Gift Ideas - Coppell, TX

How about a nice container of Cake Balls? There are many recipes out there, but this is the one that I like: http://www.recipezaar.com/Cake-Balls-57716. You can mix and match the cake mix and frosting, and there's fun to make with the kids too.

I've made caramel corn before and put it in a clear bag with a pretty bow. It's very inexpensive. You can get a package of 25 goody bags at Hobby Lobby or Michael's for under $2. If you would like the recipe, just let me know. It's delicious!

Hi - Here's a great article on gifts for teachers with some HELPFUL ideas :)
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1245275/fantasti...

When I was a teacher, it was the hand written notes of appreciation that meant the most to me. If you like to bake, add in some cookies. If your daughter is able to make a picture, that is nice too. Maybe dip her hand or foot into some ink and make a hand or foot print as her way of "signing" it, too.
Warmly,
A.

Well original ideas are hard to come by so here are just a few ideas that work well (I should know because my roomate is a teacher). Inexpensive but cute ornaments, coffee products or a $5 Starbucks gift card, hot chocolate basket, small bottles of scented or unscented lotion, something she/he can use in class or a giftcard to buy something for the class, a coffee mug, and popourri. Not all original ideas, but they're not too expensive and most teachers will enjoy these gifts. You can always go the baking route. Cookies, brownies, fudge are good ideas, or my mom used to make Hersey's hot fudge sauce using the Hershey's cocao recipe and sent that in a jar. Hope that helps and good luck!

How about a gift card to a teacher's store. I know they have to pay for alot of things with their own money, so it may help. I second the starbucks card, or a gas card. Walmart or Target cards are good too. I do in-home childcare, and I LOVE getting gift cards!

You could make a button bouquet for them. I make them for other people to give as gifts. I charge $12.00, but you could make your own! All you need are some old buttons different sizes and colors, some pipe cleaners or wire, an old bud vase or salt shaker and some ribbon for a bow.
If you need more directions, just convo me and I will walk you through how to make one!
Good luck!

My daughter is in Middle School and her teachers LOVE Starbucks. I usually do Starbucks gift cards $10-$20 depending on the teacher.

Teachers have way too much lotions, candles, vases, etc. My SIL is a teacher and she said a gift card, even if it is very small is appreciated. Another idea would be books and/or supplies for the classroom because a lot of teachers pay for those out of their own pocket.

TF

Hello L.,

I suggest Thank you notes and a pen. You could also do Sticky notes, notepads or stickers.

Hope this helps.

M.

If we have several at one time, we make Peppermint Biscotti and Hot Chocolate mix. Biscotti usually makes alot and is not the usual baked good.

Remember it is the thought that counts and you are so thoughtful!
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With the economy the way it is no one would expect something out of the ordinary. Home baked items are so wonderful -always. So many people never even say thank you.
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If it was me, I would be so tickled with the small gift bag with colorful tissue paper with home baked goodies inside and a sweet hand written thank you note.

Have fun with your gift giving. No worries! :) C.

We made those concrete stepping stones for one of my son's coaches. You can save money by using an aluminum pie plate for the mold, then you just purchase the concrete material from Micheal's (or similar) and a few stones/tiles to decorate it. THey also have kits that have letters used to press into the mixture before it hardens to personalize it. It takes a little time to fully cure, but it makes a really cute and original gift for not a lot of money. good luck

Gift cards- we think we are in heaven when we get them!

I found online how to make plantable paper. The directions are on the website www.plantablecards.com/makeplantablepaper. Maybe you and your daughter togather to make this.

I would recommend baking something super easy - like homemade sour cream candy or fudge - and creatively wrapping it up. You cannot go wrong with sweets!!

As a middle school teacher at a low-income school, any time a student brought a gift I felt extremely honored. It didn't matter if it was something simple or extravagant, I treated all gifts the same. Some of my favorite gifts received have been simple office supplies: different colored pens to grade papers with, mechanical pencils, sticky notes, and small note pads. Picture frames are also a great gift!

Sounds like you got great ideas for teachers...but if you need more for teachers or anyone else. I sell Silpada Jewelry. You can see my website at www.mysilpada.com/R..anders

Now, for coaches my husband coaches and he loves it when he gets a brand new baseball and all the kids sign it. He puts the team name on it and the year. He loves it b/c he can remember all the kids. Its usually followed with a gift certificate from all the parents just appreciating all his hard work/and time he put into coaching their kids. He loves it.

HI... just wanted to let you know about my website. WWW.Celebritypartyfavors.com I make custom gifts for EVERY budget. We have some adorable valentines custom Hershey bars wrapped in a custom wrapper from your child for only 1.50 each! also we have some very cute Honey bottles shaped like bees that we wrapp in Cello bags and tie with a bow and custom tag saying "Will you BEE my Honey?"

A. J
www.celebritypartyfavors.com

Hi L.~ I am an Independant Consultant for Scentsy. Scentsy is a wickless, flameless, smokeless & leadless candle! They make a great, unique gift. Teachers always love the ceramic plug-in warmers that we have! They are a plug-in, but they are bigger than most people think and really beautiful! We also have over 80 scentsational scents available! The scents are stronger & longer lasting than wicked candles AND since the wax is warmed with a low voltage light bulb instead of a flame, it doesn't get hot enough to burn! Which makes them safe to use in classrooms! Maybe for that extra special teacher ;) We also have the Deluxe Warmers that work the same way, they are just bigger! Check out my website at www.Got2HaveScents.com

Have a Scentsational Day!!

I go to Blockbuster, buy their bucket of microwave popcorn, then I put a couple boxes of candy(inexpensive at Walgreen's..3 for $3), a bottle of soda and a small Blockbuster gift card ($5) and wrap it all up in cellophane. Movie night at home theme......

