Welcome to the Designer Crafts Connection Blog Hop!! 



All this week I am going to be sharing some great Back to School Crafts and Ideas to make the transition from the “Summer of Fun” to a School Time schedule easy and crafty (of course!).


Today we'll start off with two ideas for easy teacher gifts–these are super affordable in addition to being crafts the kids can make on their own:


Easy Pencil Mason Jar


I love the EC Frayed Flowers so much and the Clover (green) ones are definitely my fave. They come in a pack of 3 flowers and each flower has 3 layers. I like to separate the layers and create 9 flowers from the sets of 3. On this projects, I used the middle layer of one of the Clover EC Frayed Flowers to create an apple to embellish this altered mason jar pencil holder. I cut a leaf and stem from scraps of felt fabric and hot glued the elements directly to the jar. This is a fast and simple gift with a bit of country/vintage flair. 



Supplies: 

  • EC Frayed Flowers in Clover  – or cute a circle from felt and fray the edges*
  • Chalk Label by Pink Paislee 
  • Ribbon by hydrangeahippo.etsy.com 
  • Felt by Joann’s Fabrics 
  • Jar by Kerr 

Altered Yarn Pencil Can 


Supplies: 

  • EC Frayed Flowers in Clover*
  • EC Pennant 25 Shape Studio and Bubble Caps*  
  • EC Round 14 Shape Studio and Bubble Caps *
  • Stamps by Kaiser Craft *  
  • Paper by Echo Park Paper 
  • Yarn by Red Heart 
  • Can from Oregon Cherry Pie Filling 
  • Ribbon by hydrangeahippo.etsy.com 
  • Candy by Hershey’s 
  • Felt by Joann’s Fabrics 
  • ScorTape by Scor-Pal *
  • Ink by ColorBox *

Instructions: 
This pencil cup is really easy and affordable to make –the bonus is the kids can actually help create this for their teacher! I washed an empty tin can out and sanded the inside lip to make it smooth. I applied ScorTape around the can in a spiral and started wrapping the yarn tightly around the can from the bottom to the top. I then applied a line of hot glue around the top of the can to hold the end of the yarn down and applied a strip of red ribbon to cover the glue. I then added a bow with the same ribbon to cover the seam with the ends of the ribbon met. 




I applied the EC Frayed Flowers in Clover to the bottom of the can, separating the flowers from one another. I added a “stem” and “leaves” to the felt “apples” using scraps of felt. I stamped the letters to spell the word “teach” on a scrap of book style paper and create letter charms using the Epiphany Crafts Pennant 25 and Round 14 Shape Studios. I then hot glued these to the can. These could be used to customize the can with a teacher’s name, room number, or the grade they teach. Next I lined the can with pencils and the filled the middle of the can with Hershey’s Kisses. We all know teachers need a little chocolate pick me up in the middle of the day sometimes!! Use a Sharpie or permanent marker to sign the bottom of the can.


* Please refer to our disclosure policy regarding product sponsorships. Product marked with an asterisk on this post are provided to hydrangea hippo free of charge as part of design team or guest designer compensation.


And, what is a HOP without a giveaway!!!!  We're giving away our new school kit (not even released yet) from our etsy shop that is coming out later this week. It is FILLED with gorgeous papers from Jenni Bowlin, Bo Bunny Press, and Bella Blvd all in a school theme, from books, to alphabets to atomic images and the periodic table. 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

To continue on the hop, just click FORWARD on the Hop Widget below. Enjoy!

Author: Jennifer Priest

It started with jewelry, beading, sewing, home decor, painting, basket weaving, pottery, and cross-stitch. Marry that to an entrepreneurial spirit & at 9 years old a girl is selling her wares at craft fairs as far as her parents and grandparents would drive her. These days, Jennifer enjoys crafts of all genres from sewing to scrapbooking to jewelry with a little dabbling in the mixed media world. Her style is approachable and she wants everyone who sees her work to feel that they too can embrace creativity and make their home and life beautiful.

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71 thoughts on “Back to School Week!!!

  1. What a great teacher gift idea! I love the red! Beautiful and creative!!

    Posted on August 6, 2012 at 5:06 pm
  2. Thank you so much for the back to school projects. They are great! Please enter me into the giveaway.

    Posted on August 6, 2012 at 10:44 pm
  3. Super cute project…not sure what I’ll make this year…still a few weeks of vacation left to think about it…thank you for the chance to win!

    Posted on August 6, 2012 at 11:54 pm
  4. Super cute projects!

    Posted on August 7, 2012 at 1:11 am
  5. Sweet and useful teacher gift. The only thing it’s missing is a gift card to the liquor store! LOL!

    Posted on August 7, 2012 at 1:42 am
  6. Love that yarn pencil cup. I sooo need to make one of these for my classroom. Fabulous idea.

