Project - Chocolate Rosebuds for Your Son's Prom Date

The school year is nearing an end. High school students are attending proms, performing in music concerts, and so on. Kaity – my high school freshman – has a choir solo this Tuesday night. I want to give her something special at the end of the performance, so how about a dozen roses? But for my Kaity, traditional roses just won't do. I need a better idea.

By coincidence, my hair stylist gave me a hand-made chocolate rose this Saturday. I've seen similar roses in hotel gift shops but I never paid close attention until now. I asked Drea how she made hers and she invited me to "reverse-engineer" it so I could spread the word. Now, in my own words, I can show you how to craft rosebuds from one of my daughter's favorite snacks -- Hershey’s Kisses.

By the way, these inexpensive rosebuds make a cute bouquet for your son's prom date. What a fun and inexpensive way to combine chocolate with flowers!



Chocolate Rosebuds for Your Son's Prom Date

Materials & Tools

Floral Stem Wire, 12 pieces, 18 inches long, like 16 or 18 Gauge Green, White Or Silver, Item #561618 by Panacea Products Corp

Pair of Comfortable Jewelry Pliers with Cutter, like Round Nose Pliers by Artistic Wire

Foil-Wrapped Milk Chocolate Drops, like Hershey’s Kisses, Silver Wrap, 1 Bag, Net Wt. 16 oz. (1 lb.), for plenty to snack on while working

Double-Stick Tape, like Permanent 2-Sided Tape by LePage’s, Inc.

Clear Red Cellophane, like Clearphane Film by Highlander Supply Corp, 30 inches by 25 feet

Good Pair Of Comfortable, Teflon-like Coated Scissors, like Velvet Touch Scissors by Armada

Floral Tape, like Self-sealing Floral Tape in Green by Fibre Craft, ½-inch by 60 feet

The Steps
(Click to enlarge each image. Click the back button to return to this article.)

1. Cut each 18-inch floral stem in half, to make 9-inch stems. I used a silver stem in the photo, but I prefer green stems because I work fast and don’t always wrap the floral tape exactly.


2. Use jewelry pliers to create a bended loop -- about 1-inch in diameter -- in one end of each piece of floral wire.


3. Count out 24 chocolate drops. You’ll use two for each finished rose bud. Keep the bag nearby for munching. It’ll keep you motivated. (smiles) Bruce -- my hubby -- made a dozen rosebuds for his mother this Sunday. Between the two of us, we only made two dozen. There were about 99 drops in the bag, so you do the math. (sheepish grin)


4. Use a half-inch piece of double-stick tape to attach the bottoms of two kisses to each other.


5. Cut red cellophane into 4 by 6-inch pieces. Cut 12 pieces for a dozen roses. If you’re having trouble cutting straight, try folding the cellophane back against its tube and, using a sharp razor-blade letter opener, slice the cellophane in one pass.


6. Put a doubled kiss in the middle of a piece of cellophane. Slip the wire stem in place over the point of the bottom kiss. Fold the wide side of the cellophane in half, down over the kisses.


7. Carefully fold the top left corner of the cellophane down to the right, crossing the chocolate drops. Fold the top right corner of the cellophane down to the left in a similar manner. See how the cellophane looks like the petals of a rosebud? Twist the bottom of the cellophane around the stem in the direction of the last fold.


8. Starting just beneath the bottom chocolate drop, wrap the floral tape around the base of the rosebud, directly on top of the cellophane. Make at least two tight, closely-wrapped passes with the tape, to hold everything together. Stretch the tape as you work to help it grip. As you wrap, overlap the tape's edges to hide the stem. Slowly rotate the stem away from you while you work down the length of the stem. Continue wrapping until you reach the end of the stem. Cut the floral tape then wrap and pinch the end to seal it. Repeat these steps for each additional rose.


Keep these easy-to-make flowers in mind for that next birthday, anniversary or romantic dinner. One lone rosebud will melt someone's heart away!

Project Tips

You can substitute other types of paper for the red cellophane. Consider using clear cellophane or silver paper foil for wedding day flowers. Try gold origami paper or red tissue, too. Mix and match papers for an eclectic look.

