As a crafty mom, you know the joy of turning simple materials into treasured gifts. Teacher Appreciation Week, celebrated during the first full week of May each year, is the perfect time for you to show your DIY skills as well as your gratitude to the amazing educators who help nurture your child’s growth, but these teacher gift ideas would be perfect any time of the year (teacher's birthday gift, end of year gift, or just because!).
With the Ikonart Custom Stencil Kit you can transform everyday items into heartfelt, personalized gifts that speak volumes of appreciation. In this blog post we rounded up thirteen of our favorite DIY teacher gift ideas that Ikonart crafters have posted in the Ikonart Crafters Group on Facebook over the years.
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13 Teacher Gifts to DIY with Ikonart Stencils
These thirteen DIY projects are more than just crafts—they're heartfelt ways for you to express gratitude to the educators who nurture and inspire your child every day. So grab your Ikonart Custom Stencil Kit, gather your supplies, and get ready to create a gift that truly comes from the heart.
1. Teacher Gift Idea: Ceramic Teacher Mug
A mug is a classic gift that offers a daily dose of warmth (and maybe a little bit of caffeine) to help your child's teacher kick-start their morning. For this project, we transformed a plain ceramic mug into a vibrant keepsake with our free Growing Little Minds SVG. We recommend using DecoArt Multi-Surface Paint on ceramic to make the mug top-rack dishwasher safe and the Smart Jig to stop your mug from rolling around.
WATCH VIDEO: 5 Tips for Using Ikonart on Ceramic
2. Teacher Gift Idea: Glass Candle Holder
Create a charming accent for your child's teacher’s desk or home. An etched or screen printed glass candle holder adds a touch of cozy elegance to any space, especially when paired with a battery-operated candle for that safe, gentle glow. For this project, Amber added a variety of delicate patterns to votive candle holders using gold acrylic paint. Another option would be to etch the glass with Etchall Etching Crème, then brightened them up with a pop of color using Rub n' Buff.
WATCH VIDEO: How To Etch Glass with Etchall and Ikonart
3. Teacher Gift Idea: Book Bag
A custom book bag is both practical and stylish, perfect for carrying everyday essentials while reminding a teacher of the impact they have. For the first book bag pictured above, Abby made a stencil out of all the students names for a unique personalized teacher gift, but a general teacher design like this Best Teacher Ever SVG from Canva is also cute. Using Speedball Fabric Ink and a Tacky Mat ensures a neat, professional finish that transforms an everyday accessory into a cherished keepsake.
WATCH VIDEO: Tips For Screen Printing with Ikonart
4. Teacher Gift Idea: Pencil Eraser Sign
Celebrate the enduring influence of a great educator with a small wood sign or shelf sitter. For this teacher pencil project, Deb created a unique wooden pencil sign that states, “The influence of a good teacher can never be erased.” We recommend making your own DIY chalk paste with Coco’s Chalky Powder when using Ikonart stencils on wood. This helps to thicken the paint so the stencil details come out crisp and defined.
WATCH VIDEO: How To Make DIY Chalk Paste with Coco's Chalky Powder
5. Teacher Gift Idea: Pot Holder Food Gift
Create a delightful dual-purpose gift by customizing a pot holder and then adding in a matching food gift. This gift is perfect if you have a lot of different teachers you need gifts for. For the first project above, Lindsay screen printed her free "Brownie Points" design onto a pot holder and then added a box of brownie mix and a spatula. For the second teacher pot holder, Marie added the phrase “Thanks for making me one smart cookie,” then added a sugar cookie mix and Christmas spatula.
6. Teacher Gift Idea: Classroom Sign
A personalized classroom sign sets a warm tone for the learning environment and makes the space truly feel like home. For this personalized teacher classroom sign, Erica painted a canvas sign with chalkboard paint and then added “Welcome to Mrs. Gogel's Classroom” on top to look like a schoolroom chalkboard. By using Coco’s Chalky Powder to thicken your paint, you ensure the stencil design pops.
WATCH VIDEO: Tips for Using Ikonart on Canvas
7. Teacher Gift Idea: Plant with DIY Planter
Bring a touch of nature to your child's classroom. Plants symbolize growth and fresh beginnings—an ideal metaphor for education. For this custom teacher planter we painted a clay pot black and then added our free Planting Seeds of Knowledge SVG with an Ikonart stencil. If you are having problems with round pieces rolling around when you are trying you stencil on them, the Smart Jig keeps the planter steady as you stencil, resulting in a beautifully detailed piece.
