Instagram Message: This guy looks warm AND cool in his cashmere sweater.
It's not a secret that teachers love to receive gift cards, whether it's for the holidays or the end of the school year. So last year, during an "After Christmas" sale at CVS, I bought 20 of these gift card holders. I knew that I would use them for teacher gifts the following year. Time flies because the "following" year is right now. At half off, these vintage tin card holders are even cooler.
These tins measure 3.5 x 4.5 inches and are a half inch thick. Inside is a black fake velvet insert with a little area to nestle the gift card. After, the insert could be taken out and the tin could be used for other treasures. Do the math - half of $5.00 is $2.50 for two tins!! Gift card holders should be on your radar when you shop the sales after Xmas this year.
You would think our holiday teacher gifts would be easy-peasy because all I had to do was buy the gift cards since I already had these fun tin containers. But no. Remember, over the summer I bought two items from Pampered Chef. First, we gave the toaster tongs to the teachers for Thanksgiving, which by the way, seemed to be a hit. Well, I'm sorry if you lost sleep wondering about the other item I bought from Pampered Chef. The time has come to reveal what I bought. Drum roll please....citrus peelers!! Nothing says Happy Holidays like a citrus peeler, right? Here's what I was thinking: back in the day - think Little House on the Prairie - it was a big treat to receive an orange in a Christmas stocking. (Side Note: My daughter had a whole new appreciation for her stocking stuffers when we read that part in the Laura Ingalls Wilder books). I decided to get some stockings from Dollar Tree so we could include a citrus peeler and an orange to add a little warmth to the gift cards for the teachers.
So I washi-taped the gift card onto the plastic bag that holds the citrus peeler (Pampered Chef $1.25 each). Sweet organic oranges are great during the cold & flu season and now they will be easier to peel. It's like giving a warm hug wrapped up in a peel.
I dug out the Yellow Pinwheels gift tags that I bought on sale last February and used my white pen to write a note: "Remembering the days when getting an orange in your stocking was a big treat." On the back of the tag I used a sticker that I bought years ago off of Tiny Prints (60% off when they had a sale). I stuffed the stocking with tissue, then slid the citrus peeler with taped gift card and orange inside.
Now what am I going to do with the twenty holiday tin gift card holders? Please, I have so many people who deserve a thoughtful pinch from me this holiday season. Like my wonderful house keeper, Ms. Irma, who is the best ever! And Ms. Kim, the mail carrier, she's an awesome friend. And eight wonderful women from New Horizon Academy who watch my kids at the stadium for the home games. How about the dry clean delivery man, the garbage/recycle/compost collectors and the water delivery man? I can't forget the religious education coordinator and the priest at our church. Plus, all of the gals who help me look presentable, it's a lot of work. So yes, all of these gift holders will go to people who help me live a little easier. Now that's cool.
However you decide to present (as a verb) your present (as a noun) I'm sure it will be great. Giving a gift card doesn't have to be boring or predictable. Just don't over-think or over-spend on the presentation. All you want to do is give a thoughtful pinch. So remember, you will end up giving a cool gift when you think outside the box. And if you think about giving a hug, you will inevitably come up with a warm way to give a Target or Amazon card. Put a pinch of thought on whether you want to give a cool or a warm gift and the right presentation will magically present itself.
Pinches,
Barb