Archives for August 2014

Paper Apples for Teacher

Aug

Hello! Amanda from Popper & Mimi here today and I’m so excited that school has officially started! Today I am sharing a fun way for your kids to greet their new teachers this year.

My kids are always a little nervous to meet their new teachers so I created a fun and inexpensive project to help them break the ice.

Paper apples are easy to make and only require a piece of patterned paper or cardstock. I used patterned paper from Pebbles’ Home+Made, Back to School, and Birthday Wishes collections. Using a variety of patterned paper adds a bit of extra charm to each individual apple.

Each apple is topped with a real twig and is about 3″ tall, making it even more life-like.

To begin making each apple, cut 12 apples from a single piece of 12″x12″ paper. Choose a die, cut file, or pattern that is symmetrical. I used my die cutting machine to cut and score the apples at the same time. Head on over to my blog for a brief tutorial on how to add a score line to a cut file.

Fold each apple in half and apply dry adhesive to one side of each apple slice.

Adhere the apple slices together until you have formed a little stack of apple slices. Apply additional adhesive to the top piece, open up the apple, and adhere the slices together forming a complete apple.

Once adhered together, your apple should have a little hole in the middle. Place a little twig in the middle to create a little apple stem.

Cut leaves from patterned paper and place them between the apple layers.

Embellish the top of the apple with a sticker or other fun embellishment. Now your new teacher has a fun decoration to place on his or her desk for the entire school year.

Happy crafting!
Amanda

Supplies:
HOMEMADE DOUBLE-SIDED CARDSTOCK 12″X12″ LOVE SEAT
BACK TO SCHOOL DOUBLE-SIDED CARDSTOCK 12″X12″ RULERS
BIRTHDAY WISHES DOUBLE-SIDED CARDSTOCK 12″X12″
GARDEN PARTY CARDMAKING PAPER PAD
GARDEN PARTY CARDSTOCK STICKERS
BACK TO SCHOOL CARDSTOCK STICKERS 5.5″X12″ TEACHER PHRASE
HOMEMADE CARDSTOCK STICKERS 6″X12″ 2/SHEETS PHRASE & ACCENT

Back To School Backpack Gift Boxes

Aug

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Hi Pebbles friends! It’s Wendy Sue Anderson here with you today, sharing some fun little back to school “backpacks” made with the cute Back to School collection.

Okay, they aren’t really backpacks – but they are cute little gift boxes that look like backpacks! I think they are the perfect little box for a back-to-school bash, or even a simple first-day-of-school gift.

I used my Silhouette Cameo and a Cut File available in the Silhouette Store to create the little backpack boxes.

The backpacks are all made with papers from the “Birthday Wishes” collection, which coordinate so nicely with the stickers from the “Back To School” collection!

I just love how the little straps hook on the back of the boxes, allowing the opposite side of the patterned paper to be seen too!

Here are a few tips I use for projects like this:

1. Sometimes I like to make the boxes or 3-d projects larger than the original file. When you do this, be sure to hold down the shift key while dragging the corner box – this will ensure the proportions remain the same. Otherwise your box might not fold up correctly!

2. If your cutting mat isn’t as sticky as you’d like, use washi tape on all four sides to secure your paper.

3. I always (always, always, always) use Super Sticky Red Tape on my 3-d projects. Once the tape is on there, the box (or bag, or whatever) will NOT pop open!

These boxes are just the right size to tuck in some “first day” goodies – crayons, erasers, or mini markers.

Consider adding a small bottle of hand sanitizer, or a pack of tissues!

Perhaps you’d prefer to tuck in a stack of post-it notes and a little pencil.

Maybe even a little pack of gum or mints and some cash for lunch money!

Whatever you decide to pack in your backpacks, they are sure to make the first day of school extra special!

Supplies:
Birthday Wishes Paper Pad – 732581
Birthday Wishes “Make A Wish” – 732553
Birthday Wishes “Surprise” – 732552
Birthday Wishes “Party Hat” – 732558
Birthday Wishes “Birthday Wish” – 732555
Back To School “Accent & Phrase Stickers 18” – 732347
Back To School “Accent & Phrase Stickers 10” – 732348
Back To School “Accent Stickers 56” – 732349
Back To School “Accent Stickers 7” – 732351
This To That Double-Sided Super Sticky Red Tape – 61753

Back to School Card Duo

Aug

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Hi, Everyone! Renee Zwirek back today to share another project with you using the Back to School line. I made a couple of cards for my girls on their First Day of School. I thought it would be a fun surprise for them to open up their lunch bags and find these cards. I know that they will be feeling sad about the summer ending. I know they’ll be nervous but excited on their first day and I want to express my feelings to them too. I’ll sneak in their favorite candy along with these cards filled with personal messages to each of them from me (and Daddy) letting them know how much we love them, how proud we are of them, and that we know they’ll have another great school year.

