I have been anxiously awaiting the arrival of the presentation that myself and the team have prepared for you today! Teacher's Apple is one of the new stamp sets being released by Papertrey ink on the 15th, and I think it fills an area that is lacking in variety in regards to our hobby! I myself have been looking for a teacher stamp set for years that fits into my personal style and sentimentality. I am excited about the possibilities of this new set and all the creative endeavors that can be explored with it! The design team, along with yours truly, have compiled a number of teachers gift projects for you to peruse today. These inspirations couldn't come at a better time as you begin the process of planning those holiday gifts!
For my project, I decided to fall back on an item that I have given to my children's teachers many times. The classic Journal Jar. The basis of this gift is to provide the teacher with the necessary tools & inspiration to compile his/her *story*. Several questions are printed onto paper and cut into strips. My very best friend Wendy, compiled a list of teacher appropriate questions and has allowed me to share them with you! They are already formatted and ready to go; all you have to do is print!
Download teachers_journal_jar.pdf
ETA: A few of you requested a single parent version of the dedication. Here is the download for that version.
Download teachers_journal_jar_single_parent_dedication.pdf
The easiest way to cut all these strips is to first cut the four sides of each question page down to the dotted lines that I provided. Then you can go through and make one slice with your paper trimmer in between each question with no additional trimming required. I prefer to curl the strips by running the blade of my scissors down the back of each strip, just like you would with curling ribbon. I think these curls make for a prettier finished jar. The cutting & curling of the question strips is the perfect activity to do in front of the television!
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The matching card was created with the same elements as the jar. Now, let me tell you a bit about the stamp set! Teacher's Apple features eight different apple designs & patterns and nine sentiments! Each of the sentiments have the word "teacher" removed and allowing space to insert the decorative version of the title in a different color ink. You will love how easy it is to tie in your color scheme!
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Here is the interior of the card (you can click the photo for a larger view). This introduction block is included in the free download above, already formatted to be trimmed and adhered inside a 4.25 x 5.5-inch card! It eloquently explains how the journal jar is to be used and what your intentions are for it!
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When I was shopping for supplies for my ensemble, I ran across this hard-cover journal at Target. It was only $8.99, and I figured with the other elements of the gift being so inexpensive, the quality of this journal over a composition notebook seemed like a worthwhile splurge.
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Did you notice the background pattern used on all of my projects? It was created with a background stamp that I *built* myself using the Trajan Monogram Alphabet.
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I simply created a collage on a large acrylic block, using all but a few of the letters from the alphabet, fitting them together like some sort of puzzle. In case you would like to try this technique yourself, I have created a printable download that you can use as a template.
Download alphabet_collage_template.pdf
Just lay the alphabet stamps, image side down, on each letter and pick them all up at once with your acrylic block. It's makes a fun background to use AND you feel so resourceful!
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To carry on the apple theme, I packaged the ensemble together in an orchard basket that I found at Hobby Lobby for $5. I think it really brings all of the elements together so well! This is a truly meaningful gift that I am sure any teacher would appreciate beyond words!
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Stamps:Teacher's Apple (available November 15th), Trajan Monogram Alphabet
Ink: Pure Poppy, ripe Avocado & Dark Chocolate Palette
Paper: Ripe Avocado, Dark chocolate, Vintage Cream
Other: Pure Poppy satin ribbon, chocolate buttons from Foof-a-la, Square Nestabilities, linen typing paper (for question strips)
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The DT girls have been busy at work as well, preparing a few more additional gift ideas for you to see. Please be sure to work your way down through the list and check out their offerings. After reviewing them all, there is no way you could NOT be inspired and decide what to do for the teacher's in your life this year!
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Becky Oehlers made an AWESOME mini book with our recipe cards, just slightly altered. A fantastic way to preserve the class and each individual student's personality!
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Betsy Veldman took advantage of the wording in one sentiment to create a custom pencil planter & plant pic. I love how simple this project is, and it creates a show-stopper for her desk!
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Dawn McVey came up with an idea that anyone short on time whip up in only a few moments, taking advantage of the delectable delicacies that can be found at local bakeries and such. It's all about the packaging to make it personal!
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Debbie Olson created an amazing gift set that includes coordinating notebook, pen & bookmarks. Oh, and don't forget the card!
