Reader Requests: Teachers Gifts

Shea writes:
I'd love to get some of your ideas for inexpensive, but neat/cool, teacher gifts for my kids teachers. I need to buy 14-15 gifts for my kids' teachers/administrators. I want to keep it in the $10 -$15 range. I'm going to look at the monogrammed key chains from Lauren Nicole Fashions. All but one are for women so I also need to come up with something good for a man (music teacher who is married to one of the administrators). Got any ideas??

Well you know I do, Shea! I will touch on this as we get closer to the holidays and more cute gifts are out after Halloween, but here is a good introductory list for you to take a peek at and see if there’s something that catches your eye.

-One of my favorite little inexpensive gift ideas that makes such a nice impression, is a monogrammed silver keyring from Hand Picked, my favorite silver gift giving site.

-A monogrammed preppy key fob from Sew Gracious Creations for only $8.50! You design each key fob from fabric to webbing to font style and color!

-A monogrammed square silver bookmark is also a great teachers gift, appropriate for a male or female.

-While we’re talking about bookmark;s, these leather bookmarks from Lillian Vernon are SO affordable and come in a handful of great colors that are also personlizable with up to three initials. Now, after Christmas, Lillian Vernon always comes out with a holiday gift buying catalog that has phenomenal teachers gift ideas, and these bookmarks are included in the catalog. However, instead of a heart shape photo opening, they have an apple shaped photo opening which is perfect for a teacher or administrator. You can also check these photo bookmarks out from my favorite photography accessory site, Exposures.

-A personalized insulated beverage container from Lillian Vernon or along these same lines, you can do a personalized stailnless steel insulated travel mug and put a nice bag of specialty coffee, tea bags, or hot cocoa.

-A “Thank You” Message Bean from Spoon Sisters. This is such a creative and special little gift that would be so great for a teacher to keep in the classroom and watch it grow all year long.

-I love the books by Mister Rogers and they make a very thoughtful small gift. Last year I picked up a monogrammed bookmark plus the book Life's Journeys According to Mr. Rogers: Things to Remember Along the Way by Fred Rogers, and on the inside inscribed a little note to each teacher that read: “Dear Mrs. Teacher, Thank you for being a part of my own life journey. With Love, mini monogram.” Alternately, you can also pick up The World According to Mister Rogers too, and write a similar inscription inside. These are the greatest little books!

Now, as a little side note to these suggestions, I will tell you a few things I never give teachers. I never give gift certificates, lotions, potions, or candles. In general (not just for teachers), I just don’t give these things unless I know the person really and tuly loves it because A) a gift card is a little too impersonal for me and B) some people are so sensitive to lotions and scented stuff and besides, teachers get inundated with bath, body, and candles for gifts that I always like to do something differently.

P.S. Don’t forget that you can make any gift, no matter what it cost you look really phenomenal and outstanding with your wrapping, as I talked about a few weeks ago!