It’s time again to help us brainstorm ideas! Reader Becky at the Dollar Store Facebook page asks:
I need some creative ideas for school lunch appreciation and bus driver appreciation coming up this week! I have a cricut and limited cartridges.
I have never thought about giving a gift to a school bus driver, but it makes total sense! They have one of the hardest jobs in the school! I found the above school bus water bottle printable idea from Toad’s Treasures.
What can you think of to give your school bus driver?
Heather Mann is chief editor of Dollar Store Crafts, and specializes in transforming inexpensive materials into stylish and simple craft projects. She has appeared on the Martha Stewart Show, in Reader’s Digest and the New York Times. DSC has been recognized as named one of Babble.com’s Top 10 Best Overall Craft Blogs (2011 & 2012) and Apartment Therapy’s 10 Crafty Blogs We Love (2010). Her work has been viewed by millions on the cover of FamilyFun magazine and on top websites such as RealSimple, Huffington Post, ABCNews.com, and others.
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11 Comments
hannah
Some ideas: School bus cookies, gloves for the winter (I think bus drivers love gloves), handmade name tag (for the kids who sometimes forget the driver’s name)or assorted signs for the bus
Lunchroom workers: goody bags/ swag bags filled with candies and trinkets.
I might make magnets with school bus themed scrapbook papers–most buses have metal dashes and many drivers use magnets to keep lists/bus driver papers that I know nothing about/stuff handy.
I actually made some magnets with dollar store materials (like so many others have–there are like a million versions).
A nice insulated mug with homemade drink mix may be nice… ?
Janelle
I used scraps of ribbon and did ribbon wrapped pens in our school theme and a bottlecap keychain for our bus driver. A year later on the first day of school I noticed the driver using the same pen to mark off her list! Since I already had the ribbon scraps and glue I bought some new basic ballpoint pens. I also had the things on hand to make the keychain. The entire thing cost less than $1!
@Shelli – School bus drivers are usually publicly funded employees. In most jurisdictions, public employees can get into a lot of trouble by accepting cash.
How ’bout a driver’s guardian angel visor clip for the bus driver.
“Never drive faster than your guardian angel can fly.”
Caroline
We usually collect a little cash from the other parents at our stop and get a gift card or two to a local restaraunt or coffee shop.
Tammy
I have made with my embroidery machine a school bus key chain and last year I got the coffee mugs at the Dollar Tree and used my Silhoutte SD and cut out a school bus, put it on the mug and put a gift card into the cup for Dunkin Dounuts. I put on the bag “Best (school name)school bus driver. He was thrilled, but said everyone at the bus garage now wants one of these bags! lol
Great ideas! Coffee is also a good ideas. I put together a little gift it was a coffee mug with a single serving packet of coffee, biscotti, a couple sugar packets and a couple little chocolates. I wrapped it up like a gift basket it looked relly nice.
11 Comments
hannah
Some ideas: School bus cookies, gloves for the winter (I think bus drivers love gloves), handmade name tag (for the kids who sometimes forget the driver’s name)or assorted signs for the bus
Lunchroom workers: goody bags/ swag bags filled with candies and trinkets.
Tristin @ Two Girls Being Crafty
I might make magnets with school bus themed scrapbook papers–most buses have metal dashes and many drivers use magnets to keep lists/bus driver papers that I know nothing about/stuff handy.
I actually made some magnets with dollar store materials (like so many others have–there are like a million versions).
http://twogirlsbeingcrafty.blogspot.com/2011/04/diy-glass-magnets-alternative-to-gift.html
A nice insulated mug with homemade drink mix may be nice… ?
Janelle
I used scraps of ribbon and did ribbon wrapped pens in our school theme and a bottlecap keychain for our bus driver. A year later on the first day of school I noticed the driver using the same pen to mark off her list! Since I already had the ribbon scraps and glue I bought some new basic ballpoint pens. I also had the things on hand to make the keychain. The entire thing cost less than $1!
Janelle
I found a picture: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4b43KKPS0Qk/SU_9KeGkznI/AAAAAAAAAHM/kRbcrhgYUwg/s1600-h/101_0611wtmk.JPG
Shelli
Cash. Times are rough, money is greatly appreciated.
Emily aka Toad
Thanks for the shout out! These are all great ideas!
smellanie
@Shelli – School bus drivers are usually publicly funded employees. In most jurisdictions, public employees can get into a lot of trouble by accepting cash.
Jolene
How ’bout a driver’s guardian angel visor clip for the bus driver.
“Never drive faster than your guardian angel can fly.”
Caroline
We usually collect a little cash from the other parents at our stop and get a gift card or two to a local restaraunt or coffee shop.
Tammy
I have made with my embroidery machine a school bus key chain and last year I got the coffee mugs at the Dollar Tree and used my Silhoutte SD and cut out a school bus, put it on the mug and put a gift card into the cup for Dunkin Dounuts. I put on the bag “Best (school name)school bus driver. He was thrilled, but said everyone at the bus garage now wants one of these bags! lol
jamie
Great ideas! Coffee is also a good ideas. I put together a little gift it was a coffee mug with a single serving packet of coffee, biscotti, a couple sugar packets and a couple little chocolates. I wrapped it up like a gift basket it looked relly nice.