Tamara's Back to School Teacher Gifts

Hi, this is Tamara. I just love the start of a new school year: a fresh beginning, new teachers, friends, and experiences awaiting us.  It is always nice to give your child's teacher a small token of your gratitude for the countless hours they will be spending with your child in the future months. 

I had fun raiding the School Supply aisles at Walmart and found an adorable half-sized composition book and mini clipboard.  I had the small lunch tin in my stash from a craft store.

Supplies: Chalk Studio:Lettered patterned paper, Chalk Talk patterned paper, Happy Day patterned paper, Best Day patterned paper, 6x6 paper pad, Banner Kit and chalk, decorative brads, lable stickers, twine, layered stickers; Decorative Tape Set: Pink and Charcoal; Misc.: Black ink, thread, and twice, pop dots, hole punch, corner rounder, metal lunch tin, mini clipboard, mini composition book. Almond Joy candy bars.

The fabulous new  "Chalk Studio" line with MME and Rhonna Farrer is perfect for teacher gifts - who knew a teacher's daily tools (chalk and blackboard) could create such wonderful works of art?  I love the inspirational quotes and phrases printed on the papers and embellishments.  They capture the spirit and generous gift of teaching - and made creating these projects a breeze!

For the Mini Composition book, I covered it with papers, using double stick tape.  I cut around the edges of the "Believe in the Impossible" Quote.  I matted the "Enjoy Everyone and Smile Everyday" layered sticker with pink paper and tied it around the cover with pink and blue striped twine.

For the mini cllipboard I used this fantastic quote from the 6x6 paper pad. Doesn't it describe a teacher's goal perfectly?

I trimmed the blue paper to go around the metal clip and mod podged the papers to the wood clipboard. I added a strip of thin pink striped decorative tape above the chevron paper.  I wrote the teacher's name in chalk on the beautiful die cut label and attached the tag with a brad and twine.

TIP: Remember to apply the mod podge to the wood, then smooth the paper over it - NOT on the back of the paper (or your paper will warp and buckle).

Let dry, then finish with a coat of mod podge  to to seal it. 

For the Mini Lunchbox Tin, I rounded the corners of the blue background paper and stitched around it.  I layered a scalloped circle and black chalkboard circle from the "Chalk Studio" Celebrate Banner Kit.

I cut a label sticker in half and slid the pieces under the scalloped edges.  I added the "Love and Laughter" layered sticker with a strip of grey chevron paper, accented with pale pink brads.

I tied the "Create the JOY" tag to the handle with blue and black twine and filled the tin with mini Almond Joy candy bars.

Hope you enjoyed my teacher treats and that you're inspired to create something of your own.

Happy Thursday!