Two videos and giveaways!

09.03.08

Good evening!

Quick post tonight… I am tired!

First, I have TWO videos up.  One is HERE and it is on fun tree cards.  The other is HERE and shows how to use the ink applicators and Distress Inks in a fun way.  This is the project for the second video…

Grow Trees
(c) twopeasinabucket.com

Second, be sure to check out the amazing Loni Steven's new blog.  She is giving away one of the KOTM's I showed here yestereday.  Click HERE to find out more.

Third, I am needing some ideas from you! I want to give a thoughtful gift to the teachers at Colin's Montessori.  There are 5 of them.  It can be something I buy or make – just something really good because these teachers rock. :)  So… if you leave an idea here by Saturday at 11:59pmPST, I will draw a winner of this fab stamp set from Close To My Heart.  It is one of my faves…

CTMH

Thanks!

Last, I have had a few people email me about Close To My Heart and where to get it.  One of my readers sells it and you can find out how to order from her HERE.  Thanks, Jennifer!

Night night..


Leave a Comment

157 thoughts on “Two videos and giveaways!”

  1. Susanne says:
    September 4, 2008 at 5:39 pm

    There are some great ideas in the other posts!
    I know one thing teachers appreciate is not having to cook dinner. How about gift certificates to favorite restaurants tucked inside one of your beautiful cards?

    Reply
  2. Lori-Anne says:
    September 4, 2008 at 5:42 pm

    Hi Jennifer,
    *Homemade cards from the class are wonderful.
    *One teacher I know received a digital scrapbook with the class photos and photos thorought the year.
    *Gift certificates (handmade) for a restaurant/spa
    *those containers filled with cookie supplies (just pour out, mix and bake). I have received a couple of those.

    Lori-Anne

    Reply
  3. Debbie says:
    September 4, 2008 at 5:49 pm

    Being a preschool teacher of children with special needs…just being remembered is very special! TY cards are great! you can never have too many! The teachers I work with LOVE Starbucks Ice Tea…so gift cards are ALWAYS appreciated! Any pampering gifts are good…Walmart gift cards, teacher store cards & restaurant cards! Anything would be appreciated!

    Reply
  4. Gina says:
    September 4, 2008 at 5:50 pm

    Starbucks….anything!!!

    Reply
  5. Jackie W. says:
    September 4, 2008 at 5:53 pm

    Well, besides cards (of course!) you could make a desk calendar. We all need them and they can be tucked into so many places!

    Reply
  6. Celeste E says:
    September 4, 2008 at 6:02 pm

    I have friends that are teachers and I know many teachers spend their own money on things for their classroom. They love to get gift cards to educational/teacher stores. Not sure what is in the area of Cincinnati but where I live there is a store called Fundamentals and one called Larsons.

    Reply
  7. Pam says:
    September 4, 2008 at 6:25 pm

    When I taught I loved to get gifts I could use in my classroom . . . games or toys or supplies. Some teachers would just love to have a coupon for doing a bulletin board for them!!

    Question: I am having trouble with the blue fabric on my Ranger lending foam applicators coming off . . . then they no longer stick to the velcro. Any suggestions?

    pam

    Reply
  8. alicia says:
    September 4, 2008 at 6:41 pm

    How about some really cool press printed cards. Ive seen some great ones on etsy! OR a 2009 calendar, eggpress.com has some fun stuff (online)

    Reply
  9. Sandy Heringer says:
    September 4, 2008 at 7:08 pm

    As a teacher some of my favorite gifts are gift cards for a manicure, health food store, etc. They are always appreciated.

    Reply
  10. Julie Howard says:
    September 4, 2008 at 7:15 pm

    I have done card sets, mini albums, and clear paint cans as gifts. They have all been appreciated by the people I have given them to.

    Please enter me for the RAK – that is a cool set; thanks for offering it!

    Reply
  11. Laura Stewart says:
    September 4, 2008 at 7:39 pm

    They could definitely use some kind of wall or desktop organizer. Maybe something they could put their own photo into.

    Reply
  12. mj says:
    September 4, 2008 at 7:50 pm

    a gift card tucked in a personalized thank you card is definitely appreciated! a set of thank you cards in their favorite color or theme is also useful since teachers always need so many! 🙂

    Reply
  13. Jessica Carter says:
    September 4, 2008 at 8:07 pm

    I had teachers like that thispast year too!
    Here’s what I did for them….money flowers!
    http://limesncoconut.blogspot.com/2008/05/teachers-gifts.html
    scroll down a little past the candy bars and you will see the process!
    Have fun and the teacher will love whatever you do!

