Teacher Retirement Centerpieces

After the pots and branches were set (instructions on how-to visit original Manzanita Madness post) it was time to decorate!  I needed something that would add color to my centerpieces, fit into my theme, and be the right scale for the branches and pot.  I happened across some school themed scrapbook paper I found on sale ($9.99 for 100 sheets!).  The sheets had multiple different patterns, sparkles, and colors– just perfect for the party, but I still had to figure out what I would use it for.  Then it hit me!  What screams school and teachers more than paper airplanes!  And, to top it off, the cost would be less than a penny for each plane!

How To

Perfect Paper Airplanes

I first used plain computer paper to figure out the size I wanted on the trees.  I went with about 4 inches by 7 inches.  I got four planes per 12 inch by 12 inch scrapbook paper (I eyeballed the measurement to make them all fit– three in one direction, one on the leftover top part).  Then I took a metal ruler and began folding the planes.  First I folded in half, then folded the sides in once, then again (to get a good point and a slimmer plane), then brought the two sides together and folded down from the middle.  Or click here for a pictorial tutorial.  I had purchased some yarn ($1.29 for a ton of yarn at Wal-mart) and cut lengths of about 5 inches and tied them into loops.  I placed the knotted side into the middle of the planes and then stapled them together.  I then tried to place one of each pattern on each centerpiece to get a lot of color for not a lot of cash!

Gingham Placemat

I thought gingham would be a good compliment to a teacher retirement party.  I purchased 4 yards and cut the squares roughly about 2′-0″ x 2′-0″.  I used a roller cutter on a cutting board.  I noticed I had some frayed edges and decided I needed to finish it off.  I had some wired red ribbon about 2 inches thick.  I used regular Elmer’s white glue to glue on the ribbon to the edges of the fabric along two sides.  If needed, I went through and “hemmed” with the white glue on the other edges.  The ribbon added some weight to the mats and made them see more expensive.  I sprinkled colored buttons around like confetti on the placemat due to our guest of honor being a home economics teacher.  I used the placemats also on the memorabilia table.

Mini Blackboard Table Cards

The table cards were made from black foam core that was cut in order to be able to use wooden tongue depressors.  I cut them about 4″ x 6″ (approximately).  I used hot glue to adhere the wooden sticks to the foam core.  I used scissors to cut blunt edges on the depressors.  Next, I used my Cricut to cut the letters for the mini blackboards.  Then I used a coordinating ribbon from my gingham placement (same ribbon just in a 1/2 inch size).  I used green floral sticks with metal wires attached to wrap around the ribbon and shove into my foam (worked really well and held them even during transport!).  I covered the area with an apple– it didn’t need it since the moss covered everything, but I liked the shiny apple at each table.  My table names went along with my theme and were based on stereotypical school cliques.  The tables were the:

• Drama Queens
• Bullies
• Nerds
• In-Crowd
• Cheerleaders
• Jocks
• Outcasts
• Preps
• Misfits
• Honor Students
• Teacher’s Pets

 The guest of honor had a seat saved with a blackboard saying, “Saved for teacher” and had a matching red ribbon bow in the back of the chair that matched the gingham placemats.

Moss & Pencils

As I mentioned in my post Guest Book with a Twist, I instructed the guests to actually engage with the centerpiece by using little yellow golf pencils that were placed in the green moss.  They were to look like they were part of the theme only, but were actually functional for filling out the guest book and also for the surprise pop quiz (as mentioned in  Teacher Retirement Party Activities post) that was given.  We bought the pencils for cheap at an office supply store and sharpened them up a bit before placing them out.

Teacher’s Lounge

One way to get guest up and out of their seats is to have a bar.  Be it cash bar, open bar, top or bottom shelf, people always will wander over for a look.  At my teacher retirement party, I took the theme and called the bar the “Teacher’s Lounge” and made the drinks coincide with my party.  The guest of honor’s school mascot are the buccaneers and we named it the most popular drinks.

Teacher Retirement Party Activities

Guests can sometimes be stuck to their chairs all night and not socialize.  To keep your guests from suffering for “Tree Stump Syndrome” I crafted some activities to get people talking, laughing, and, most importantly, learning more about the guest of honor.  I needed something to match my ‘Last Class’ theme that would get the guests to interact with one another doing something benign and silly.  These little activities usually help people loosen up and helps make the party more memorable.

Dunce Cap Doodle

I decided to create a song as a tribute to the guest of honor.  The springboard for the idea came from a message board site.  I liked the Yankee Doodle themed song since could download it from you tube without words to have the guests sing to at the party.  To keep with my theme, I decided that I would make Dunce caps and those with the caps would automatically be chosen to sing the song at some point during the party.

At first, the Dunce caps were around and people merely thought they were just decorations for the party.  However, the guest of honor began to choose people as she met and chatted with them.  She picked people like her old boss, some old friends, etc.  As soon as they received the hat, I discretely went to them and handed the song so they could read it over.  The guest of honor only knew she had to hand them out, but did not know why.  Then before the speeches, we asked all those ‘Dunces’ to come up to the front to receive their ‘punishment.’  Since I had about 10, people who were shy could still get up there without feeling bashful.  I was surprised at the amount of people who got out cameras to get everyone singing!  Everyone got a kick out of the whole production!

