Valentine Crackers

I am excited to show you my latest project, Valentine crackers using things most of us have around the house. I am making them for Lilly's teachers and for some friends. They are so simple to make and can be used for so many holidays and occasions so I thought I would share a tutorial of how I put them together. Let's get started:

Supplies:

the humblest of craft supplies, a toilet paper roll

10in x10in sheet of tissue paper

crepe paper

stapler

hot glue

glue stick

heart stickers

white card stock

ribbon string

Step 1:

Cover the toilet paper roll with glue using the glue stick. Step 2:

Place the t.p. roll at the bottom, center of one of the long sides of the tissue paper. Roll the t.p. roll until it is covered with the tissue. Smooth and press the tissue paper to the tube as you roll. When you get to the end, secure top edge of the tissue paper to the tube with glue stick.

Step 3: Gather and scrunch the tissue at onen end of the roll and tie tightly with twine.

Step 4:

Hold the tube with the open end up and tied end down. Fill the tube with treats (chocolates, candy, trinkets). Then tie off the other end just as you did in step 3.

At this point you can decorate the tube any way you'd like. You could use vintage images, stickers, scrapbook paper, chipboard shapes, the possibilites are endless.

For mine, I covered the string on the ends with wired ribbon and decorated it with a crepe paper medallion. If you'd like to make medallion too, here's how I make them:

I cut about 18 inches off a roll of crepe paper. I held the streamer at one end and began gathering it along the bottom.

I did this until it formed a circle. Then I stapled an "X" in the middle to hold all the gathers together. You might have to add a third staple if your paper isn't staying ruffled. I hot glued the medallion onto the front of my cracker then added a circle punched from white cardstock. Finally, I added a glitter heart foam sticker and a little banner with the name of the recipient.

I hope you have fun trying this project. I think I will be making these for every holiday.

Have a great weekend.

Love and Blessings, Molly