    Posted on August 7, 2012 at 2:58 am
  7. These are so cute Jen – love that adults AND kids can make these wonderful gifts for their teachers! – kg

    Posted on August 8, 2012 at 9:45 pm
  8. Great projects. What cool gifts for a teacher!

    Smiles~
    Marilyn

    Posted on August 8, 2012 at 11:13 pm
  9. The pencil cup has filled me with inspiration-so many good ideas coming from it-thank you for sharing!

    Posted on August 9, 2012 at 2:10 pm
  10. Thanks for the chance to win the giveaway! Now that my son is older, I don’t do teacher gifts because he has so many! But I loved doing personalized notebooks in the past!

    Posted on August 9, 2012 at 4:09 pm
  11. Thanks for the chance to win! Now that my son is older, he has so many different teachers that I don’t do gifts, but in the past, my favorite was personalized notebooks!

    Posted on August 9, 2012 at 4:10 pm
  12. So fun! Thanks for the giveaway!

    Posted on August 9, 2012 at 11:05 pm
  13. very cute projects! Thanks for the chance to win!! Love your blog!

    Posted on August 9, 2012 at 11:34 pm
  14. I always love new ideas for teacher gifts – thank you! I am making a new apple pin for the teacher I volunteer for.

    Posted on August 10, 2012 at 1:25 am
  15. Great ideas for gifts! I love the yarn pencil can the best!

    Posted on August 10, 2012 at 6:45 am
  16. super cute pencil holder! So fun! TFS CallyAnn

    Posted on August 10, 2012 at 6:52 am
  17. This is adorable! Wish that my kids weren’t in College,lol!

    Posted on August 10, 2012 at 7:50 am
  18. Cute ideas

    Posted on August 10, 2012 at 9:35 am
  19. The yarn pencil can is super cute!

    Posted on August 10, 2012 at 10:33 am
  20. Adorable projects. First time at your blog but I’ll definitely be back.

    Posted on August 10, 2012 at 11:20 am
  21. Such a cute gift!!!

    Posted on August 10, 2012 at 11:22 am
  22. I love this. Time of year. It’s like a fresh start. It so appropriate to have some new stuff. Thanks for the giveaway

    Posted on August 10, 2012 at 11:45 am
  23. I LOVE THIS TIME OF YEAR.. IT’S A FRESH NEW START. HOW APPROPRIATE TO HAVE NEW PRODUCT….

    Posted on August 10, 2012 at 11:47 am
  24. very cute! love the mason jar!

    Posted on August 10, 2012 at 11:49 am
  25. Super cute and thanks for the chance to win.

    Posted on August 10, 2012 at 12:01 pm
  26. Super cute. Thanks for the chance at a great giveaway

    Posted on August 10, 2012 at 12:02 pm
  27. Cute teacher gifts.

    Posted on August 10, 2012 at 12:13 pm
  28. Nothing too crafty for back to school. But, I will be back to making the good ole school lunches. LOL. Thanks. [email protected]

    Posted on August 10, 2012 at 12:32 pm
  29. simple and perfect… I think I will make the jar with the chalk label on a bigger scale… my son’s sp. ed teacher goes through pencils like crazy… and i usually send her a case a year… but this way is way cuter.

    Posted on August 10, 2012 at 12:35 pm
  30. Very cute! Thanks for the chance to win.

    Posted on August 10, 2012 at 12:38 pm
  31. Love that pencil tin! Just fabulous!!

    Posted on August 10, 2012 at 12:41 pm
  32. Very Cute! I love Bo Bunny papers! I think your ideas for back to school are awesome!

    Posted on August 10, 2012 at 12:42 pm
  33. I was never one to do teacher projects, but now with my 3 3/4 yr old in school, I guess I better get started…:) Nice and simple ideas. I like that.

    Posted on August 10, 2012 at 12:59 pm
  34. I am making back to school gift bags for several special children. My kids are all grown and I love to make a back to school surprise for them. A bag full of snacks, pencils,folders, etc….

    Posted on August 10, 2012 at 1:13 pm
  35. Well, I wasn’t planning on making anything, but your pencil projects are so cute, I might have to make some!

    Posted on August 10, 2012 at 1:20 pm
  36. I’ll be making back to school goodie bags for my new students, and school themed stationary for my grade level colleagues.

    Posted on August 10, 2012 at 1:30 pm
  37. I will be making welcome to kindergarten goodie bags for my new students and back to school themed stationary for my grade level colleagues.

    Posted on August 10, 2012 at 1:31 pm
  38. Super cute ideas…..I wish they would have had blogs like this when my child was in school……Oh well….maybe for my granddaughters teachers when she gets into school….Anyhooo….thanks for the ideas!!!

