As a retired teacher I'd like to tell you how I feel. While a gift card to an office supply store would have been greatly appreciated by me, a home-made personal gift was even better! Every Christmas I still hang on my tree several ornaments handmade by parents/children. One of my faves- a small quilted ornament! Back then I had no idea I would become a quilter in my retirement, but I loved it even then. Having said that, I must tell you, when we moved to our retirement home, none of the dollar store items came!!!! (Side story- had a garage sale once. Lady came over and whispered, "Where do you teach?" When I asked her how she knew I was a teacher, she whispered, "Because I got all those tacky little things on your ten-cent table as Christmas gifts, too!")