DIY Gift Card Holder (Plus gifts teachers actually want)

Perfect for teachers, coworkers, family members, and neighbors, a DIY gift card holder you color in is a gift they love that is also from the heart.

 

Let’s talk teachers gifts. They’re a struggle, right?

We all want to show teachers how much we appreciate them. Because it takes a special kind of person to manage a couple dozen (or more) kids day in and day out on a meagre salary.

It’s truly a labor of love.

And there are some completely adorable teacher gift ideas out there. But when you give a gift, you really want it to be something that they love, right?

Favorite teacher gifts (according to an actual teacher)

I think we all know that teachers don’t need yet another mug. After all, most of us already have more mugs than we can possibly use.

So, I asked a teacher friend of mine what teachers really want.

The first thing she said was “Group gift cards are the best!” But what if your school doesn’t do group gifts?

Here are some alternatives she offered:

• Gift cards (In order of recommendation: Visa or MasterCard, Target, or a favorite restaurant)
• Supplies
• Pump soap
• Coffee
• Wine (if allowed)

Color-in DIY Gift Card Holder

Obviously gift cards are a favorite.

But here’s the rub: they’re so impersonal. And getting kids involved in making a gift for their teachers reinforces respect and appreciation for all that their teachers do throughout the year.

So I wanted to find a way to get teachers what they really want, while also giving kids the opportunity to show how much they care.

And that’s why I made these DIY gift card holders that you can color in.

You know I can’t stick to just one design (it’s why I shared over half a dozen Christmas gift tag designs right here), and today is no different.

Since my kid range from preschool to late elementary school, I wanted to make sure that the gift card holders worked for all of them.

Perfect for Little Kids

First up is this little red printable gift card holder.

The front can be colored in, or left blank, and there’s a little window on the back that is perfect for the little ones to scribble to their heart’s content.

I originally created it when my youngest was three, but it’s still awesome for him now at the age of 5.

 

Then all you have to do is write your child’s name on the front. Easy peasy.

Plus, since it’s mostly decorated, it’s also great for those of us who remember gifts for teachers at the last minute.

Cute, personal, and practical…all in one.

For the Older Kids

Next, I created a completely black-and-white gift card holder that is great for older kids that love to color more detailed designs (like my 8 and 11-year-old girls.)

I gave them each a copy of the color-in DIY gift card holder and let them go hog wild.

It was so much fun to see how they both decorated their gift card holders in very different ways.

Plus, since this DIY gift card holder has nothing but black lines, it’s easy on your printer ink supply. Now that’s practical for you and the receiver!

 

Great as Gifts for Anyone

Okay, so I obviously made this with teachers in mind. But the design is actually good for anyone you may want to remember this holiday season.

Grandparents swimming in stuff? This is a sweet gift from the grandkids. Print a bunch and create personalized gift card holders for aunts, uncles, coworkers, and friends!

How to Print the Gift Card Holder

Now, for most of my printables, I strongly recommend using matte photo paper. It provides the boldest print quality, even from budget printers.

And as long as you don’t plan to use markers, this gift card holder is no different.

However, if your kids are like mine and prefer markers (like these) to all other coloring supplies, then I recommend using bright white card stock instead. Markers just bleed too much on photo paper.

And with either paper, I also recommend using a simple embossing tool to help make the creases. Seriously, that little thing is incredibly helpful considering how cheap it is.

 

More Holiday Printables to Love:

• Free Printable Christmas Gift Tags
• Advent Activity Printables
• Printable Holiday Labels (edit with your own message)
• How to Make Reindeer Food (with printable bag topper)

Now It’s Your Turn

See, you can give teachers what they really want this holiday season while also making sure it is personal, too.

As a special bonus, subscribers can get a copy of the DIY gift card holder for free! Simply add your name and email to the form below to have them sent straight to you.

Don’t want to subscribe? You can also purchase a copy of the gift card holder from my shop for a small price.

Don’t forget to tag @PlayDatesParties on Facebook and Instagram with your projects. I love to see how they turn out!

Now, I want to know…

Do your kids give gifts to their teachers?
Who will you use a DIY gift card holder for this year?

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