    Reply
  14. Kathy says:
    September 4, 2008 at 8:19 pm

    set of all occasion cards, storage containers or tote bags are usually well received…and yours would be gorgeous.

    Love your blog.

    Reply
  15. Linda Peterson says:
    September 4, 2008 at 8:41 pm

    I think a few handmade greeting cards, wrapped up with a ribbon is a very nice gift. Love your blog.
    Linda Peterson

    Reply
  16. HeathreP says:
    September 4, 2008 at 8:57 pm

    I think that giving a set of handmade thank you notes is a fabulous idea. I also think that giving either a little gift set or gift certificate to a “luxury for me” kind of place (The Body Shop, etc.) allows such people to treat themselves and help them relax after dealing with so many kids (even if they are perfectly behaved!) every day. I would appreciate that if I were a teacher, anyway! Good luck making a decision – I’m sure you will come up with a fabulous gift.

    Reply
  17. Lisa says:
    September 4, 2008 at 8:59 pm

    HI Jennifer, I like taking buckets of unpopped corn, adding two bottles of coke, boxes of candy, and Blockbuster gift cards. Wrap it all up in clear wrap, tie with a bunch of ribbon and you have a fun gift!
    Thanks for doing another giveaway!

    Reply
  18. Mary says:
    September 4, 2008 at 9:24 pm

    I have a good idea. You could get a good notebook. (not the kind for school.) You could decorate each page with their stamped name and add flower stamps around the name too. (If they are girls.) But don’t color them in, just quickly stamp each page. I’m sure it won’t take long. And you could decorate the cover, too. very cute♥♥♥

    Reply
  19. Kathy says:
    September 4, 2008 at 9:25 pm

    I am a teacher and I have to second those who said that we collect too many well meaning gifts (please, no more coffee mugs). Sweet treats are always appreciated, spa gift certicicates are a luxury many teacher’s don’t splurge on, and some parents have given bottles of wine for the holidays or champagne for the end of the year – always fun and we toast the giver! Things for the class are great if the classes are underfunded or in need, but if the teachers are overworked and need a little pampering, it is nice to have parents think of you as a person, not just as a teacher!
    Best, and thanks for asking the question,
    Kathy

    Reply
  20. Swedie says:
    September 4, 2008 at 9:35 pm

    Chocolate is not original… but always nice to receive! Or perhaps stationary or a set of note cards.

    Swedie

    Reply
  21. Swedie says:
    September 4, 2008 at 9:36 pm

    Chocolate is not original… but always nice to receive! Or perhaps stationary or a set of note cards.

    Swedie

    Reply
  22. Meghan says:
    September 4, 2008 at 10:30 pm

    my mom is a retired teacher, and her favorite things to receive were always gift certificates for book stores, movie theatres and coffee shops – they would’ve been even more impressive in a beautiful handmade gift card holder. 🙂

    basically anything that DOESN’T say “#1 Teacher” – she sure got a lot of that paraphernalia throughout her career – double the usual, because she taught kindergarten!

    Reply
  23. charli says:
    September 4, 2008 at 11:21 pm

    I had ds make altered rocks…we put “Mrs. X Rocks” on small rocks with rub-ons and stickers (one on each rock) and put them in a little decorative dish. You could make one bigger one they could use for a papeweight and give them blank cards with it. Or put a little bag of treats (muffins? cookies? Homemade bread?) or small potted plant in the center of the little dish with the rocks around it.

    Reply
  24. Zarah says:
    September 4, 2008 at 11:21 pm

    My best idea is this:
    Check out the Skip to my Lou-blog!
    http://www.skiptomylou.org
    She even has a “teacher appreciation ideas-section” and believe me, she rocks!!

    Should you happen to draw my name in this – please, give the stamps to her. She deserves them!! 😀

    Reply
  25. Judy says:
    September 4, 2008 at 11:41 pm

    Hi Jennifer,
    You make such lovely cards, why not make
    them each a set. I like to make a holder for them with two larger envelopes. Cut off the flap of one and tuck the other in so they are connected. You could also do monogrammed note
    cards.

    Reply
  26. kim3timemom says:
    September 4, 2008 at 11:48 pm

    What about a box of handmade cards. They make great gifts. Thanks so much for the chance to win.

    Reply
  27. Mel says:
    September 4, 2008 at 11:53 pm

    Coming from a family of teachers—step away from the apples. Trust me, they’re overwhelmed and, frankly, sick of receiving gifts with apples on them. Honestly, a wonderful card with a gift card in it to a store where they can purchase supplies for their classroom (Target, a local office supply store or OfficeMax/Depot/Staples, Wal-Mart) and such is awesome. The average teacher ends up spending between 200 and 1,000 of their own money on classroom supplies and materiels a year-help them out with those expenses!

