How to easily make a mini blackboard teacher gift

School will soon be coming to an end and the kids will want to come up with a unique teacher gift.  You can go out and buy something or a gift card always works, but still, your child may want to make something that come from the heart. 

This little mini blackboard teacher gift is so easy to make with a throwaway take out container.  As long as there is a number 6 in the little triangle on the container you can shrink it in a home oven to become 1/3 of the size and hard.  It makes a great little personalized gift tag, key ring, or even a brooch.  And what is best is that this teacher gift can be extra special with names, dates, and more. 

Shrinkable take out containers come in white or black but you will need the black one for this project.  So let’s get started…

look for the number [6]

Materials

Black take-out container marked with number [6]

Ruler

White gel marker

Hole punch

Scissors

Home oven

Cookie sheet lined with foil

Spatula

Optional – jump ring, key ring, and needle nosed pliers

1.     Use the top or bottom portion of the container.  Measure and cut a rectangle 4” x 3”.

2.     If you are going to use it as a tag or key ring, punch a hole in one of the corners with a hole punch

3.     Next, Have your child write a message on the rectangle.  You can write to: teacher’s name.  You can write a thank you message.  Your child can sign his or her name so the sky is the limit. 

4.     Then make some curlicues or design all around the edges. 

5.     Now, line a cookie sheet with foil.  Place your prepared piece in a 300-degree oven for about 5 minutes or until the blackboard has shrunk and is relatively flat. 

6.     Remove from the oven (be careful so an adult should do this part) and immediately use a spatula to flatten the blackboard.  Let it cool and it will be hard and thicker.

7.     To make it into a key ring, use the needle nosed pliers to open a jump ring by twisting rather than pulling apart.  Insert through the hole and then close the jump ring with the same twisting motion.  Attach a key ring. 

Recycled egg carton shrink-it cross necklace

Try this quick and easy recycled egg carton shrink-it cross necklace kid’s craft at summer camps, vacation bible schools and more. 

Summer is in full swing and it’s time for summer camp and vacation bible school crafting.  This recycled egg carton cross necklace is easy and costs practically nothing to make so you will be able to make this craft on a budget!

Did you know that you could shrink egg cartons with number (6) recycle symbol in an oven or toaster oven? And the shape shrinks hard and is thick as a nickel?  You can make them in all sorts of shapes and use them for necklaces, zipper pulls, hair ornaments and more!  And the best part is that many egg cartons come in colors so you don’t even have to paint the shapes.  I found white, yellow, and green.  Today I’m making a crucifix in yellow, but you can make it in any color you like.  You can even paint or color the white with permanent markers.

Materials:

·      Number 6 Egg carton in yellow

·      Scissors

·      Oven or toaster oven set to 350 degrees

·      Aluminum foil cover cookie sheet

·      Metal spatula

·      Needle nosed pliers

·      Jump rings

·      Rat tail ribbon

·      Paper hole punch

RECYCLED EGG CARTON CROSS NECKLACE

1.     The first thing you need to do is make sure your egg carton has a 6 symbol somewhere on it.  Number 6 egg cartons are the only ones that will work.

2.     Next, cut out the egg holder portion.  Each egg holder will make a cross. 

3.     Now cut four equal sections up to the base of the egg holder. 

4.     Fold down each section flat.  Once you fold all four sections down, trim up each section into a rectangular shape, making one longer than the other three.  You have the cross made.

5.     Use the paper hole punch to make a hole in the top of the cross.  This will shrink along with the cross

6.     Place the prepared shape on a cookie sheet lined with aluminum foil and place in a 350-degree oven for just a few minutes.  The shape will begin to curl but will soon shrink and lie flat.  When it completely shrunk, remove from the oven and immediately press with the spatula.  You will be able to pick up your cross in just a few seconds and at this point you can trim up any ragged pieces. 

In this photo you can see how it shrinks

It shrinks thick and hard

7.     Use a needle nosed pliers to open a jump ring by twisting rather than pulling apart and insert through the hole in the top of the cross.  Close the jump ring in the same manner.

8.     Cut a length of rat-tail ribbon, thread it through the jump ring and knot the ends together.