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Sunday, July 28, 2024

Wide Mouth Nugget Choc Cards

 Assemble wide-mouth character on card front silhouette.
Thin back-box neatly holds six Hershey's wrapped nugget
candies to show-through opened-wide mouth. 
(Or fill with other loose treats.)
Separate top flap allows opening to enjoy the treat, 
with top-fold mini card (3”x2.5”) attached to box front to 
include sentiment and attribution if desired. 
Santa and snowman cards measure 
approx. 5.25” tall x 3.75” wide x .75” deep. 
Bear card measures approx. 3.8" tall
x 3.75" wide x .75" deep.

NOTE that the box and finishing assembly is the same
for all three card designs. Instructions for Snowman
will be shown in detail, with front panel assembly specifics
for Santa (step 16) and Bear (step 21) will follow.

ASSEMBLY: 1. Identify and cut the shapes:
A card front with head silhouette shaping
B clear window panel
C hat base with brim overlay, band
D snowman face   E muffler
F carrot nose base with overlay, eyes
G holly leaves with berries base, 2 berried
H candy box with separate top tuck-in "lid"
I opt. top-fold sentiment card
J side buffer strips to fold, glue in box sides
to assist snug fit of Hershey's nuggets
2. Assemble face front, from separate shapes
shown here:
A.  hat brim with band overlays onto hat base
B. berries onto berries base
C. holly leaves with berries unit onto hat
D. carrot nose overlay onto base, then
position (use dash guide marks) on face and
attach
3. Assemble face onto card front base:
A. center muffle shape with bottom straight edges
aligned, and glue in place
B. position face unit with mouth opening edges
aligned with base
C. position hat unit abutted above head with
upper and side edges aligned
D. add eye circles into recesses.
4. Prepare candy back box by bending back on all
perforations for panels, flanges and tabs.
5. Bend and fold the two "buffer" strips in accordion
style, then apply glue between the folds so that
the strip segments stack and attach on top of each other.
Place under a heavy flat object such as a heavy book
or a plank, etc., until fully dried. Put aside until steps 8 & 11
when they will be attached to the interior walls of box.
6. Prepare the box "lid" shape by bending the top
flange forward and the flap back.
7. Use double-sided 1/8" wide adhesive tape
(or equivalent, or alternative) to prepare the clear
window panel to be attached to box inside.
Remove tape liner, then . . .
. . . carefully position on box window wall so that
the sides and bottom edges fit barely between
perforations, with top edge extending above window,
then attach securely in place.
8. Position and attach the first of the buffer strip stacks
behind the middle side wall, taking care that edges
DO NOT interfere with bending back of adjacent walls
or tabs. NOTE the second buffer strip will be attached
in step 11. 
9. When ready to attach the front panel to the box,
apply adhesive to the front panel edges within area
defined by the sides and bottom flange perf lines.
Position the front assembly so that the bottom aligns 
with the bottom flange perf line, with the mouth 
opening edges lined up as precisely as possible . . .
. . .  with the other mouth opening edges 
beneath, and attach the surfaces that touch. 
Join securely.
10. When front is secure, form the box compartment
to bring the straight side wall edge around to overlap
the opposite long flange, adjust for alignment,
then attach.
11. Insert the remaining buffer strip into the box
to position and attach behind the "non-buffer strip"
 side wall.
12. At bottom, bend side, front and back tabs,
flanges and wall inward to close box, taking care
to "square up" the box, and glue in place.
13. At top, position the "lid" shape so that it can
close with flap tucked into the box and top flange
extending upward on the backside of panel, then . . .
. . .attach in place.
14. Fold the optional sentiment card, center and
attach on the box's back panel below the finger
cut out. To keep it in closed position, use a sticky dot
or equivalent dry "temp" adhesive.
15. Fill with two rows of chocolate nugget candies
with "plain" smooth faces forward. Then . . .
. . . fold side tabs inward, lid flap downward to
tuck behind the back wall of box.
Here is the Snowman box filled and finished.
SANTA WIDE MOUTH CANDY BOX CARD
16. Identify and cut the shapes for Santa.
NOTE that shapes for hat fur and nose are composed
of base shape with overlay.
17. Begin with the head and front decor shapes
as shown, then . . .
. . . layer A) hat fur with overlay aligned at top,  
B) nose with overlay aligned at top, C) mustache
positioned on top of face surround silhouette.
18. Assemble shapes with suit collar shape centered
along bottom of card front base, then position A) face
surround/mustache centered with bottom edge
aligned with top of window opening, B) hat abutted
at top so that edges align with card base edges,
C) beard shape with inward edge aligned with
mouth window opening edges.
19. Complete assembly by positioning and attaching
A) hat tassel, B) fur assembly, C) eye circles,
D) nose, E) holly and berry assembly.
20. Refer to Snowman steps 4-15 to complete 
box assembly.
BEAR WIDE MOUTH CANDY BOX CARD
21. Identify and cut the shapes.

