Amidst the chaos of Christmas shopping there’re the thank-you gifts for teachers to think about.
My eldest (Number One) has a wonderful nursery school teacher. Caring, incredibly creative and fun she’s also a vegan, which means dairy is off her menu, chocolates too.
Bugger!
Of course sweet-smelling soapy things are an option, but then I thought why not make her a present?
Let me just say, this little idea did take me a whole lot longer than I’d envisaged – two kids, a husband, breakfast, lunch, supper, tea…!!! Getting an uninterrupted block of time to do just one thing is never easy – you know how it is.
Anyhoo, here’s what we made and how we made it.
1. Punch 2. Draw 3. Cut out 4. Pot 5. Label
Homemade Potted Herbs
What you’ll need:
- Fun wrapping paper (preferably with easy-to-cut-out design)
- 2 small sheets of coloured cardboard
- A hole punch
- Glue
- Tippex pen
- Crayons
- A4 paper
- 2 different types of herbs (we used basil and mint)
- Potting soil
- 2 x kebab sticks
- Pot and saucer (approximately 20cm)
What to do:
- Ask Junior to cut out the wrapping paper designs
- Littlies, who battle with cutting, can get involved by punching holes in the coloured cardboard
- Sprinkle a few small stones into the base of the flower pot (for drainage) and mix in some potting soil
A practical present
- Add herbs and water well
- Once you’ve cleaned the outside of the pot and it’s thoroughly dry (important for the glue to stick) begin attaching the paper designs
- Use glue to stick on the ‘dots’ of punched cardboard
- Ask Junior to draw a picture on the piece of paper using crayons or paint and allow to dry
- Attach picture to cardboard, fold over and glue. Insert one kebab stick and press cardboard down on either side of it so that it ‘sets’ (this becomes the stick that holds the message upright)
- Write a meaningful message on the picture (‘Thank you for helping me grow!)
- Break the remaining kebab stick in half and use each piece as a marker to label the herbs in the pot (e.g. ‘basil’, ‘mint’)
- Add some creative doodles with the Tippex pen (you’ll probably find Junior likes this bit best)
Ta dah!
1 x heartfelt thank-you prez (for less than R100) that your child’s teacher will love – and actually use!