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Geny Cassady picked a sentiment that emphasized the importance of a teacher in a child's life, making it the perfect focal point for a frame to hang in the classroom. The color scheme that she chose really pops!
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Heather Nichols created a fun mini book that could include photos or other memorabilia from throughout the year.
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Lauren Meader utilized her new Purse-onality Clutch template that is coming out this month, to create a pretty file box (a.k.a. rolodex) for the teacher to keep track of her students. Standard index cards fit perfectly in the purse, so no cutting down is necessary!
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Lisa Johnson altered a hand sanitizer dispenser. Hand sanitizer can be found throughout any classroom. Making it pretty as well as functional is a gesture any teacher would appreciate!
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Melissa Phillips customized a jar candle with some pretty stamped wrap. The finished product is so warm & homey, it just makes you want to curl up on the couch with a good book and a cup of tea!
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Michelle Wooderson made a message center from an altered clipboard. You'll really benefit from all the detail that Michelle put into her post so that you can recreate the same thing!
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Niki Estes used the tag insert I created for the Nugget Tin and used the compartment for different desk supplies. You won't want to miss the additional peeks at her project on her blog!
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I hope you have enjoyed all of this inspiration! If you end up deciding to execute any of these gift ideas during this holiday season, be sure to stop by and let us know about it! Happy stamping!
ALL! And I mean ALL!!! are absolutely BRILLANT projects that any teacher would love. A winner in my books Nichole. You can bet I will have this one in my shopping cart immediately after the release party.
Amazing work! I can’t wait to add this and the other stamp sets from this month’s release to my collection. I’m excited about making teacher gifts with these resources! Way to go!!
Oh! My! Goodness! I! Am! In! Looooove! So! In! Love! A+ Work~ Kym
It’s soooo perfect! I love the teacher set! I didn’t know I was missing somehting like this from my stash, but I think I am…so I am going to get this one! 🙂
Thank you!
I love all of your teacher gift ideas but I love how you made the background stamp using the letters of the alphabet arranged on the clear block. Thanks I will be using that idea.
Wow, I’m so happy and excited to see this set!! It’s a must have for us stamping paper crafters! THANK YOU!!!
Waht a fantastic set. Love it and so useful.
How truly inspirational! Speaking as a teacher, any one of us would love each and every one of these adorable gifts!! Everything y’all come up with just keeps getting better and better!!
Hugs,
Anne Marie
http://didsomeonesaystamp.blogspot.com
After seeing all of these wonderful projects, I cannot wait for the release of this set!
Thank you, thank you, thank you! This set is perfect!
I really enjoyed all the projects you showcased today. What a wonderful set!
Hugs,
Renee
Looking at all of these gift ideas makes me wish my kiddos were still scool age! NOT! These are great projects, but I am glad we’re past that season of our life. I do have friends who are teacers though, so these will help with that.
I am a second grade teacher. I am jealous of the teachers who will recieve those beautiful gifts! Thanks for thinking about us:)
All these projects are gorgeous!!! Thanks for this set Nichole, what a great idea!!! My girls are long out of school but I make teacher gifts for my grandchildren to give!
I AM OVER THE MOON with happiness! This set is so wonderful and I can wait to go check out all the samples by the DT for it!
Thanks so much for creating this set and the heartfelt thoughts that went it to it. I am a fourth grade teacher in Illinois. Today we are having conferences so I will be putting in at least a 13 hour day. With the requirements the state puts on our job each year, it can certainly take the joy out of teaching, so it is nice to know people appreciate the effort. You know that it is getting bad when my own mother who used to think “teachers have it so easy” and paid for my education, says this morning, “you need to find another line of work!”. But thank you…this made my day!
Super cute set!
And I love your “homemade” letter background! How very smart!
Absolutely fantastic! I will definitely be buying this set! The sentiments are so perfect and I love what all the design team has come up with! Thank you!!
Melissa
Such wonderful creations!
As a teacher I certainly hope some of my students or their parents snag this set! (Who am I kidding? I teach high school, we don’t get gifts, I’mgoing to have to purchase this myself, LOL).
~Meredith
AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH I have to have this set. The possiblities are endless!!! Every year i try to give a little hand made givet to all the teachers and in 6th gr & K we have 9! I can’t wait to get my hands on this one.
this is a great idea. My sister, and 2 of my nest friends are teachers, and I think this may be their Christmas gift.
This is a truly wonderful set! It has endless possiblities!