    Reply
  28. Kristy says:
    September 5, 2008 at 12:06 am

    As a teacher I love to receive hand made cards, especially Thank yous, as well as gift cards. My favorite gift cards are from the local coffee shops and book stores. Some days I’ve even been surprised to find my favorite java sitting on my desk as the students arrive! So nice. Teachers usually don’t get a very long time for lunch, translation…no going out and grabbing a bite! One year a nice group of parents handed us a menu and asked for our order. They came back at lunch time bringing us our lunch, including a wonderful dessert. It was wonderful!

    Reply
  29. Felicia Lie says:
    September 5, 2008 at 12:58 am

    I thought this is cute 🙂

    there are a lot of other ideas from her also

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvdTcjSqwGw

    Reply
  30. J. Harmon says:
    September 5, 2008 at 2:19 am

    Your work is beautiful, I am sure (as many others have said) that the teachers would love a personalized stationary set. Gift cards to Barnes and Noble are great too, books and coffee!

    Reply
  31. Belinda says:
    September 5, 2008 at 2:25 am

    How about a book with all the pictures of the children in it ? The teachers can write their comment in it, for every child a small piece of journalling. That way, they will have a memory of that particular year and will always remember all of the children by their photo’s etc…

    Reply
  32. edie3 says:
    September 5, 2008 at 5:07 am

    Have you seen these chihttp://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/coastergiftbox.phppboard coaster boxes?
    You could put pens, pencils, markers, even a gift card in these.

    Reply
  33. Tina in Springboro says:
    September 5, 2008 at 7:25 am

    Good Morning Jennifer – My SIL is a teacher and she received the following as a gift and loved it: A vintage plate along with an assortment of gourmet/speciality cheeseball and bread mixes. Also included were a set of decorative cheeseball knives. Hope this helps. Of course anything added to the gift made by you would be wonderful as well!!

    Reply
  34. Rhonda Higginbotham says:
    September 5, 2008 at 8:05 am

    Below are a couple of ideas that we have given to our daughters’ teachers in previous years. They can both be found at http://www.qvc.com.

    Of course, there are all sorts of calendar kits available to purchase. These are fun to give already decorated and filled with photos or to give for the recipient to decorate. (Colin might like to help too!) 🙂

    F184872 Year 2008 Calendar Kit by S.E.I. Inc. – 8×8
    QVC Price: $19.84

    ——————————————————————————–

    The jewelry cases are great for people who love to travel.

    F04369 Flip Out Croco Embossed Bonded Leather Jewelry Case
    QVC Price: $26.28

    Hope this helps!

    Reply
  35. Lisa says:
    September 5, 2008 at 9:00 am

    A teacher survival kit is a big hit and so are gift certificates in a handmade card. I’ve used several of your card ideas and the receipients have always been very pleased.

    Reply
  36. Kathy W says:
    September 5, 2008 at 9:17 am

    I’m sure it’s been mentioned several times before, but one of my favorite gifts is a Starbucks gift card. And some of your homemade cards would be wonderful!

    Reply
  37. Pam N. says:
    September 5, 2008 at 11:15 am

    Handmade “gift” coupons or “certificates” for volunteering an hour or half-day in the classroom, maybe to help with a “special” art project. Teachers of small kids love an extra pair of hands some days!

    Reply
  38. Wyattsmommy says:
    September 5, 2008 at 11:18 am

    There is a really creative scrapbooker on Scrapbook.com that made a really really cool “Teacher Survival Kit” for her childrens’ teachers. I have attached the links below:
    http://www.scrapbook.com/galleries/186615/view/1675541/-1/0/1.html

    http://adailyinspiration.blogspot.com

    Good luck! Wyattsmommy

    Reply
  39. MARILYN NIMMO says:
    September 5, 2008 at 12:17 pm

    The teachers at the school where I used to work love the altered clipboards I made for some of them. Notecards are also a great gift. There is a great notecard portfolio on Lasting Impressions website, featured on craftTV weekly. These were well appreciated by our teachers as well. The altered large clothespins are useful as well to hold notes. Lots of luck!

