Spelling Out Hidden Desires

Posted by Blueprint

If you're going the traditional boxed chocolates route for V-day, consider putting a personal spin on the gesture by making a customized candy box. It's a quick project that does double duty as a gift and a card rolled into one.

Chocolate = eternal love

How-to instructions after the jump>>

FOR THE CANDY BOX:
1. Purchase a plain white rectangular box (available at craft or jewelry stores; our box was 7 by 4 by 1 1/2 inches). Cut a piece of white paper to fit inside the bottom of the box.
2. Draw a grid on the paper to signify the candy slots. We used a grid with 1 1/2-by-1 1/2 inch squares for the box pictured below. (Just make sure your slots are large enough for the sweets you want to use.)

3. Using rubber stamp letters or our ready-made message templates, add your message to the paper, positioning one letter in each square. Place the paper in the box.
4. Cut 6 1-inch wide strips from a piece of colored card stock. Then trim 2 of those strips to fit the length of the box, and cut the remaining 4 strips to fit the width of the box.

5. Cut 1/2-inch deep slits (1 1/2 inches apart) on each strip of card stock. Fit the short strips into the long strips, and place the resulting grid inside the box.
6. Fill the grid with candy to disguise the message beneath.

FOR THE WRAPPING:
1. Place the top on the filled box and wrap with tissue paper of your choice. (We used a charcoal color to make the package look modern.)
2. Wrap a strip of wide lace (about 6 inches long) around the center of the wrapped box and tape it in place. 3. Attach a tiny bow over the lace to finish.

Comments

[katelynjane]

Love this idea!! It's too late for this year, but I'll have to do that next year (:

[Shop Little Gifts]

Great idea. Love it. Hidden messages are really fun. Just got the note about Blueprint, will really miss your magazine.