Easy Teacher Christmas Gift

Where has this year gone? It seems to have flown by! So much so, that end of term snuck up on me before I had a chance to buy and create the gifts I had planned on making Bubbles' teachers! Thankfully Bubbles and I were able to make these gifts up quickly the night before.

As I was dashing about the house wondering what I was going to give Bubbles' teachers and cursing myself for being so unprepared I remembered our Toddler and Preschooler Made Polymer Clay Jewellery. A quick look in our craft box showed we had everything we needed to
make Bubbles' teachers their own necklaces and even some pretty boxes to package them in.

After a quick dinner I set Bubbles up at the table with the clay and after helping her condition the clay, I allowed her to create what she wanted. I then popped the creations into the oven and alowed to bake as I read the girls' stories and said prayers.

Once the kids were asleep it was a simple matter of threading the pendants onto the cord and clamping on the clasps-which I did by hand as I couldn't find my pliers! The end result looked lovely and her teachers loved them.

How to make your own Easy Teacher Gifts:

You will need:
1-2 packets of your favourite Polymer Clay (we used Sculpey)
Cookie Cutters
Lobster clasp
Metal rings
Leather clamps
Rolling Pin
Bamboo Skewer
Baking Paper or Silicone Mat
Leather Cord

Note: If you use a kitchen item on the clay, don't put it back in you kitchen to use on food.  The clay leaves a slight residue on things and so if you use a cookie cutter, rolling pin or silicone mat with your clay, dedicate it to a clay-only cutter from then on.

Method:
Begin by 'conditioning' your clay; or in other words, knead it until it is soft and pliable.

Next lay a piece of baking paper or a silicone mat in front of your child as their working surface. (This will keep your table clean and clay free!)

Next, let your kiddo create! As we were so short on time rather than make beautiful creations with the clay we simply chose to cut three different shapes-one for each teacher.

Once your child has made their creations take a bamboo skewer and poke a hole through to make it into a bead. (For great tips on how to do this without changing the shape of your child's creation check out this post by the Blue Bottle Tree).

Next bake your beads in the oven according to the directions on your clay packet.

Once cooled, thread the beads onto your leather and attach the leather clamps, rings and lobster clasp.

Package in a nice jewellery box (ours came from our local cheap store) and if you're like me and doing this the night before, collapse into bed!

For more like this check out this post about toddler and preschooler made polymer clay. It's sure to inspire!

Please always supervise your infant/child at play.  Please stay within arms reach and never leave infants/children unattended.  You know you're infant/child best, use your own judgement-considering your infant/child's temperament, habits, behaviour and development before you play with a new play medium.

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