Friday, January 28, 2011

Valentine Treat Boxes

Photo Credit: Pottery Barn Kids

Last year, I had really wanted to make these cute Valentine boxes. I mean, they aren't $30 + a piece cute - but they are pretty fun! And, I saw a great tutorial showing how to copy them and everything. Well, now I can't find any of that - so I got creative and came up with my own thing. (Updated: Thanks, Country Mama for pointing me back to your cute tutorial!)

I've made these for my CC class - as we're planning a little Valentine swap!

The only thing I remember about the tutorial is that she used cereal boxes
for the base of the box. So, I started that way too. I spent under $20 and made nine treat boxes. Big difference from the almost $300 price tag nine of these would've had from Pottery Barn!

Supplies: (I got everything at Wal-Mart)

About two yards of fabric (for nine boxes): $10
Two packages of ric rac: $2.50
One spool ribbon: $2
Felt: $1.50
Hot glue, iron-on interfacing, thread: all on hand
Cardboard boxes: free from recycling bin!

Some of my pictures are less than quality - please forgive me! I was doing all of this in a cold school cafeteria while my girls were in dance class! And, the lights would not stay on because they are motion detected or something. Anyway, I like to take my crafting on the road and make good use of my time! So, bear with the pix!

Raid your recycling stash and pull out cereal or cracker boxes. Take the boxes apart so they lay completely flat in one piece.


Cut off all the top flaps to your box.


Lay your box flat on the wrong side of whatever fabric you've picked out. Cut about an inch or so (I think I did more across the top than one inch) extra around the edge of your box.


Reassemble your box at the side and across the bottom with clear packaging tape or hot glue.


Run a bead of hot glue down the middle of the back of the box and fold your fabric over to cover half the box.

Bring the other side of the fabric to the middle and fold it over to create a clean edge. Run another line of hot glue down the length of the box and press fabric into glue.

Now, stand your box on the top open edge and work on the bottom of the box. Make a line of hot glue across the length of the box and press one side into the glue.

The corners will sort of naturally begin to form when you do the above. So, just glue the two triangles in place.

Take the remaining flap and fold it once to create a clean edge.


Then, glue in place.


Now, fold over and glue in place the top edge of fabric down inside of the box.


I used a 12 inch piece of ribbon to create a handle across the top. The only logic behind the 12 inches was that the spool included nine feet and I needed to make nine boxes. Voila.

Next, I used inexpensive craft felt backed with interfacing to embroider the names of each of the children. And, then cut the names out with pinking shears.

I hot glued ric rac around the edge of the names - pink for the girls and white for the boys, just for a little more fun.

I think they turned out really cute and am excited to give them to all the children in my class in a couple of weeks!

31 comments:

Tim, Allyson, and kids said...

Very cute! What type of embroidery machine do you have?

LynnMarie said...

Cute. I'm so glad you can get material at your local Wal Mart because I can't. They got rid of almost the entire craft department up here:(

Grace said...

Love them!!

Unknown said...

These are beautiful! I am thinking about trying something similar but with cute valentine themed wrapping paper instead. If I had the time and talents, I would definitely do the fabric ones :)

Thanks for sharing!

Mom said...

Darling! :) Love, Mom

MrsCoach said...

That was me... here's the link to what I came up with last year. Yours look great!!
http://thecozycountryhome.blogspot.com/2010/02/pottery-barn-kids-frugal-way.html

Elise said...

Those are adorable!! Great job!!
Elise

Nancy at EmbroideryIt.com said...

I was wondering the same thing as the other commenter, what sewing machine did you use. Very VERY cute!!!
Nancy

Ami said...

You set the best example for me by planning and preparing ahead of time. Thank you for setting that example!

Debra said...

Those turned out so cute!!

*carrie* said...

You never cease to amaze me! I am not kidding when I say that I thought your first photo of the boxes was a PBK pic. These turned out so great--good job!

Sara said...

These are SO cute. I am not crafty at all but I am so tempted by these - thanks for the step by step!

Cortney said...

These are adorable! Much better than Pottery Barn :) Thanks for the tutorial!

Wendi said...

Those are very cute!!

Heather said...

Those are adorable! I love how they're assembled with hot glue--easy!

Thanks for the idea.

~katie~ said...

Darling...darling...darling! I agree with Carrie ~ they do look like they are straight out of a PBK catalog!! Well done...and best of all...so thoughtful! I can just see the children's eyes lighting up now!!

angie said...

These remind me of the cereal box turned into gift bag idea in Family Fun magazine (January?) I have been saving my larger cereal boxes and making gift bags/boxes for next year. But the smaller ones would be ideal for Valentine's Day mailboxes. Yours turned out wonderfully! I agree with another commentor who said that they are cuter than PB! I have some heart fabric from a yard sale. I think I shall make a couple for my kids' gifts, and then reuse them for years to come. Thanks for continuing to inspire me!

Heather's Blog-o-rama said...

Monica, these are adorable..and a great way to reuse cereal boxes too!!! I like your version better than Pottery Barn!!! I LOVE craft projects like this!!! Those little kids are going to remember this loving gesture, too!! Have a great weekend. Love and hugs from Oregon, Heather :)

jen medeiros said...

I don't think I have ever left a comment. I Love your Blog and thank you for the inspiration. These valentine boxes are charming!

Ginger said...

Anytime you need any recycling items for crafts, let me know. I do the recycling thing at the dump so I usually have a lot of items in the garage that I take about twice a month. I would have had plenty of boxes for you!

Megan said...

Ooo, an embroidery machine? *swoon*

Seriously cute, Monica!

Lauren(In Savannah) said...

Adorable!!! My church made cereal box backpacks for Bible school but adding a string to the back. My dd loved it!

Jenelle said...

great idea. You could take the same idea and use it for several holidays and just because boxes.
You've got my imagination whirling.

Anonymous said...

How cool. Those are so adorable. You did great.

Tim and Susan said...

These are too cute. Thanks for sharing the idea.

Debbie Fisher (debbiedee) said...

These are so much fun! I wish I could embroider like that!

Meagan (Eco on the Go) said...

Hi Monica! I love reading your blog! I cannot WAIT until I am blessed with a husband and children of my own! I love crafting and you have so many good ideas! I constantly pass them on for my girlfriends who do have young children!
Keep doing what you're doing!
Meagan

Lori said...

They look amazing! You have my wheels spinning for other holidays. What would you use if you didn't have an embroidery machine?

Raising a Brood... said...

What a great idea! These are super cute! I think I'll share your post with my homeschool group and see if it's something we should make for our Valentine's exchange.

being molded said...

Here is another darling bag for Valentines Day
http://kojodesigns.blogspot.com/2010/01/fun-and-simple-valentines-tradition-and.html

I plan to make 4 for my little, and not so little, ones.

Lisa @ Simply Things Family said...

Monica:

I made one for each of my children. Thanks for preparing a tutorial that was very easy to follow. I am not crafty by nature, but for this I purchased my first hot glue gun. I will post pics (and put your link, of course) later in the week on my blog (I paint stenciled their first initial, since I don't have an embroidery machine). Thanks again!