An Apple for the Teacher :)

It's Teacher Appreciation Week!  (Never mind that I thought it was last week and was killing myself to get projects done in time...)  My two boys are blessed with really wonderful teachers this year, so I was very happy to show them a little love.  When I was getting ready to make these cards, I intended to completely rip off this lovely Mother's Day card made by my fabulous friend Amy.  But as I pulled the design from A Child's Year up on my Gypsy, I noticed this cute apple cut-out card and my wheels went spinning in an entirely different direction!

To create this card, I first cut out the basic card shape.  I embossed the front of the card with my Cuttlebug and the Swiss Dots folder.  Then I went back on my Gypsy and hid the outer card contour so I could just cut the apple shape, which I did in red.  I also cut 3 circles (sized to fit the apple) out of book paper.  I created the little apple by layering the book-paper circles onto the center of the apple and then sewing them into place.  I think I saw the technique on a local show last year and I love the effect -- you fold out the pages after you've sewn them, and it adds a ton of dimension.  I inked the edges of the circles to add depth as well.  I also added little snips of green felt as leaves for my apple.

I cut a piece of patterned paper to fit the inside of the card and adhered it, then cut a piece of white cardstock for the center so I'd have a place to write the sentiment.  I used a notebook-edge border punch for the top edge of that piece.  Then, to make sure the apple was aligned just right, I closed the card and fit the apple into its space like a puzzle piece.  I added the sentiment "wonderful teacher" on little paper strips, then finished off the card with a little baker's twine (I just love that stuff!) and a little thank you tag.

Oh, and as a present, I am giving them this free printable from eighteen25 in a spray-painted red frame just like they show here:


Sam's teacher got hers last week and she really, really loves it!

Thanks for stopping by!