This is a beautiful set – so well designed! The projects are gorgeous and yet still easy for the customer to reproduce. Papertrey so rocks!
This set is so darn cute but I do not have any children or teachers in my life so my use for it would be limited.How about an ‘addition’ set with different sentiments? The apple theme could tie in to so many different ideas like ‘apple of my eye’, ‘apple a day keeps the Dr. away-feel better soon’, etc.
Then I would have an excuse to buy this set (like I really need one lol!)
I’ve been wanting a set like this for a LONG time! Thanks for making it! I want to be first in line to purchase it. *smile*
Wow…you have ALL outdone yourselves! What great projects. Really, we can’t tell how much you all love this set! 😉 I’m sure this will be a PTI best-seller!!
This is a great set. I can not wait to see it, in its entirety! (is that a word?)
Anyway…. great designs from your team too – WOW
Fantastic! I am in awe of everyone’s talent! Thank you so much for the alphabet background template! I am going to use it soon! It would be great for baby cards, too!
What a great inspiration for teacher gifts!!! You are correct….this is a much needed area for stamps!!! Thanks!!
Margaret
I am so amazed by the creativity with this set! Unbelievable!
This is fantastic! All of the designers have done a great job with their projects WOW. Makes me wish that I had kids in school.
Might have to get it anyway 🙂
what else is there to say that hasn’t been said? how about the women in this DT are some of the most talented women around..thank you all for doing your best and sharing it with us. thank YOU Nicole for putting these women together and for having a forwarding looking vision.
Beautiful gift! I love the way you used the letters to make a background stamp, and I really appreciate that you even made a template for us!
Thanks!
These are all absolutely gorgeous! This set looks amazing – definitely a best-seller!
Oh My Gosh! I am sold on this set!
The projects are FABULOUS!!! With nine children this set will get well-loved. I LOVE that Lauren’s purse template holds the index cards perfectly! Don’t you just love happy accidents like that? I am itchin’ to get my hands on everything and can’t wait to see the last preview samples.
Wow! So many wonderful projects! I can’t look at them all and not tell you how much I appreciate all the time that went into all this – between you and all the designers. Thank you!
oh my goodness! I LOVE the teacher journaling idea!! My brother makes pens and I wanted to gift a special pen to each teacher but didn’t know how to add more to the gift. This is PERFECT!! I’ll be using this idea for end of the year presents!!
Thank you SO much for sharing!
What a great set! I can’t wait to see the whole thing. I’m making some gifts for the teachers for Christmas. May have to alter my plans to include this set.
I absolutely love this idea. Right now I don’t have any kids in school but I will next year and it is nice to know that this set is out there for me when I need it. TFS!!!
Man – as a teacher I’d love ANY of these gifts !!
Oh my gosh, the DT girls are fabulous! Each and every project is “over the top!”
Love it, love it, love it!! I’m telling my family that anything from this new release, will be a perfect gift for me this year!! WOW!!!
This is such a great set for Teachers. I just love all the projects that have been made. Almost makes me wish I still had kids in school, not. I could make gifts for my grancchildren to give to their teachers.
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!! I love the teacher set! I’m making the journaling kit you did for my ds’ teacher.
I LOVE this idea and will be getting that stamp set first thing. Can you tell me what size jar you used and where you purchased it? Thank you!!
I am really happy to see the apple stamps. That was something that was missing from the Mazel Tov set that I really wanted. I love how you made the alphabet background too.
Hi Nichole,
I love love love this set and the idea for the journal jar, but have a request: would you be willing to create another version of the PDF that says “my child” in place of the “our child?” I know I’m not the only single parent out there that would love to use this, but the “our” seems a bit odd…I mean I know it takes two to have a child, but the gift would be coming from one parent.
Thanks!
Great ideas everyone. Wowzers!
What fantastic ideas! My sister is a teacher and retiring next year, my sister-in-law a teacher and retiring this year. It think the journal would be a great gift.
woooo….i love this set..i want i want…all, ur creations superb.
Oh Nichole..I’m so excited for this set…as a teacher myself I can now make cute little gifts for all my teacher friends!! Thanks for thinking of us!!
Wow! These projects are amazing! My DD is just barely starting preschool. I could get many years of use out of this!
This is fantastic! As a mom of two young kids entering preschool, I’m sure I’ll get many years of good use! I really like the thought that was put into the sentiments! I thought Niki’s idea with the tin is great, I love Geny’s frame, Debbie’s set is beautiful, and Betsy’s plant idea is very nice!
