• Gifts for teachers do not have to be expensive and cumbersome to find. You can make inexpensive, yet impressive gifts for teachers, while you are at home. These gifts are better than store-bought, as they are more thoughtful, unique and can even be personalized. Children can make these crafts themselves or just help out.
  
  

Printed Cloth Napkins

• Take large rubber stamps, and dip them into non-toxic fabric paint. Remove any excess paint from the stamp before it is placed on the napkin. Have your child place the stamp on a white cloth napkin and press down. The stamp should be held flat and level, applying equal pressure in the middle. If one of the sides of the stamp is pressed down instead of the middle, the corners of the rubber will leave paint marks on the napkin, ruining the desired picture. Then remove the stamp and place the napkin in a safe place to dry. To personalize napkins, use letter stamps to imprint the teacher's name or a short message.
  
  

Candles

• Spread newspaper over the table to keep the mess to a minimum. Turn on the stove, and fill the bottom of a double boiler with water. When water begins to boil, place ½ pound of wax in the top of the double boiler. This amount of wax will make two candles. As wax is melting, set up and prepare candle molds. Soda cans with the top cut off work well, but be careful of sharp edges. Use paper cups for smaller candles. Peel the paper off of one colored crayon, and break it in half. Add half the crayon to the melting wax, then add scented oil. Colors and scents can vary depending on preference. Cut a wick 1 inch longer than the candle mold. If the wick is not pre-waxed, then dip it into the melted wax once, and place on newspaper in the refrigerator to harden quickly. Pour melted wax into a mold, and place the mold in refrigerator. Once the top of the candle has formed a firm thin coat, poke a hole through the top of the candle. The wax inside will still be melted. Place the wick through the hole until it hits the bottom of the mold, then place the candle back inside the refrigerator. When the candle is fully hardened, slip or tear mold from candle. Add thin ribbon, glitter or small metal trinkets to embellish the outside of candles.
  
  

Bath Salts

• Add a few drops of food coloring and a few drops of scented oil to 2 cups of Epsom salt or sea salt until even. You can use these salts by themselves or mix them together. Add more coloring or oil depending on preference. When mixture is even, spread salt crystals on the wax paper to dry. This may take a few hours. While waiting, decorate jars for the salts. When salts are dry, pour the salts into the jars and seal. Scent will get stronger the longer the lid is sealed.