Saturday, January 24, 2009

Teacher Gifts!

I don't quite know how it evolved into this, but Valentine's Day is now ANOTHER occasion to give teacher's a gift. Don't get me wrong...I'm a teacher, remember? I'm all about getting gifts. However, this is just absurd. But, because I give into peer pressure and want to hang out with the Jones's, I do the Valentine's gifts.

Luckily, I have found what I think is a super cheap and pretty easy gift to do every year. When I started working on them, I said to myself, "Self, what better time for a tutorial?!" However, consider yourself forewarned. I'm a bad tutorializer (made up word). I took what I thought was a lot of pictures, but I have no "action" shots. Let's hope my words make up for it.

Go out and find the cheapest bottle of hand sanitizer, lotion, or bottled soap that you can find. I was at Target, and I'm pretty sure I could have found something cheaper. I wasn't in the mood to go somewhere else. Hence, the $1.79 hand sanitizer. I like this idea because germs are everywhere when you're a teacher. I keep a keg of this stuff on my desk. Yes, a keg.

The hardest part of this whole elaborate project is getting the stickers off the bottle. When you purchase it, make sure there's nothing printed ONTO the bottle. Everything must be removable. Most are, but just check. The bottle on the right is the "cleaned" product. I simply peel it off. Whatever doesn't come off clean gets some Goo-off or Goo-B-Gone on it. Just wipe the oil off with some Windex or something before you move on.
Now for the easy part. Decorate it. I have tried rub-ons, stickers, small tags, and ribbons. You choose!




The one on the right (below) is the first one I did, and I used soap. I have since come to like the sanitizer option better (plus I like that it's a clear bottle), but you can do whatever you like.
So there you have it. A tutorial AND a teacher's gift idea. Maybe you're lucky, and you live in a district where parents don't care about teachers. ;-) If, however, you live in my district, you'll either present that teacher with a V-day gift or be black-listed by all the hot moms in mini-vans! Choose wisely!

280 comments:

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Cammie said...

those are AWESOME! I will be keeping this in mind big time

Controlling My Chaos said...

I live in a neighborhood with the hot moms in the mini vans. I call our PTO President Malibu Barbie because she's so dang cute and PERKY. It's a crime.

Just Lisa said...

Another sweet and simple idea! A perfect project for my 3 year old!

Liz {Learning To Juggle} said...

Those are adorable!! I will be making those for our daycare mommy soon!!

C.G. the Foodie said...

As a teacher, I definitely did not get a v-day gift from any of my students. However I would have totally appreciated these. How cute!

Amy said...

This is a great idea. For any time of the year. Love this.

Helene said...

I love this idea...it's so simple yet so unique!! In addition to making one for my kids' preschool teacher, I think I'll make a couple to keep around our house for when guests come over!

Days of Whine & Noses said...

Ok, I will be using that idea!

Visiting from SITS!

Annikke said...

And yet you post ANOTHER way-to-cute-for-words craft project!! Love these!

Brandy said...

What a great idea! And not just for teachers but just in my own house.

Who else is thinking this would be perfect for Mother's Day and just decorate around a certain decor?

Unknown said...

I'm a teacher, and I know I would love to receive this as a gift. It would make a great gift for girl students also. My girls love to carry sanitizer around with them.

Libby said...

Very creative! How do you find time to do this being a teacher? (spoken as a former teacher :0)

christy rose said...

What a super great idea!

Star Forbis said...

Great idea! With 4 kids I'm always looking for inexpensive (cheap!) teacher gift ideas that are still nice. Thanks for the tip.

Becky @ Babes in Hairland said...

Happy SITS Day to you. What a fabulous idea. I'm totally going to be making these -- maybe for a end of school year thank you gift or something ... but I'm going to make them! Thanks!!

Jennifer Juniper said...

I took this idea and ran away laughing (all the way to Walmart) when you first posted this. I even posted the idea on my blog from you.

I'm proud to say, the sanitizer still sits on my son's teacher's desk. Thanks!

Unknown said...

I love this idea! Very cute and easy. Thanks for sharing.

Found my way over from SITS! Congrats on being featured blogger.

Heather said...

Such a great idea!

Anonymous said...

What a great gift idea! I'll be making some of these soon!

Marrdy said...

Oh my gosh!!! What a great idea.

Mommy's Wish List said...

Awesome teacher's gifts TIMES SEVEN (middle school). I'll get started now for next year.

Robin said...

What a great idea....
Thanks for sharing

Amy said...

I will definitely keep this idea in mind. So cute :)

Aubrey said...

Simple. Easy. Affordable. USEFUL! Love it!

Margarita Bloom said...

These are soooo adorable! Right up my alley. :)

Katie Lane said...

Wow, I've never even thought about that before. You are impressive!

Blicky Kitty said...

That is so thoughtful and cute! I just might try that one!

Rachel said...

Okay that's adorable too! And... who doesn't have a keg of hand sanitizer? Completely normal.

Mariel said...

Very cute! I should have you do a guest post on my blog one of these days! It's all about fun ideas!

Mariel
www.oneshetwoshe.com

Muppet Soul said...

SO cute!

Stephanie @ BizzieMommy.com said...

That a great gift. My mom was a kindergarten teacher and she used to get all kinds of gifts

A Mommy in Jeans and High Heels said...

Genius idea! I hope you don't mind, but I'll be sharing this with all my friends!

Anne said...

Those a great idea! They'd also make great office gifts. :)

Heather said...

I've been following for a while now and this is one of my favorite things you have done. Simple and easy.

Happy SITS Day!!

Delectable Dining said...

These are great! I'm a teacher and will definitely be dressing up my sanitizer bottles for different holidays and events. Too cute!

Ali said...

