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Kathleen - Welcome to a chat for sharing gift ideas!
Kathleen - Something I made last year and will this year for my students' families: Ornament: walnut shell halves, spray painted gold inside and out, small photo of child tucked inside, add yarn or ribbon for hanging. Can add felt "holly" top front, if desired. They really like them!
Lou - Help!! Does anyone know how to make scented ornaments
Kathleen - Lou, do you mean like an orange studded with cloves?
Kathleen - Is everyone looking mostly for ideas for gifts to students? or others too?
¤êrã§êr¤ - scented ornaments are scented by a spray application found in craft stores
Kathleen - or the scent can be in an oil
Lou - No, I am thinking of one that you have to bake in the oven. I would like for my children to make them for their parents
Gumbo/K/La - do you mean the applesauce and cinnamon ones?????/
Lou - yes!!!!!
n2kids - I'm looking for gift ideas for our business partners. Something cheap but doesn't look cheap.
mel - There's a cinnamon dough recipe on the teachers chatboard now
¤êrã§êr¤ - Lou then use standard baking ingredients...cinnamon, allspice...etc
Lou - Thanks a million. You guys are great
Grade 1 teacher - Hi everyone. Any good ideas for parents gifts?
Vicki/K - the applesauce and cinnamon ones don't need to be put in the oven, they just air dry..
Kathleen - We have to be sure that those recipes and craft ideas go into the lesson bank at http://teachers.net/lessons
icollectbears - Has anyone ever tried to make the wreaths from plastic bags and wire coat hangers?
Kathleen - For parent gift, green handprints to form wreath on muslin fabric, attached to dowel is nice
n2kids - I've seen that wreath done before. I've done it with colored tissue paper. Whew, time consuming!
Kathleen - no, I'm not familiar with the wreath out of plastic bags and coat hangers.
Kathleen - There were some great ideas for kids' activities during the Early Childhood meeting last night. THEMES AND ACTIVITIES FOR DECEMBER 12/1/98
n2kids - What about gift ideas for business partners?
Kathleen - I enjoyed receiving a gift that I now put together to give to others (co-workers, friends, could be for room parents):
Confetti Bean Soup - Present as a gift in a plain 1 quart jar, lid covered with a pretty round of fabric, tied on with ribbon or yarn, cooking instructions attached to the tie. An attractive, useful, unique, inexpensive gift. Can be assembled weeks, even months in advance. These directions make 4 jars of soup mix.
In large bowl, mix:
1 16 oz bag of each of these (all dry beans):
black beans, Great Northern beans, red kidney, pinto, green split-pea.
Divide the combined beans into four 4-cup jars (about 3 rounded cups of beans in each jar).
Prepare seasoning bags. Place 1 seasoning bag in each jar.
Seasoning Bags: Cut four 6-inch squares plastic wrap. Onto each square place 3 beef-flavor bouillion cubes, 3 tablespoons dried chopped chives, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon dried savory, 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin, 1/2 teaspoon coarsley ground black pepper and one bay leaf.. Gather plastic wrap up to form a pouch; tie with a string or ribbon.
Confetti Bean Soup Cooking Directions
About 3 hours before serving:
1. Rinse beans from one container of Confetti Soup Mix with running cold water and discard any stones or shriveled beans. In 5 qt. Dutch oven over high heat, heat beans and 9 cups water to boil; cook for 3 minutes. Remove from heat; cover and let stand for one hour. Drain and rinse
beans.
2. Return beans to Dutch oven; add contents of seasoning bag from mix and 5 cups water; over high heat, heat to boiling. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 1 1/2 hours or until beans are tender, stirring occasionally.
3. Add one 14-16 oz. can stewed tomatoes with its liquid; over high heat, heat to boiling. Reduce heat to low; cook, unc overed, 15 minutes longer, stirring to break up tomatoes. Discard bay leaf.
Makes 6 main-dish servings. 345 calories, 2 g fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 1065 mg sodium.
mel - We made T-shirts for kids-1 thumbprint from each student - one at the top, 2 next , 3 next, so on-my thumbprint was the trunk (in brown) labeled each first name under print, very small-very cute
Gumbo/K/La - make popscicle stick star, have kids decorate with glitter,confetti,etc. then put photo in center.......
Vicki/K - Cinnamon Ornament-- 3 3/4 oz ground cinnamon and 1/2 cup applesause... Mix to the consistency of cookie dough.. Roll the dough between two sheets of waxed paper.