8. Teacher Gift Idea: Custom Artwork
Here is a unique teacher appreciation gift we haven't seen before! Custom artwork is a timeless gift that can transform a cherished memory into a visual story. For this custom framed artwork gift, Pamela converted a memorable photo of the school into an Ikonart stencil, then added watercolor and a frame to create a memorable art piece.
"My granddaughter goes to a catholic school. This is the church. My daughter-in-law drew the sketch and we made a few sized stencils. She added watercolor and framing. I’m sure the teachers will love them!" - Pamela Harris McCann
WATCH VIDEO: How To Convert a Photo To an SVG on iPhone
WATCH VIDEO: How To Watercolor Stenciled Designs with Natacha
9. Teacher Gift Idea: Notebook
A notebook that captures humorous classroom moments or inspiring memories makes for a practical and personal gift. These clever teacher notebooks are perfect if you have multiple teachers to make gifts for. Transform a notebook cover by screen printing an inspirational quote, or use a witty phrase like our free Funny Things My Students Said SVG across the front. Using a Speedball Screen Printing Frame lets you efficiently create multiple notebooks that your child's teacher will treasure.
WATCH VIDEO: How To Setup A Hinged Frame for Screen Printing Multiples
10. Teacher Gift Idea: Inspirational T-Shirt or Sweatshirt
A custom T-shirt is a wearable teacher gift that allows them to carry a message of inspiration wherever they go. Design your own artwork or use a website like Creative Meadow to get premade designs. We used their Motivational Quotes SVG Bundle and the Ikonart Textile Add-on Bundle to screen print the four shirts shown above. The Ikonart Textile Add-on Bundle comes with everything you need to screen print shirts, including purple Ikonart Textile Film, a Tacky Mat, Speedball Fabric Ink, and our Black Silicone Squeegee. Note: Every Ikonart Custom Stencil Kit comes with $275 worth of free designs from Creative Meadow.
WATCH VIDEO: How To Get Free Artwork from Creative Meadow
WATCH VIDEO: How To Screen Print an Ombré Gradient with Ikonart
11. Teacher Gift Idea: Wine Bottle & Wine Glasses
Elevate your gift by creating a custom screen printed wine bottle—a chic treat for a hardworking teacher. Start by removing the wine label, then use your Ikonart stencils to add a unique design that speaks to their personal style. For this teacher wine bottle we used our free Teacher Appreciation SVG to add a fun design to the front and the back of the bottle with Speedball Acrylic Paint in Gold. We recommend using Etchall Etching Crème for a permanent design. Pair it with a matching set of wine glasses to complete the gift.
12. Teacher Gift Idea: Woodburned Coasters
Another unique gift teacher gift idea is woodburned coasters to help protect their desk in style. Play with different designs and patterns to create a set that reflects the teacher's taste or interests. For these Hogwarts Woodburned Coasters, Lindsay used Torch Paste and a heat gun to create a practical yet whimsical gift. You can either seal with mineral oil or a clear coat spray to protect the wood from condensation.
WATCH VIDEO: How To Woodburn with Torch Paste and Ikonart
13. Teacher Gift Idea: Gift Card with Custom Gift Bag & Thank You Card
When in doubt, a gift card is always a great gift for your child to show appreciation to their teacher. Some might even argue it's the best gift. :) But even if you are giving a gift card you can still make the gift special with a custom thank you card and custom teacher gift bag like the ones shown above that Tracey made. Complete the gift with some candy or a sweet treat to go in the bag with the gift card.
WATCH VIDEO: DIY Handmade Cards with Ikonart
These projects let you channel your creativity and care into every detail, crafting gifts that celebrate not only the incredible educators in your child's life but also your unique style. Embrace the fun and fulfillment of DIY crafting and let each creation be a heartfelt reminder of the love and gratitude you share.
If you have any questions about how to make or use Ikonart stencils, you can post in the Ikonart Crafters Facebook Group, watch our Ikonart YouTube channel, head to our Ikonart FAQ section, or reach out to the Ikonart support team. Happy crafting!