It’s nearly summer and chocolate can melt, Keep the rosebuds refrigerated until it’s time to go out the door. That way, the drops won’t melt on the way to the prom or stage performance.

Using colored or patterned tissue paper, make a cone to hold the bouquet. A pretty ribbon around the tissue should hold it all together.

Some crafters recommend piercing the chocolate with the floral stem to make sure everything holds together. I'm not sure these stems were designed to insert into food, so I created a loop in the wire instead. If you're using colored stems, the paint could come off inside the candy and contaminate the chocolate.

Substitute any flavor of chocolate drops you like -- they don't have to be plain old milk chocolate. Use red foil-covered drops for a deeper red in the rosebuds.

For special flair, add a few artificial leaves to each stem while you wrap.

---

Additional Reading

The Usborne Book of Paper Flowers (How to Make Series) by Ray Gibson

Handmade Flowers from Paper and Fabric by Steve Biddle

Origami Flowers: Popular Blossoms and Creative Bouquets by Hiromi Hayashi

Product Resource Guide

Buy your craft supplies at MisterArt.com

Wholesale Arts & Crafts Supplies

Most project photos on this page were taken with a 5.0 MP resolution KODAK EASYSHARE DX4530 Zoom Digital Camera

Alternate Product Recommendations

Hershey's Kisses Milk Chocolate With Almond Candy, 12 oz from Gristedes Supermarkets of New York

FCM Stem Wire Green 18 Gauge from Jo-Ann Fabric & Crafts

FCM Floral Stem Tape Green from Jo-Ann Fabric & Crafts

Long Nose Pliers 5-inch, Smooth Jaws from Jo-Ann Fabric & Crafts

Scotch Double Stick Tape .427 X 450-inch from Jo-Ann Fabric & Crafts

White Flower Bouquet Sleeves, 100 ct. from Twinkle Candy

Article Description: Wrap cellophane around chocolate drops for a special treat. Make just one or make a dozen -- they'll melt someone's heart away!

Book Review - The Paper Crafter's Bible

The Paper Crafters Bible
by Elizabeth Moad
Publisher: David & Charles Publishers; (July 1, 2004)
ISBN: 0715316656
Paperback: 137 pages


Author Elizabeth Moad leaves no stone (or paper) unturned as she outlines the diverse areas where a novice crafter can explore her love for paper. Originally issued by UK publisher David & Charles, distributed in North America by F&W Publications, "The Paper Crafters Bible" is a beautifully photographed compendium of everything from paper weaving to quilling to three-dimensional techniques.

Elizabeth has a simple approach to teaching the art of paper crafts. If she can’t illustrate it in three to six pictures, it’s probably too complicated for this book. Basic Tool Kits appear at the beginning of each section. I can see at a glance, without reading a word, which items I need for decoupage (sandpaper, varnish, cloth, paintbrushes and glue). To speed the learning process, each tutorial is followed by one or more related projects. Want to come up to speed quickly on paper weaving? The basic technique of weaving includes a simple project on weaving glitzy gift tags.

Unless you’re trying the impossible task of mastering every paper crafting technique in a week or two, this book is best used as a reference tool. You can jump around and try out whatever interests you at the moment without feeling like you’re missing something. After you’ve had a chance to practice a project or two, skip to page 60 where you’ll see examples of how to "mix and match" techniques.

"The Paper Crafters Bible" includes a few lesser-known paper crafts, like fringing and the Japanese art of Mizuhiki, tying ceremonial paper cord. But if you’re an altered book or altered art fan, you could feel slighted. There’s nothing in that vein between these pages. Still, it’s always a good idea to try techniques outside your comfort zone so you can adapt them for your favorite paper craft.

A product of Britain, the book lacks many U.S. sources for materials, which the author could have been included in her Suppliers index. Craft Guilds are also limited to three, which means the author ignored at least a dozen paper crafting organizations. But that’s such a nit, it shouldn’t affect your decision to add this book to your arts and crafts library. The real reason to buy this book is to gain exposure to new techniques quickly so you can expand your paper crafting repertoire.

"The Paper Crafters Bible" is a well-designed and clearly illustrated guide for beginning and intermediate paper crafters. I hope to see more by this author.

Product Resource Guide

Buy this book at Half.com.

