Best of Etsy: Teacher gifts

A little gift is a great way to honour all the hard work your children’s teachers do to help them grow and learn. And these lovely and unique handmade gifts from Etsy are sure to let them know how appreciated they are.

A simple and thoughtful piece of artwork always makes a great gift, and this sweet teacher print made by Cheryl at Hairbrained Schemes is sure to put a smile on that special teacher’s face and give him or her an inspiring new way to decorate the classroom or a room at home.

SheKnows Canada: Why do you think it’s important to offer special gifts to our teachers?

Cheryl: I have this description on one of my teacher-inspired prints: “Whether you want to thank them for mentoring and leading the great minds of tomorrow or if you have a 10 year old son that you might have to do a little feather smoothing for, any teacher would be proud to hang this in their classroom.” While it was written tongue-in-cheek, it has a wee bit of truth behind it. I have two boys who are now teenagers, and we have been so lucky throughout our school experience to have had mostly exceptional teachers. I always tell my boys that school is mostly for learning how to get along in the world. The academics are important, but teachers are the people who have your children for the majority of their waking hours. They are not only educating them; they are helping form the adult version of who your little people will one day grow up to be. I think that deserves recognition.

SK: What do you think sets your pieces apart from other, similar products available on Etsy?

C: The tagline on my shop is “modern graphic art that won’t break the bank.” My prints are unique, affordable and completely customizable. I don’t sell fine art. I strive to create pieces that make people giggle or read and think, “Yup. I get that.” I also feel that good customer service is becoming a lost art. I would jump through hoops to make my customers happy. Thankfully my customers have been too nice to make me jump through hoops so far.

Everyone can use a key chain to help them keep track of their keys and other important items, and this hand-stamped, personalized ruler key chain made by Pam (a.k.a. Mrs. C.) at Metal Memories is the perfect way to help teachers do so. Or for a slightly different twist, you can get this personalized ruler as a necklace!

SheKnows Canada: Why do you think it’s important to offer special gifts to our teachers?

Pam: Teachers are with our children for a huge portion of the day. They get to know them and care for them. Parents like to show their appreciation to teachers throughout the year with gifts. Many of these gifts are great to use, like coffee cups, candles and special ornaments that can sit on desks. However, as a teacher, you cannot always remember the special child that gave you the coffee cup. But when you give a personalized item with the teacher’s name and the child’s name or year, that teacher will always remember who they received the gift from.

SK: What do you think sets your pieces apart from other, similar products available on Etsy?

P: Being a teacher myself, I try to make pieces that are multi-functional. The rulers and small apples are great to attach to keys, USBs and many other things that teachers use. I also attach small personalized discs to gifts that I give my son’s teacher so she will always know who she received the gift from in the years to come. I am also open to any ideas for new teacher gifts that my customers may have to help them give the perfect gift.

Chocolates are an easy, go-to teacher gift, but you don’t want to add to the pile of generic boxes they’re sure to receive. Instead, stand out from the crowd while still offering a tasty treat with these gourmet chocolate boxes created by pastry chef and chocolatier Joseph Hubbs at Chocpossibilities.

SheKnows Canada:Why do you think it’s important to offer special gifts to our teachers?

Joseph Hubbs: I gave lots of little gifts to my girl’s teachers. They were her favourite people while she was there. She looked up to them, and they made it so she wanted to go to school.

SK: What do you think sets your pieces apart from other, similar products available on Etsy?

JH: The chocolates I make are really old family recipes — some as far back as the early 1900s — so I had to do some creative work to make modern ingredients work. I use no chemicals or preservatives. I will be adding some more flavours, like ice wine (after I finish making the ice wine), ginger and mint chocolate to start with.

Teachers need their coffee, and they also need to stay organized. Both are made a little easier thanks to these coffee cozies and key fobs made by Sonia and Rebecca Spooner at Spooner Sisters Designs. Your children’s teachers won’t have to worry about burning their fingers on their morning brews or losing their keys to their classrooms!

SheKnows Canada:Why do you think it’s important to offer special gifts to our teachers?

