Have you ever saved empty valentine candy boxes from years gone by? Why not get them out of storage and create fun valentine totes for your kids? You can easily make the heart-shaped carriers that will thrill your kids and keep their valentines neatly in one place.
If you have two empty valentine candy boxes you can use two bottoms, and two tops, to make two carriers. The boxes dont have to be identical but must be the same size. If youre using two tops they can be previously decorated. If youre using two bottoms, however, youll often find theyre not suitable if they have nutrition information printed on them. If thats the case, cut two heart shapes, and glue them to the two box bottoms. Now create a design for one or both sides. Glue on fake flowers and leaves, bows - even fake pearls. You create the look you want by using a few inexpensive craft supplies.
Although you can use one box - top and bottom - to make one tote it will be slightly off in appearance. The tops of the boxes are made to go over the bottom of the box so the box top is slightly larger than the box bottom. After attaching the cardboard piece around the perimeter of the hearts the look isnt quite as noticeable. Cut a piece of cardboard that will join the two hearts together. If the heart boxes youre using are small youll cut the cardboard strip narrower than if the two heart shapes are large. Cut the strip to where it will be long enough to reach from one side of the heart, around the point, and to the other side. Start and stop the cardboard strip fairly high up on the sides but not all the way to the top. If you want, you can cover the cardboard strip in valentine-theme fabric or paper. If you use white cardboard this step is not even necessary. The white cardboard looks great between the two heart shapes. Use metallic tape, rubber stamps, or even markers to create a design on the white cardboard, if you desire. Fold the cardboard strip in half. Place the fold at the point of one of the heart shapes. Glue the cardboard strip around the first heart. Now align the fold of the cardboard strip with the second heart shape and glue it around the second heart. This cardboard strip connects the hearts and forms a tote-type design. A long piece of wide ribbon can be used to create the handle. Glue the ribbon center to the point of the tote, in the center of the cardboard strip. Glue the ribbon up both sides of the cardboard strip. Where the cardboard pieces end your ribbon will continue. The ribbon should come up further than the top of the heart to form a strap. Glue the ends of the ribbon together or just tie the in a bow. Double-knot the bow so it doesnt come untied. If you dont have any ribbon to make a strap you can use the cardboard strip that you used for the sides of the tote. Simply cut the cardboard strip much longer. Glue the strip from the sides, down to the point, then leave a long piece that will come up over the heart and make the strap. This piece can be decorated along with the sides of the box. Another option for a strap is made from a rope or twine. Poke a hole in the cardboard strip, on both sides, near the top. Push the ends of the rope through the holes in the cardboard. Tie knots in the ends to make sure they dont slip back out of the holes. Instead of roping or twine you can also use a strand of white, red, silver or gold beads. Kids can gather valentines all day long and place them in their valentine tote. Theyll easily be able to keep up with their cards until they get home. Theyll love the little valentine tote that can be used year after year.
No comments:
Post a Comment