Teachers invest in the future. Show them your appreciation with this free thank you for helping me grow printable.

I can’t believe the end of the school year is almost here! Even though my Liam only goes to 3-year-old preschool every Tuesday and Thursday morning, I wanted to get his teachers a small “teacher appreciation” gift. This thank you for helping me grow printable is the perfect gift.

From preschool to high school and beyond, I truly feel like teachers have extremely hard jobs and get thanked way less than they deserve.

I knew I wanted to get his teachers something small that they would actually want and use. I chose to make a small succulent planter out of a jelly jar. I’m sure you have seen the “thank you for helping me grow” printables floating around the internet (I absolutely did not come up with that).

I couldn’t quite find one that I loved so I made my own … and I created free printable versions of it that you can download at the end of the post!!

DIY Teacher appreciation gift plus free printable "thank you for helping me grow" labels. Easy DIY succulent gift for that special teacher!

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Supplies for Thank You for Helping Me Grow Printable:

Step 1. Paint the Jelly Jars White

I started by applying 2 coats of chalk paint to the jelly jar, still continuing my obsession with this paint. It all started with these DIY Lace Covered Pots.

You guys HAVE to try this paint. It’s amazing. Make sure you let the paint completely dry in between coats …. which of course I didn’t …. the paint comes off easily when applying a second coat if it’s not dry completely.

Supplies you need to paint jelly jars in a linen white chalk paint in order to distress them for teach gift

Painting a Jelly Jar white with a foam brush for the thanks for helping me grow free printable

This was after one coat of paint:

Two white jelly jars ready to be distressed that will have a thank you for helping me grow printable attached

Step 2. Distress Jars for Thank You Printable

I then used sandpaper to distress the jars. I rubbed the sandpaper up and down gently a few times. It doesn’t take much for the paint to scape away.

Distressing a jar with 220 grit sand paper very slightly for a teacher appreciation gift fill with succulents

This is what the distressing looks like:

Finished DIY distressed teacher appreciation gift ready for ribbon and tags

Step 3. Decorate Jars for the Printable

During one of my many excursions to Michaels, I just happened to spot these fantastic ribbons. They had a whole bunch of sets and I admit they were a little expensive.

I believe around $6 for the one spindle. But, I LOVE the linen color and I think it looks perfectly “farmhouse” and great for this project.

Wrapping a distressed mason jar with ribbon using spray glue for a teach appreciation gift with planted succulents

After the paint dried, I sprayed a thin layer of spray glue on the rim of the jar. I wanted to incorporate both sets of ribbons from the spindle.

I wrapped the first strand around the very top, leaving enough extra to attach the “thank you for helping me grow” printable later. Then, I added the second ribbon below, having the 2 ends meet without leaving any extra.

Using ribbon to ad a nice touch to a jerry jar gives off such a beautiful accent to the distressed technique

Great accent and flare piece adding ribbon to a jar that has been distressed with white chalk paint

Step 4. Glue and Attach the Thank You For Helping Me Grow Printable

I printed out the labels and paired them with some green card stock I had lying around. This isn’t a necessary step. In the finished product, you’ll notice I only did the card stock with one of the jars.

I’m not sure which way I like better. The card stock does make the label more sturdy but it also adds bulk AND an extra step. So, totally up to you!

Using cardstock and paper to create a tag with the thank you for helping me grow printable free

Finished product tag with thank you for helping me grow printable on top of cardstock ready for a hole punch

I then punched a hole in the top of the tag and strung the ribbon through the hole, one piece at a time. Once they were through, I did a regular ‘ole double knot to tie it on 🙂

Threading the Thanks for helping me grow printable with ribbon on the distressed jar

This Teacher appreciation gift jar filled with succulents and free printable will show how much you care

This DIY teacher appreciation gift will really make their day when your child bring it to school during appreciation week

Step 5. Add Soil and Plant Succulents

Add some dirt and some succulents…

DIY Teach appreciation gift with succulents and a thank you for helping me grow printable

And there ya have it! I think these turned out so sweet!

Two mason jars side by side with succulents and a free printable for teach appreciation week

DIY thank you for helping me grow tag on cardstock with michaels ribbon and plants

DIY mason jar distressed with white paint and sanded makes a great teacher gift at the end of the school year

I hope you were inspired by these mason jars distressed and made into teacher appreciation gifts

Didn’t this just turn out perfectly? Teachers do so much for our kiddos and the next generation and this is a small cute way to show them exactly how much you care. This is something they can hopefully cherish for a long time to come.

Here’s the free printable!! There are 4 different size labels, in case your planter is bigger or smaller.

Thankyouforhelpingmegrow

Thanks for reading my little blog!! I’ve been blown away by the support. I can’t believe someone is actually reading this…I’m truly humbled and so excited to continue sharing my crazy life and DIYs.

Check out these other amazing Teacher Appreciation Gifts and Let them know you Care!