Welcome Back Teacher Gift

Hi, all! This is Jeannie from Nonnas' Scraps and it is so nice to be with you today! Thanks, Sheila, for allowing me the guest spot once again.

Don't you think this summer has spend past? I have two short weeks of vacation left. And, I will be getting a few "Welcome Back" gifts for my grandson's teachers finished. Join me in this project.

I know of very few teachers who don't enjoy a gift card. And this holder will make the grade! 

Please note: this project was completed on the Zing with MTC software. It can, however, be accomplished using a Gypsy or CCR.

Cardstock:

Brown 6 x 12"

Black 6 x 6"

red 3 x 3"

green 2 x 2"

Font: LDT Teacher from Lettering Delights

Shapes used: rounded corner square, from from square and apple

White pen (I used Inkssentials)

Chomas Adustable Pen holder

Wood Grain embossing folder

Distress Ink: Antique Photo

Tape runner 1/4" wide

Pop dots

A gift card to insert in the back

First, I created the file in MTC. 

I Selected the rounded square from Basic Shapes. I then, sized it to 3.5" 

and duplicated for a total of 3. 

To create the the frame I started with one of the squares and generated an inset shadow:

I accepted my imaged.

To finish the "frame" I then joined the two together:

I opened the Font, LDT Teacher and typed the message. 

"Java great year!"

I then, opened an apple file that I had in my "stash" and sized it to 2".

I arranged all of my cuts on a 12" mat. I have the cuts assigned to different layers in the software...

you'll see that in a second! (BTW, the writing will be on the solid square in the upper right hand corner. 

This looks funny now, 

but that is because I will use the arrangement so I can cut with scraps of papers. 

And this is how the screen translates to my actual mat:

On to cutting! Or, rather the writing...

I loaded the white pen in the Amy Chomas holder. 

(For more information on using this pen holder in your Zing click here.)

From the software, I selected only the layer with the writing. 

 I set the software as shown:

Force 10-11

Offset: 0

WYSIWYG

I chose: Set Blade Origin

The laser light illuminates and it can be seen reflecting off of the paper.

Using the arrows, I moved it until I could see it approximately 1/8" from the upper and

right edges of the paper. 

I then told the software that I was finished. Within seconds, 

the white writing was on the black cardstock. 

I did not remove the mat from the machine at this point. 

Instead I changed the pen holder for the Red blade holder (and red blade). 

I returned to my software and reversed the layers selection:

Onto cutting! 

Force: 83

Cut one time

Offset: 0.35

WYSIWYG

When asked to set the origin, I chose "use last"

The cutting was so smooth!

To assemble:

Ink all parts

Emboss the frame with the wood grain folder.

Assemble the front of the holder first, in this order:

black board with writing

Brown frame

Apple

I ran 1/4" tape around the edge of 3 sides

 of the solid brown backing.  

I positioned the edge without tape at the top.

Finally, I pop dotted the apple to the front and inserted a gift card. 

Such a warm greeting for any returning teacher, don't you agree?

Thanks for stopping by...