I also do a Cookies in a jar recipe. But we put the recipe ingredients in a gallon ziploc. Then we decorate a white paper bag. I use sponge paint but you could do whatever.
We put the gallon bag in the decorated bag with tissue paper. We also make a card with the recipe on one side and a personal note on the other. We use a hole punch and a ribbon to attach. They turn out really nice.
I send a letter home to ask for volunteers to send supplies. Then I give each volunteer an item to send.

Directions

1. When choosing the number of paper bags needed, you will need to know how many pages will be necessary to finish your project. With 2 paper bags, the scrapbook will have 8 pages and 4 pockets to decorate. If you choose 3 bags, you will have 12 pages and 6 pockets to decorate. For the purpose of this instruction, I have chosen to use 2 paper bags.
2. Next you will individually fold each bag in half. Then set them on top of one another.
3. Use your hole punch to cut 3 holes down the left side of the book. (See the tips below for the easiest way to do this.)
4. Cut the ribbon into 3 strips about 5 inches long. Feed the ribbon through the holes and tie.
5. Now the real fun begins. Decorate your pages!

Cheresa,
Could you provide the directions for the paperbag scrapbook? It sounds unique? I am always looking for different ideas and this sounds like a great one.
Thanks

We make paperbag scrapbooks. They are so cute. I use two paperbags and bind them. The kids decorate them with holiday embeliishments.

We make a calendar for parents. I take a picture of the student for the cover (on the inside) and then bind together the months which the kids label and put special days such as birthdays etc. The parents are then supposed to rip off the months so the kid's picture stays. For the front part, the kids put their finger in an ink pad and using their finger print make the year.

One year we did different hand print pics for each month, but that was A LOT of work and I had a parent doing it. (2 hands for a heart, etc.)

These turn out cute and are easier.

Good luck!

The two grade three classes are getting parents to send in favorite Christmas cookie and dessert recipes. Kids will design a "cook book" cover. Laminate cover and use the coil machine at school to finish.
Warning: The typing of all the recipes is a lot of work!

Last year I bought some inexpensive, clear glass (ball) ornaments at Wal Mart and took off the top, hook-holder-thing.The students (with your help) add different colors of paint to the inside (just squirt it inside) and swirl it around. It creates a pretty marble effect. Let it dry out for a few days and then put the cap back on.Then I take a permanent marker (gold is nice) and write "Merry Christmas from Joe", or get them to print it themselves.
I found this a quick and easy gift to make when I was short of time last year and the kids really liked it. Wrap it in tissue or something protective and put it into a paper bag the kids have decorated.
You could also put different colored beads inside the ornament if you don't want to mess around with paint.

I take pictures of the kids with my digital camera. I let them choose from a santa hat, an elf hat, or reindeer antlers. Last year I found really cute frames at Michaels for $1.00. It was worth it to me to pay to make things easy on myself, but they don't seem to have them this year. In the past, we have made frames from painted popsicle sticks. Then I either put a magnet strip on the back or ribbon to hang them by. I'm thinking you could also do something with CD's, but I'm not sure what.

are what our kids make. All second graders bring an empty qt jar at the beginning of the year. (Some kids bring them, some don't, and some bring in a dozen. It all works out in the end.) Then we divide the ingredients out so each child brings in a package of one of the dry ingredients: sugar, brown sugar, chocolate chips, flour, etc... Then the last week of school we set up an assembly line and the kids file in and fill their jar, put a lid on it and then secure a square of holiday fabric on the top. The kids are very excited that they have something different to give their parents. And it provides something the child and parent can do together.

What do you have the kids make for their parents for Christmas?