I wanted to come up with something imaginative that could also be modified to give you all a few ways to use the same idea at different price points and here it is:
You will need: (for each individual gift)gallon zipper bag
pencils (5)
gift card to bookstore
(or a paperback/light summer read)
puzzle piece keychain
(I had them stamped with the school year "2013-2014" and "Thanks!"; or a small puzzle, crossword puzzle book or trinket puzzle)
Post-It Notes
(I labeled the countdown days using clear return address labels after I checked the school calendar and counted from the last day to next year's first day; you could also give them a calendar printout of the summer months)
curling ribbon
clear packing tape
scissors
color printer
(if you are using the cards as offered)
In total, I spent $10 for the items, not including the giftcard.
I assembled the gift items and arranged them inside the bag so that as much of each item could show. Personally, I wasn't happy with the giftcard choices (was really hoping for one that looked like a book, but couldn't find one) so I printed out a book from clipart and taped it to the outside of the cardboard sleeve...
Depending on the contents, you may need to alter the bag. I myself slit one of the sides to make it more narrow and then used packing tape to close it off. At the end I tied off the top and added curling ribbon as decoration, using one of the strands to attach the card.
The card's wording is:
No more pencils,
No more books,
No more students' puzzled looks.
Now the countdown down does begin,
82 days 'til Summer's end.
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