Here’s the card I made for Payton. I used the Kraft A2 Card for my base. I sectioned off this card vertically to include the yummy apples paper, the ruler paper, and the lined paper. I loved the grouping of these Circle Accent Stickers. It has adorable school icons along with the “Great Job!” sticker I used for my sentiment. I finished it off with a great ribbon and added a bow. Pretty and ready to give to the new 2nd Grader! (cannot believe she’s in 2nd Grade)

Here’s the card I made for Caitie. I used the White A2 Card for my base. I sectioned off this card horizontally to include the ruler paper, the lined paper, and the red graph paper. I lined up the crayon stickers all nice and neat (just the way Caitie would like it) on top of the grid paper and used the “star student” sticker for my sentiment. Perfect and ready to give to the new 4th Grader! (I’m in total denial that she’s in 4th Grade)

Gosh, doesn’t the school year seem to just fly by?! Hope your kiddos have a wonderful school year…no matter what grade they are in.

Supplies:
Back to School Apples (732420)
Back to School Rulers (732421)
Back to School Accent & Phrase Stickers (732347)
Back to School Circle Accent Stickers (732350)
Back to School Accent Stickers (732351)
American Crafts A2 Cards & Envelopes (4.375″X5.75″) 12/Pkg, White (366014)
American Crafts A2 Cards & Envelopes (4.375″X5.75″) 12/Pkg, Kraft (366022)
American Crafts This to That Dimensional Dots (61709)
American Crafts This to That 3 Pack Solid Adhesive Runner and Refills (61740)
American Crafts Amy Tangerine Ready Set Go Premium Ribbon Value Pack (89428)

Back To School Cards with Bow Tutorial

Aug

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Hello! It’s Mendi here today, and I’m super excited to be sharing some simple school-themed cards using Pebbles Back To School Collection!

These are perfect for a special teacher in your child’s life or even to make multiples of to give as a boxed set for a new teacher.

First up I have a card featuring some simple hand-cut pennants along with one of the stickers from the collection which I popped up with foam tape and added a little red button to the letter “o” for a fun detail.

Up next is a quick and easy card using the darling crayon stickers. I wanted as much of the crayons to show as possible so I cut each of them in half and lengthened them by approximately 3/4″ before adhering them to my card panel. I was then able to hide my alteration with the cute phrase sticker.

For my next card I used several of the circle accent stickers to create some fun little hanging tags dressed up with some basic metal rimmed office tags and tied with American Crafts Ribbon.

My last card features more of the circle accent stickers and a fun bow made with some American Crafts Ribbon.

I created a little picture tutorial on how to assemble this cute bow, along with 7 easy steps.

Step 1: Cut (2) 5″ ribbons and (1) 4″ ribbon.

Step 2: Apply Liquid Adhesive to each end of ribbon and fold inward, adhering in the center.

Step 3: Adhere two longest ribbon loops together with liquid adhesive and add smallest loop to center.

Step 4: With a needle, wrap thread around the center several times and tie with knot (can also be done without the needle).

Step 5: Cut (1) 2.5″ ribbon and (1) 2.75″ ribbon with notches from each end as pictured.

Step 6: Adhere notched ribbon to back of bow with liquid adhesive. Add a drop of glue for center bow piece.

Step 7: Wrap 2.5″ ribbon around the center of bow, securing on back side with more liquid adhesive.

I hope you will give it a try! I think it would be darling done up in so many of American Crafts fun ribbon prints!

Supplies:
Pebbles Back To School Scissors Paper-PBTSP-32418
Pebbles Back To School Apples Paper-PBTSP-32420
Pebbles Back To School Rulers Paper-PBTSP-32421
Pebbles Back To School Crayon Phrase & Accent Cardstock Stickers-732347
Pebbles Back To School Teacher Phrase Cardstock Stickers-732348
Pebbles Back To School Great Job Circle Accent Cardstock Stickers-732350
Pebbles Basics 12×12 Paper Pad-751433
American Crafts Solid Grosgrain Ribbon Value Pack-89377
Metal Rimmed Office Tags
Stamped Sentiment & Die
Assorted Buttons
Liquid Adhesive
Needle & Thread

Altered Pencil Box Holder

Aug