I am a former high school teacher, and I have to say that these days, at least in public school, the thank-you gifts are so rare that you don't need to worry about being creative. A simple brownie would be much appreciated. $5 gift cards to Starbucks or the movies are also often appreciated. Honestly, a nice thank you card explaining why you appreciate the teacher or coach would probably be more rewarding than anything else you can give.

You might check out this site - www.austinartisan.etsy.com. Etsy is a great place to find neat handmade stuff and this woman has some VERY inexpensive cute things. Good luck!

There are so many teachers and staff that we want to thank that it would be crazy difficult to buy them each something nice. I have bought a meat/cheese tray and put it in the lounge with a little note stuck to it thanking them for all they do, from our family. I have also gone to the dollar store and bought a bunch of small potpourri packets (the kind that you can put under your seat in the car, or in a drawer) and put them in a big basket. Again, I put it in the teacher's lounge with a note from us, inviting everyone to "Please take one!". Good luck! J.

I'm a daycare provider. I think this is a good time for gift cards because everyone's taste is different. Bath and Body Works are good for women even $5 can be a pampering treat. Starbucks, Cheesecake Factory, movie theater are all gift cards that a small dollar amount can still feel special. Flowers still seem extravagant for little $.

I remember one year finding a coffee cup set that had four cups and saucers that were the shape of an apple. Since I had four kids, with four different teachers to give gifts to, I planted a small plant in each cup and wrapped clear wrapping foil over this and tied with a ribbon. My kids helped bake cookies and attached a card, that they wrote themselves, to the teacher. Now for a coach, a nice idea would be a movie night basket. Depending what sport the coach teaches, find a movie that goes along with that sport, a bag of microwave popcorn, a bottle of some kind of soda and maybe a pack of m&m's and arrange this in a large plastic bowl (which can be later used for the popcorn :) ) that you can find at a dollar store and wrap this in clear foil and decorate with ribbon or raffia. Good luck!!

a soda or juice, a packet of microwave popcorn, and a $5 blockbuster gift card.

I'm another former high school teacher, and I agree that a note thanking the teacher is the most meaningful thing you can give. I still have every single one that I got. Be sure to mention any specific ways that they are special to your daughter. You could attach notes to something small, but thoughtful, like a candy bar or something homemade.

In many private schools, the teachers get a lot of gifts during the younger grades, but in public school and all of the older grades, ANY thoughtful remembrance will stand out. So, originality isn't necessary.

Bless you for giving encouragement to her teachers. It's a tough job with low pay, so the intangible rewards (like knowing you're important to a child) serve as the bonus.

Diane

I used to be a teacher and gift cards are great. It doesn't have to be for much. $5 at starbucks is a good one. Baking something would be good too. Just please no mugs! I had abour 30 mugs from students!

Hi, L..

I used to work with special-needs kids. They're wonderful! Gift cards are always welcome, as the other ladies have said. However, if your school has a lounge or coffee room that all the teachers and coaches share, a bag of nice Starbucks or Gevalia coffee for them to use for their morning coffee, along with some baked goods to enjoy along with that, would be a lovely present for everyone at the school. (And really cheap, too, since it's a group gift.) It's hard to beat a bag of gourmet coffee and a plate of brownies, especially when they're wrapped with a nice bow and a sweet card.

You cannot go wrong with gift cards. It can be a clothing store, Blockbuster, Walmart, Target, and it does not have to be a big figure. You can get $5 cards and it will still be appreciated. Sometimes especially around the holidays or Valentines day everyone give out chocolates, candy and or baked goods and there is only so much a person can eat of that. Just a thought.

Avon has a bunch of great gift ideas. check out my website: www.youravon.com/suzannewebb

L.,
I'm not sure how many mugs/cups teachers get, but Walmart has packages of plastic cups (4 or 6) for $1 all the time. You could buy a package of those and 1 - 2 bags of individually wrapped candy (i.e. Hershey's miniatures, Bazooka gum) and put a handful in a piece of colorful Saran Wrap with a bow and place it inside each cup. Have your child write a note and attach it to the ribbon (I use a hole punch and run the ribbon through it).

Most teachers that I talk to do appreciate gift cards. Many send out someone to get "take-out" for lunch, and they seem to love gift cards from Subway, Sonic, Corner Bakery, or whatever is close to the school. They say no amount is too small, and many really appreciate the small gift cards that can be combined with others. Other great places to consider are places that sell school supplies. If the thought of doing gift cards is still hard to manage financially, many teachers still love the homemade cards and items that their students make for them. If you are good at doing crafts efficiently (I'm not) this may be a the better option for you. You can usually judge on what to do for your child's teachers by how long he or she have been teaching. A younger teacher does not have as many of those awesome crafty keepsakes as those who have been teaching for years. And, again, it depends on the teacher. One thing that we did at our school is we sent out a survey asking their birthday, favorite food, sweet, color, activity, favorite restuarant, hobby, etc. This really helped when trying to decide on a year-end appreciation gift. For Valentine's Day, a single long-stem rose is always nice. Or, even better, a beautiful tissue flower made by your child is extremely special. Hope this helps!

One thing I did for my teachers is a small journal set. I got a package of mini-lab books (3 for 99 cents at the Dollar Store, bought some pretty cardstock/heavy paper appropriate for each teacher, letter stickers and a pack of cheap pens. I decorated the books with the paper and added a ribbon around the middle. I used the letter stickers to add their initials. These little notebooks are great for the purse or pocket.

For teacher appreciation last year, I got a 6 pack of candy bars, a 6 pack of bottled sodas and a box of microwave popcorn. I put one of each into little bags with a note and was able to thank the PE teachers, art teacher, music teacher, librarian, and bus driver for under $10 total.