21 of the Best DIY Teacher Gift Ideas For Every Occasion

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Show your teacher appreciation with one of these thoughtful DIY teacher’s gifts! These teacher gift ideas are perfect for any occasion: Christmas, end of the year, back to school, Teacher Appreciation Day, or birthdays! Show your gratitude with one of these personalized DIY teacher gift ideas with printable tags – plus a free printable wish list so you can give your teacher the perfect gift every time!

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No doubt about it, teachers deserve mad props – but gift-giving can get crazy expensive, especially if you have more than one kid & it gets super insane if you’re in a class full of Pinterest-y moms that make gift-giving a competition.

So what do ya do when you’re not so Martha Stewart & you don’t want to spend a lot of $$$? Well, first let’s check ourselves out of the Mom Competition – trust me, I’ve got 18 years in on this mom thing & you can’t win so don’t try.

But if you want to express your tremendous gratitude to deserving teachers, I’ve rounded up some super easy DIY teacher gift ideas your kids can help with – all teacher-approved.

Boom. Let’s do this!

First, I created this Favorite Things Printable to give to teachers in advance. This is the hack that will guarantee you give the perfect gift every single time!

Teacher's Favorite Things List Free Printable Word To Your Mother Blog

Knowledge is power! This printable will allow your child’s teacher to list all of the things he or she loves. Which, of course, will make for an easier shopping experience for you and a better gifting experience for your teacher. It’s free for you to print out & use now!

Click HERE for the PDF:))

21 of The Best DIY Teacher Gift Ideas

21 DIY teacher gifts! Show your teacher appreciation with one of these homemade gifts from your kids! These teacher gift ideas are perfect for any occasion whether you’re looking for Christmas gifts, end of the year or back to school presents, teacher appreciation day or birthdays! Say thank you to all your kid's teachers with one of these affordable DIY teacher gifts!

Teachers Emergency Stash Gift

This box of goodies is a fabulous teacher’s gift that is budget friendly & comes with a free printable gift tag. Find all the details on Eighteen 25

Fun Christmas Gift Idea

Get the cutest bottle of lotion you can find in your teacher’s favorite scent & add this gift tag! Fabulous, simple, easy, & cheap! Get the adorable gift tag on Fun-Squared

White Christmas Teacher Gift

Looking for a jaw-dropping, all-in, super fly, fabulous teacher’s gift? How about this White Christmas themed basket? Full of sweet treats, goodies, and supplies this is one gift your teacher will not forget! Get all of the inspiration & details on Shaken Together

Pedi in a Jar Gift

Image: A Pumpkin & A Princess via Lil Luna

Make sure your teacher takes time for herself by giving this DIY Mason Jar gift filled with nail polish, lotion, a mini nail file, a pair of cozy socks, and Hershey’s Kisses! You can find all the details & the free printable gift tag on Lil Luna

Cupcake Gift Jar

Here’s a project that’s easy, inexpensive, and multi-tasking! The cupcake gift jar doubles as a Christmas candy jar & your teacher can use it later to hold various supplies like paper clips, thumbtacks, erasers, etc.! Get the details & the free printable gift tag on Lil Luna

School Supply Cake

Feeling a little odd about giving supplies? Here’s a cute way to give all the essentials! Get the details on Happy Go Lucky

Chalkboard Crayon Wreath

This clever DIY uses an unfinished wood wreath like this one decorated with just over 3 boxes of crayons surrounding a chalkboard! Find all the details on A Pumpkin and A Princess

RedBox Teacher’s Gift

Give the gift of a RedBox code (which you can easily buy online) & add your teacher’s favorite snacks & candy! Put it all together in a galvanized steel bucket or large mason jar! Easy! Grab the free printable tag on The Crafting Chicks

Peppermint Sugar Scrub

If you’re thinking of going the self-care route, try making this Peppermint Sugar Scrub! It’s an easy DIY, and it makes skin feel and smell fabulous! Bonus: Adorable Free Peppermint Sugar Scrub Gift Tags! Get the details on Mom 4 Real

EOS Christmas Gift

You can take this cute EOS chapstick gift idea a step further by adding a gift card or movie pass, but any teacher will love it on its own! Get the free printable on The Idea Room

Dry Erase Marker Teacher’s Gift

Make ordinary dry erase markers adorable with this cute & budget-friendly gift idea! Get the free printable tag on Creations by Kara

Popcorn Themed Gift

Simple & Easy! Add a gift card to up the value of this teacher’s gift if you’d like. Get the free printable gift tag on Mama Cheaps

Apple Mason Jar Teacher’s Gift

Add a little bit of paint to a mason jar, and you’ve got a fabulous gift that your teacher can put to good use! Add pencils, pens, rulers, flowers, or candy! Get the details on Tilly’s Nest

DIY Plant Gift

Cute, easy, and super affordable DIY teacher’s gift! Get the 411 & the printable tags on The First Grade Round Up

Sweet Year Teacher’s Gift

A super sweet gift idea for teachers! This idea features delicious & easy homemade bread in mini disposable loaf tins-with a napkin and fork so they can dig in! Get the details & the free printable gift tag from Amy on Positively Splendid

Easy Christmas Tic Tacs

Dress up a box of tic tacs to make a useful & inexpensive Christmas gift! This craft utilizes a Silhouette, but it can be done by hand if you get all crafty with it! Get the 411 on It’s Always Autumn

Easy DIY Teacher’s Gift

Using the info you got from the My Favorite Things printable & grab a bottle of your teacher’s favorite scented lotion, soap, or hand sanitizer. Add this super cute gift tag & boom! One more teacher’s gift is off your list! Get the ‘Scent’Sational Gift Tag on MichellePaige

First up – the worst.

Worst DIY Teacher Gift Ideas

Candles: No. More. Please & Thank You! One teacher explained she has so many unused candles she could hold a seance. Daily. For a Year.
Cash: While gift cards are a solid favorite, cold hard cash comes off more like a bribe.
#1 Teacher Mugs with Candy: While it is the thought that counts, nothing says I put zero effort into this gift like a pre-packed coffee mug full of nasty candy displayed prominently on every checkout aisle at Walmart.
Jewelry: Unless you are keenly aware of your teacher’s style, don’t attempt to navigate this territory.

Here’s what they told me about their all-time favorite gifts.

Best DIY Teacher Gift Ideas

Thank You Note: Handwritten notes from students are always a hit & treasured for years.
Homemade Treats & Desk Snacks
Handmade Gifts & Original Artwork by Students
Personalized Goodies: Bags, Cups, Notepads, Hand Towels
School Supplies for the Classroom: Yes, they do love getting supplies for the classroom!
Themed Gift Baskets
Scents & Sprays: The trick to this one is knowing the teacher’s favorite (& least favorite) scents!
Gift Cards: Always a favorite! Please don’t shy away from the gift card, thinking it is too impersonal! If you want to put a thoughtful spin on it, add it to a basket!
Class Gift: Instead of individual gifts, each child contributes a few dollars, usually $5, to go toward one large gift item or gift card for the teacher.

I hope you have found something fabulous to recognize all of the time, effort, and limitless patience of your child’s teacher!