, for a holiday, teacher appreciation week, first day of school, or my favorite : the no-special-reason gift. They are also great for coworkers, friends, or just anytime someone you know could use a little perking up.
Lets start with the easiest, and the only printable I’m offering that is teacher specific:
This is an updated spin on the apple (but apples are still great!). I think this one is my new favorite and of course, the least expensive. While you’re out shopping for school supplies, pick up a box of breakfast bars and print out this sheet to be ready with thoughtful little gifts to make that first day a little easier for your child’s teacher. This wrapper fits perfectly on a breakfast, granola, or snack bar. Just print the label, trim the ends a bit, and tape around your bar. See the end of this post to print these wrapper labels.
Jar Gifts
In this post I’m doing two different things with pint jars but you are limited only by your own imagination! I also have two labels to print that will work with a multitude of jar fillings and are great to use for any recipient.
Survival Kit
I asked the teachers on the Southern Plate Facebook page what they’d like to have for a welcome back gift and many of them said things like breakfast bars, drink mixes, etc, because they get so busy with the kids that they forget or simply don’t have time to eat. This is an all in one survival kit that you can easily customize.
My jar includes a granola type bar, breakfast bar, two drink mixes for bottled water, and a few peppermints. I’ve got two sets of labels to choose from below, if you’d like to print the ones I am using.
Who doesn’t need chocolate?
This is another cute little idea. Fill a jar with chocolates and attach one of the labels below to the inside of the lid. You can use any type of chocolate you like, or even their favorite candy. This is also a great “Thinking of you” gift for co-workers, moms, anyone you can think of!
For the fabric, I just traced a saucer onto some fabric and then cut out the circle.
Print my labels by clicking below. Place the jar ring around the label and trace a circle as a cutting guide.
Click here for “Sanity Preserves” Labels
Click here for “In Case Of Emergency” Labels
Click here for Teacher Bar Wrapper Labels
No matter what you decide to do or who you decide to give a “thinking of you” gift to, give it with a warm heart and it will be well received!
“What we do for ourselves dies with us.
What we do for others and the world remains.”
~Albert Pine. Submit your quote here.
My will you never fail to inspire me!~! I just love giving ‘Jar Gifts” but mine are usually filled with preserves but this gives me one of those “Why didn’t I thinkof that??” moment and add this as a 2nd idea for giving. What I do now is buy pretty little dessert dishes from garage sales or recycle stores and decorate them up with pretty different types of food or candy things then wrap in clear wrap etc.
TYVM CHRISTY
These are all great ideas. My daughter starts student teaching tomorrow, and i know it is a big day for her. also we saw you at the mall yesterday. didnt want to bother you . i know tomorrow will be a very big day for you.
Thanks so much for thinking of teachers! I have one thing to add— please don’t forget your “special” teachers like art, music, PE, library, etc. As one of these special teachers we also like to be remembered since many of us see every child in the school and in my case, 2 schools. We are thankful for any token of appreciation, even a card is cherished and makes us feel special. You are awesome, Christy!!
The little gifts are sweet but dragongirl beat me to the punch with the safety comment. Our school district prohibits the glass on a school bus. The peanut butter jar tip is a great alternative. Another fiiler idea would be little erasers, personal pencil sharpeners, paper clips, thumb tacks, tiny post it notes etc. To often teachers have to buy their own supplies.
Very true and love the pb jar idea!!
I plan on walking these in myself the first day. We always go walk the kids in as a family the first day of class.
I’m also being a mean mama this year and not letting my kids ride the bus. Katy Rose is just too young. I told them I’ll pick them up and they can ride next year.
Makes me feel better and I need that piece of mind. 🙂
Awwww where were you when I was teaching?? Only thing I’m concerned with is the glass jars. I know you love them, but how about saving plastic ones like from peanut butter for these gifts? Better safety for the child carrying them and teacher can keep it in the classroom without worry too! Still tho- YAY, Christy for being so sweet and thoughtful! Love it.
I will be definately be using this. Thanks so much!
What a great idea…my church gives trays of cookies and brownies to each school in the county on the first day the teachers are back…the response from the church ladies was so overwhelming that we were able add some out of county schools where church members worked…this would work for smaller groups….I’ll be using this for Christmas gifts