end-of-year teacher gifts

i just finished putting together the end-of-the year gifts for our children's teachers for another year. the time sure flies by . . .

i usually like to make something unique, useful and personal for those people who invest so much in the lives of our precious kiddos and this year i came up with this::
handmade soaps from the local blue heron soap company which i picked up at the farmer's market {i love the farmers market!} and some handmade laundry soap in fun {upcycled} etched glass containers that read either "clean" or "wash" that i've been working on all week. {i etched the containers and made the laundry powder myself}. i attached cute little tags to each gift that say "have some good, clean fun this summer". {i was pretty proud of myself for coming up with that one. creativity with words is not usually my strong suit.}

i love gifts that are useful and consumable. and, for me, if it's unique and handmade that is even better! most of us don't need one more "thing" in our homes to clutter things up. right? i'm quite confident that each of the recipients who will be getting these tomorrow both bathes and does laundry, so hopefully they will find it useful . . . and all the more in the summer when so much time is spent outside. especially if you are a teacher and have the summer off!

so, that's what i've been working on . . . along with some shower invitations and a big order of wedding invitations that i hope to finish over the weekend and a baby gift and another wedding gift that i helped my mom to make . . . there's so much creating to be done! i love it!

Fridge Fun

Here are some fun magnets I've been cranking out lately.

Some sets of "Fruit of the Spirit" magnets ($7 for a set of 9):

and a set of fun tree magnets that I love ($5 for a set of 5):

Dress up your fridge today!
These also make a great, unique gift.
Magnets can be customized with words or images of your choice. {My 8-year-old daughter and I just made some with cute pink cupcakes as prizes for the girls at her birthday party}.
Just let me know what you want!

Recent projects

Here are some of my most recent projects:

These 2 are pictures of the decorative clipboards that I make each year as teacher gifts for my children's teachers. The backs are decorated with teacher-friendly alphabet papers with the initials of the teacher highlighted in some way. The fronts of the clipboards are a little more subdued and have personal notes from my kids to their teacher. They are always a hit!
Retail price: $12. (Specify colors and any personalization that you would like.)



Framed wedding: Personalized with wedding date and intials of the bride and groom visible underneath velum printed with "I have found the one my heart loves." (a verse from Song of Songs).
Retail price is dependent on size and choice of frame.

Perfect personal, unique baby gift: Unique framed keepsake shows baby's name and date of birth visible under velum printed with scripture "Children are a gift from the Lord, they are a reward from Him." Matching 6 inch clothes pin decorated with baby's initial and a coordinating ribbon -- great for holding a picture, card or note!
Retail price is dependent on size and choice of frame. Jumbo clothes pins retail for $6 (can be personalized with letter and/or shape and color scheme).