INSIDE: How to make a $5 Valentine’s Day “survival kit” gift for teachers using small tin pails and travel sized beauty supplies.
Valentine’s Day is great, don’t you think? It’s refreshing to focus on a holiday that’s a little more simple and truly all about L-O-V-E …and all the chocolate goodies don’t hurt its cause!
We love our teachers and they do an amazing job for our kiddos (hello, patience I only wish I had!). So for this Valentine’s Day, I am creating a super affordable $5 Valentine’s Day gift for teachers.
Since our school has a no-food-from-home policy, I opted for a Valentine’s “survival kit” theme instead of sweet treats. More chocolate-y goodies for me, I guess!
*This post contains affiliate links. A purchase of any of these items helps to support this blog and its creative efforts at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. To read more, please see my disclosure page.
DIY $5 Valentine’s Day Gift for Teachers
This is a gift idea – that can be created long past Valentine’s Day – that can be quickly put together by strolling through the dollar bin travel section of a pharmacy or beauty department.
Supplies:
– Small tin pails
– Travel tissues
– Hand sanitizer
– Travel lotion
– Lip balm
Easy Valentine’s Day Survival Kit Beauty Gift
Digging through my bin of miscellaneous Valentine’s Day decor, I grabbed a large foam heart sticker to use as a template. I traced it onto the pail with a pencil.
Using pink and purple acrylic craft paints, I painted the heart and added some polka dots. (I have a thing for polka dots. Love ’em!) Once dry, I added some acrylic glitter paint.
Friendly Tip: Use the end of a paint brush to make perfectly round dots.
On the backside of the pail, I painted the words “Love to teach“.
affordable valentine’s day teacher gifts
Insert some Valentine’s cellophane paper or heart tissue paper into the metal pail. Fill with your goodies.

Other Valentine’s Day ideas you may like:
- Valentine’s Day succulent wreath from chocolate heart box
- Easy heart photo collage with kids photos
- “Our Friendship Won’t Be Squashed” kids bug Valentine’s Day cards
- Flower stem heart wreath
- Valentine card box from a cardboard six-pack carrier
Do you follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram?
I would appreciate any social media love you can send my way.
Such a cute, inexpensive gift idea! Love these 🙂
Thanks! Love thrifty crafts!!
I love them! Great idea!
Thank you for sharing at The Really Crafty Link Party! Pinned!
I will definitely be doing this for my daughter’s pre-k teacher! Thank you for sharing on Meetup Monday!
Thank you! Nothing like showing your teacher some love…on a budget!
This is an adorable idea! I love the painted buckets! Thank you so much for linking up this week with Maker’s Mix-Up!
Very cute idea. Love it.
These are adorable! I love quick and easy gifts for teachers 🙂 That dollar section is my Achilles’s Heal…I don’t think I EVER leave without something!
What a fun idea and not expensive at all – especially if you have more than one teacher to buy for. Love how you decorated it!
-Lauren
#happynowlinkup
Thanks Lauren!
Those are so adorable! I love that you went with a “survival’ theme. We’re finally back at a school where homemade goodies are requested. The no-homemade rules are so tough! (Even though I totally get it) Thanks for sharing this at the #happynowlinkup!
This is adorable, and something I think my kiddos could help with. Thanks for sharing this over at the #happynowlinkup!
I’m sure your children’s teachers will be blessed by these adorable love buckets!
Cute idea for a teacher’s Valentine’s Day gift. Thank you for sharing at Vintage Charm.
Thanks Sharon!
What a cute idea! Teachers can definitely never have too much hand sanitizer. 🙂
What a great gift idea! I love the decorations on the buckets, too.
Such a cute idea, especially if there is more than one teacher. So economical! I did something similar when my kids were in elementary school but baked homemade treats. Visiting from the Celebrate It! link party.
It is a great idea for gifts not only on Valentine Day 🙂
Very true, thanks Christina.
I like the idea of a sweet and inexpensive gift that is prettily packaged like this.
Love the buckets, teachers or anyone can always use another bucket right.
Yes, agreed! I have an 8 year old who can never have enough holders for her little things!
So cute, and inexpensive too. Thank you for sharing at The Really Crafty Link Party. Pinned!
This is such an adorable idea! I love how cute and creative these are, and I’m sure the recipients will love them!
Such a cute idea! You can never have too many tissues or too much hand sanitizer in the classroom. Pinned.
I love that you give a Valentine’s gift to the teacher. Very thoughtful items too. Happy New Year, Kippi #kippiathome
This is definitely a great idea for teachers, Victoria, and I can see it working for others as well – and lots of possible variations! The little pails are so cute, and would be .a fun project for older kids to do themselves too. Thank you for sharing, and for being a part of the Hearth and Soul Link Party. Sharing this post on the H&S Facebook page later this week (Thursday). Hope you are having a lovely week!
Cute & useful idea! The teachers will love it. I’ve never seen the glitter paint before, I will be looking for that. Thanks for sharing at Merry Monday!