Teachers' Gifts Galore

Edit: I found my clipboards at WalMart for under a $1 each.

Ever since the girls started school, I have loved making gifts for their teachers. A good teacher deserves recognition and needs to be told they're doing a good job. The Papertrey release count down is on, and Nichole has designed a new set called Teacher's Apple. It's the perfect set for teachers of all grades. I know it will be a *must have* set for many of you!

Today I have a clipboard and a matching card ensemble that I'd like to show you. I've made many versions of these but I think this one is my favorite. Start with a clipboard and a piece of 12" x 12" patterned paper. Cut your patterned paper to fit your clipboard. It's best to measure your clipboard because different brands vary slightly in size. Cut a rectangle out of your patterned paper so that it fits nicely around the metal clip. Round the corners of your patterned paper.Using Mod Podge and a foam brush, cover the back of your patterned paper and place it on the clipboard, making sure to smooth our the bubbles. Let this dry completely. Apply a top coat of Mod Podge to the clipboard to seal and protect the patterned paper.

Using Vintage Cream Saddle Stitch Ribbon and inks, stamp the word *Teacher* onto the ribbon. I used black ink and Distress Ink in Frayed Burlap to give the words a worn, vintage look.

Adhere the ribbon strip to a square of 1/4" thick cork board. You can find this at your local craft store. My cork board was cut down to a 7" x 8" rectangle. Set aside to adhere to the clipboard later.

Time to make a stamped embellishment. Using Papertrey Kraft cardstock, stamp an apple image complete with leaf and stem and a sentiment. I used Papertrey Pure Poppy for the apple, Dark Chocolate for the stem, Ripe Avocado for the leaf and Palette Black Noir for the sentiment.

Cut the image out with a Spellbinder's Square Die Template. Tip: To keep the metal die template perfectly in place, use a piece of Scotch tape to adhere one edge of the metal die to the cardstock. Run through your machine as usual.

Emboss and add a little distressing ink to make the image look vintage. Cut a scallop square mat and ink with white ink. This piece will be adhered to the clipboard with pop dots.

Adhere two small scraps of patterned paper to clothespins. Cover with Mod Podge. Tie with Vanilla Cream twill ribbon.

Once you've adhered the cork board to the clipboard front, adhere the clothespins to the corkboard with a strong adhesive. I like using Zip Dry. The little clips will hold notes, photos, quotes, etc.

Add other embellishments such as metal clips tied with Vintage Cream twill. A few layers of sticky notes will stick to the clipboard also.

I also made a matching card for the teacher using the same techniques as described above.

By folding the black cardstock in half, you can create a scallop shaped card. Just make sure the die overlaps the folded edge of the cardstock so that it keeps intact and makes a fold.

And here's my finished clipboard and card ensemble. All the pieces come together pretty quickly and it's a FUN project to make! Just allow plenty of drying time between the Mod Podge coats. Tip: Use weighted items like big punches to sit on the corkboard so that the edges all stay down when drying.

You could totally change up the look of this clipboard from vintage to primary colors to green apples, etc. The possibilities are endless.

I took a photo of the clipboard nestled in with some school supply baskets of the girls. I can see already that the teachers will LOVE their Christmas gifts this year.

If you want to check out what the rest of the Design Team has created with Teacher's Apple, click on the links below:

Nichole Heady HERE

Lauren Meader HERE

Heather Nichols (Pine) HERE

Debbie Olson HERE

Lisa Johnson HERE

Geny Cassady HERE

Dawn McVey HERE

Melissa Phillips HERE

Niki Estes HERE

Becky Oehlers HERE

Betsy Veldman HERE