8 Personalized Cricut Teacher Gift Ideas to Make or Sell
Simple Teacher Gifts Every Teacher Will Actually Use
I spent ten years as a classroom teacher, and in that time I recieved lots of lovely gifts from student families, the PTA, and my students themselves. While I appreciated every one and the sentiments attached, some of those gifts were more practical and useful than others. So I pulled together a list of gifts which teachers will actually use and love — not just because they love your child. Starting a new Cricut-based business, these are products you can easily sell, too, because appreciative parents are always looking for simple ways to acknowledge the hard-working teachers who care for their children.
A lot of these gift ideas are personalized — and for good reason! As a teacher everything that doesn’t move in your classroom has to be labeled! Otherwise it wanders away — even in high school! So anything that can be personalized and labeled, should be.
A Note about Cricut Machines: these projects could absolutely be done on other Cricut machines. I happen to have the Maker and the Maker 3, but I know many of you out there have hardworking Joy and Explore machines, too. Use what you have! The principles are the same.
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Cricut, but all ideas and opinions are my own. AKN
Gifts Your Teacher will Love
Clipboards
My mom gave me a fancy clipboard for my birthday just before my first day of teaching. I used it perpetually — and eventually I amassed a small collection of clipboards which I used in a variety of ways in my classroom. Clipboards are fabulous! Personalize them with the teacher’s name and a fun icon in vinyl, and they will become an integral part of your favorite teacher’s classroom supplies.
If you haven’t done a clipboard before, I have a full tutorial including some helpful tips below.
Helpful Supplies:
Water Bottles
It’s astonishing, but teachers rarely get breaks for personal functions like getting a drink or going to the bathroom. I brought a full waterbottle to class each day which I refilled at lunch time. When you talk for hours on end, you need to keep drinking! I’m partial to Nalgene bottles which hold a LOT of water —- and can be personalized with vinyl very easily. Use permanent vinyl which will go through the dishwasher repeatedly without deteriorating.
Fill a water bottle with candies, drop in a gift card, or just give it as is! It’s thoughtful and practical!
Helpful Supplies:
Phone or Tablet Stands
Phones and tablets are a part of classroom life. A nice stand can be personalized with the teacher’s name and a meaningful image and will become a valuable tool on any teacher’s desk while they work.
Toolbox Divas has a great tutorial for making the elephant pencil holder/phone stand pictured above. So cute!
And if you are pressed for time, there are some great acrylic phone stands which would be a darling option personalized with vinyl!
Photo courtesy of Hello Creative Family.
Kleenex Holders
This is a simple sewing project that is very inexpensive and means a lot. Having a personal, germ-free stash of tissues at hand is a must for any teacher — especially during the winter. Customize them with cute fabrics and then add the teacher’s name to the bottom with Iron-on Vinyl.
Crystal Allen of Hello Creative Family has a great tutorial for these little pouches. The link is below.
Helpful Supplies:
Pencil Bags
Teachers have to carry a lot of gear back and forth — between school and home, from classroom to classroom, on field trips, etc. These pencil bags are easy to personalize, and they make carrying small items like pens and pencils, art supplies, cords and cables so much easier!
I hvae a full tutorial for making these bags linked below as well as my favorite canvas bags with a recycled plastic liner.
Helpful Supplies:
Aprons
Aprons are a great gift for teachers — particularly pre-school and elementary school teachers, art teachers — anyone who might get messy at school.
I made these teacher aprons using Cricut’s Smart Iron-On Vinyl in Silver and Glitter Iron-On in Kiwi. They are so cute! All the graphics are from the Cricut Design Space.
Bonus Idea: have each child in the class sign their name on the apron with fabric markers as a great holiday or end-of-year gift!
Helpful Supplies:
I haven’t done this yet, but Pigskins and Pigtails has a tutorial for screen printing aprons using your Cricut to create the screens. Check it out!
Stickers
Just about every item in a teacher’s classroom has to be labeled. Sheets of vinyl stickers with the teacher’s name and room number on it make a wonderful gift which will save hours of time! It’s an inexpensive way to be very thoughtful!
Helpful Supplies:
Classroom Signs
Making personalized wooden signs is an easy project, and they can make a great teacher gift, too! Just be sure it is easy to hang as many schools have policies about putting holes in walls or doors. Putting a ribbon or cord through the top for hanging is a simple solution.
Depending on the situation, you might want to consult with the teacher before making a sign — be sure it has all of the pertinent information on it.
I have a full tutorial for making wooden signs with vinyl and tips for making them look more professional, too. The link is below.
Helpful Supplies:
Bonus: A Cricut
If I had had a Cricut as a teacher, I would have used it all the time! If your child’s class takes up a collection for a holiday gift or something at the end of the year, consider giving a Cricut. This would also be a great gift for the PTA to give to the faculty at the school as well. Every school should have a Cricut!
What should you buy for a teacher? This would have been my wishlist:
Our hard-working, dedicated teachers deserve our love and support! These simple gifts are an easy way to show teachers how much you appreciate them no matter what your budget may be.
