Whew! I've made 130 cards and 6 lunchboxes in the last few days for teacher gifts. I loved how they turned out and they are so easy. I made divider cards for the inside of each lunchpail for each month of the year and put a handmade card or two in each month for the recipient to give away. This is not a gift they get two of and all of the teachers loved them. You could also adapt this idea and make it a recipe box, put an accordian album inside, or make it a treasure box (I did this at my daughter's birthday party and each girl got to make her own. They loved them.) There are many uses for these beautiful tins. I kept the cards quick and easy and the lunchpail design is also quick and easy. You could get much fancier very easily.
I've posted some pictures here of some of the boxes (click to see them larger) and basic instructions. Enjoy! I'd love to see photos of ones that you make. Email me at [email protected] .
A box will take you 1/2 hour to an hour to decorate depending on how simple or fancy you make it. Putting on the ribbon takes the longest! Then you need the time to do whatever you choose to put inside.
Supplies needed - 1 sheet 12 x12 patterened paper
-1-2 sheets of co-ordinating patterend paper or cardstock (small pieces ok)
- 5 meters of co-ordinating ribbon (3-5 different colours and textures)
-Adhesive - I like Terrifically Tacky Tape and glue dots for this project
-Embellishments
-selection of handmade cards and cardstock dividers
Instructions:
Adhere Terrifically Tacky Tape just under the top lip and above the bottom lip of the lunch pail. Smooth down. (This can also be done with other adhesives such as Mod Podge, but I like how quick and easy and clean this method is!) Remove red coating so the tape is now double sided.
Cut 2 pieces of the main patterened paper into 4 13/16th " (leave 12" length).
Starting at the middle back of the lunchpail, line up the bottom of the paper with the bottom line of adhesive, then the top line. Adhere. Smooth the paper around to the sides.
In the middle top of the front piece, punch 1/2 of a circle (to go around the latch). I used Ek's medium circle punch.
Line up the patterened paper with the 1/2 circle punched out around the latch on the front of the lunchpail. Adhere. Smooth paper around to sides. On the sides the paper will overlap the back piece, so apply a little more tacky tape.
Embellish the front. I used 2 co-ordinating pieces of paper matted and then placed either 3 Prima flowers across the middle or the teachers 1st initial (cut with our 3" die cut letters) and Prima flowers around the four corners. Take each meter of ribbon and cut into 6 pieces and tie randomly along the handle.
These could also be made fancier by painting the tin first or applying paper to the top of the tin and ribbon around the top edge.
Trust Us With Your Memories
Michele
Love, Love, Love the photos with instructions!!!! Great idea!
Posted by: Kate | June 29, 2006 at 08:01 AM
Thanks Kate, they are fun to make!
Posted by: Michele | June 30, 2006 at 03:28 PM
WHOA! You go Michele! those are gorgeous! So bright and pretty! Love all those ribbons, you did a fantastic job, wish I was one of those teachers! LOL
Miles of Smiles
Jo:)
Posted by: Jo | July 03, 2006 at 06:29 PM
I didn't want to give them away. I'll definitely have to make myself one this summer. :)
Michele
Posted by: Michele | July 04, 2006 at 12:18 AM