Melissa
All of these Teacher projects are outstanding! I have always looked for ideas with such great sentiments. You have truly created a classic resource.
Well done girls! LOVE the awesome ideas!
Such great ideas! Thanks for sharing!
Wow, thanks so much for this set. I cannot wait to purchase it and get to creating wonderful gifts for those people who touch our childrens lives in ways we will never understand truly. You guys have the best products.
I so love apples and this will be fun set to have since I am now allergic to them. So now I can be closer to them.
What a beautiful teachers gift! The recipiant will love it!
Hi!
I went to hobby lobby to search for the basket to try to make this project for my son’s teacher. They have a couple sizes. Do you know if the basket is the smallest one or fairly large? really wasn’t sure?
Thanks!
Hi Nichole,
I just wanted to thank you so much for sharing this project with us all. I was so inspired, that I made three of them for my daughter’s teachers this year for their Xmas gifts. Here’s a link to my blog post to show you my take on the project. http://mutchtostamp.blogspot.com/2008/12/teachers-daily-journal-xmas-gift.html
Thanks again so much for sharing your idea. You rock! 🙂
Julie
I am coming to the party late… Just was introduced to you! Bought this stamp kit and some other basics and am ready to get started… I am not a crafty person, so I am keeping my fingers crossed. Any advice or feedback anyone can give a newbie would be welcomed! Laurelkbeard@gmail.com… Thanks so much. I look forward to receiving my first order and hopefully make some great things!
I love this journal jar idea. What a special way to record one’s life work! Beautiful presentation. Thank you for the download and pictures!
Oh my GOSH!!! This is EXACTLY what I have been looking for! Thank you SO much!!!
So many creative ideas! I like all of them. Wish I can make all. Hahahahaha..
-pia-
Does anyone have the template of the questions for the journal jar? I couldn’t find it on Wendy’s site anymore????
stampintina@gmail.com
Hey Nichole!
I have been following your blog for a while and just LOVE your work!
I created this gift set with a Mother’s Day theme and would love if you checked it out!
Thanks again for all of your inspiration! Oh BTW, I am definately going to do a Teacher one as well!
Hi Nichole!
I have been following your blog for a while and I LOVE your work!
I took the Teacher’s journal jar template as made a Mother’s Day set.
I would love if you stopped by to check it out!
Thanks again for all of your inspiration!
My sister is a teacher and she would love something like this.
The projects are gorgeous, but the teacher journal questions? ugh. Why would a teacher want to spend their spare time writing answers to interview questions? Maybe some teachers enjoy writing enough that they might want to do this, but I certainly wouldn’t. Insirational quotes or something else would be much nicer, IMO.
This post is a winner! Love the tips and everything you suggest.. Thanks
Hey Nichole – the link on this for the single parent edition just does to the teacher one – would it be possible to get the single parent version? I’d love to start doing this!
This teacher set is awesome. I am not that most artistically gifted person and don’t know how doing this would turn out for me..haha. Is there anyway I could buy the featured teacher set?
I just found you today and I am sooooo excited to make the Journal Jar basket for my granddaughter’s teacher for Christmas. Can’t wait to get it all done.
Thank you for sharing.
Patty J
you are so creative, continue to give have a wonderful heart. Teacher is a second parent to the children and must be a good model.
I so love this idea and all your ideas! I’m not good with craft and was wondering if I might be able to purchase one of those set for my daughter’s 1st grade teacher. Please and thank you for your quick response.
I so love the idea of the Teacher’s Journal Jar, I’m not very good at craft and was wondering if there was anyway I can purchase one as a gift for my daughter’s 1st grade teacher. Please and thank you for your quick response.
you have wonderful imagination simple but attractive and unique. I agree with you wind generator, i must say teacher should not obviously give the special attention to the student he/she like most.
teacher should maintain neutral attention to all student. you are so creative i like your idea.
Wow! this is THE gift that a choose to make for my daughter’s teacher! It’s just perfect! Thank you sooo much!!! It’s lovely!
Wow I don’t know a teacher who wouldn’t be crazy about receiving a gift like this! It’s awesome!
all these are awesome! but i need help with the journal questions…i would like to use it for Sunday School…i just need 35 questions..can some pls help me! thank you