With Valentine's Day just one week away, I figured I might need to get a few "love treats" ready for my sweethearts and boy did I have F-U-N ... I was definitely bouncing in my seat while creating these!!
These treat covers were all made with this great Sizzix Tim Holtz Movers & Shapers Matchbook Base Die -- both sizes worked well for a variety of candies:
I just recently tried out these fabulous Movers & Shapers dies for the first time and am loving the ability to place any kind of shape I'd like into the centers of the base die shapes, to create windows/openings! For these treat covers, I used Mini Hearts and Mini Love Struck Magnetic Die Sets inserted in the centers of the matchbook covers:
I die cut from three cardstock colors (Carnation and Punch Hero Arts Layering Paper and Neenah Desert Storm cardstock) and Authentique's adorable Smitten 6x6 patterned papers:
Use the Sizzix Premium Crease Pad (above) on heavier weight cardstocks, to get a good impression of the fold/crease lines. After die cutting all the pieces, I had fun finding different candies that would fit into the matchbook covers. Here's a closer look at each one:
Left Cupid above - I liked the Desert Storm/kraft colored cardstock for a more masculine look and combined him with a dark chocolate square shaped single-wrapped candy -- I liked the gold/brown/red colors of the candy wrapper peeking thru the Cupid opening creating little red "socks" for Cupid! The sentiment is from Hero Arts ClearDesign Year Round Sentiments, stamped in Memento Rich Cocoa ink. To hold the candies in place in each of these treat holders, I used the Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher stapler.
For the pink girly Cupid below, I inserted the red die cut Cupid in the pink die cut matchbook and then adhered a piece of pretty patterned paper on the inside (being generous with adhesive) -- this will hold the inset die cut in place:
The darling "pucker up" sentiment is from Paper Smooches Fruitastic stamp set, stamped in Memento Love Letter ink. And here's what's inside -- lip balm!
I just wrapped a piece of cardstock around the lip balm and stapled it in place, then stapled it to the inside top of the matchbook. The lip balm slips out of the holder easily. The smaller heart shaped cutout matchbook on the right in the photo above holds tri-colored Valentine M&M's in a Glassine Flat Bags (2.75" x 4.125") folded to the side needed and stapled in place. The "I love you" sentiment is also from the Hero Arts Year Round Sentiments stamp set:
Next are some more masculine treats (below) ... I adore the "Hello handsome" sentiment from the same great Hero Arts Year Round Sentiments stamp set! These two examples below show the different ways I did the closures of the matchbooks -- the Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher (left) can either staple thru the flap top to keep bulkier candies in place, or leave the flap open while stapling the bottom piece in place, then insert the top flap just inside the bottom "lip". For the right example, I punched holes thru both flaps and then tied a piece of twine through to keep it closed:
Inside the Hello handsome matchbook is a Ghirardelli chocolate square -- I sliced through the top of the matchbook and let some of the striped packaging poke through, for some added decoration! Here's what's inside the right "hugs & kisses" (Avery Elle Simply Said: Love) cover -- a slim pack of gum:
I loved the flame showing through the heart opening!
Lastly, another sweet Cupid cutout (left below) contains another glassine bag filled with peppermint sticks (I love that the colors show through!). The pretty "Happy Valentine's Day" sentiment is from another great Hero Arts set, Celebrate Everyday, stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black. The right heart cover holds a lollipop; the sentiment is another one from the Paper Smooches Fruitastic stamp set, white heat embossed:
Inside Cupid:
Inside the lollipop cover:
Just punch a hole through the bottom flap and insert the lollipop stick. One small staple at the top holds it in place. Tuck the top cover into the bottom stapled flap.
I look forward to using this same concept for other holidays and maybe even for birthday party treats, etc! Happy Valentine's Day! ~ Sharon