Buy this book at Amazon.com

Article Description: Looking for an easy to read beginner's book on paper crafting? This has almost everything you need.

Project - Paper Wine Glass Markers

If you were born in the Year of the Rooster, you are hard-working but love to dine. If that's true for you, celebrate the Chinese New Year in style. In no time at all, you can create Asian-style paper tags or markers for all your guests' wine glasses. Here are some easy instructions. ~ by Kim M. Bayne


Paper Wine Glass Marker

Materials & Tools List

8.5 by 11-inch Piece of Sturdy Red Card Stock or Heavy Paper

Asian Character Rubber Stamp, like Chinese Calligraphy 907J by All Night Media

Dark Water-Based Dye Ink Stamp Pad, like Basic Black Classic Stampin' Pad by Stampin' Up

Circle or Oval Paper Cutting Tools, like Custom Cutting System - Small Oval Pattern, and Blade by Creative Memories

Self-Healing Cutting Surface, like Cutting Mat by Creative Memories

Craft Knife and Blades, like X2000 Knife by X-Acto

Straight Metal-Edged Ruler with a Cork Bottom

Hand-Held 1/8-inch Hole Puncher, like Round Punchline Punch 52400 by McGill Inc.

Thin Wooden Bamboo Sticks, Found in the Ethnic Food Section of Most Grocery Stores

Handheld Pliers with a Cutting Function (for the Bamboo Stick), like Wire Cutters by Artistic Wire

Glue Stick, like Bond*Fast by LePage / Manco, Inc.

Paint Pen in Gold, like 18 kt. Gold Leafing Pen by Krylon

Black Shiny Card Stock

The Steps
[Click to enlarge images. Click the back button to return to this article.)

1. Using the black pad, ink your Chinese calligraphy stamp liberally. Stamp the image on a piece of red card stock. Repeat for each image.


2. I recommend using a cutting mat underneath your stamped card stock to protect surfaces before cutting. Center your cutting tool in the middle of the stamped image then cut an oval or circle shape out of the cardstock. Cut a circle in the middle for the wine glass stem.


3. You will need a slit in the paper ring so you can fit the tag onto your wine glass stem. Using a straight edge and craft knife, cut one slit from the middle of the tag to the outside edge.


4. On each side of the slit, punch two holes.


5. Cut two pieces of bamboo stick. Each piece should be at least 1.25-inches long. My bamboo sticks were very soft and cut easily, so I used the cutting edge of my jewelry pliers. You may want to use another type of tool, because wood can dull metal jewelry tools easily.


6. Check the fit of your bamboo sticks by sliding them gently into the holes on each side of the paper slit.


7. Remove the bamboo stick pieces from the paper ring. Using the gold paint pen, color the bamboo pieces. (Tip: You may find it easier to paint first, then cut the sticks.) Allow the sticks to dry before putting them back in the tag holes.


8. Using the oval cutting tools, cut a piece of black shiny card stock. You don't have to cut the whole oval. You just need a curved piece of card to put on the top of the oval. Now glue the card stock in place.


9. Repeat these instructions for each guest you've invited. Using the gold paint pen, personalize each marker with a different guest's name.


10. Slip the tag on the bottom of each wine glass and you're ready to party.

---

Additional Reading

The Paper Crafters Bible, by Elizabeth Moad

[ BOOK REVIEW ]

The Weekend Crafter: Paper Crafting: 20 Projects to Fold, Cut, Mold, Weave & Pierce, by Terry Taylor

Great Paper Crafts: Ideas, Tips, and Techniques, by Judy Ritchie

Product Resource Guide

Buy your craft supplies at MisterArt.com

Wholesale Arts & Crafts Supplies

Most project photos on this page were taken with a 5.0 MP resolution KODAK EASYSHARE DX4530 Zoom Digital Camera

Article Description: Celebrate the Chinese New Year in style with Asian-style paper markers for your guests' wine glasses.

Project - Quick and Easy Valentine's Gift Cards from Paper Scraps

Every time I cut a piece of scrapbooking or decorative paper, I make scraps. These paper tidbits go into a box where I can find a small piece of something whenever I need it. I keep hoping I'll use them someday, but most of the time, I collect too-small odds and ends that don't look like they'll ever amount to anything.