¤êrã§êr¤ - Aunt Annies page host tons of craft ideas http://www.auntannie.com/
Kathleen - mel, did you use inkpads? that sounds very cute, could be a hanging on fabric, too!
mel - i used liquid fabric paint
Gumbo/K/La - kathleen-----also make reindeer hanging on muslin----footprint for head, handprints for antlers, kids paint in eyes, red pompom nose.......
JLC - A parent showed me Woman's Day today. It had a cute snowman made from one white sock. It is stuffed and tied into three section. Button eyes and a few patches here and there. very cute
Sherri - When I taught first grade, we made pretzel wreaths. We made a circle of pretzels (the small twisted ones), then glued them together. We then stacked more pretzels on top and glued those together and to the first circle of pretzels. Then we tied a ribbon through the top. We also sprayed them with shellac. Really cute! My directions might be hard to understand???? Oh yeah--we weaved colored ribbon through the holes in the pretzels and made it long enough to come out the top to hang.
x-mas tree - any recipe for a turkey this Christmas
Gumbo/K/La - business partners------what about magnets of some sort with school logo, kid drawings laminated,etc......also maybe business card holders......
Farmer Girl - Puzzle pieces painted and then shaped into a wreath are good too..we use these with our preschoolers
Marvie - puzzle pieces...hmmmm
Kathleen - Sherri, what kind of glue did you use for the pretzel wreaths?
JLC - A cute craft turkey is to use a lime for the body and large gumdrops for the feet and head (attached with toothpicks). Use smaller gumdrops stacked on toothpicks for the tail feathers. Whole cloves for the eyes.
n2kids - Thanks Gumbo. Know of any fancy ways wrap candies....colored cellophane?
Sherri - Just good ol' Elmers glue!
Tracy - My idea is a bed warmer. The bed warmer is made just like a pillow. The only exception is that it is filled with rice. The warmer can be placed in the microwave for 2 minutes and then put in a sleve similar to a pillow case in matching fabric. This makes a very cute gift and people just love it.
Gumbo/K/La - puzzle pieces wreaths for business partners---attach note saying, "We love you to pieces!" ??????
¤êrã§êr¤ - Magnets are great! mount childs sculpture onto magnet piece...simple pattern piece or miniature of some sort
Gumbo/K/La - n2-----use the colored plastic wrap------probably easier to work with.....
Marvie - Bean Wreaths: an assortment of different types of dry beans. Mix them up in a mixture of glue and water, then spread them on a wreath shaped piece of cardbaord. When the beans dried, we sprayed them with shellac, and put a bow at the bottom. We put student pictures in the middle of the wreath. They were pretty and all kid made.
Marvie - Tracy: bed warmer? rice? uncooked rice?
Farmer Girl - Muslin angels...gather a sguare...print a holly on it small wooden ball for its head...attach a broach pin on it so cute...sold these for 2.00
Gumbo/K/La - can also make puzzle piece Christmas trees.......
Tracy - Another idea is a scented pot holder. The pot holder is made similar to the bed warmer only smaller. The rice that is inside is mixed with spices such as whole cloves, whole allspice, and cinnamon sticks. When a warm pot is placed on the pot holder, a nice aroma fills the kitchen.
n2kids - I thought about something simple like using the colored wrap to wrap Hershey's hugs and kisses, with a decorative bow and some type of cute message.
Gumbo/K/La - can also glue things on pinch clothespins......glue magnet strip on back......
Farmer Girl - Scented hot pads..filled with rice and scented with cinnamon oil..set a pot on it and aroma comes out
Tracy - The bed warmer when heated is placed under the sheets to warm up the bed on a cold night. The rice is UNCOOKED!
Sherri - We have also made bread warmers out of clay. Flatten clay into a round circle. Put thumbprints around outer edge. Press evergreen leaves in center. Write year, etc., with a toothpick in center. Fire in kiln. To use, heat in oven, then wrap in towel and place under bread or biscuits.
Gumbo/K/La - tracy------sounds nice----make sure they don't substitue popcorn for the rice, huh??? LOL :-)
Farmer Girl - Santa pins out of cinnamon sticks easy to do
Kathleen - has anyone made those hard candy wreaths, somehow candies all fastened together, have to be cut off with scissors?
Farmer Girl - Reindeer out of clothespins...
Gumbo/K/La - on pinch clothespins magnets-------little shape with "My child (or child's name) drew this for me!"
n2kids - Kat, they're beautiful, but don't know how they're done.
Farmer Girl - kathleen those are great..you can do them on braided yarn too
mel - this year i'm trying pinecone Christmas trees-decorated tuna can-filled with sand-pine cone sticks in sand(after being soaked) sprinkle grass seed into pine cone-supposed to grow after ten days and becomes a tree! have to start Friday!
