It is also Gray's first teacher appreciation week! Being a teacher, I felt like had to come up with something great. Some people might think it is a bit much to get his daycare teachers something, but they are truly amazing. I would never make it through the day if I didn't know he was in great hands. I searched through pinterest to find a perfect idea. I found the below pin that I feel in love with.
After looking at the directions, I knew I didn't have time to do four of these in a couple of days. I checked out a few more ideas, but everything seemed a bit out of my league and time span. I went to bed, and the idea suddenly hit me. Here is what I came up with:
2 Spray paint-You could probably do any color, but I went with white because I wanted a blank slate to use any color rather than ones that would show up or compliment other colors. I also made sure to get a spray paint that already had a primer. I am sure it may have limit the number of coats I had to do. I originally only purchased 1 can, but I had to go back to get a second one because I decided to do the insides white as well.
Acrylic paint-I pick up a packet with variety of colors to pick from. My original idea was to do each pot with a different color handprint that matched the paint pens, but that idea didn't pan out.
Sponge Brushes-it is a lot easier to spread paint on a hand rather than rub it into the paint. One again a lesson I have learned from other projects.
Paint Pens-Once again, this is whatever colors you like.
Estimated time: It took me a couple of hours over 3 days. It would have probably taken me only 2 days if I had had the hindsight to buy more than I thought I might need because I had to spray paint the insides on a different day than the outside.
Day one (outside coat):
Directions: First thing I had to do was spray paint the outside of the pots. I lined them up on cardboard upside down like the picture below. I had to do two coats to get a good cover.
Before painting
Time: To do the spray paint, it was about 15 minutes each time. I waited about 2 hours between each coat.
Day 2 (handprint):
Directions: The two best tips I can give for the handprints with tiny ones is to wait until sleep and enlist a second set of hands. An old child can easily do this because they know better than to clutch their hands. Gray is 10 months, and even asleep, he has a habit of clenching the minute paint hits it. Sleep just makes it easier to get him to relax it, and having someone else hold onto them helps with getting a clear print. Once Gray was asleep, I used the sponge brush to apply the paint over his hand while the hubby held him. As I mentioned before, I originally planned to do the each pot's print in a different color, but my husband made me realize that this would be a clean-up nightmare after doing the first one. An older child could definitely do different colors since they could use both hands as well as clean their own.
Time: It really depends on how many pots are being done as well as the child's age and number of colors used. It was a couple of minutes per had with the spreading of the paint, holding it down, and possible retouching, and four took us about 10-12 minutes total including clean-up. Adding numbers of pots and colors will add more time. I left the pots dry overnight.
Day 3 (inside and writing):
Directions: I split this into two different steps. Step one (inside of the pot) can actually be done on the same day you do the outside of the pot.
Step 1: Since I had already done the handprints on the outside, I wanted to make sure to protect it. I wrapped plastic bags around them. They weren't too tight, but I did make sure that it covered over handprint. Then I painted the inside. I left them to dry for about two hours before I started the writing.
Step 2: After the insides were mostly dry, I used a paint pen to write a message on the pots. I first wrote the teacher's names over the hand, and then on the back, I wrote thanks for having a hand in my growth. I used a different color for each pot.
Time: 10-15 minutes for the inside paint. Another 10 for the writing.
I also included a plant with the pot. I would suggest something that is an evergreen or perennial that way it last year to year to remind the teacher of your child. I picked different colored lilies I got at Walmart for less than $3 a piece. Since I crunched for time, I simply slipped the plants in the counter I bought them in. If I had had an extra day, I would have taken the time and planted them into the pots. Total price came out to about 7-10 per pot. Not sure what I am going to do next time to top it. I will have to do something different next year as we will be at the same school with different teachers. I am sure pinterest will come in handy again next year!
Directions: I split this into two different steps. Step one (inside of the pot) can actually be done on the same day you do the outside of the pot.
Step 1: Since I had already done the handprints on the outside, I wanted to make sure to protect it. I wrapped plastic bags around them. They weren't too tight, but I did make sure that it covered over handprint. Then I painted the inside. I left them to dry for about two hours before I started the writing.
Time: 10-15 minutes for the inside paint. Another 10 for the writing.
I also included a plant with the pot. I would suggest something that is an evergreen or perennial that way it last year to year to remind the teacher of your child. I picked different colored lilies I got at Walmart for less than $3 a piece. Since I crunched for time, I simply slipped the plants in the counter I bought them in. If I had had an extra day, I would have taken the time and planted them into the pots. Total price came out to about 7-10 per pot. Not sure what I am going to do next time to top it. I will have to do something different next year as we will be at the same school with different teachers. I am sure pinterest will come in handy again next year!
