One of a Kind Backpack « The Hybrid Chick

One of a Kind Backpack

By Carolina Monday April 19, 2010

Teachers are rarely recognized for all they do. As Teacher Appreciation week approaches as well, for some of us, the end of the school year; why not get a head start on some gifts! I have a fun one to kick off this week.

Teachers receive all kinds of gifts, from gift cards to chocolates. All those items are great, but why not give them something they’re always in need of…Thank You cards and/or note cards!

Using Melissa Wilsons and MKC’s Back to School – Backpack Album, I came up with this note card holder.

Here’s what you’ll need to make one of your own:

Melissa Wilsons and MKC’s Back to School – Backpack Album
Card Stock ~ Red for the backpack and white for the note cards
Pattern Paper
Sewing Machine
Rubber Stamps
Ink
Ribbon
Brad
Double Sided Tape
Eyelets
Crop-a-Dile

Step 1:Print out backpack on pattern paper as well as Journaling card to use for note cards. Once you print them out, cut them out and you should end up with something like this (this is the inside of the backpack.

Step 2: OPTIONAL ~ At this point if you’d like to add some sewing do so. I ran each piece through my sewing machine to give the edges a bit more interest. Here’s what the front looks like when done.

Step 3: Assemble the backpack and set it aside to work on the closure. I wanted to used magnets as closure but being that they’re so ugly, I wanted to hide them. I used a ribbon flower and a flower I punched out of card stock to do just that. You can use any decorative item that might hide the magnets. Here’s what mine look like.

Step 4: Adhere them to the backpack as well as some eyelets in order to thread some ribbon~ this ribbon becomes the straps of the backpack as well as the handle on top. Here’s a view of the back of the backpack.

Step 5: Decorate the front as you’d like. I added a stamped image with some embellishments, the flower closure with magnets, and this is what the front looks like.

Step 6: To hide the ribbon ends on the inside, use card stock to cover up the middle of the backpack.

Step 7: Add a piece of double-sided tape to adhere the ribbon that will tie all the note cards together. Here’s what it looks like.

Step 8: After you adhered the ribbon, put it aside to work on the note cards. Print out some journaling cards from the same kit to use as backgrounds for the note cards. Here’s what the document looks like.

Step 9:Cut out the journaling cards, add some stamped images and/or sentiments and assemble your card. You can pretty much make them however you want, here’s what mine look like.

Step 10: Put note cards and envelopes and place them inside the back pack in the middle of the ribbon you prepared earlier. Tie them up and you’re done! Here’s what the inside looks like assembled.