Homemade Gifts for Teachers

Show the special teachers in your life that you appreciate all they do for your kids. This year, forget the scarf set and handcraft teacher gifts that will stand out on their desks.

Teachers Rule!

Remind the kids who's the boss at school by making these cute ruler magnets for the teachers in your life.

Time frame: Two to four hours including drying time

Level: Easy

What you need:

• Unfinished wooden ruler (Can be found in craft stores.)
• Oak stain
• Paintbrushes
• Unfinished wooden apple cutout (Can be found in craft stores.)
• Red craft paint
• Black fine-tipped marker
• Clear acrylic finish spray
• Green felt
• Scissors
• Glue gun
• Thin gingham ribbon
• Magnet sheet

1. Stain the wooden ruler with oak stain, and paint the apple with red craft paint. Allow these to dry.
2. Using a black fine-tipped marker, write the words “Teachers Rule” on the apple. When dry, spray each piece with clear acrylic finish spray and allow it to dry.
3. Cut two leaves out of the felt. Glue the leaves onto the top of the apple.
4. Cut a piece of gingham ribbon the length of the ruler. Glue the ribbon onto the bottom edge of the ruler.
5. Glue the wooden apple onto the side of the ruler. Make a bow out of the ribbon and glue it onto the bottom of the apple.
6. If your magnet has a sticky side, stick the magnet onto the back of the ruler. If not, glue the magnet onto the ruler using the glue gun.

A+ Teacher

You'll get an A+ if you take the time to make this gift for your kid's favorite teacher.

Time frame: One to two hours

Level: Easy

What you need:

• Wooden clothespin with spring mechanism
• Miniature blackboard (Can be found in craft stores.)
• Oak stain
• Paintbrush
• White fine-tipped fabric paint (in a squeezable bottle)
• Clear acrylic finish spray
• Natural color raffia
• Glue gun
• Magnet sheet

1. Stain the clothespin and the wooden frame of the blackboard with oak stain and allow them to dry.
2. Write the words “A+ Teacher” on the blackboard using white fabric paint. Allow it to dry. Spray the project with clear acrylic finish spray and allow it to dry.
3. Make a small bow out of the raffia. Glue the bow onto the top of the blackboard with a glue gun.
4. If the magnet sheet is self-sticking, stick the magnet onto the back of the clothespin. If not, use a glue gun to glue the magnet onto the clothespin.

Book Lovers Gift Bag

Most teachers are book lovers. You can please a teacher on your gift list by giving him or her this “food for thought” gift bag.

Time frame: One to two hours

Level: Easy

What you need:

• Homemade caramel popcorn (see recipe)
• Sealable bag for popcorn
• Gift certificate to local bookstore
• Gourmet iced teas or hot chocolate mix
• Gift bag
• Crepe paper filler
• Bow

For Carmel Crunch recipe:

• 2 quarts of popped popcorn (Remove any unpopped kernels.)
• 1¹⁄₃ cups pecans
• ²⁄₃ cup almonds
• 1¹⁄₃ cup sugar
• 1 cup margarine
• ¹⁄₂ cup corn syrup
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. To make the Carmel Crunch: Mix popcorn and nuts in a single layer on a greased cookie sheet.
2. Combine the sugar, margarine, and syrup in a heavy saucepan. Bring it to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Continue boiling, stirring occasionally, for 10 to 15 minutes until the mixture turns a light caramel color.
3. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla. Pour over popcorn and nuts and mix to coat well. Spread to dry and break into pieces. Store in a sealed container.
4. Place the crunch in a sealable plastic container or large zip-close bag.
5. Assemble the remaining goodies and place them in a gift bag filled with crepe paper filler. Add a bow for a finishing touch.

Excerpted from The Complete Idiot's Guide to Making Great Gifts © 2001 by Marilee LeBon. All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. Used by arrangement with Alpha Books, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

To order this book visit the Idiot's Guide web site or call 1-800-253-6476.