This is such a great idea! I love it!

Eve said...

Oh my goodness - that is perfect! I can think of so many different times that this would make a great little gift! Thanks for sharing!

Lavender n Lattés said...

Those are adorable! I will definitely try this one! Thanks!

John Deere Mom said...

OMG I am a teacher too (I've been here before but it's been awhile) and would LOVE this! And I will also love making it for my son's teacher and daycare workers! Yay!!

Sara said...

love love love this idea.

Merrily Down the Stream said...

Brilliant and cheap! I love it...
Happy SITS

Taryn Zerner said...

Okay. This has got to be one of the best ideas I have seen in a long time! Thank you so much for sharing! How easy! Why didn't I think of that?
LOVE IT!!!

Love,
Taryn

Leslie said...

What a cute idea! I love it!

Anonymous said...

what a great idea!

Patricia said...

okay, I just became a follower. Absolutely love, LOVE this idea. Seriously, I am gonna stalk you girl.

I am so glad you were featured on SITS today.

I hate doing the whole teacher thing (first year at it too) because I am sure the teachers get enough diy gifts from the kids as it is.. so this is totally cool BTW I liked the white bottle. I just love white and red together I thought it looked sharp too.

Jeannie Finelli, RN said...

Cute enough to make me wish I was a teacher!

www.AForestFrolic.typepad.com said...

what a cute idea!
oh and happy SITS day.

Jamie :-)

Unknown said...

How cute are these? Wow, love it! Thanks so much for the idea.

Bethany said...

Those are so cute! I'm a teacher and love any homemade gift from the kiddos/their parents. :)

Michelle said...

Vaentine's Day, seriously? I so went into the wrong profession. Except that part about having to clean up kid puke.

These are a neat idea... and one I'll have to keep in mind for when Mister Man goes to elementary school next year!

Vickie said...

I love that idea! I also like the clear bottles. My favorite is the brown rub ons.

jubilee said...

Such a great idea.

Our school district asks that each child bring in a bottle of hand sanitizer at the beginning of the year, but who couldn't use another?!

Rachelle S said...

Stopping by from SITS!

That is a cool idea!! I'm not a huge crafty person, but I'm bookmarking your blog for more ideas!

Lani said...

great idea! Thanks for sharing:)

Brittany said...

Happy SITS day!

I saw your sweet craft featured on Tip Junkie! So cute!

Blunt Delivery said...

what a cute idea!!!! stopping by from sits

www.bluntdelivery.com

Mandy said...

SOOOO cute! As a teacher, I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to get this. Knowing a gift for V-day didn't break your bank account and was extremely useful for me is a great combo!

I think I am going to do this for my children's teachers!

Susan said...

What a fabulous idea. Can't wait to try it out!

Anonymous said...

Very cute and creative. My sister would love this!!

delilah s. dawson said...

Adorable, and so easy! I'd much rather do this than pitch in for the cheesy crud the room mom suggested.

delilah at www.unrulyhelpmeet.com

Mom said...

What a great idea for something so simple. Awesome!

Stop by and visit.
Life...EXAGGERATED

Shannon said...

Love this! So simple... but what a great gift!

Becky @ Babes in Hairland said...

Fabulous idea. I made a couple of these today for my girls teachers as part of Teacher Appreciation week. Don't know if they are quite as cute as yours, but hopefully their teachers will enjoy them. Thanks for the fun idea to change up a normally boring thing! :)

Jennifer said...

I made these today for teacher appreciation week. They were so easy and I'm really happy with how they turned out. Thank you!

Jennifer said...

Cute idea and great tutorial! I ended up making them for teacher appreciation week last week. I linked back to you, here's the http://loveyoumucho.blogspot.com/2009/05/my-teacher-appreciation-gifts.html

Ms. Male said...

You had me at "Teacher Gifts". Thank you for inspiring me to create my very own blog. I posted a link to your page for all of my 0 ... yes 0... followers.

Sherry Gann said...

FABULOUS idea! All the Bible school teachers will be getting these from us now. :)

Free Art Printables said...

I lurve this idea! Very clever!

Gifts to Pakistan said...

I feel that this site could be very useful & informative. Looking forward to more stuff

Kami said...

I linked your idea on my blog! So cute! www.kamibuchanan.blogspot.com

Cupcake Mama said...

Great idea! Since I am a former elem teacher and my oldest is in kdg, I was really picky about her teacher's Christmas gift and love to share ideas like this with my friends! This may have already been in another comment (didn't read ALL of them!) but why couldn't you squirt the sanitizer into your "keg", clean the clear bottle, and then refill with soap? I agree with you...the clear bottle is a better look, but both are cute!

PinkLadyCarol said...

Fantastic idea! Teachers must LOVE this gift. My DIL is a teacher, and she too is a hand sanitizer freak! She makes the students use it as they come into her classroom.

Stacey said...

How cute! Love this idea!

gifts Philippines said...

So cute gift ideas! I like it. Wish someone also give me like that. Thanks for sharing! keep posting!

-pia-

Anonymous said...

Nice post about gifts related. Thanks for sharing.

18th Birthday Gifts

graduation gifts said...

Very nice bottles! I simply love the packing.

Unknown said...

Thank you for sharing. Wonderful post. I appreciate it.

I like some of your creative ideas on how to continue using, cool!

Lots of great points!! Thank you

Becky @ I Burned The Brownies said...

Hey I linked you over at I Burned the Brownies . These look amazing! You are making it easy for the teachers to love me! Heehee Thanks and come by for a visit!

Olga said...

This is such a great idea. Perfect for so many occasions and to spice up any office, bathrooms... perfect.

Thank you for sharing.

send gift Philippines said...

That was absolutely a great gift idea so creative. Keep posting!

toni

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