It’s mid-September and you’re probably settling nicely into a school year routine. If you’re like me, you love a good excuse to stop by the school and say hello to your kids — and maybe even spend time in the classroom. So I asked Amy of This Heart of Mine to come up with a little gift for teacher (the perfect excuse to drop by!). Her idea is a great one. Enjoy! — Gabrielle

The (pre)school year officially begins at our house today! The excitement has been brewing for some time now, I’m glad the day is finally here. With the first day upon us, we have readied our teacher gifts. I thought a collection of handmade stamps seemed perfect. Very teacher-rific! These cork stamps are very easy to make, use simple materials, and allow for a lot of personalization.

This project is so much fun! I think you’ll love it.





Gather:

-wine corks*

-X-acto knife with a new blade

-adhesive foam sheet

-pencil

-cutting mat or some kind of surface protector to cut on

*If you think you can’t do this project because maybe you aren’t a wino, don’t fret. I’m not either. However, I do know people who both make and consume wine and they were willing to share. Another possibility is inquiring at a wine store/bar for their throw-aways.

First, choose corks that have a smooth surface on which to cut the design. Avoid using the end the corkscrew entered. Draw the design and proceed to cut it out. Watch out for fingers! And remember, designs/letter with a ‘right’ direction need to be created in reverse.

I added a notch near the top, all the way around for fingers to get a good grip.

If a bigger surface is needed, cut the cork length-wise, splitting it into 2/3 and 1/3 pieces. A notch here is helpful too, just to keep those fingers from slipping.

Cut a piece of adhesive foam to the size of the cork. Mark the design on the paper size of the sheet. Doing it on the paper side will ensure the design/lettering is the correct direction.

Create an assortment for your favorite teacher. Or one beautiful stamp you’ll know he or she will love. Wrap them up, include a stamp pad or two (in the school colors maybe?), and you’ve got the perfect gift!





Hip, hip, hooray! The school year is on its way!

——-

THIS IDEA WOULD ALSO BE GREAT FOR:

– A graduation gift.

– A birthday gift for a design-y friend.

– A souvenir gift — You could save a cork from an important event or adventure, and make it into a stamp for a companion.

P.S. — We love making gifts! You can find all the posts in this series here.