CRAFT YOU.

So, I needed a quick teacher’s gift for my son’s teachers.  However, I don’t leave the teacher’s gifts to just the end of the year.  In fact, I made them little forget-me-nots all throughout the year.  (I wasn’t trying to show off or anything, I just really, deeply, and truly appreciated them for being my son’s “replacement moms” while I was working.)  Really, I couldn’t have asked for better teachers or for a better experience for my son.  Since kids are getting out of school around this time of year, I decided to share this latest quickie gift that I made for my son’s teachers.  In my last YouTube video, I showed these really inexpensive notepads that I got from BJ’s.  You could find them anywhere really, just make sure you aren’t spending too much.  Also, these pads don’t have a cardboard cover or anything like that.  

All I did, in just a few minutes, was cover the entire pad with some kraft cardstock.  You shouldn’t really use light weight paper; heavier cardstock works best.  Of course, you could go all the way with chipboard (and I’ve done this before as well) but I wanted to make this quick, remember?    I simply measured the area of the notepad (both sides) and left a little room to fold the paper over the adhesive binding holding it together (just eyeball that measurement).  I then secured the kraft paper to the cardboard on the bottom of the pad with heavy-duty glue and folded it over the front. 

After that, the rest is really dependent upon how much time and effort you want to put into it.  While I stamped the word notes, you could have done a lot more stamping and left it at that.  I added some punched pieces and chose to leave off any ribbon, but that would have been a nice touch.  This would also be a fabulous opportunity to use all those scraps piling up.  You know those scraps…over there…on the table…yeah, I see ‘em. 

In any case, it was simple, fun, and inexpensive.  The homemade effort is always a nice touch and after all, who needs another mug?