    Posted on August 10, 2012 at 2:03 pm
  39. My children are all grown and so sadly I don’t have anyone to make something for so I will probably scrap some of their old photos of when they were in school that I never quite got around to scrapping! Cute project though.

    Posted on August 10, 2012 at 2:09 pm
  40. What fun gifts for the kids to make. They are so cute and them being inexpensive is a bonus. Thanks for sharing!
    Thanks so much for the chance at a prize. :o)

    Posted on August 10, 2012 at 2:10 pm
  41. Oops forgot to answer the questions. My daughter is in middle school so I think this year I will make a bag topper for candy to give to each of her teachers along with a card.

    Posted on August 10, 2012 at 2:16 pm
  42. Great ideas!

    Posted on August 10, 2012 at 2:20 pm
  43. I have made a mini album for all of my kids pre-school pics. I still need to make layouts for their last year pics!

    Posted on August 10, 2012 at 2:30 pm
  44. Love the projects. Trying to decide if I could do these for Middle School!

    Posted on August 10, 2012 at 2:37 pm
  45. I like your pencil cup idea! Thanks for the giveaway!

    Posted on August 10, 2012 at 2:45 pm
  46. Too cute, and practical too!

    Posted on August 10, 2012 at 2:50 pm
  47. How cute are these projects…..just what I was looking forward to doing for my daughters new teacher…..thanks for the inspiration :D

    Posted on August 10, 2012 at 2:51 pm
  48. Great gift ideas..for teachers and mom’s.

    Posted on August 10, 2012 at 3:04 pm
  49. Making a teacher survival kit. paper clips, erasers, band aids, germ x, gum, push pins etc. all in a cute little box and all cafted up!

    Posted on August 10, 2012 at 3:04 pm
  50. What a great idea! my 6 yo goes into 1st grade in 3 weeks. I can so make this for her teacher! Thanks for the idea!!

    Posted on August 10, 2012 at 3:38 pm
  51. Awesome idea. Don’t have any back to school age yet but will keep for future ideas!

    Posted on August 10, 2012 at 3:45 pm
  52. not making anything yet but these are cute projects. TFS and the chance to win your giveaway.

    Posted on August 10, 2012 at 4:00 pm
  53. I work in the office at a school, this would be FUN to win!

    Posted on August 10, 2012 at 4:19 pm
  54. I work in the office of a school, this would be FUN to win!

    Posted on August 10, 2012 at 4:20 pm
  55. I’m making back to school bows!

    Posted on August 10, 2012 at 4:23 pm
  56. Fortunately I don’t need to do anything for back to school this year.

    Posted on August 10, 2012 at 6:28 pm
  57. I’m making a calendar and a journal.

    Posted on August 10, 2012 at 7:28 pm
  58. What great gift ideas for teachers! Thanks for the chance to win!

    Posted on August 10, 2012 at 7:55 pm
  59. Love the teacher gift ideas! Thanks for the chance to win!

    Posted on August 10, 2012 at 7:55 pm
  60. I’m thinking the yarn pencil cup is a fun project to work on with my 10 yr old daughter :) Cute projects!!

    Posted on August 10, 2012 at 8:14 pm
  61. I like to put together a little kit for my kids teachers. These pencil cups are really cute!

    Posted on August 10, 2012 at 8:14 pm
  62. I like to put together a kit for my kids teachers at the start and end of each school year. These pencil cups are really cute!

    Posted on August 10, 2012 at 8:16 pm
  63. What a great gift idea! Love it!

    Posted on August 10, 2012 at 9:48 pm
  64. Since I am a teacher, I plan to make some things for my classroom! I teach high school, so ideas are harder to come up with!

    Posted on August 10, 2012 at 11:23 pm
  65. what a great idea! Thanks for sharing!!

    :-)

    Posted on August 10, 2012 at 11:34 pm
  66. Great ideas for teacher gifts. My kids are all out of school and have kids of their own. My favorite gift was always a hand painted coffee mug.

    Posted on August 11, 2012 at 1:20 am
  67. Love the different ideas. I like the pencil cup & plan to do one for my niece. Thanks for allowing me to enter your giveaway!

    Posted on August 11, 2012 at 2:52 am
  68. love finding new ideas for teacher gifts. I share them and quite often make them for my nieces who are school teachers. Helps them give a gift to their kid’s teachers, Great idea. thanks for the giveaway too!

    Posted on August 11, 2012 at 3:41 am
  69. I’m making notebooks, decorated pencils, and clipboards.

    Posted on August 11, 2012 at 3:57 pm
  70. my girl is going to pre-k this year and doesn’t need much, but maybe I’ll decorate lunch bags for her. :)

    Posted on August 13, 2012 at 4:27 pm
  71. I’m going to make some of your cute projects and put them on students desks

    Posted on August 13, 2012 at 6:42 pm