It's almost the end of another school year!!  Wow how time flies!  Time to start thinking about teacher gifts for Teacher Appreciation Days and end of the year gifts.  Here are a few that I found....(Thank you to cindylough!)
Appreciation 7 days a week
posted by cindylouh on April 22nd, 2008 

This year for teacher appreciation week we will be giving each teacher a "days of the week" pill box filled with little treats and sayings. I found the pill boxes at the dollar store.


You may download the sayings if you like -
teacher-appreciation-sayings

(I didn't use the "We are lucky to have you for a teacher" saying. It would go nicely with a lottery ticket!)
Fabric covered tacks fill one of the compartments to tell them they are sharp!

I used Jessica Jones' fabulous instructions to make the fabric covered thumbtacks

Some purchased colorful clips fill the next compartment

Next up marble magnets

These are simple to make with glass gems (floral department at the craft store), E600 craft adhesive, a 3/4 inch hole punch, 3/4 inch magnets and decorative scrapbook paper, wrapping paper and or magazine scraps. First punch out a circle and glue it to the back of the glass gem. I removed air bubbles by moving paper in a circular motion to distribute glue evenly and then pressing hard. Allow to set. Next glue the magnet to the back of your papered gem. I found it necessary to sort my glass gems to find the largest ones with no scratches or imperfections. If your glass gems are smaller try using a 1/2 inch hole punch and 1/2 inch magnets.

A measuring tape tells our teacher that they really measure up

Change for the soda machine fills another compartment

Small little post-it notes (the kind for marking a page) just fit to say, "Just a note to let you know we think you are a wonderful teacher!"

Some mints to say thank you

Wrapped all up with a little gift tag that reads:
A daily gift for all you do,
Teaching my child each day through.
Making a difference without taking a rest,
As a teacher, you're one of the best!
teacher-appreciation-gift-tag-for-pill-box

Hopefully our teachers will feel appreciated each day!

Teacher Appreciation Gift Ideas

posted by cindylouh on May 1st, 2009

How about a fun candy gram! Shauna will show you how! You can find more candy gram sayings here.


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For those of you that love stamping Nichole Heady has some great teacher gift ideas like this basket full of a journal jar, embellished notebook and beautiful card.

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Embellished hand sanitizer is a useful gift. Learn how from Lisa Johnson

Michelle Rodgers has a darling candy bar cover.

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Every teacher could use some cute sticky note covers learn how from GreetingArts!


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At our school teachers must now wear a badge. Cute2Carry offers an easy tutorial for making a pretty lanyard for those badges.

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Help your teacher take their lunch to school in style with this simple oil cloth lunch sack ---filled with a gift certificate to a local sandwich shop would make it extra nice!

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Every teacher could use a bookmark ----attach a note that says, "You wrote the book on being a great teacher" and enclose a gift certificate for your local bookstore to make it extra special!
How About Orange shows us how to make some pretty bookmarks from your favorite fabric.

You can find more handmade bookmark ideas here
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"Just a note to say......................." You may find the pattern in the shop.

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Little Birdie Secrets has a tutorial for a fancy notebook.

 Love these Mod Podge clipboards from Marta.

How about this cute paper cake with a saying, You take the cake!" Heather has a great tutorial.

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More homemade gift ideas can be found here
More teacher appreciation ideas can be found here.

Make your teachers feel loved and appreciated this year!

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Thanks for helping us grow

Sorry no pix, but I saw the cutest idea over the weekend- It was a simple potted plant, with a tag that said "thanks for helping us grow". All the kids in the class had their pictures taken with their arms raised over their heads. They were printed out on cardstock on a laser printer, and each child's picture was glued to a popscicle stick and stuck into the dirt in the pot.  How cute is that for a teacher!

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FAST and EASY candies!

 At this time of year, If I can find a gift that is FAST, EASY, and looks fantastic, sign me up for a dozen!!  On the Better Homes and Gardens website I found these wonderful candy recipes that you can make.  They look like a million bucks but are so easy that your kids can help make them.  These would make great teacher or neighbor gifts or just have a bunch around for when unexpected guests arrive at your door.  I know I will be adding these to my Christmas to do list this year!

