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The Dream is Free, The Hustle Sold Separately

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Teachers Day: Succulent Gift Idea ‘Thank you for Helping me GROW’

March 28, 2017 by Bethany Sy

I’ve been blogging for 8 years now (WHAAA?!) and if there’s one thing I’ve learned during that time is that I should photograph the steps of every project… even if I’m not planning to blog about it. Because what if it turns out awesome? You could say I’ve learned my lesson the hard way.

Darling Teacher Appreciation Gift Idea with Homemade little Succulent Pots that say 'thanks for helping me GROW!'

Today’s tutorial falls into that category.

Let me set the scene…

It’s spring of last year and I had been seeing darling Teachers Day gift ideas and DIYs all over the interwebs and infiltrating my social media experience. I just kept thinking, “awww these are great ideas! I do appreciate the girls’ teacher!” And then my mind would go down a rabbit-hole of thoughts of how amazing teachers are, and how underpaid they are, and how there’s no REAL way to demonstrate just how much we really appreciate them.

Days and weeks passed and then it was exactly the DAY BEFORE Teacher Appreciation Day (or is it week? ANYWAY…) when I had a sweaty panicked moment realizing that I had done nothing to prepare. I had gathered no cute things. I had bought no gift cards, or flowers, or a kitchy teacher’s mug. UGH!

So then I took a minute to reflect on my gratitude for the twins’ teacher, and think creatively, and it came to me.

Darling Teacher Appreciation Gift Idea - Homemade little Succulent Pots that say 'thanks for helping me GROW!'

I knew it was too late to blog about a Teacher Appreciation Gift since everyone else in the world was more prepared than I, but I happily took pictures anyway. And it turned out so cute, I save this project tutorial to share with you THIS spring for Teacher Appreciation Week! (which I just googled and is the first week in May this year… you’re welcome!)

Teacher Appreciation  Succulent Gift Supplies

*This post contains affiliate links*

  • Wide Mouth Pint Mason Jars
  • Vinyl Decal cut on Silhouette: Thank you for Helping me GROW (Download here)
  • Transfer Paper
  • Oil-based Primer
  • Paint (can be any kind of paint… including spray paint! We opted for acrylic so the girls could do the painting themselves. More special that way!)
  • Potting soil
  • Miniature Succulents

 

Download that ‘Thank you for helping me GROW!’ cut file (here!). Please only use this cut file for personal use. And if you link to it on your website, please link to my blog post and not directly to the cut file.

Use your Silhouette to cut this 'Thank you for helping me GROW' vinyl and make this darling Teacher Appreciation gift!

Cut your decal on the Silhouette and peel off everything but the actual words. Use a needle or weeding tweezers to pick out the small pieces inside the letters!

Cut a vinyl decal with your Silhouette Cameo to make these darling Teacher Appreciation gifts that say 'Thank you for helping me GROW'!

Place the decal face down on the sticky side of transfer paper, and cut around the edges. Use one of those vinyl squeegees or a credit card to press it down good and firm and get all the bubbles out. Peel off the thicker paper backing, leaving all of the vinyl on the sticky transfer paper. Line up your vinyl JUST SO before pressing it down on your mason jar. You only get one chance at this! Make sure it’s level, centered, etc.

Awesome teacher appreciation gift idea

Once you’ve pressed it down good and firm on the jar, gently peal back the transfer paper!

Teacher Appreciation Week Handmade Gift Idea! Thank you for helping me GROW! Teacher Appreciation Week Handmade Gift Idea - Thank you for helping me GROW!

Place the jar upside down on a paintable surface, and hit it with some spray primer! Several light mistings is the best way to avoid drips.

DIY Teacher appreciation gift

Once the primer is dry to the touch, go ahead and let the littles paint away! We used acrylic paint in bright colors, but you can use any kind of paint… including spray paint (although I wouldn’t recommend small children using spray paint)! Just make sure the color you choose will ‘contrast’ the dirt that will show through the letters once they’re pulled off.

Let your kids help make their Teacher's Appreciation Gift! Little suculent planters that say 'Thanks for helping me GROW'!

Their paint job doesn’t have to be perfect. It’s fine if they miss spots, or if it’s globby. It will dry! And it will be PERFECT *wink*

Peel off the vinyl decal for the Teacher Appreciation Gift to show the quote 'Thanks for helping me GROW'

Once the paint dries to the touch, peel off the vinyl with a needle or weeding tweezers. and let the kiddos start playing with dirt!

Plant your succulents in the little Teacher Appreciation jar

I had them fill the pot about halfway full, then I helped them transfer the succulent and add some dirt around the edges. The kids love getting their hands dirty (literally!) helping make these for their teacher. And I love that they got to be a part of it!

Super Cute Teacher Appreciation Gift Idea using succulents

I think my favorite part is that the dirt shows through the letters. It just makes it feel so unique and organic!

Handmade Gift for Teacher Appreciation Week - Succulent planter 'Thank you for helping me GROW!' | Reality Daydream

As usual, if you make one of our projects, be sure to tag us on social media! We’re @RealityDaydream on both Instagram and Facebook!

~Bethany

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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About Bethany Sy

Nick and Bethany Sy are the creative free-spirits behind DIY/Lifestyle blog, Reality Daydream. They recently purchased a historic mansion and have been documenting the ups and downs of renovation and making this home their own... all while sharing tips and tutorials along the way! When they found themselves in the trenches of infertility, they started a journey that would prove to be their most important DIY project ever, and have 3 beautiful girls to show for it. <3

« DIY Botanical Trivets–with Free Scroll Saw Patterns!
Learn how to MAKE A STENCIL with your own two hands! »

Comments

  1. 11

    Michelle Babione says

    May 23, 2022 at 3:32 am

    Do you have to use the primer or can we just paint the jar with acrylic paint ?

    Reply
    • 12

      Bethany Sy says

      May 25, 2022 at 2:33 pm

      I didn’t use primer, because the surface doesn’t NEED to be super durable like a piece of furniture. You totally can if you want though!

      Reply
  2. 13

    Meliss Rutherford says

    May 9, 2017 at 9:19 pm

    How can I do the vinyl cut letters if I don’t have a silhoutte (sp?)? I don’t know much about that aspect of crafting. Is there letters I can buy & put on the mason jars?

    Thank you,

    Melissa

    Reply
    • 14

      Bethany Sy says

      May 11, 2017 at 6:20 pm

      Hey Melissa! I’m thinking you could try using small letter stickers. I haven’t tried this, but in theory it should work in place of the vinyl! <3

      Reply
      • 15

        Julia Phillippi says

        May 1, 2019 at 9:46 pm

        Hi, is there a file that can be opened other than for a Silhouette? Such as a Cricut? Otherwise, how large of a cut out is it?

        Reply
  3. 16

    Gineen says

    April 30, 2017 at 10:52 am

    What setting did you use for the small letters? I did a few failed passes before I finally changed the font.

    Reply
    • 17

      Bethany Sy says

      May 1, 2017 at 11:38 am

      I’m so sorry Gineen, but I don’t remember We did this project last year for Teachers Appreciation week, and it’s been so long ago I just can’t remember. I’m so sorry!

      Reply
  4. 18

    Val Plagge says

    March 28, 2017 at 3:57 pm

    Very cute!

    Reply

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We are Nick and Bethany! Welcome to our blog, Reality Daydream where we share our DIY adventures!

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