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March 03, 2011

FAVOR BOXES WITH A SOCCER FLAIR

Thought I would share that there are people out there reading this!!   hehe, we have 11 worshipers... I mean "followers" .. wait is this a cult? NO way!  I won't make you drink any special koolaide, and I wont ask you to live with me and my "other followers" :)
I only ask you read these posts from time to time in hopes you like my ideas and share your own experiences or become inspired by the things I snap pictures of and talk about.
It has been a busy month of February and I am sort of glad it is over with. I want to share with you the favor boxes I made for my son's 7th Birthday extravaganza at Chuck E. Cheeses (James just HAD to have his party there, and I think if you can afford it, every kid should have it there once in their lifetime).
Now I say extravaganza because it sure hurt the wallet like one!  But only the best for my little guys!
So soccer was the theme at this party so I decided to fall back on the good 'ol kraft boxes I purchased from U-line, or was it Nashville wraps?  I can't remember but I will update on here when I do!
This is what I made.

Can I just tell you the parents were very excited about these... I think they wanted their own too :)  The cookies were my first attempt at "soccer balls" so I think I need a bit more practice AND more time to try these guys out, but for last minute and just a platter cookie, I think they turned out pretty nice.
What I think was very clever about these boxes is that I put a pink ribbon on top of the boxes that had girly colored goodies inside! That way I wouldn't have to look inside each one once the kids were leaving to make sure there weren't disappointing boys because they got pink punch balls or parachute ninjas!
NOW- these don't have to be Soccer, they can be all pink, they can be princess themed, football themed ANYTHING you and your little one set your minds to! Contact me if you want your own labels designed. Anyhow... 
Here is the ingredient list

4x5x6 recycled kraft boxes  (from ULINE ...i think)
20 yards of soccer ribbon (I may need more for a future project)
a hole punch (regular sized)
I used the Sentimentals cartridge for my cricut expression for my scallops in black (cut at 2 inches)
I also created a sheet of "thank you" circles with soccer ball borders  (EMAIL me if you want a copy)
I used the "center point" on my cricut to cut out the images
what I think would work BETTER is a 2 inch circle punch!! HELLO, why didnt I think about that sooner... well its pretty expensive, so I went with the obvious choice until I can add that to my collection!
Black curling ribbon I got at my local party store Boswell's this place is local for me, so I don't have to pay shipping. So my advice is to just get a nice large spool of it (you pay soo much for a tiny spool why not get a big one since you'll need it soon enough)
My trusty ATG gun WHICH I LOVE!
..and finally a patient hand!

So I punched a hole with a standard punch in the opposite sides of the boxes (for the side ribbon/handle)

So this picture above shows the two front holes, this is for the tag, for the HANDLES you need to punch a hole on the left side (towards the back of the box) and then on the right side you need to punch a hole on the front side (the same end as the tags/front). This will allow for a spill free, kid wobbling running around party experience.
The soccer ribbon is thick enough that when you tie a knot on the inside of the box it will not come out of that hole you punched unless you pulled so hard you ripped the box...
Now we take a look at the tag portion on the front side of the box. I punched 2 holes side by side about a 1/4 inch from each other and off set it to the side off the center of the box, it just looked better that way!
Then I took 2 cuts of 12 inches of that black curling ribbon and threaded them both through the inside of the box to the outside. Then I slipped all 4 sides of the ribbon through the tag which I also punched a hole into after using my ATG tape gun to adhere the tags together.

I took both sides of the ribbon and tied one knot onto the tag, then I took one ribbon from each side (leaving 2 pieces of the ribbon dangle) and tied a bow. THERE, the tag is snug, and it looks darling!

I loved making these knowing that kids will enjoy them for a long time. Who doesnt want a cool box to tote things around of theirs! My son still has his and he carries all kinds of random things in it when he wants to tote them along somewhere.
Please email me for a FREE copy of the soccer Thank You labels to print out on your own computer. I just ask you become a cult member... I mean... follower and I will gladly HOOK YOU UP, as my son would say.
ALSO, for the pink ribbon (the girly boxes) I just punched 2 holes into the top/lid and threaded a hot pink ribbon through and tied a knot, just to poke out.

A QUICK LIST OF GOODIES I PUT INTO OUR FAVOR BOXES

slinging frogs (party store)
primary colored party bubbles (Walmart)
punch balls (party store)
globe key ring (james insisted!/party store)
ninjas on parachutes (party store)
NOT PICTURED- CAKE POPS!!!! from ArtsyAlcie (James' aunt!) 
and those lick ball thingies that you catch back into the net things (real technical i know..)
..OH and don't forget the infamous silly bands (we put in star wars themed from walmart)

some more pics

A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO ARTSYALCIE WHO MADE THE CAKE POPS THAT WENT INSIDE THESE BOXES AND SOME ADDED EXTRA FOR THE TABLE FOR THE PARENTS TO ENJOY!!

HAPPY CRAFTING EVERYONE!!!
   please leave a comment, I want to know what themed parties you are throwing in your near future!!!