End of the School year Teacher gifts

As the Daughter-in-Law of a school teacher, one who is the complete opposite of a hoarder, you better believe I see a lot of end of the school year presents that my Mother-in-Law does not want to keep. It's not that she doesn't appreciate it! It's just that a gal can only have so many peppermint scented candles from the dollar store, you know what I mean? This is a nagging thought in the back of my mind! I  want to give my kid's teachers, who are spectacular by the way, something that says thank you for all the time you dedicate to my children day in and day out! 

So, get them gift certificate to Starbucks or Michael's Craft store right? Well, it sounds good, but that's just not in the budget right now. The problem lies in the fact that my two children who are in school have six teachers between them and to get them a gift certificate that adequately says, You're Appreciated, would cost more than I have. It's my belief however, that what you don't have monetarily you can make up for in time and creativity! So I set to work on a heart-felt and meaningful gift for the teachers who have made such a difference in my kids life this year!

I scoured the internet looking for inspiration for my teacher appreciation gift and stumbled upon a combination of things I thought would be nice. I thought that a memo board with decorative push pins might do the trick. To the memo board I attached a little poem to add a personal touch! The board can be use in the classroom and the note can kept in a scrap book. It's a win win!!

Off to the craft store I went with all three little ones in toe! Come to think of it, in the three months Owen has been with us that was the first "only me and the little ones" outing I've done...and it wasn't that bad! I scored some great deals:

      6 8x10 Frames                           $12.00 ($2.00 each)
      6 sheets of self stick cork board  $7.14 ($1.19 each)
      large bag glass pebbles               $6.99
      Scrapbook paper                       $3.99
      Scrapbook paper                       $4.99
      Tacky Glue                                $0.79
      2 packs of thumb tacks              $2.58 ($1.29 each)
      6 small paper boxes                   $2.69

Total $41.17 divided by 6 teachers equals  $6.86 each multiplied by one day's work equals $1 million dollars for each teacher's gift (WHAT? I charge a lot for my time!).

Here's how I did it

The Push Pins

I traced the glass gem onto the paper. 

I cut the circle then glued it to the glass gem with tacky glue
(any clear-drying glue will work.)

Push Pins

Glue the push pin to the paper-backed glass gem.

Trim excess.

The Boxes for the Push-Pins

Paint the box bottoms gold.

Mod Podge the paper to the box lid.

Memo Board

Remove glass and backing.

Cut the Cork Board to size.

Remove sticky back.

Place self-stick cork to the backer of the frame.

The Poem

The Finished Product