Peanut Butter Balls

Makes: about 30 pieces

Start to Finish: 1 hour

  Ingredients

• 1/2  cup peanut butter
• 3  tablespoons butter, softened
• 1  cup sifted powdered sugar
• 8  ounces chocolate-flavored candy coating

Directions

1. In a mixing bowl stir together peanut butter and butter. Gradually add powdered sugar, stirring until combined. Shape into 1-inch balls; place on waxed paper. Let stand until dry (about 20 minutes).
2. Chop candy coating. Place in a heavy saucepan, cook and stir over low heat until melted and smooth. Cool slightly. Dip balls, one at a time, into coating. Let excess coating drip off peanut butter balls. Place on waxed paper; let stand until coating is firm. Store tightly covered in refrigerator. Makes about 30 pieces.
3. Make-Ahead Tip: Prepare candy as above. Store as directed for up to 2 weeks.

Double-Dipped Caramels

Makes: 48 caramels

Prep: 30 minutes
Stand: 30 minutes

Ingredients

• 12  ounces chocolate-flavor candy coating, cut up
• 2  cups finely chopped pistachio nuts or one 10-ounce package almond brickle pieces, crushed
• 1  14-ounce package vanilla caramels (about 48 caramels), unwrapped

Directions

1. Heat candy coating in a heavy medium saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly just until melted. Remove from heat.
2. Place nuts or brickle pieces in a bowl. Dip one caramel into coating; turn to coat. With a fork, lift caramel out, drawing fork across rim of pan to remove excess coating. Place dipped caramels in nuts, turning to coat. (Or, dip a caramel halfway into coating. Place dipped caramel into nuts, turning to coat.) Transfer caramel to a waxed-paper-lined baking sheet. Repeat with remaining caramels. Let stand 30 minutes or until firm. Store tightly covered up to 1 week. Makes 48 caramels.

Peppermint Sticks

Prep: 20 minutes
Stand: about 30 minutes

Ingredients

• 4  oz. bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped
• 1  tsp. shortening
• 2/3  cup pecans or your favorite nuts, chopped
• 16  3- to 4-inch soft peppermint sticks

Directions

1. In a small saucepan combine chocolate and shortening; cook over low heat just until melted. Transfer to a bowl. Place pecans on waxed paper.
2. Dip one end of each peppermint stick into melted chocolate and then roll in chopped nuts. Place on waxed paper; let stand until set. Wrap each individually to give as a gift. Makes 16 gifts.

Candy Cane Bark

Prep: 25 minutes
Chill: 30 minutes

  Ingredients

• 6  ounces chopped chocolate-flavor candy coating
• 3  ounces chopped milk chocolate bar
• 6  ounces chopped vanilla-flavor candy coating
• 3  ounces chopped white chocolate baking squares
• 1/4  cup crushed peppermint candy canes

Directions

1. Line a large baking sheet with foil. In a small, heavy saucepan, melt chocolate-flavor candy coating and milk chocolate bar, stirring over low heat until smooth. Pour onto baking sheet and spread into a 10x8-inch rectangle; set aside.
2. In another small, heavy saucepan, melt vanilla-flavor candy coating and white chocolate baking squares, stirring over low heat until smooth.
3. Slowly pour white mixture over chocolate mixture on baking sheet. With a thin spatula, swirl white mixture into chocolate mixture. Shake baking sheet gently for even thickness.
4. Sprinkle with crushed candy canes. Chill 30 minutes or until firm. Use foil to lift candy from baking sheet; break candy into pieces. Makes 1-1/4 pounds.
To Store: Layer pieces between waxed paper in an airtight container; cover. Store in refrigerator up to 3 days. Serve at room temperature.

Candy-Box Caramels

Prep: 40 min.
Stand: 1 hr.