How To

I bought gray poster board and referenced First Palette for a little help on making a conical hat.  I measured my head with the string and then halved it.  I then attached the string to a pencil, held the sting at the center of my circle, and traced my semi-circle.  I cut out the shape carefully.  Then I secured the hat with a staple at the bottom and then fixed the rest of the seam with dabs of hot glue.  To make it more festive, I bout some spray glitter and glittered those bad boys up!  I also used my Cricut to cut out the letters “Dunce.”  I glued those on prior to the glitterization.

Party Pop Quiz!

Another idea was to help the guests be better informed about the retiree.   To do that we had a memorabilia table with old pictures, old year books, awards, etc. spread along the table along with mementos and decorations.  In addition, we had a sideshow running that had fun facts about when she started teaching compared to now (e.g., the average teacher salary from the 60’s to average teacher’s salary now).  Hopefully all the guests were paying attention because we had a POP QUIZ right after the speeches were done!

How to

I printed these out on my card stock I used for all the rest of my projects.  I chose questions that were tailored to those who attended (like the neighbors invited would get the car color correct, while work people would know about how many years she taught).  The questions were meant to entertain and to get people laughing and, at the same time, learning a little more about the retiree.  We also had some tie breakers in case we needed them.  We gave the top two guests gifts for getting the most questions correct.

Teacher Retirement Thank You Note

Here is a creative way to cap of the ‘Last Class’ teacher retirement party– Report Card thank you notes!  The guest of honor fills out the name and the comments section and delivers it in a ‘official’ business envelope.  Of course the subject areas correspond to the party and can change depending on what is appropriate for your event.  Tips on wording the thank yous can be found here.

One guest (coworker) responded back to the card saying, “B minus?! My wife requests a wife-teacher retiree conference immediately.”

Guest Book with a Twist!

At some point during that party, your guests will be sitting at the table with some idle time on their hands.  So, to keep them busy, why not have the guest book right at their fingertips!  Going along with my ‘Last Class’ Retirement party theme, the guests were going to “pass a note” to her during the party.  I first caught this idea from blog The Sweetest Occasions, where it had a great 80’s school themed wedding profiled.  I used past pictures on the pass a note (I had four different combinations of past pictures on the cards to keep it interesting!).  I accompanied the guest book with a pink eraser card holder to tie into my school theme.  I had mini golf pencils available for the guests to use.

The cards were 4 x 6 and can be put into a photo album easily.  I plan to place the note cards amongst the pictures from the evening.  The pink eraser holders were easy to make as well– just cut a deep slit into the eraser and insert the printed card stock.  I found there is a difference in pink erasers and some are easier to cut than others.  The pink erasers were 3/$1, so it will not kill the budget.

Teacher’s Last Class Retirement Party Invites!

Your card should convey the kind of party you are trying to throw.  For example, if your party is based on a theme, let your guests know about it, as you would not want them to feel out of place.  If it is a surprise, make sure to note that as well as if you do not want any gifts brought.  Along with the tone of the party, most importantly include: date, time, and the address of the venue of the party. Along with these details, also do give your phone number or email address, so that the guests can contact you, if any need arises. People usually prefer weekends to host a retirement party, so that all your invited guests can make it to the venue, and on the correct time.  Other tips can be found here.

Based on the tips above, I went all out for my ‘Last Class’ themed teacher retirement invitation.  The summons card had wording that denoted a more jovial and light retirement party.  I also included a direction card to help my guests.

For the Envelopes:

I chose black to look like a black board effect.  Ordering online is the only way to keep the cost down.  I got 100 envelopes for $27.70 (28¢/envelope).  But, to make the invitations a bit more designed, I opted for envelope liners.  A great tutorial is offered by blog Budget Savvy Bride.  I made a template as the tutorial instructed and for did the full liner for the hand delivered envelopes, but only lined the bottom section for the mailed envelopes.  I believed people would rip it when opening.  I made the apple/composition pattern on my computer and printed 100 full color copies to cut from.  In retrospect, I would have printed this on my home printer–color copies cost $50 (50¢/liner)!!

The wrap around address label was printed on full sheet labels purchased online (100 for $21).  I got 5 labels per sheet (4¢/label).  I printed these on my home printer.

For the Invitation:

I found a template for the file folder online and sized it to be small enough to accompany a 5×7 card.  I used A7 envelopes as well.  I bought a pack of 100 manilla envelopes and cut one from each (6¢/folder).  Then I had clear address labels which I printed with ‘Confidential.’  I also used my label maker to add the name to the folder tab.  These are items I had, but the cost per invite would be 2¢/confidential sticker and label.

Next, I went to Target and printed ‘school picture’ sized images from years past on 4×6 photos.  I got 4 photos on one sheet (25¢/photo).  Then I printed my invite on card stock from home.  I then added a real paper clip and a bit of foam sticky squares to pop the photo up off the paper.  I got the foam squares in the dollar section at target and the paper clips were 100 for 80¢. These prices were nominal to the overall invite.

For the Directions Card:

Using my home printer, I printed on school notebook paper I had from years past.  I then highlighted some of the key information and placed it in the file folder behind the invite.  I used a paper cutter to cut the ‘Cheat Sheets.” This was practically free since it is items I had on hand.

I sent out about 110 with a total cost to me of approximately $1.80/invitation.