Farmer Girl - puter is so slow tonight..
n2kids - Farmer Girl, how are they made?
Farmer Girl - Just take many stands of yarn....thick braids...bows at the bottom..attach candy with pieces of yarn..they cut them off..much easier for little ones to do...I suppose you could put other Christmas things on the braided yarn..be creative...
Sherri - Ideas for what to give students for Christmas/Hanukkah?
Gumbo/K/La - sherri---coupon for night off from homework?????
Kathleen - I give the standard book, pencil, make that one walnut shell ornament as my gift.
Gumbo/K/La - our grade group makes word boxes for each child, and send list of suggestions on how to work with them......I also do crafts, so I make earrings for the girls, tie tacks for the boys......
Gumbo/K/La - ...and of course the magic reindeer food..... ;-)
Farmer Girl - I still have my childrens ornaments that they made in school over 15 years ago...love them on the tree
Sherri - what are the word boxes, Gumbo?
mel - i have put little bells on velvet ribbon with bows for the girls-
Farmer Girl - For the preschoolers...I made each one a cloth bag with their name on it...so cute..my daughter still has hers...
Gumbo/K/La - ya'll----was just in bargain store yesterday---they had like 20 plastic ornaments in a pack for $2.00......could get ink pen and write each child's name on one......
stormywolfe - i need some ideas that are not christmasy just something simple preschoolers can make
Gumbo/K/La - sherri------word box is set of over 100 sight words on colored cardstock (parents cut them out) and put in plastic freezer container....
Farmer Girl - I have a computer sewing machine...I have monogrammed many gifts..or put their names on things..for the basketball girls..towels with the teams motto and their name on the towels..have also given boxer shorts to the team...names on them too.
Gumbo/K/La - also for little ones------use 3 popscile sticks, wiggly eyes, pompom nose and ribbon to make reindeer necklace.......
Sherri - Gumbo, do you supply a list of games and activities to do with the words?
Gumbo/K/La - sherri------yes.....
Farmer Girl - My daugher made me a beautiful necklace out of pinto beans...I still wear it..grade 2 at the time
Gumbo/K/La - make rubber stamps for the kids......shaped erasers glued onto recycled film cannisteres.......
Sherri - Are the erasers like the ones from Oriental Trading Co. that you get by the gross?
Gumbo/K/La - sherri---yes, and VERY cheap.......I get em here for holidays,etc. for class projects.......kids love to use them......don't hot glue them, they'll pop off.....use E-6000 craft glue......
Farmer Girl - I make beautiful bags for many of my teacher friends...lots of work but very nice
Farmer Girl - I also make blank cards with my scrapbooking stamps...embossed gold
Sherri - what a neat idea, Gumbo! My kids would love it!
Farmer Girl - Orinetal trading is a super place for "cheap" stuff
Boni - a great oranment picture frame that I have made with my students for several years is made with rice, school glue and green food coloring
Farmer Girl - Cinnamon rolls in a basket are yummy too...colleagues love these
Farmer Girl - We have secret santas at our school some of us make all kinds of goodies..I am crafty so I do lots of things...
Farmer Girl - Homemade pretzel sticks covered with white chocolate,dark chocolate and dipped in nuts..yummy
Gumbo/K/La - you can cover cans with string, beads,etc. to make pen holders......real cute and easy......
Farmer Girl - Love those pencil cans..we sprayed painted them and then sponge painted them..they turned out beautiful
Ronnie - I'm taking a 12x15" piece of burlap and cutting around with pinking shears. Fold over a one inch width at the top and hot glue to make a pocket. Coat each child's left hand with red fabric paint and right hand with green paint. With gold paint, print "1998". Slip in a piece of doweling, tied with a piece of red yarn.
Kathleen - Boni, how do you make that frame?
Farmer Girl - Another idea for fellow teachers is gourmet popped corn...chocolate, strawberry/kiwi etc..so delicious
Ronnie - For teachers, how about chocolate coated stirring spoons?
Farmer Girl - Ronnie how do you do that...just dipped spoons in flavored chocolate like the ones that are purchased?
Ronnie - I just finished a batch, flavored with Grand Marnier
Ronnie - I melt chocolate, flavor it and dip in the spoons, wrap with cellophane and ribbon! A coffee treat
Gumbo/K/La - oooohhhhh, ronnie......those are wonderful......make sure you get the HEAVY plastic ones, farmer......
Mountainette 4/WV - What kind of chocolate do you melt?
