Halloween Jack Wide Mouth Candy Tote

Pumpkin decoration that doubles as a candy tote 

in two versions: open front with three paper-sleeve wrapped

 “fun size” candy bars; or clear vinyl window with loose candy inside. 

Front and back pumpkin panels are layered from

 card stock for thickness, with front offset overlay.

 Eyes are layered for “chunky” dimension. 

Compartment between front and back is approx. 3.25x4.25x.5, 

and includes a bottom support and top closing flap 

(with thumb notch and opt. added tab-end strip for opening ease). 

Tie a ribbon at stem for extra panache. 

Pumpkin front measures approx. 5” wide x 6.75” tall. 

BONUS design: To “upcycle” waste mouth shapes from

multiple layers, select the designated front panel shape 

that will yield mini groot-like face panels when 

the larger panels are cut, then cut tote compartment, 

assemble and fill to create a few MINI SPOOKS! 

NOTE: the 'open window' version for wrapped bars

will be described first, with variation for the vinyl panel

window following in Step 23. The Bonus little tote assembly steps

can be found at the end.

ASSEMBLY: 1. Identify and cut the shapes

(for the open window version):

A front build up layers (3-4)

B offset front face accent layer

C front underside layer with slots for tabs

D compartment   E base 'tube' support strip

F back build up layers (3-4)

G back underside layer with alignment dash lines

H back offset accent layer

I-K eye base layers (6-7 each for layering)

and top accent layers (4 each for layering)

L candy bar wraps (3)

For loose candy window front:

M front inside layer with window recess opening

N clear vinyl window panel

For optional miniature candy tote (conserving

the wide mouth opening 'waste'):

front face panel

tote compartment panel

For information purposes, this is the type and size

of candy bars ("fun size" and loose coated candies)

that were used in the model projects shown here.

2. Layer and glue together the layers for build up of

front, taking care (here and throughout) that all cut edges

are lined up as exactly as possible.

NOTE: DO NOT attach front INSIDE layer that includes slots.

As the glue up proceeds (using liquid adhesive), it is

HIGHLY advisable/required to press the glued stack under

a heavy flat object such as this wood plank section,

or a large book, until the drying is complete (may take

an hour or more - til the stack is no longer cool to touch).

3. Place the offset front accent shape over the top

of the stack and glue in place; press flat under weight.

4. Identify the inner back layer that includes the compartment

alignment cut dash lines for top edge, corners

and side edges, as indicated by pointing finger.

5. Layer and glue together the back panel build up layers,

including the back inside layer identified in step 4 above;

press under flat weight.

6. Layer the eyes and nose base layers;

press under weight while they dry.

7. Layer the eyes and nose accent (top) layers;

press under weight while they dry.

8. Position and attach eyes and nose accents onto

base stacks; press under weight while they dry.

9. Position and attach each eye or nose stack into

the matching recess cutout of the front accent panel;

press under weight while they dry.

10. Prepare the compartment panel by bending on

perforation lines for main panel, sides, bottom 'platform'

compartment, lid flaps and tabs, etc. . . .

. . . referring to this diagram for the direction of folding

(as 'mountain' or 'valley' folds).

11. Bend the lower portion - or baffle- into a tube as shown

here, below, until the bottom-most segment turns under and

can be attached to the 'floor' of the main compartment --

but WAIT to attach!

12. Prepare the baffle support strip by bending tabs forward,

then alternating the vertical bending at perforations

to form a 'W' (shown inverted here).

13. Position the strip onto the backside of the compartment

panel along the same section that side tabs extend from,

and configure so that the ends at at the corner as shown.

(For understanding, the shaped side tabs will need

to eventually fold inward and tuck next to the strip

and the angled ends will not interfere when configured

this way.)

Glue the strip tabs to the compartment wall to attach.

14. Re-fold the lower baffle into a tube, with the support strip

being enclosed, then . . .

. . . apply adhesive between the main compartment 'floor'

panel and the baffle's top 'flange', and glue together . . .

. . . making sure that the compartment back wall

and that of the baffle are straight, even, with

their planes matched up, so that back panel can be

eventually glued flat along the whole length as one surface.

15. Tuck side tabs in and glue in place.

16. Apply glue to the baffle ends, then bend

compartment side panels into position and

glue to baffle ends - make sure bottom edges

of panel and baffle are squared up and even.

17. Insert the side panel tabs of compartment into

the slots of the inner front pumpkin layer . . .

. . . while also applying adhesive to the front wall

of the lower baffle compartment, then . . .

. . . bend the tabs outward and glue in place.

Also apply pressure where the baffle needs to

attach to pumpkin panel.

18. Position and attach the built-up stack of front panels

onto the front pumpkin inner layer (attached to compartment).

19. If you plan to fill with loose candy, or if you are concerned

about being able to lift the top flap once the front

and back rigid layers are attached position the tab-ended

strip to the underside of the lid segment of compartment.

20. Position and attach the front/compartment assembly

onto the inner wall of back stack . . .

. . . taking care to align the compartment edges

and upper corners where the dash cut guide marks

show (on back panel) as well as aligning the bottom

compartment edge with bottom of back panel,

and glue firmly in place.

21. Wrap the fun size candy bars, if desired, in the

wrapper rectangles, wrapping the top and bottom ends . . .

. . . toward the back side, and centering the overlapped seam,

then securing with double-stick tape or adhesive of choice.

22. Insert the wrapped bars into the compartment

with seam to the back (hidden), then . . .

. . . tuck the flap into place. Wrap with knotted bow

as desired (for images, see Step 27).

Here is the wrapped bars version, completed.

CLEAR WINDOW VERSION

23. For the clear window version, position and attach

the recess version behind the front panel stack,

taking care to align outer cut edges as precisely as possible.

Press flat until liquid adhesive is dried.

(NOTE the window recess and clear panel in the final version

are somewhat shorter than shown here).

24. Apply double-stick narrow adhesive to generous 1/8"

edge margin of clear vinyl panel, then position into recess

and attach in place.

25. Position the front stack with vinyl window layer

onto the front of the compartment-attached layer,

align edges, and attach in place . . .

. . . taking care that teeth edges of all layers

align as well as outer edges.

26. Complete the window version as with open front

version, following Steps 19-21.

27. Fill with loose candy as full as desired, then . . .

. . . tuck the side flaps and lid flap into place.

Here is the completed loose candy version

with clear vinyl window.

MINIATURE TOTE BONUS DESIGN

28. Here are the two shapes used for the mini tote.

29. Prepare the tote compartment shape by bending

back ("mountain" fold) on all panel, bottom flap and

flange perforation lines. 

30. Form the shape into a tube to bring straight side edge

to overlap opposite side flange to perforation line

and glue seam.

NOTE that this seam can be pressed flat

to apply pressure along edges to secure.

Unflatten back into tube formation.

31. Bend bottom panel flanges in, then tuck

into the bottom of the tote, and . . .

. . . make sure edges are even with fronts and sides.

Reach fingertips inside to provide press-against

surface to apply pressure to secure seams.

32. Position the face panel over the selected 'front'

tote compartment wall, center and align bottom edges,

then secure in place.

Here is the completed mini tote.