Tag Archives | Teacher Gift

Make A Pretty Button Basket for a Teacher Gift!

By Nancy Nally on August 1, 2016 in Back to School, Holidays

It’s that time of year to think about a teacher gift! Today’s project will show you how to take an inexpensive basket available at any craft or discount store, and turn it into a beautiful back-to-school teacher gift.

Supplies:

Small Woven Basket
Plaid Wood Tint in Walnut
Ribbon
Buttons Galore “White” Button Bonanza

The basket that I used was a simple wood woven one that started out as unfinished wood. It cost less than $3 at a local craft store! It was the perfect size to hold a 15 ounce potted plant from the local home center.

Start your teacher gift basket project by using a paint brush to apply the wood tint or stain to the basket. Be sure to use the brush to push the stain down into the cracks in the weaving so the basket’s original color won’t show through! Wipe off any excess tint and leave to dry.

While the basket is drying, select from your Button Bonanza bag a grouping of buttons that are approximately the same size and that will fit around the front edge of the basket. (You only want to do the front edge of the basket so that the handle will still be able to be put down.)

Once the basket is dry, use a hot glue gun to adhere the buttons around the top edge of the front of the basket. (Make sure to leave clearance for the handle to go up and down!)

A beautiful bow is the final touch to make your basket special. Tie a bow using some ribbon and snip off the ends at an angle. Use the hot glue gun to adhere the bow to the front of the basket.

Your completed teacher gift basket can be used to deliver a wide variety of gifts to teacher: a small plant, an assortment of snacks or school supplies, or useful goodies like hand sanitizer and wet wipes.

Change up the color scheme a bit (such as by trying red buttons with green ribbon) and this basket will make a great way to deliver a small gift for Christmas or another occasion!

What occasion will you make a button gift basket for?

Make a Flower Pot Pencil Holder for Teacher!

By Nancy Nally on July 7, 2016 in Back to School, Holidays

On Tuesday, we shared a tag that is perfect for giving a back-to-school gift to your new favorite teacher. Stumped for an idea for a gift to attach it to? We’ve got the perfect gift idea – an easy to make Back to School Flower Pot Pencil Holder that is a pretty as it is useful!

Supplies Needed:

Small Clay Flower Pot
Krylon Chalkboard Paint
Buttons Galore “Fun With Food” 3D Apple Buttons (on sale now for $1)
Buttons Galore “Primary” Button Bonanza
Hot Glue Gun or other permanent adhesive
Chalk

This flower pot pencil holder is made from a basic small clay flower pot, available at any home center or craft store, that is painted with chalkboard spray paint. To spray paint items like this, I use a scrap of 1×2 board left over from a project and turn the pot upside down onto the end of it. Then I can take the item outside, hold it extended arm’s length away from me, and rotate it while spraying. This gets me good coverage with minimum mess and clean up, and I can get all the edges. To let it dry, I just prop the stick up against something with the pot still on top of it.

Once the painting is complete (I recommend two light coats) and dry, the rest was super fast and simple! Just grab a hot glue gun and get to work gluing the buttons around the top rim of the pot. Cut the shanks off of the apple buttons, and insert one of them periodically. Make sure to use enough glue that they are attached securely!

Finally, rub the bottom area with the side of a piece of chalk and then clean it off to “prime” it so that it can be written on. I chose to write the teacher’s name but you could also write instructions like “please return”. That’s one of the best things about using the chalkboard paint for this design – it’s not just classroom themed, it’s also useful!

The flower pot pencil holder will likely have a small drainage hole in the bottom of it. If you are concerned about things falling out through the hole when the pot is moved, cut a small circle of cardboard (such as from a recycled cereal box) and glue it into the bottom of the pot.

School will be here before you know it! Grab your 3D Apple Buttons and Primary Button Bonanza and start crafting your flower pot pencil holder for a beautiful classroom!

Teacher Appreciation Gifts – Make Upcycled Button Rulers

By Admin on March 15, 2013 in Back to School, Holidays, Kids Crafts

Teacher Appreciation Gifts are pondered often in this house. You want something they can use and need. Being a former teacher I know it is not another apple themed gift. Well, this quick, bright and happy project really measures up! Just in time for Teacher Appreciation Week. With the loop on the end it is easy to hand and even easier to find. The bright buttons really make a difference.

Materials Teacher Appreciation Gifts :

You will need a wooden ruler (or a yardstick), Laura Kelly colored buttons, a 6 inch piece of ribbon and HOT GLUE (My fave is Ad tech)!

How to make Teacher Appreciation Gifts:

While your hot glue gun is warming up, lay out your buttons in the pattern that you want to use in the length of the ruler. You can stack them a bit if you like the depth.

One at a time, glue, the buttons to the ruler, straight down the middle so the numbers can still be read.

Once your button are securely adhered, create a loop with the ribbon and glue it to the back to create a way to hang it up. If you want to cover the ribbon with more buttons, go for it. I did. :)