This Creative Escape project (from 2006) has become a family favorite; especially this summer. It’s a Greeting Card Organizer/Storage Box designed by Tena Sprenger. The reason it’s a family favorite, is because I changed the word “cards” on the box front to “candy” and we use it for all kinds of fun motivation.
The box sits on my kitchen counter and is filled with miniature-size candy packs, fortune cookies, gum,mints, snack-size bags of nuts, fruit or miniature marshmallows, or an IOU for a yogurt squeeze or Popsicle from the freezer. The contents are used as rewards for grandkids that clean up their toys without protest, or for their secret acts of service. We sometimes use the contents for our dessert after lunch during special visits or “just because”.
This summer our oldest granddaughters started swimming lessons. When they stop by our home to drop baby sister off for me to watch, we talk about how they’re going to be brave and have fun. We also talk about what treat they want from the candy box when they come back to get their sister. Whether their swimming lesson turns out to be a bawl fest or is a smashing success is of no consequence. We rejoice and celebrate every lesson with hugs, high fives and a treat from the candy box. This summer the candy box has become a symbol of sweet success and small victories.
There are still a few of the Project Kits available in the Superstore so grab one if you’re looking for a fun summer project and reward system. Of course your treat box doesn’t have to look like this. It could be a jar, shoe box or paper bag. This box just happens to be “eye candy”, that’s full of candy – and that’s what makes it so fun!
Hope you’re having a great summer.
P.S. To seal the paper and glitter on the box and lid (I’m not a glitter enthusiast) I added a few coats of Diamond Glaze to all outside surfaces (Paper Glaze works too). The glaze took some of the brilliance and luster out of the glitter-shine, but I don’t mind – my house is always glitter-free.
P.S.S. The kit says it doesn't come with glitter and color copies. No worries, simply purchase glitter for the lid, some of the chipboard shapes and letters. Or, use paper scraps for the lid edges and leave the chipboard shapes and letters without glitter; just as cute. As far as the color copies go, I'm assuming they were a supplement to black and white instructions. If so, the color copies just show where certain papers were placed. Really, it's just an easy-to cover (with patterned paper) box and lid. Look at my photo and you can see what to do...add papers, add glitter to lid sides and some chipboard elements and letters and then glue them into place.
I used UHU Gue Stick to glue all papers into place (rolling with a brayer to strengthen bond), Crafter's Pick, The Ultimate to glue chipboard shapes, letters and glitter, and E6000 to glue the crystal knob into place.