22. Assemble the head and card front by positioning
and attaching the muffler shape along bottom of 
card front base, centered, with straight bottom 
edges aligned. Also layer and attach cheeks onto
head front around mouth opening corner, with
nose overlay positioned and attached at top of base.
23. Continue assembly by positioning head assembly
over card front so that mouth opening interior edges
and ear/head edges align.
24.  Finally, position and attach inner ears, eyes,
nose and smile.
25. Refer to Snowman steps 4-15 to complete 
box assembly.

Thursday, July 25, 2024

Star Ornament Folded Recessed Star

Create a festive and dimensional five-pointed ornament 
by folding strategic “valley” and “mountain” folds. 
Curls and dot cutouts decorate star panels in 
a traditional luminary style. 
Punch holes pair allow for twine or string hanging. 
Star measures approx. 7.125” tall x 7.5” wide x .875” deep 
when fully assembled. 

ASSEMBLY: 1. Cut the shape.
2. Study the fold direction illustration for better
understanding of "mountain" or "valley" folding
direction. NOTE the symbols that show how
the "recessed" center star is created by re-directing
the inward portions of the point and between-point lines.


3. Invert the star shape and fold the edge flanges
back. Crease well along perforation lines, then unfold.
4. Bend and crease along point center lines.
(This image shows the star shape face down
as the folding is happening.) Handle carefully,
here and throughout, at the swirl cut outs, and
at center to avoid tear-out. If it happens, re-glue.
5. Reverse the star and bend to fold as "valley" folds
along at between-point perf lines.
6. Working from front, carefully partially fold 
the down-diagonal perf lines as "mountain" folds, 
in a gentle pinching motion to begin ONLY to
assist these folds in the required direction.
These will be more fully creased later in assembly.
7. Re-direct the inward "halves" of the center point
perforations so that they become "valley" folds.
Also re-direct the inward "halves" of the between-point
perforations so that they become "mountain" folds.
8. Beginning at one side at seam edge, begin to
collapse the folds together to help establish the folds . . .
. . . until all segments are configures into a half-point
stack. Apply pinch-pressure to all the folds
through the whole stack. The unfold back to flat.
9. Working with star face down, bend edge flanges
back and glue in place firmly. Work to get smooth
and crisp "rim" edges. Press flat under a large heavy
object until glue dries completely.
10. (Shown from backside, turn back and 
forth as needed.) Bring together the inward
portion of the seam edges to align straight edge
across opposite shaped flange to perf line, adjust 
precisely, then glue this portion of seam. Apply
pressure until secure.
11. Overlap and straight edge across opposite flange
to complete the outward portion of the seam in
the same manner.
12. Thread cord or twine through hang holes
then trim and tie as desired.





Wednesday, July 24, 2024

Star Lindor Choc Ball Place Card

Five-point star slides together with vertical slots, 
then slips over a wrapped Lindor candy ball 
within the lower rounded hollow, 
with tiny pop-out tabs to keep top points aligned. 
(Recommended to cut double layers for 
each star shape for sturdiness.) 
Star measures approx. 3.75” tall. 
Assemble a bunch to add sparkle to a holiday table 
(Christmas, Independence Day and more). 
Adapt for place card by adding a dinner guest’s name. 

ASSEMBLY: 1. Identify and cut the shapes:
top: "up-slot" star with mini tab front layer, back layer
bottom: "down-slot" front layer, back layer
2. Bend the mini-tabs forward. Then . . .
. . . layer both up-slot shapes and glue together,
leaving the tabs free and unconnected to the layer
underneath (one tab for each face of the finished shape).
Also layer both down-slot shapes and glue together.
3. Immediately press the layered and glued-up star shapes
under a heavy flat weight such as a thick book,
and leave in place for a long span to allow glue to
dry completely. This will help prevent warping or
curling of the liquid glue.
4. Position the up-slot star above the down-slot star
in perpendicular position and interlock the two halves,
pushing carefully together until upper arm tips and
hollow edges are aligned and even.
In final position, the backside of mini tabs should
lie in front of the other star surface, both on front
and on back of the assembly. Add a dab of glue
to keep connected in place. NOTE it may be
helpful to use the blade of a spatula or similar 
tool to apply pressure to attach.
5. Open the stars to right angle "cross", then
slide in place over the Lindor chocolate candy
ball, with wrapper ends extending between two
opposite spaces.
Here is the finished candy-holding star place card.
NOTE the stars can be gently folded flat after use
for storage and re-use.