Teachers everywhere are saying: “No more mugs, please.” And honestly… I get it. A gift card is practical, but it can feel a little blah on its own. I wanted something thoughtful, affordable, and personal that still checks the “actually useful” box. So I traced the bottom of a tray onto a notepad to make a custom card, had my kid write a sweet note, added a cute sticky note pad, tucked in a gift card, and included a refillable hand sanitizer—because kid germs are undefeated. Finished it off with a ribbon—because presentation matters as much as the gift. The result? A gift that feels special, doesn’t break the bank, and works for back to school, teacher appreciation, or birthdays. TeacherGift DIYTeacherGift TeacherAppreciation BackToSchoolGift AffordableGiftIdeas DIYGiftsThatWow GiftIdeasForTeachers MomLifeDIY LTKFindsUnder50 LTKKids LTKFamily