Sonia and Rebecca Spooner: Our teachers spend so much time and energy not only educating our children but engaging them. They have a unique impression on our little ones’ lives, and it is not uncommon for a special teacher to be remembered for the rest of our lives. We believe that a gift not only recognizes our teachers for the incredible work that they do, but it also paves the way for a good relationship throughout the school year.

SK: What do you think sets your pieces apart from other, similar products available on Etsy?

SS and RS: Our coffee cozies have the unique ability to be customized. They can be embroidered with your teacher’s name on it for a personal, unique touch without spending a lot of money. Simply send us a message for a list of available prints, as we like to customize them before they are sewn. The key fobs are great for teachers lugging around all their keys and keeping them handy and accessible throughout the day. They come in designer, fresh, bright prints that are stylish and fun. They are inexpensive and the perfect something for that person who “has everything.”

Every teacher deserves to wake up to a nice, fresh cup of coffee in the morning — after all, they’re going to have to keep their energy up for the day they have ahead of them! Make sure your child’s teacher gets to enjoy a truly special brew with this organic and fair trade masala coffee from Jessica Duchart at Chamela Giri. For extra-busy days, teachers can even blend it into a smoothie for a caffeine boost and breakfast on the go.

SheKnows Canada: Why do you think it’s important to offer special gifts to our teachers?

Jessica Duchart: I think it is important to take the time to offer special gifts to our teachers because they take the time to offer their gifts to us. I still have vivid memories of teachers I’ve had in the past and the extra little moments or words of encouragement they gave that allowed me to succeed and believe in myself. I’m watching my daughter go through school right now and seeing the impact a caring teacher can have on her.

SK: What do you think sets your pieces apart from other, similar products available on Etsy?

JD: What sets my products apart from many on Etsy is the knowledge shared from the many mamas I met in India that passed their family secrets on to me. I learned the intricate dance of blending spices and the importance of blending in small batches, by hand, so everything is fresh and fragrant. My line is also organic and fairly traded.

With all the germs teachers come into contact with, they have to do a whole lot of handwashing, and that isn’t easy on skin! That’s why this lavender hand cream made by Colette Tupy at Serenade Natural Products will be very much appreciated. It’s free of parabens, sulfates and harsh chemical preservatives, and will help soothe dry hands with natural ingredients, such as aloe vera juice, oils and rosemary extract.

SheKnows Canada: Why do you think it’s important to offer special gifts to our teachers?

Colette Tupy: As a mother with five kiddos in school, I really appreciate teachers who make learning exciting and interesting for our children. Their patience, knowledge and dedication is truly a gift they share with us. They make a difference in our lives and in the lives of our children. Many teachers give more than is expected and deserve more than is given.

SK: What do you think sets your pieces apart from other, similar products available on Etsy?

CT: We believe that natural is better! Even the smallest changes you make to live a more natural life make a difference. We create all our bath and beauty products with nature in mind. We use the highest-quality herbs, clay, oils, butters and waxes. We offer many 100-per-cent natural products. Our products are free from sulfates, parabens, formaldehyde, mineral oil, paraffin and phthalates. We hand-make our soap with moisturizing olive oil and shea butter. We strive to make soaps, lotions, body butters, lip balms and soy candles that your whole family can enjoy and feel good about using.

Whether for work or pleasure, teachers have plenty of reading to do. And all that reading is made a little easier with the help of a good bookmark. This gorgeous floral bookmark created by Jane at Jacaranda Designs Jewelry is lovely to look at and the perfect way for teachers to mark their place.

SheKnows Canada:Why do you think it’s important to offer special gifts to our teachers?

Jane: I don’t think the majority of us realize how important good teachers are in our children’s lives. I always say “thank you” at the end of the year with a small gift that shows how much I appreciate the positive impact my child’s teacher has had on him.

SK: What do you think sets your pieces apart from other, similar products available on Etsy?

J: My shop has a very feminine, pretty feel to it. The accessories I sell are perfect for that special day or for casual, everyday wear. I’m very careful about selecting very-good-quality supplies to make my products, and I offer excellent customer service, which I think is key to any successful business.

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