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Thanks!

Happy Monday!

I am sitting here feeling quite happy -big smile on my face! It was a very lovely and successful week/weekend, and I have gotten my HUGE to do list completed!! Granted I have more-we always have more to add don’t we? But I feel I accomplished a lot.

I have received MANY emails from many of you panicked mom’s asking me to share my end of the year Teacher Appreciation ideas.

Well, quite honestly, this year end has really crept up on me, and I decided to KISS it! That means K-keep I-it S-so S-simple. I bust my hiney all year trying to get hand-made gifts to all 3 children’s teacher and therapists/doctors. I have a huge number of people that I need/want to thank. I have now decided as the end of the year hits, what is important is the THOUGHT. Not that I killed myself to let them know that I am thankful for their hard work.

First came the cards!

If nothing I HAD to hand stamp a thank you card for each one! I needed 11 in total.

Here are 9 that I mass produced. I HATE mass producing but these went much quicker than planned. Plus since I have been teaching classes its easier for me to just cut/measure many of the same, rather than KILL myself with individual ideas.

If you want a close-up

Is this not adorable? I LOVE it!!!

There are a mix of companies/sets here! Make sure you check your stash of stuff when you go to create!

For the torn paper-I used CHF Lined Paper bkgd (stamped in blue o white) then used my SU! punch to create the torn out page look.

I then used my Just Rite stamper for the “From the Desk” image. I had to add teh staples to the corner! Gave it a nice OFFICE feel 😀

I used Teachabella for my main image (of course). I stamped her in white, on black to look like a chalkboard :D, the layered her onto cocoa. I WISH I had the guy teacher one too :C Oh! Well! I didn’t want to color all of the terachers, so this was a great way out! LOL! I used the Yasutomo Pearlescent Watercolor sets ( I got it at MFT, but can’t find it there :C Maybe she sold out?), which painting a shimmer onto black ROCKS!!  I just wanted the APPLE colored 😀

I then used Mailbox Greetings (love that sentiment in there), and Limitless Labels (for the apple and teacher word). I used a paper clip to add the sentiment to the card, as well as some frayed paper ribbon by The Black Dress. I don’t know WHY, but black gingham and red make me thing TEACHER/SCHOOL!

FUN huh?

Now what am I doing?

I honestly didn’t want to do notecards and whatnot. They get them from me every year, and are most likely sick of them. Plus my time was running out! I wanted to keep it LOW stress.

For Amber’s Pre-School I have Tastefully Simple brownie mix, and purchased the book Kid Concoctions for the school. It will be perfect!

Alexa- For the therapists and whatnot all I am doing is attaching the card to a large Lindt chocolate bar. They were buy 4 get one free! YEAH! A nice small gift to say thank you.

I also bought this good size box of assorted chocolates/truffles from Lindt-$12 for the box, on sale- Buy one get one free!! So there you have $6 per teachers! So Noah & Alexa’s teacher will get those. I say run to Lindt! Who doesn’t LOVE chocolate? Oh and if they don’t, they can re-gift it! I am certain it won’t got to waste.

For Alexa’s aid, and Spec. Ed person I did something different-Ill share that later this week.

So if you are like me, and have more than one kid in school (and in sports/activities) you know how crazy this time of year is. I opted for the best alternative for ME.

I have a friend who is a teacher and she is very honest about what is a great idea and what is NOT! She shared them with me, and I will share them with you.

NOTE: I truly believe any gesture of thanks-big and small is appreciated. Don’t over do it. It truly is all about the thought. I personally feel a handmade gift from your child would be fabulous too! Maybe something useful for the desk?? Maybe some sort of thing that has a photo of the entire class? Use those in class visits through the year to get photos like this, for end of the year stuff.

Some ideas are my own ,and after making this list am thinking I had some great ideas! LOL! I may start noe for Christmas! Like my print a book idea

Here is the Dirty Dozen gallery for Auguest 2007-Be True to Your School . You have to be a Fan Club member to view it. There are a TON of great ideas there!

OK GREAT IDEAS-

cards with a heartfelt thanks are always appreciated.

Gift cards-if this is the way you go teachers love cards to Staples, Office Max, Borders (book store) and Craft Stores. Often time their budget doesn’t allow for new/extra things that may help the class out, so these really help. Teachers often buy their own extras for their class. It doesn’t have to be for a lot of money.

DONATION-sometimes you can ask a teacher if their is a bigger ticket item that she would find helpful in the class. You can organize parents to each pitch in a few dollars each. That really adds up. NO PRESSURE though. Some people can’t afford to pitch in. Be considerate of that.

Craft supplies/books-what teacher doesn’t need those? Books with learning crafts are even better!! You could even go online for craft ideas and print your own book, and let your child decorate it!

Fun gift cards are great as well. If you know your teacher LOVES Dunkin Donuts (for example) get a travel mug and get creative.

consumables-things like food are yummy-but STORE/Bakery bought. No matter how clean of a person you are, alot of people have issues eatting home-made yummies, so before you kill yourself baking in 98 degree heat try to think of that. Target has fabulous stuff (I posted many ideas at Christmas time) that is wrapped and affordable gourmet style.

Gifts in a jar-teachers LOVE this stuff. Instead of YOU doing the baking, just put ingredients and directions in a jar and they can use it when they need it!! You can make many at a time 😀 Dont forget the directions!!

NOT GOOD IDEA

Home baked goods -this doesnt apply to everyone but as said above it may be given to a person who has an issue with that kind of thing.

Coffee mugs-don’t even waste your money. You know how many mugs teachers get!

Apple stuff-I know! I have a hard time with this. But my friend says teachers are all “appled” out. I think if you have a good idea with an apple go for it anyway! LOL!

Scented items like candles-Now we all love a nice smelling Yankee candle, but remember scent is a personal choice. If you do try to get something like that a gift receipt is a good idea so it can be exchanged if the person doesn’t like that scent.

So that is all. Just keep it fun and stress free. This is a crazy time of year.

I hope you got something from todays post.

Im off to do some FUN stamping 😀

Till tomorrow

Lauren