One of my favorite crafts as a child was sandwiching leaves between wax paper to hang on the windows. It's one of those crafts that has been around forever and for good reason. It's easy, fun to make and only requires a few supplies. Well, this wax packaging paper "how-to" is made the same way. Simple directions below.Supplies:
Paper - any color
Small hole punch - any shape
Wax paper
Punch out some shapes.
Iron on medium to high heat until wax paper seals together. This is what it will look like once it's done. Sometimes it comes out a little bumpy, that's okay.
Wrap up your gift. Done. The wax paper wrinkles up quick so do your best to wrap the item in one try. We gave this little package of cookies along with this card to the kids' teachers for Teacher Appreciation Day.
I told my son about the card which reads "thanks a latte" with a coffee gift card included. Here's the conversation that followed:
Evan: Why is there a joke on the card?
Me: Because there's a coffee gift card with it. Get it?
Evan: Oh, I get it. How much is the gift card for?
Me: $5
Evan: Why so cheap?
You know, sometimes I appreciate the honesty that comes from my children. This time, not so much. And I should add, there were some homemade cookies that came with the gift card, sheesh! Please tell me it's the thought that counts. But, it did get me thinking about what other people give for Teacher Appreciation day. Do you give your teachers something? If so, what? Would love to hear your ideas and thoughts.
12 comments:
Since I homeschooled, I was the teacher, though I did sometimes give appreciation gifts to Sunday School teachers.
I think your idea was a fantastic one, and the amount of the gift card seems just right for buying a large coffee drink to go with homemade cookies, plus those cookies would be like the icing on the cake, so to speak. Good job!
Haha I love that,
well he may think its cheap but a coffee gift card for any amount is a great gift with homemade cookies! :)
Love it!
I love the latte card and GC ideas...hey I think a very nice cup of coffee and some cookies is a great gift!!
I have technically 8 teachers to appreciate. So I ordered some custom fortune cookie that say 'You are much appreciated' (and hey if I have leftovers, these keep a long time and will make other great thank you gifts). I'm going to let the kids help me dip them in chocolate and sprinkles and put them in chinese take out boxes that say I am very fortunate to have you as a teacher! printable from from eighteen25. :)
I've actually never tried this craft before, how fun! Simple enough for kids to try too :) Your son is adorable - when my sister was younger she ratted out my parents that their macy's boxed gift was from target ;)
xoxo Maria
The paper is extra cute, I really love the wrapping paper update to this old craft! Very chic. The "why so cheap" is too funny. fortunately it wasn't said in front of the teacher - I hope.
When my kids were in elementary school I always sent in gifts to the teachers - a box of homemade cookies usually. As they've gotten into middle school and have 5 or 6 teachers, it's gotten a little more tricky to include everyone - from a whole box of cookies, I've gone to a smaller cellophane bag (I always include the nurse, secretaries, bus driver, etc.). For my daughter in High School, it's all gone by the wayside.
And $5 is not cheap! A nice trip to the coffee shop for a relaxing cup is special. It's just enough, especially with your homemade addition!
When I was growing up we had Teachers' Day, I used savings from my allowance to buy some of my teachers pencil holders or decorative items, little things I could afford. But I remembered graduating from high school and giving away some of my artwork (batik painting and cards that had my drawing printed on it) to those that made a difference in my school year.
I agree it's the thought that counts, $5 for a cup of coffee is a generous and thoughtful gesture, homemade goodies are a nice treat!
cracking up here! 5 bucks will get her either a couple nice lattes or 1 extra large something with all the fixins..then to add the cookies...perfection!
I gave my kids teachers a 10 question quiz regarding what they like and let my kids choose things using that quiz as a guide. Used it for YEARS and it never failed to please....
on another note, I used to love doing this craft when I was a kid....totally forgot about it until seeing this post..thanks for the walk down memory lane!
Thank you for all your comments. After reading them, I felt much better about the gift.
I'm going to play devil's advocate here. My son is in college now, but looking back, I think teacher gifts are unnecessary, unless they really went out of their way for your kid. I base that on comments I've heard from teachers, both in person and through magazine articles. They get inundated with stuff and don't really want most of it, especially mugs and candles. One teacher told me the teachers load all the mugs and other unwanted gifts into a box on the last day of school and take them straight to the dumpster. Realistically, most women are on perpetual diets and don't want sweets. My DH works in a school district and brings home loads of unwanted food gifts from the school secretaries, who also get inundated with gifts. I once gave a high school teacher a Starbucks giftcard because he really went the extra mile for my son (for four years). He gave me a grudging thank you when he saw me, whined that he doesn't drink coffee, but realized they sell stuff other than coffee (duh!) so he guessed he'd use it. Ditto on the sheesh. I wanted to ask for it back. Seriously, I think we all feel obligated to give these gifts but I really don't think we need to. On the other hand, I think Sunday School teachers could use a small gift, since they're volunteers. Any teachers out there want to weigh in on this? That said, I really like what you did with the waxed paper, and I think the homemade cookies/gift card was cute and plenty generous. We are, after all, paying their salaries with our taxes (and they all make more than me). Sorry to be such a grouch, but teacher gifts are all over the internet these days. I think it fuels the guilt. Maybe just a pretty handmade card would do.
One more thing: if anybody listens to Studio 360 on National Public Radio, they did a story on teachers recently, about the image they have in America. Worth pondering.
Post a Comment