Series 4 - The Candy Wrapper Chain #3

Hi there. I'm late. Sorry about that. The boy has had the flu all week... He's quite ill... So my attention has been elsewhere. But, I squeaked out a post, thank goodness. Shall we get to it? Let us go.

Welcome to the third installment of Series 4 - The Candy Wrapper Chain! To see what fun I've been having with these nifty chains, visit my previous entries in the series: Installment 1 and Installment 2.

Today I'll be showing you a few different things:

• How to make a large quantity of chain links in very little time [which makes this a much more efficient project than when I first learned (two weeks ago now... so long ago...)]
• How I've used the chains as a frame in a couple of different projects.
• How to make the rosette I first made in Installment 1.

Making Lots o' Links

1. Using junk mail, or phone book pages, cut out narrow sheets. Mine are 3-3/4"(9.2 cm) wide (this measurement allows me to get 2 strips from 1 phone book page, but I make all my strips this width for consistency's sake).

2. Fold a strip in half lengthwise.

3. Unfold the strip, and fold the long edges in so that they meet the center fold. Refold in half lengthwise.

4. Fold all your strips in this way.

5. Mark a strip at increments of 3/8" (1 cm).

6. Clamp several folded strips together using a clip.

7. Make links by cutting through all the folded strips at the marks you made.

8. You'll get many many links in no time.

Now you have everything you need to make the chains. Here's the video tutorial that shows how to do that! It's surprising how long a chain you can make during an hour-long TV show... Have fun!

Making a Frame

For my first project, I cut a slightly larger than plate-sized circle from one of the months of an old astronomy calendar (could not throw it out... could not). I also cut a similar circle from a pizza box. Then I glued those two circles together.

9. To frame my picture, I took a chain.

10. After placing a plate in the middle of my calendar picture, I applied a bead of white PVA glue around the perimeter of the circle. I then placed my chain on the bead of glue using the plate as a guide to keep the chain along a nicely circular path.

11. I trimmed the chain and inserted the end links into each other and glued them in place.

12. I removed the plate, and voilà, a picture framed!

The "framed" astronomy calendar page will decorate the closet door of the boy's bedroom. I'll be making a few more of these to create a unique astral door decoration!

For my next project, I cut a circular ring out of a cracker box, and glued two chains to it.

Making a Rosette

I made a few little rosettes as shown in the following photo. And glued those on my ring...

... creating a sweet telephone page candy wrapper chain wreath!

I can imagine adding a few coats of paint to this wreath and framing a round mirror or a simple clock face with it, can't you? The possibilities never end, do they?

Well, now I'm off to tend the sick...

Have a healthy weekend and I will see you again soon!

I'll be linking here!

Tutorial: Tissue Box Photo Hearts

Of late, through no decision of my own and just in time for Valentine's Day, I've learned in detail how the heart works. You see, Lo bought the boy a very detailed pop-up anatomy book which the boy now insists we read to him every night at bedtime. Circulation is by far my favourite chapter. It makes sense. It is clear to me. And it doesn't give rise to any awkward questions, unlike the digestive system, or God-forbid, the reproductive system. The boy and I were eternally scarred by a recent incident in which I foolishly decided to answer all of his innocent but far too probing questions regarding the reproductive system. It suffices to say that he is now elated, and entirely too relieved, to be a boy, loudly and happily proclaiming his boyness at every turn. But the circulatory system? Ahhh... The circulatory system is nothing short of beauty and elegance! And the heart, well... I simply could not live without it.

Should I get to today's heart craft then? Okay. Let's get to it, shall we?

Tutorial: Tissue Box Photo Hearts

You will need:

• Two different (and empty) tissue boxes
• Scrap of black construction paper
• Styrofoam tray
• Hole punch
• Exacto knife
• Pencil
• PVA (white) glue, and glue for foam crafts is also very useful
• Photos (Note: these will be cut up)

1. From your tissue boxes, cut 3 hearts of the same size: 2 of one colour, 1 of the other. The single heart will be sandwiched between the other two. From the center of the single heart, cut out a small circle. From the center of one of the other hearts, cut out a slightly larger circle. The centre points of these 2 holes should coincide.

2. Using your hole punch, make some confetti out of the black construction paper.

3. Glue the confetti along the edge of the good side of the single heart as shown.

4. Using the hole punch, make confetti out of the foam tray.

5. Using foam glue if available, attach a few pieces of foam confetti to the backs of both holy hearts.

6. Cut out a photo whose image will fit within the smaller hole of the confetti-edged heart.

7. Glue the photo onto the last unholy heart.

8. Glue the confetti-edged heart on top of this photo heart. Glue the big-holed heart on the very top.

And your photo heart is complete!!!

Now you could do one or more of the following with these little gems...

You could:

1. Add a hanger to your photo heart and make an ornament or gift tag.
2. Write a little message on the back and give as a Valentine's Day card.
3. Back it with a magnet. Fridge magnet at your service!
4. Make a whole bunch in all different sizes and string them together to create a photo heart garland.
5. Attach a whack of them onto a wire circle and make a photo heart wreath.

My goodness, the possibility and potential is virtually endless. Go to it! Have a tissue box heart, won't you?

Here is an alternative tissue box heart design minus the photo!

Now go have yourself a wonderful day, and I'll see you again soon!