That's why I've decided to use them up to make something I need all year long -- gift cards. Even a two-inch square of left-over paper and a random embellishment can become a tiny note attached to a gift. In fact, since I'm likely to use materials I'll never see again, you can be sure my designs are truly one-of-a-kind.

Pull together all your bits and pieces and let's get started, just in time for Valentine's Day. ~ by Kim M. Bayne


Tiny Gift Cards for Your Sweetheart

Materials & Tools List

Scraps Of White Poster Board Or Thick Card Stock

Paper Trimmer with Cutting and Scoring Blades, like 12" Portable Paper Trimmer Item #95987097 by Fiskar's

Discarded Light Bulb Packaging, like a Lightweight Corrugated Cardboard Box

Metallic Paint In Pink, like Ceramcoat Pearls Acrylic Paint In Fuchsia Pearl by Delta

Paint Brushes

Good Pair Of Comfortable, Teflon-like Coated Scissors, like Velvet Touch Scissors by Armada

1/8-inch Round Paper Punch, like Punchline 52400 by McGill, Inc.

Double-Stick Tape, like LePage’s Permanent 2-Sided Tape

Scraps Of Dark Pink Tissue Paper

All-Purpose White Craft Glue, like Aleene’s Original Tacky Glue

Silver Glitter Glue, like 3D Jumbo Washable Glitter Paint Pens by Elmer's

Pink Heart-Shaped Brad

Pink Fabric Ribbon

Random Scraps Of Paper, Any Size

Random Ephemera And Embellishments, like Cancelled Postage Stamps, Charms, Brads, Eyelets, Buttons, Rhinestones, And Other Doo-Dads

The Steps
(Click to enlarge each image. Click the back button to return to this article.)

1. Cut pieces of poster board or card stock into 2 by 4-inch pieces.


2. Using paper trimmer scoring blade, score each piece of card at the 2-inch point. Fold. You now have your basic gift enclosure card. Repeat until you have as many blank cards as you'd like.


Ready? Time to embellish. Here are some sample gift cards you can make with the tiniest of embellishments and scraps.

3. The next time you use the last light bulb, save the package. It has lightweight, recyclable corrugated paper you can use for your paper crafting projects. Alternately, you can always use any piece of card stock and a crimping tool. Cut the cardboard into 1.75-inch squares (roughly).


4. Using the fuschia acrylic, paint the squares of corrugated paper then allow them to dry.


5. After the square has dried, apply glue to the front bottom of the square. Push a torn piece of pink tissue paper into the grooves on the cardboard then let it dry.


6. Using a small brush, apply glitter glue to the front of the tissue paper. Let it dry.

7. Trim excess tissue paper from around the square with scissors.

8. Punch a small hole in the decorative square then insert the heart-shaped brad.

9. Using a piece of double-stick tape, attach a small piece of ribbon horizontally.


10. Affix the embellished square to the front of a gift card. Voila! Now tape your gift card to the front of a package you carefully wrapped for your Valentine.


Now wasn't that easy? How many other teeny-tiny gift cards can you make? Here are a few more ideas.

This gift card uses the same painted corrugated cardboard, but I've torn it at an angle, backed it with a torn piece of pink card stock then added a fabric rose with glue.


This gift card uses the same paper choices as above, but I substituted a brass heart-shaped charm.


This gift card uses black glossy card stock, red matte card stock stamped with a Chinese calligraphy stamp, and a scrap of gold mesh ribbon from the holidays.


The next time you lean toward the trash can with a scrap of your favorite decorative paper, one lone rhinestone or that last sticker, think again! Pull out your gift card blanks and get crafting!

Project Tips

If you want to have plenty of blank gift cards ready to go, always cut more than you think you need. Stash blank leftovers for your next TV crafting session.

Poster board may not lay as flat as you'd like, so consider experimenting with different paper weights. By the way, paper folders are great for recycling into gift card blanks.

If you want to hang your gift card, rather than attach it to a package with tape, punch a small hole in the upper left-hand corner and add a piece of gold string.

Recycle everything. You'll be amazed at how many different things can fit into a 2-inch square space.

