DIY School Supply Cake (Fun & Unique Teacher Gift Idea!)
Show an educator your appreciation with this creative “teacher cake.” It’s a DIY school supply “cake” that is sure to get a smile!
No eating this teacher cake!
Are you looking for a creative way to donate school supplies to a deserving teacher and/or school? Help your favorite teacher stock up with this creative school supply cake! With the back-to-school season around the corner, this fun and easy-to-make tiered “cake” is the perfect present to give to a teacher you appreciate. It also makes a thoughtful gift for recent graduates who are going into their first year of teaching!
It’s easy to get started. Use your school supply list to find the materials your teacher will need. The best part is you can use the school supplies you already have on hand (as I did in my example), or you can use whatever you find on sale.
What a great way to take advantage of all the amazing back-to-school deals we’ve been sharing here on Hip2Save! Shop our offers and you’ll get a ton of supplies for your teacher cake all for the best price!
School will be back in session before you know it! 📚✏️
It’s important we help teachers know how much we support them in making their classrooms safe and healthy zones while also being fun! We know that teachers already invest so much into creating the perfect classroom for their students, so this “teacher cake”, consisting of all the tools that would be on a school supplies list, is such a thoughtful gift to make and super useful too!
You can switch up the supplies to whatever is most needed for your classroom, specifically. Just use our model as an example and create a “school supply cake” that makes the best sense for your kiddo’s school! I used 24-count boxes of Crayola Crayons, Elmer’s School Glue, Kid Scissors, Sharpie Markers, Hand Sanitizer Bottles, and Disinfectant Wipes Container.
Did I mention this “school supply cake” is super easy to create?
This teacher supply cake is a breeze to make! For the base of the cake, you can use round papier-mâché boxes with lids (available at Hobby Lobby or Amazon). Then, use some mounting tape, rubber bands, and ribbon to help secure your school supplies.
Ready to make your own? Follow the picture tutorial and/or use the written direction below!
DIY School Supply "Cake"
PrintSupplies Needed
Directions
1
Paint the boxes, if desired, and let dry.
2
Place two rubber bands around the middle of the largest bottom box and then place desired school supplies around the edges (under the rubber bands). I used 11 24-count boxes of Crayola crayons to cover the bottom box.
3
Stack and attach the middlebox using heavy-duty mounting tape, and repeat the steps using rubber bands to hold school supplies. I used 13 bottles of Elmer’s School Glue to cover the middle layer, and stuck in a few pairs of kid scissors as a fun accent.
4
Repeat the same steps with the top box. It took me 49 Colorful Sharpie Markers to cover the top box, but you could also use highlighters, #2 pencils, dry erase markers, or any other school supply, really! Note: I decided not to use the lid for the top tier so it could hold the wipes and hand sanitizer inside instead.
5
Lastly, cover the rubber bands with decorative tape or ribbon.That’s it!
This “school supply cake” for teachers is just way too cute!
School supplies are appreciated by all teachers, and this is such a fun and festive way to present all the goodies! I hope you’ll give this school supply cake a shot, too. The teachers in your life are sure to appreciate it! Plus, the presentation will blow everyone away!
Need a gift tag or card? Check out our FREE teacher appreciation printables!
This is super cute but as a former teacher, I know that at the first of the school year things are so hectic (teachers are exhausted) that I would prefer school items in a box that I could easily store until needed. I would not want to have to take something apart or find a place to store it until I had time to take it apart and put the different items away. BUT I aways appreciated any extra supplies for my kids!! (It reminds me of the diaper cakes made out of different sizes diapers and new moms are exhausted and would just prefer them in the box so they know what size.). BUT teachers really do appreciate any donations because they spend so much out of pocket to help their students who do not have supplies!! (You can also buy supplies now on sale and surprise the teacher with them after Christmas when their stockpiles are running low)
Thanks for your input! It does remind me of a diaper cake too. Similar idea 💕
I used to do this every year when my son was in school (special needs classroom). I would use a tray box covered in wrapping paper for the base and then build up using construction paper, diaper wipes, tissues and disposable hand towels. Then add the crayons, markers, etc. It just made a square cake! His teacher left it on her desk until supplies were needed later in the year (avoids that overwhelmed issue in the previous comment). On a side note…I also made the teachers a wine “cake” using wine bottles, plastic glasses, snacks , Tylenol, etc on a cheese board as the base with a note “I’m pretty sure my son is why you drink!” Have to look at things with a little humor and a smile! 😃
Oh thanks for sharing all those ideas and tips! You are so thoughtful for doing all those.
Sounds like a great valentine or Christmas gift for the teacher.
That’s a great idea, Denise! I’m sure the extra supplies would definitely come in handy for teachers during those times also! 🤗❤️
I’m a teacher (my 30th year starts next week!) and would love this actually, though I completely understand the other view posted. Personally, if I received this, I’d just display it on top a file cabinet right away – because the beginning of the year is indeed quite hectic – and then would pull out items as the kids needed them. That way the decoration – and the kind thoughts behind it – would be there for all to see…and frankly it would make me smile every time I’d see it.
Thanks Liz! Have a great school year! Years ago when we first posted this I donated it to our school and they had a drawing to pick a teacher. It was fun and she was so excited to win it 😍😭
I’m doing this for my student teacher’s party!
SO fun, Amoreena! I hope it’s a hit! 🙌 💖
This is a great post Lina. The first year I became a teacher I received one similar to this. It was such a cute and welcoming gift from the PTA. I displayed it and started picking things off as I needed them, also my supply cake had Clorox wipes in the center.
Oh thanks for sharing Michelle! Great idea on the Clorox wipes 🙌🏼🎉
Looks like a very generous idea. Probably about $100 for supplies? Maybe made by a group of Moms?
So smart to split the cost among a group, grandmat57! 🤗 There’s some great school supply deals popping up already here – to save on some of these items that can be included in the “cake.” 🙌