Farmer Girl - You can make any fabric applique if you back it with Wonder Under...you can make any design etc...iron it on anything
Ronnie - semi sweet baking chocolate or even milk chocolate (ss holds up better though)
Farmer Girl - Mountain...candy making chocolate..must use a double boiler for chocolates
Gumbo/K/La - I'm gonna take my chocolate covered spoon from Ronnie and head over to farmer's house for some coffee and cinnamon rolls......after kathleen's soup!!!!
Ronnie - One year I went together with another teacher and we canned antipasto......that was a hit
Farmer Girl - My foods students make much chocolate during the holiday season...suckers, etc..great labs
Farmer Girl - Gumbo....come on over..would love to have you..
Mountainette 4/WV - Gumbo, pick me up on your way!!!
Gumbo/K/La - ronnie------that IS nice.....I used to make caponata for friends......
Farmer Girl - You could also make hot chocolate mix and put that in pretty containers...
Ronnie - sorry for my ignorance, what is caponata?
Joan - How do you can antipasto?
Farmer Girl - Gumbo...caponata..tell me..
Farmer Girl - I love pizzelles...make those and give many of them away..
Gumbo/K/La - caponata - eggplant appetizer......green and black olives, tomatoes.....very Sicilian..... LOL..... :-)
jan - I have 33first graders no aid I have no clue what I will do this year .....any ideas my classroom is so crowded we can't even sit on the floor
Farmer Girl - If you can buy plain plaster ornaments the children can paint them and put their pictures in them..my kids use to make those..love them
Ronnie - I use small 2c canning jars that are carried in grocery stores all year long. Sterilize the jars and lids, fill them and process them for 20-25 minutes
Kathleen - jan, maybe a one page, one year calendar. run it off, cut it close and paste onto oaktag, add child's photo and have the child decorate the border. Laminate if possible
Farmer Girl - pizzelles...Italian cookie made in a pizzelle iron..like a beautiful round hard waffled...crisp and yummy
Ronnie - Jan, can you get your hands on 33 baby food jars?
Mountainette 4/WV - I read in my mail ring something about making a "sand Jar" only you layer stuff for a chocolate chip cookie recipe. Then write a note about what "wet " stuff to add
Kathleen - Oh, yes, Farmer, I never knew the name of those wonderful things = pizzelles!
Gumbo/K/La - jan------do things in shifts---that's what I do with my 27......some of us work on gifts,special projects, the rest do 'work' or free centers.......stick to simple cut and paste kind of things-----cut out some felt ornaments and let them deorate withglitter, then glue phote in center.....
Joan - Pizzelles are great to give as gifts.
Arizgirl - Pretzel wreaths..buy the small pretzels make a circle..use elmers to glue them use christmas ribbon put a bow on it...if your real creative you can put childs picture in the middle and make it either an ornament or a magnet..
jan - baby food jars....probably
Gumbo/K/La - bye, farmer......thanks for making us hungry-----we're all coming over in the morning for cinnamon rolls..... ;-)
Ronnie - Tear up holiday coloured tissue paper, supply watered down white glue and brushes. Glue on tissue paper and paint over top with the glue as well, drop in a small cheap votive candle! Gift, cheap!
Kathleen - Ronnie, that makes a pretty vase, too.
Ronnie - They look like little stained glass windows
Gumbo/K/La - ronnie----I've seen those----they are SO pretty with the candle glowing inside!
Arizgirl - another project is to have them use old christmas cards and make gift bags using plain paper bags some ribbon glitter and stamps, hand prints etc...make a packet as a gift...
jan - Ronnie thanks
Joan - How about chocolate covered pretzels with colored jimmies on them?
Kathleen - Save calendars and holiday cards..we'll have a session in January about how to use them for classroom activities, crafts
Joan - They are so easy to make. Even potato chips are easy to cover with chocolate.
Mountainette 4/WV - Since I teach WV History, we make little West Virginias out of cinnamon and applesauce and glue and use them for Xmas ornaments
Arizgirl - A gift I got last year that is wonderful and not very expensive ..you use a mason jar..potpourri..and very short strand of christmas lights.. a doile..and ribbon..you put the potpourri and lights in the jar have the cord coming out thetop at the back..use
Arizgirl - use flashers for the lights..the heat from the lights puts out the scent of th potpouri
Gumbo/K/La - well, THANKS for all your great ideas!!!!
jan - great ideas Merry Christmas
Arizgirl - another idea for cards is to take them and paste them to a piece of tag board use lace around edges put a ribbon across the top for hanging on a wall ..a friend made one with a favorite prayer..really sweet..
