For holiday DIY inspiration, browse this collection of charming handmade gift tutorials, each featuring an outside-the-box gift that teachers will actually want to receive.
Personalized Sharpie Mugs and More
This year, opt for a perfectly customized teachers’ gift that keeps on giving. This DIY Sharpie Dinnerware tutorial, courtesy of The Sweetest Occasion, walks readers through a super simple process, from selecting blank-canvas ceramic pieces to the finishing touch—a trip to the oven to set the ink.
The folks at Hey Gorgeous Events have taken the delicate charm of vintage china to new heights with this DIY teacup candle tutorial—and half the fun of this DIY gift is selecting a vessel perfectly suited to the gift recipient. Dealing with someone decidedly less dainty? Opt for a small jar instead, or even miniature terra cotta pots.
For a teacher earning top marks in preparedness, these unbelievably quick and easy DIY sewing kits, courtesy of Momtastic, are almost too good to be true. Select a fabric, follow the tutorial for arranging a handmade pin cushion, then stuff with all the quick-fix essentials of a traditional sewing kit.
A perfectly on-theme gift for teachers, a DIY chalkboard will be right at home in any classroom. Courtesy of Shoes Off, Please, this tutorial makes use of chalkboard paint and hand-decorated frames for easy personalization.
A wonderfully simple, inexpensive gift idea, these DIY yarn bookmarks from Design Mom are a holiday procrastinator’s dream come true. Have the kids select a handful of yarn colors well-suited to their favorite schoolteachers, and follow the step-by-step for constructing quick, simple, perfectly uniform pom poms.
Edible gifts are hard to beat around the holidays, but a layered take-home mix as gorgeous as this one makes for a close second best. We especially love this decadent brownie recipe from baking blog Call Me Cupcake, but the gift-in-a-jar concept extends far beyond sweet and well into savory—give this Wild Mushroom, Bean and Barley Mix a try if you suspect your gift-ee is missing a sweet tooth.
Talk about a personal touch! Pay a visit to the gals at A Beautiful Mess and learn to craft your very own tea bags. Create your own custom loose leaf blend, or take a shortcut and select a tried-and-true seasonal blend at your local market. And don’t forget the tags—a personalized tag is the perfect opportunity for extra credit.
This tutorial from Morning Creativity is ideal for the school-teacher crowd. Though originally intended as a business card holder, your favorite educators will surely be smitten with one of these perched on a desktop, as they’re ideal for stowing photographs, notes and contact info—or even housing desktop essentials like paper clips and Post-it pads.
For the self-proclaimed pet lovers among your kid’s favorite teachers and coaches, offer up a selection of homemade treats. These doggie delights from Flourish are a piece of cake—though the recipe is much closer to a whipping up a quick batch of cookies. We recommend wrapping these up tight in an oversized jar or decorative tin.