 

Ingredients

• 12  ounces chocolate- and/or vanilla-flavor candy coating*, coarsely chopped
• 1  cup toffee pieces, crushed; finely chopped pistachios; and/or nonpareils
• 48  short plastic or wooden skewers (optional)
• 1  14-ounce package vanilla caramels (about 48), unwrapped
• 2  ounces chocolate- and/or vanilla-flavor candy coating*, coarsely chopped (optional)

Directions

1. In a microwave-safe 4-cup measure, place the 12 ounces candy coating. Microwave on 100% power (high) for 3 minutes or just until melted, stirring every 30 seconds.
2. Place toffee pieces, nuts, or nonpareils in a shallow dish. If desired, insert a skewer into each caramel. Dip one caramel into melted candy coating; turn to coat as much of the caramel as desired, allowing excess coating to drip off caramel. (If not using skewers, use a fork to lift caramel out of candy coating, drawing the fork across the rim of the glass measure to remove excess coating from caramel.) Place dipped caramel in toffee pieces, nuts, and/or nonpareils, turning to coat. Place coated caramel on a baking sheet lined with waxed paper. Repeat with remaining caramels. Let caramels stand about 1 hour or until coating dries.
3. If desired, microwave 2 ounces of a contrasting color of candy coating in a microwave-safe bowl on 100% power (high) for 2 minutes or just until melted, stirring every 30 seconds. Cool slightly. Transfer coating to a small, heavy plastic bag; cut a small hole in one corner of bag and drizzle additional coating over coated caramels. Let caramels stand until set. Makes 48 pieces.
4. To Store: Layer caramels between waxed paper in an airtight container; cover. Store at room temperature for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 3 months.
5. *If desired, substitute milk chocolate, dark chocolate, and/or white chocolate baking squares with cocoa butter for candy coating.

Double-Dipped Dominoes

Makes: 24

Prep: 20 min.
Chill: 10 min.
Stand: 30 min.

 

Ingredients

• 6  ounces semisweet chocolate squares or pieces
• 2  tablespoons shortening
• 12  graham cracker squares, halved
• 6  ounces white chocolate baking squares with cocoa butter or white baking pieces
•   Small white candies
•   Miniature semisweet chocolate pieces

Directions

1. In a microwave-safe 2-cup glass measure, place the 6 ounces semisweet chocolate and 1 tablespoon shortening. Microwave chocolate mixture on 100 percent power (high) for 1-1/2 to 2 minutes or just until melted, stirring every 30 seconds.
2. Dip half of each halved cracker in the melted chocolate; use a small spatula to smooth out chocolate, if necessary. Place cracker on a cookie sheet lined with waxed paper. If desired, while chocolate is still soft, lightly press small white candies into chocolate to resemble dots on dominoes. Chill crackers for 10 minutes or until set.
3. In another microwave-safe 2-cup glass measure, place the white chocolate and remaining 1 tablespoon shortening. Microwave chocolate mixture on 100 percent power (high) for 1-1/2 to 2 minutes or just until melted, stirring every 30 seconds.
4. Dip plain half of each cracker in melted white chocolate. Place on a cookie sheet with waxed paper. If desired, while chocolate is still soft, press miniature semisweet chocolate pieces into white chocolate to resemble dots on dominoes. Let crackers stand until set. Makes 24 cookies.
TO STORE: Layer crackers between waxed paper in an airtight container; cover. Store at room temperature for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 1 month.

Marshmallow Truffles

Makes: about 40 truffles

Prep: 1 hr.
Chill: 1 hr.
Freeze: 20 min.
Stand: 15 min.

Ingredients

• 1  7-ounce jar marshmallow creme
• 1/3  cup butter, softened
• 1/4  teaspoon almond extract or vanilla*
• 1/4  teaspoon salt
• 3  cups powdered sugar
•   Toasted whole almonds, toasted pecan halves, toasted macadamia nuts, toasted hazelnuts (filberts), quartered pitted dates, and/or dried cherries
•   Powdered sugar
• 8  ounces semisweet chocolate squares, chopped**
• 1  tablespoon shortening
•   Finely chopped toasted nuts, toasted coconut, or candy sprinkles
•   White baking chocolate, melted

