Inexpensive DIY Pencil Vase

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This budget-friendly pencil vase is a fun craft to make for Teacher Appreciation Week gifts or teacher gifts for any time of the year, really. It's easy on the wallet with upcycled cans, inexpensive pencils, and a lot of love. It's also super cute and would be an adorable addition to anybody's classroom (or principal's office!). See how we made this pencil vase below.

Teacher Appreciation Week is a pretty fun time here at I Should Be Mopping the Floor. I'm married to a principal and have helped plan many a Teacher Appreciation Week, both for schools he has been at, as well as for our own kids' schools. I also have lots of other fun printables and projects for this special season that you can find here. My favorite Teacher Appreciation Week gifts are the handmade ones...they just melt my heart. And this one totally fits the bill for that. See how we made this simple DIY Pencil Vase below. 

DIY Pencil Vase

Not only is this pencil vase a lovely gift for a teacher or school staff member, it makes a darling centerpiece for any school luncheon, as well. A few fellow preschool moms and I actually put these pencil vases together for that very purpose. We created a couple of dozen of these for our preschool's Teacher Appreciation Week Luncheon (put on by all of the parents for the school's staff). These pencil vases were up and down the middles of all of the tables, filled with flowers. After we cleaned up from the meal, we took each teacher their own pencil vase to keep as a simple gift of appreciation. They all were truly happy to receive them. And year after year, I've seen them displayed in their classrooms. Some have kept flowers in them, but they also make great holders for school supplies, too. Turns out that everyone loves their pencil vase.

Supplies for a Pencil Vase

As I mentioned above, some sweet friends & I had a crafty morning putting these together for our preschool's Teacher Appreciation Week. Crafting is even more fun with friends! Below are the supplies we used for this pencil vase craft.

• standard vegetable cans (14.5 ounce is what we used)
• Be sure to thoroughly wash your cans. One of my fellow crafters, Kristen, volunteered to wash all of our cans in her dishwasher that had a sanitize feature.
• pencils...honestly, each of us were able to get a different amount around each can. I would estimate around 24 pencils per can, give or take.
• Amazon has a really great deal on 12 dozen (144 total) #2 yellow pencils here. I think a #2 pencil is perfect for this pencil vase.
• hot glue gun
• Amazon carries my favorite hot glue gun here.
• hot glue
• You can use low temp or high temp on this, it won't make a big difference.
• ribbon 

With this hot glue used in this craft, it can be harder to get little kids in on the creation of this one. But older children may be able to help with plenty of supervision. Be sure to use a lower temp glue gun and watch vigilantly if you decide to go that route. I'm not responsible for any hot glue boo boos on this one, y'all. 

Making a Pencil Vase

This is truly a super simple craft. Just gluing, gluing, and more gluing. I found it easier to put a bunch of glue on the can itself and then stick 2-3 pencils on a time. Mine also ended up being the messier ones...the other moms crafting with me were a little more careful and glued each of their pencils one at a time. In the end, they all looked pretty good...mine just required a bit of glue gun hair snipping. 

Just keep working your way around each can with all of your pencils. If you mess up, you can always pull one off and reposition it with new hot glue. Once all of your pencils are glued, take a bit of ribbon and tie it around as well. We put a dab of glue under the backside of the ribbon to make sure it wouldn't slide off. You can double knot your ribbon, as well, so it stays put even better.

Didn't these turn out so fun? I made one for my older son's teacher, as well, and it was definitely a hit. You truly can beat cute and budget-friendly, amiright?

Looking for More Teacher Appreciation Crafts?

• I have a free pattern for Hoop Art Apple Gifts here. These are seriously the cutest little hoops. I made them for all of my older son's teachers last year and got so many compliments. This pattern includes a complete step-by-step tutorial.
• My DIY Clipboard Gifts only require a marker and some paint to put together a gift for teachers that they can use over and over. Attach a Teacher Appreciation Printable for a complete gift.
• Want to make your teacher a cute t-shirt or mug? I have Nine Free Teacher Cut Files here for you to use for those kinds of crafts.
• This "Mani Thanks" gift from Lolly Jane is perfect for teachers who love nail polish.
• This cute summer-themed Teacher Gift Basket from See Vanessa Craft is another good one. 
• Not feeling crafty? My Free Printable Teacher Appreciation Tags are perfect to attach to a pack of markers or pens for a quick and easy gift.

When is Teacher Appreciation Week?

In the US, for 2019, Teacher Appreciation Week will begin on 

Monday

, 

May 6th and end on 

Friday

, 

May 10th. Happy Teacher Appreciating, y'all!