Designs for cupcakes and party boxes OK, my friends -- now tell the truth. Between work and family and everything else you do, when did you last embellish your life with some serious girl-time? If your eyes are glazing as you search the recesses of your memory, it's time for a sanity-boosting Girl Party. Let's get ready with two super-easy embellishment projects: Cupcake Toppers and Custom Favor Boxes. Both projects use images from fun, girl-themed scrapbook papers to give small items a big impact. If you can't find exactly the right paper, you can cut images from greeting cards or use a favorite photo that has been duplicated. Your friends will be touched that you spent so much time just to make your get-together extra-special. You don't have to tell them just how easy these projects were to create. First, let's take care of dessert. Run out and pick up cupcakes at your local bakery. Clear a little space at the table and make a Cupcake Topper for each one. Gather: Scrapbook paper Scissors Extra-long toothpicks Double-sided tape Cupcakes Create: Cut fun images out of the scrapbook paper (i.e., shoes, purses, puppies, etc.). Tape them onto extra-long toothpicks. Stick the toothpicks into the cupcakes and ... that's it! Because that was so easy, you have plenty of time before your friends arrive to embellish small treat boxes to hold the party favors:  Gather: Small white boxes Two coordinating patterns of scrapbook paper Scissors Chocolates or other treats Scrapbook paper with images of shoes, purses, etc. Tag board Spray adhesive Double-sided tape Glue stick Create: Cut a strip of scrapbook paper to wrap around the sides of each box. Cut a strip of the other paper that's about half as wide and just as long as the first strip. Use a glue stick to adhere the wide strip to the sides of each box and then adhere the narrow strip on top of the wide strip for a nice layered look. Fill each box with chocolates or other treats and close the boxes. Using spray adhesive, adhere the scrapbook paper with purses and shoes to the tag board. Let dry and cut out your images, leaving an extra 1/2-inch along the bottom of each image. Fold at the half mark and adhere the cutout image to the top of your box using double- sided tape. |