App-reciation

***Scroll down to the post below or click HERE to see my post for this week's Paper Smooches SPARKS challenge. **

It’s been three years since the Clear and Simple Stamps Daily app first made an appearance on the crafting scene. I remember how excited I was when I first learned about the app and I was just as excited to see one of my designs appear as one of the first featured on the app. Over the next three weeks, CSS designers will feature new projects on their blogs along with a coordinating project on the app. For today, since it's the start of teacher appreciation week, I made a teacher appreciation gift set with a card and a mini backpack that’s just the right size for tucking in a treat or a gift card.

The card uses the apple image from the Perfect Harvest set, stamped on the matching die cut apple from the Mini Fruit die set. To go with the apple, I found some lined patterned paper that reminded me of lined notebook paper. I attached a piece of an Eyelet Border die cut strip, cut from kraft cardstock, to the patterned paper panel along with a strip of measuring tape patterned decorative tape. The apple is attached over these elements with foam tape. I added a tiny red button, tied with natural twine, to the apple. The “for a special teacher” sentiment from the Icon Sentiments set is stamped underneath the measuring tape strip. The lines on the paper made it easy to get the sentiment stamped straight! I added a pair of silver brads to the top of the panel, then layered it on a red mat before attaching it to a kraft card base.

The backpack is made from red cardstock to coordinate with the card. I cut the backpack from CSS's Dare to Be a Diva Red cardstock and used Simple Adhesive to put it together. The panels on the top flap and front of the backpack are filled in with the same lined patterned paper I used on the card. It was super easy to do this—I just die cut the backpack a second time, this time using the patterned paper, then cut out the panels following the perforated outline. The backpack’s straps are made from a length of red grosgrain ribbon. For the closure, I used a pair of contrasting yellow enamel dots.

I’ve got one more teacher appreciation themed project to share on the CSS iPhone/iTouch app. You can see a little peek of my bonus project in the photo to the left.   You can check out all the info on the app here.

Materials Used:
Perfect Harvest and Icon Sentiments stamp sets, Dare to Be a Diva Red, In the Limelight, and Perfect Little Black Dress inks, Dare to Be a Diva Red, Kraft Like a Rockstar, and A Blanc Check cardstock, Mini Fruit, Eyelet Border, and Backpack dies, Simple Adhesive (Clear and Simple Stamps); Off to School 6x6 paper pad (Fancy Pants); red button, silver brads, red grosgrain ribbon (Michaels); yellow enamel dots (Terasa Collins-He Said She Said); hemp twine (Hemptique); foam tape