Directions

1. Line a large baking sheet with waxed paper; butter the paper. Set aside. In a large bowl, combine marshmallow creme, butter, almond extract, and salt. Beat with an electric mixer until smooth. Gradually add the 3 cups powdered sugar, beating until well mixed. Cover and chill about 1 hour or until mixture is easy to handle.
2. Lightly dust your hands with additional powdered sugar; shape marshmallow mixture into 1-inch balls, forming the mixture around a whole almond, pecan half, macadamia nut, hazelnut (filbert), date piece, or dried cherry (you may need more marshmallow mixture to completely cover the pecan halves and almonds). Place balls on prepared baking sheet. Cover lightly; freeze for 20 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, combine semisweet chocolate and shortening. Heat and stir over low heat until melted and smooth. Remove from heat.
4. Line another large baking sheet with waxed paper; set aside. Remove balls, a few at a time, from the freezer; dip balls in chocolate and use a fork to lift balls out of chocolate, drawing the fork across the rim of the saucepan to remove excess chocolate. Place balls on waxed-paper-lined baking sheet. Immediately sprinkle tops with finely chopped nuts, toasted coconut, or candy sprinkles. Let stand at room temperature about 15 minutes or until completely set. If desired, drizzle truffles with melted white chocolate. Makes about 40 truffles.
*Test Kitchen Tip: If you prefer, omit the almond extract or vanilla and add 1 tablespoon desired flavored liqueur (such as raspberry or orange) to the marshmallow mixture; increase the 3 cups powdered sugar to 3-1/4 cups.
**Test Kitchen Tip: You may use 8 ounces vanilla-flavor candy coating instead of (or in addition to) the semisweet chocolate. If using both, in separate small saucepans, combine the candy coating or semisweet chocolate with the shortening; melt, dip, and decorate truffles as directed. (You will have leftover melted candy coating and chocolate, but use 8 ounces of each so you get enough depth to dip truffles.) If desired, drizzle white-coated truffles with melted semisweet chocolate.
TO STORE:Layer truffles between pieces of waxed paper in an airtight container; cover. Store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 3 months.

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Happy Thanksgiving!

I am in charge of doing the craft project for my daughters 4th grade class this week.  (Go figure!)  I had them make this cute turkey.  It was soooooo easy!  All the pieces were cut out with punches and I used glue dots to attach the pieces to the peppermint patty.  These could be used as place settings, hostess gifts or something small to give to friends at Thanksgiving.  

 Can you tell what punches were used for each piece of the Turkey?

 Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and 

thanks so much for all the support you give us 

here at "One of a Kind Gifts".

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Decorative Soap Dispensers

In need of some great and extremely useful teacher gifts? Have a germ-a-phobic friend? or a friend with a new baby trying to keep germs away from well-wishers? Try making some personalized hand sanitizing dispensers. With all the buzz about the flu (and it is the season) these are great gift ideas to help keep everyone safe.


I found two really cool tutorials from different sites that you can adjust for whatever the season (fall, Christmas, Valentine's Day, etc).
 

This cool bottle tutorial is from The Idea Room

And you can learn how to make these from the tutorial at Just a Girl.

Besides gift giving, how cool would one of these look in your guest bathroom?

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Bon Appetite!!!

 I found the cutest gift for any occasion!  

It is a kitchen blackboard and recipe holder .

 

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/member.php?uid=37120

The black board is covered in scrapbook paper with a cutout of a chef. (Stamp can be found at STAMPIN' UP)  The recipe holder is a big wooden clothes pin also covered in scrapbook paper.  This would be a great gift to give with a family recipe cookbook or with some yummy recipes you have found that you would be willing to share.  (Keep some secret of course!)  Here are a few more that I found...

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/member.php?uid=71262

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/member.php?uid=23531

Bon Appetite!

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Totally Terrific Tins!!

   A good friend of mine made these cute little tins for all of her friends for Christmas this year.  They fit perfectly in your purse and keep the pad of paper from getting destroyed.  She bought the pads of paper, the pens, and magnets all from the dollar store and covered them with scrapbook paper.  The tin and small envelopes were bought from Michael's.  She covered the top of the tin with scrapbook paper and added the persons name in chipboard.  I think they turned out really cute!  Here are a few more tin ideas... 




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www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/member.php?uid=165810

                                                                                                                                     

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