---

Additional Reading

Quick and Clever Handmade Cards by Julie Hickey

Making Greeting Cards With Creative Materials by Maryjo McGraw

Designing Handcrafted Cards: Step-By-Step Techniques for Crafting 60 Beautiful Cards by Claire Sun-Ok Choi, Yonghyun Kim

Product Resource Guide

Buy your craft supplies at MisterArt.com

Wholesale Arts & Crafts Supplies

Most project photos on this page were taken with a 5.0 MP resolution KODAK EASYSHARE DX4530 Zoom Digital Camera

Article Description: Got scraps? Make one-of-a-kind gift enclosure cards to go with a Valentine's Day surprise.

Book Review - Origami by Anne Akers Johnson

Origami
Review By Kaitlyn R. Bayne, Paper Crafts Contributing Writer
Klutz Press; Spiral edition (2003)
ISBN: 1570549974
Hardcover; 88 pages

Anne Akers Johnson's book "Origami" teaches anyone how to creatively fold paper into animals, boxes, stars and airplanes. Each project has step-by-step instructions and illustrations for each fold. The instructions are easy to follow and very descriptive. The book is easy to use because it has a spiral binding that allows you to fold the pages out of the way.

My favorite projects include the secret letter, penguin, star box, rabbit/bunny, frame, parrot, frog, seal, and magic star. The "most challenging" folds -- the frog and the magic star -- are fairly easy. I didn’t enjoy doing the airplane because it is kind of lame.

My gripe about the projects is that they aren’t unique to this book, like I thought Klutz would be. As a teenager who does paper crafts, I have seen these origami folds in many other places because they are fairly common. Young children, and others with no paper folding experience, would enjoy this book more.

Each project has humorous background pictures corresponding to each project. The illustrations, however, are hard to see and should be a little bigger with more detail.

The book and paper set includes lots of paper, enough to do all the projects with extras. The papers are very colorful but the patterns are like wallpaper from the 70’s. I think there should be more plain colored papers and perhaps more modern patterns. In its next printing of the book, Klutz should include a bone folder for tight corners and crisper paper folds.

In summary, if you have done origami before, forget this book. But, if you need a good introduction, this is an excellent and entertaining primer.

Recommended Reading

Origami by Anne Akers Johnson

Also see

Wings and Things: Origami That Flies, by Stephen Weiss

Complete Origami: an A-Z of Facts and Folds, With Step-By-Step Instructions for over 100 Projects, by Eric Kenneway

Product Resource Guide

Origami Paper, 24 7" x 7" Sheets in 12 Colors

Large Origami Paper by Dover Publications Inc, 24 9" X 9" Sheets in 12 Colors

Pacon Origami Paper, Pack Of 55 Sheets

Article Description: A review of the spiral-bound hardcover "Origami" by Anne Akers Johnson, published by Klutz Press.

Project - Wedding Party Favors Your Guests Will Adore

Do you have small pieces of paper, snips of trim and other craft scraps left over from another project? You can make personalized wedding party favors your guests will keep forever. Even the tiniest bit of fabric can turn an ordinary item into a darling brooch, pocket treasure chest or homage to something wonderful. Try your hand at altering a matchbox with these step-by-step project instructions. ~ by Kim M. Bayne


Personalized for the Mother of the Bride

Materials & Tools List

Cardboard Matchboxes, like Strike On Box Matches 32 count by Diamond Brands

Paper Trimmer, like Fiskars 12" Portable Paper Trimmer Item #95987097

Good Pair of Comfortable, Teflon-like Coated Scissors for Cutting Tape, like Armada Velvet Touch Scissors

Tacky Double-sided Tape, like Art Accentz Terrifically Tacky Tape Roll in 1 & 1/16 inch and 1/8 inch widths, by Provo Craft

Sticker Paper for Making Glitter Lace Paper

[Related Article]

Purple Fabric Ribbon, like 5mm (3/16 inch) wide 100% Polyester Spool O' Ribbon by Offray

One Bunch of Small Artificial Flowers in Lavender, like Modern Romance Item #MR6975-79 by Hirschberg Schutz & Co.

