Heart-Shaped Chocolate Box Makeover

This is what a $1 box of chocolates from Walmart looks like when I'm through with it :)

The box looked like this before:

Not so cute.

I thought I could change that and make a pretty little gift for my daughter Lilly.

Here's how i did it:

First, remove cellophane and box lid. Turn the lid over and trace it onto the back of a piece of decorative scrapbook paper or cardstock (wrapping paper could be pretty too). Next, cut the heart out with scalloped scissors and use a glue stick to affix it to the box top. Now comes the fun part...Ebellish, embellish, embellish. I decided to top mine with a crepe paper flower, pearls and some paper leaves. You could use stickers, craft foam hearts, die cuts, vintage valentines or whatever else you could think of. If you want to top yours with a crepe paper flower like mine, here's how to make it:

Cut a 24 inch strips of crepe paper from a roll. Fold the strip in half lenthwise. Set the tension on your sewing machine to about 8 (you want it high) and then set your stitches long. This will cause the crepe paper to gather as you stitch. Now you will stitch down the center of the entire length of the streamer. When you begin stitching, back stitch to secure but do not back stitch at the end because you may need to adjust the amount of ruffle you want for your flower. After you have finished sewing, fold the streamer in half again along the stitches so it will be a double ruffle. Next, glue one end of the ruffle to the box (wherever you want the center of the flower to be). Begin winding the ruffle around the center, using hot glue to secure as you go.Finally, add pearls or a button to the center and some leaves and that's it you're are done. p.s. I emptied out the chocolates and filled the box with some of Lilly's favorite confections. You could also fill it with little trinkets. Remember to save your boxes you get this year and you can transform them for next year and refill them with goodies for a loved one.

XO~Molly