    Reply
  40. Grace Tolman says:
    September 5, 2008 at 12:45 pm

    I really don’t think I can give you an idea that you haven’t come up with yet. I’m sure you’re going to rock whatever altered project you’ll be making. I always just make a bucket full of fun girly stuff. Nothing that screams teacher cause I know they get that a lot. I like to make little buckets full of lotions, chapsticks, a magazine, etc.
    Goodluck and post your creations. I’d love to see them. 🙂

    Reply
  41. Toni says:
    September 5, 2008 at 1:24 pm

    Since teachers give so much of themselves to others, give a mani/pedi gift cert. for a speicial “just them day”, or if they’re married, give them a dinner and a movie combo gift for down time w/their hubby. With whatever you decide, give a sweetly decorated note of thanks to them with their goodies!

    Reply
  42. Beth says:
    September 5, 2008 at 2:39 pm

    More and more these days I believe that gift cards are the best way to go and you can tuck it into one of your fabulous gift card holder cards!

    Reply
  43. Sabrina Rauch says:
    September 5, 2008 at 4:48 pm

    I always like the idea of a variety of cards that they can use- birthday, thank yous and the like. What about a mini book to put pictures of the kids from their class this year in? I know one year we made a money tree for my daughter’s teacher. The leaves were cut outs of the kids handprints and the “apples” were gift cards to various places.

    Awesome stamp set by the way.

    Reply
  44. Wendy Lust says:
    September 5, 2008 at 8:09 pm

    I think anyone would love to receive a nice assortment of handmade cards from you. And you could include a gift card in one to a teacher’s store…my husband is a teacher and he has to spend his own money to supplement what he needs. If not you could make it a gift card for a luxury instead.

    Reply
  45. Sheri says:
    September 5, 2008 at 9:06 pm

    Hi Jennifer, my teacher friends appreciate all gifts, so feel free to share what makes you happy too. They especially enjoy non-work related gifts. They spend so much of their own money and time for their classrooms that a gift for themselves is absolutely special. It shows that you appreciate them and want them to do or have something they enjoy separate from school. Of course when you present it in a Jennifer McGuire creation, well… that just makes it all that more special.

    Reply
  46. Pam C. says:
    September 5, 2008 at 9:39 pm

    My daughter is a teacher. Although every gift is appreciated because someone took the time to buy, make or prepare something…the last thing she wants is “food”, especially around the holidays.

    Gift cards are number one. It is nice to be able to take the whole family out or just hubby for an evening alone. If they have no family near them, even babysitting while they go out (if they are comfortable leaving their kids with you if they have children) is always a plus.

    Reply
  47. Emily R. says:
    September 5, 2008 at 10:07 pm

    Hmmm…..As a teacher myself, I always appreciate all gifts received from the families, yet some stick out!

    Last year I received a very practical gift bag! It included a fun water bottle, Two boxes of 1 gallon Ziploc bags,2 boxes of Sandwich Ziploc bags,a giant box of Avery labels,Chocolates, Tissues,Hand Sanitizer, and a pack of personalized note cards that the Mom designed on her computer! The gifts were all tucked into a cute tote bag that had the same design as the note cards! Super cute and very much appreciated!

    I use the labels so the children can label their work! The Ziploc bags have multiple uses in a classroom!

    I also really enjoy receiving cards of thanks from parents and children! I save them all. I have them tucked into a box. When I’m having a bad day, I take a peek at the cards to give myself a spark of happy thoughts!!!

    Reply
  48. Tricia says:
    September 5, 2008 at 11:25 pm

    cards made by you would be nice — you always do excellent, first-class work! and to top it off, you could always put a nice gift card to your local mall in there — that way they can purchase something special just for them. good luck! tricia

    Reply
  49. Kristi B says:
    September 6, 2008 at 12:05 am

    I like to give a movie theme gift for the kids teachers. A cute little bag with 2 movie tickets, a bag of microwave popcorn, some twizzlers/red vines, M&M’s. Depending on the teacher, I have also thrown in a concession stand gift card for some goodies at the theater. When my daughter was in Montessori preschool & had several teachers, I changed it to be a Blockbuster gift card instead of the movie tickets (to keep the cost down).

    Reply
  50. Beth Warren says:
    September 6, 2008 at 1:10 am

    Here are my teacher gift suggestions:

    #1 Explosion Album (cute and small)

    #2 – 4 by 4 mini album – small enough to keep in a purse, you can have class photos,
    ask kids what they liked about the teacher

    #3 – Make a card that has a gift card holder (I know there are examples or directions online) and get a gift card to Borders or Barnes & Noble – teachers like it because they can buy stuff for themselves or their classroom.

    #4 – a cute altered pencil/pen holder – teachers always need to have extra pens/pencils available.

    #5 – cute altered lesson planner

    I guess thats it…good luck!

    Beth

    Reply

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