Teacher Gift Ideas

Teacher Appreciation Day is May 7, 2013.

Here are some gifts I have made for Lily’s teachers in the past – just in case you are still looking for ideas!

Alphabet Teacher Vase

Bunch of “Smarties” candy gift with free printable label

DIY sugar scrub gift with free printable jar labels

Cake pop “flower” pot gift

Thirst Quencher gift (cup and drink mix… my theme is Valentine’s Day, could very easily be adapted for teacher appreciated or end of year gift)

MOST POPULAR –> Thanks a “latte” coffee shop gift card holder with free printable card templates

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. That means that I will be making some Candy Candle Centerpieces! These are as frugal as they come and just so FUN to look at!

(You could easily substitute real candles for the battery operated flickering tea lights if you’d rather not have an open flame.)

Lily and I made these Hot Chocolate Spoon Stirrers last year to give to her preschool classmates on Valentine’s Day. They are fairly simply and very inexpensive to make!

We are less than a month away from Valentine’s Day.

Here is a really cute idea for a Valentine for teachers – I made these last year for Lily Bean’s preschool teachers and they were a total hit!

Pucker Up, Valentine! (Super cute teacher Valentine idea with a couple other variations for iced tea or coffee.):

After shopping at Bed Bath and Beyond today, we headed over to Target.  My intention was to check out the holiday clearance – but I could not find a SPECK of ANYTHING that said Christmas or holiday ANYWHERE.  It was like it had all disappeared into a holly jolly abyss.  That was a bummer.

On the other hand, there were some good toy deals to speak of…

Lots of Tag book and various educational software discounts -

Some toys at my Target were up to 50% off -

This VTech color tablet retails for $44.99 and was on clearance for $22.48 -

And I was pretty excited to find this one – I received a TON of requests this holiday season for FurReal Friends Baby Butterscotch – many stores were unable to keep this toy in stock and the ones that did have it averaged $100+.

I found Baby Butterscotch for $83.98 at Target.  And in a very covert operation, I bought it (telling Lily  it was for someone else).  Fortunately she’s only 4 and can still be duped fairly easily.  I will be putting this away and hoping out of sight, out of mind.  This will likely be her big present for her birthday in September or even next Christmas.

But wait – the price gets even better.  I used my Target RedCard to save an additional 5% and then I had a $5 gift card.

Bottom line – I grabbed Butterscotch for $74.78 – NOT BAD!

Lily Bean and I hit the stores today for a little post-holiday shopping.  We checked out the clearance deals at Bed Bath and Beyond (and of course I toted along several 20% off coupons to use).

Hands down the biggest savings that we found were Yankee Candle-related.  On top of being 50% off (holiday scents), the coupons took the large jars from $27.99 list price to less than $14 each.  I picked up jars for next year’s holiday season!

I grabbed this set of outdoor pre-lit trees (originally $80) for $31.99 after discount and coupons.  This is the exact set that Bob and I have been looking for at waaaaaaay less than we were willing to pay!

I couldn’t NOT mention this one – as we strolled around the store I saw this new scent from Yankee – TREEHOUSE OF MEMORIES. Huh.  I stood in the store trying to figure out what exactly a “treehouse of memories” would smell like?  From the picture on the label, I was thinking some sort of nature-y, leafy smell.  Upon smelling it I caught a distinct whiff of “high school boyfriend dowsed in Drakkar Noir cruising through the mall looking for Pearl Jam CDs.”  Memories, yes.  Treehouse, not so much.

Anyway.

I made out like a bandit.

Candles for me, candles for teacher gifts (won’t those baskets make the cutest Valentine’s Day gifts?!), table runners and more…  after coupons and discounts I ended up with $265 of holiday goodness for $135!

Gigantic savings right now at Kohls.com!

Find some great markdowns – including Christmas clearance up to 70% off.

Save an additional 20% off with promo code NEWYEAR20. (Get the same discount in-stores with this 20% off Kohl’s coupon.)

Shop through Ebates to earn 6% cash back.

Coupon/code expires TONIGHT, 12/29/12.