Student Christmas Gifts that are Easy and Meaningful

If you are looking for an easy gift idea that is budget friendly and meaningful, this idea is for you!

I shared this on Instagram and so many teachers had questions about how I made them. This post has all the answers for you in one place!

This by far has been my students’ favorite gifts ever! Parents loved these keepsakes!

Making them is super easy. Take a look below at the process:

Here are the answers to those questions I’ve been seeing most often:

Where are the mugs from?
- I got several sets from Oriental Trading HERE. Heads up, their prices fluctuate throughout the year. I picked up several cases at one time becuase they were on clearance for 70¢ a piece. You can also find them HERE from Hobby Lobby for around $1 a mug.
How do I get the reindeer ears?
- I’ve always taken the pictures in Snapchat because they have the cutest filters there. I just searched for “reindeer” and these ones popped up. A teacher suggested using a headband instead which would be a great idea! You can also skip the reindeer look altogether and the mugs look just as darling.
Are these for hot liquids?
- They are not intended for hot liquids. I did use them for “hot” chocolate by slightly warming up chocolate milk in a crockpot. It was basically lukewarm milk with whip cream. The kids loved it!
Where can I find the mug collage template?
- You can find the editable templates by clicking HERE. This includes the template and a step-by-step video tutorial that shows you how I made my collage.
What if I don’t have the same number of students?
- These templates include pre-made collages for 21, 24, 27, and 30 students. That being said, the templates are unlocked and editable. This means that you can resize, shift, and even add or delete boxes.
Can I use this resource for End of The Year Gifts?
- Yes! Since the template is unlocked, you can easily change the colors so that they can be given at the end of the year. Several teachers mentioned that they have done just that.

Here are some other tips:

I mention in this video, but I think it’s worth mentioning here too.

Take your student pictures with a white background. I suggest using your whiteboard for this. It will make it a lot easier for you!
I suggest cutting the collages, laminating, and then trimming them and leaving a small border around the paper. This will protect the collage when it gets wet during use or while it’s getting cleaned at home.

Bonus tip:

Save each year’s templates on your computer somewhere. I’ve had a couple of kids come back to me years later literally crying because their collage got destroyed (usually a younger sibling is involved). You can save the day by just reprinting their collage.