Wire Wrapping Stick, like a Mandrel from the Wire Worker Set by Artistic Wire

White, Thick and Tacky Paper Crafting Glue, like Aleene's Tacky Glue

Metallic Acrylic Paint, like Dazzling Metallics in Purple Pearl by DecoArt

1/2-inch Wide Foam Brush for Applying Acrylic Paint

Hand Held Paper Punch, like 1/8-inch Round Punchline Punch Item #52400 by McGill

Strands of Tiny White Faux Pearls (Plastic), like 4mm White Pearls by Darice

Small White Plastic Imprinted Beads, like Alphabet and Heart Beads by Crafts Etc.

Small Wooden Purple Button for Embellishing Inside of Matchbox Tray

Small Wooden Bead for Creating a Tray Handle

Flower-shaped Sequin in White or Lavender

Jewelry Pin Backs, like 1/4-inch Nickle Plated Steel Pin Back Item #1880-61 by Darice


Some of the Supplies You'll Need

The Steps
(Click to enlarge each image. Another browser window will open.)

1. To determine the size of your decorative paper, measure the length, width and height of your matchbox. I used different matchboxes for this project but I strongly recommend Diamond Brands. Diamond's cardboard is sturdier than other matchboxes, making it the best choice for crafts applications.


2. Cut your sticker paper to the size needed for wrapping around the box. Use the sticker paper to make glitter lace paper in purple and silver.


3. Apply double-stick tacky tape around the sleeve of the matchbox, covering most of the surface.


4. Remove the backing on the tacky tape. Wrap the glitter lace paper around the matchbox, taking care to align the edges.


5. Use a small piece of tape to adhere the end of the glitter lace paper to itself.


6. Trim any paper that extends beyond the box edges.


7. Tape or glue the fabric ribbon around the box ends.


8. Select a flower and leaf from your artificial flower bunch. Hold the petal and leaf tops together and twist a few times around each other. Tightly wrap the individual stems around the shaft of a wire wrapping tool.


9. Glue the flower on the front of the matchbox sleeve.


10. Paint the matchbox tray both inside and out. Paint it twice, allowing it to dry between coats. The picture shows a sampling of colors.


11. After the paint has dried, punch two small holes in a short side of the matchbox tray. This is where you'll fashion a handle for opening your treasure box. You may have to squeeze hard to punch through the tray if the cardboard overlaps.


12. Glue the pearl strand to the inside of the matchbox tray, around all four corners.


13. Wrap the stem of another flower around the wire tool. Glue the flower inside the tray. Glue a small button, alphabet and heart beads, and/or other embellishments inside the matchbox tray.

14. Thread a flower stem or piece of wire through a wooden bead and the tray holes. Twist the wire ends loosely to avoid tearing the box holes. You now have a handle to pull open the matchbox drawer.


15. Glue a pin clasp to the back of the matchbox. After the glue has dried, you're ready to wear your miniature art creation.


Project Tips

If you're making several matchbox pocket shrines for wedding favors, simplify your design for faster assembly.

Excessive handling may cause glitter to rub off on your hands. You may wish to spray your glitter lace paper with an acrylic matte sealer before attaching the paper to the box.

Once you've applied the glitter lace paper to the tacky tape, it's on for good. Don't try to reposition it or you'll tear it and/or the matchbox.

If punching holes in the tray is too hard or frustrating, forget about it! Glue your wooden bead to the outside of the tray instead.

---

Additional Reading

Artful Bride Wedding Favors & Decorations: A Stylish Brides Guide to Simple, Handmade Wedding Crafts, by April L. Paffrath, Paula Grasdal, Livia McRee.

Fabulous Favors: Favors for Parties, Weddings, and Holidays, by Beverly Clark

Creative Wedding Keepsakes You Can Make: by Terry L. Rye, Laurel Tudor

Product Resource Guide

Out of time? Find hundreds of ready-made wedding favors here!

Buy your craft supplies at MisterArt.com

Wholesale Arts & Crafts Supplies

Most project photos on this page were taken with a 5.0 MP resolution KODAK EASYSHARE DX4530 Zoom Digital Camera

Article Description: Do you have pieces of paper, snips of trim and other craft scraps left over from another project? Alter a matchbox into a personalized party favor your guests will adore.