Cupcake Take Along

I have one final project that I thought I would leave you with today as we wrap up the January countdown.  It is another Thrifty Gifting idea that was inspired by Lauren's newest template to be released this month, the Take Along Tote.

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If you are anything like me, I always enjoy giving thoughtful gifts to people rather than just picking up something from a big box store.  Especially when it comes to gifts for children.  Really, how many Barbies can a girl have?  So I thought I would show you a fun alternative that I designed for a birthday party we are going to next weekend.  I call it the Cupcake Take Along.  I gathered a few inexpensive items from the store to create my kit.

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To begin, I wrapped my cake mix box with red cardstock.  This required two sheets cut to measure 5-5/8" wide and 11 inches long.  I scored the top and bottom of these two pieces at 1.5", creating top and bottom flaps.  I then just adhered the two pieces together lengthwise to create a large wrap.
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Next, I cut out the two main pieces for the body of the tote template using red cardstock.  I wanted to create a special area for all of the different sprinkles to be kept.  So I cut a 1 x 11" strip of white cardstock and scored it @ 1.25" from either end, followed by 3/4" increments in the remaining center portion.  Use my photo here as a visual to create your mountain and valley folds.  A little piece of scor-tape at the base of each section will help to make the piece secure.
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When you peel away the tape backing and adhere the strip to the interior of your tote, you are left with something that looks like this.
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Now that the tube strip is adhered to the inside, the tote can be adhered to the front of the cake mix wrap with scor-tape.
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I wanted ribbon handles to go all the way around both the cake mix box and cardstock tote that I adhered together, so I laid the entire piece on its side and ran two pieces of scor-tape down, around the bottom and back up the other side.
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I then started applying my ribbon at the bottom and went up a side over the top creating the handle, and back down the other side.  I repeated these steps on the opposite end.
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 Now that the handles are done, all that's left for the inside of this cute little cupcake tote is a few of our Trendy Tubes filled with the various sprinkles that I picked up at the store.  The easy tube strip I created from white cardstock holds the tubes in place securely.
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For the outside, I printed the Take Along Tote Pocket template onto Raspberry Fizz cardstock and assembled it.  I adhered it to the front of my tote.
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I created the catchy "Hey, cupcake" sentiment with Fresh Alphabet & Simple Alphabet.  The felt flower is from American Crafts and the epoxy brad is from Making Memories.
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Notice the little birthday tag made with Heather's new Around & about Sentiments.  It is clipped in place with a bright pink mini clothespin that I have been hoarding for quite some time now.  I love it when things like that work out!
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This tote pocket holds a glassine bag which I filled with the decorative heart candies.  The top of the bag is folded over and tied shut with raspberry fizz satin ribbon.
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Here is a side view of the tote.  Notice how the tubes are a perfect fit for the width of the Take Along Tote template.
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And as one last final detail, I used a Basic Grey magnetic closure along with a patterned paper flap to help keep the tote closed.
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THRIFTY GIFTING COST BREAKDOWN:

3 large trendy tubes: $3

3 sheets pure poppy cardstock: 60-cents

1 sheet white cardstock: 15-cents

1 sheet raspberry fizz cardstock: 20-cents

1 8×8 sheet patterned paper: 17-cents

cupcake making supplies: $6

2 yrds. ribbon: $1.20

TOTAL COST: $11.32

I hope my project today gave you some additional inspiration on ways to use all of Lauren's templates AND how to have fun with the latest stamp sets too.  We look forward to seeing all of you at the release tonight!
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Stop by Heather's blog today for one last peek at her latest set.

Debbie created some AMAZING thank you notes using elements from several of the new releases.

Lauren has also recently used the Take Along Tote template that I used in my project today.

Check out her projects here AND here AND here.

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Stamps: Fresh Alphabet and Around & About Sentiments (both avilable January 15th), Simple Alphabet (hey), Limitless Labels (cupcake)
Ink: True Black, Pure Poppy, Raspberry Fizz
Paper: Pure Poppy, Raspberry Fizz, stamper's select white, Raspberry Fizz patterned paper collection
Other:large glassine bag, raspberry fizz grosgrain & satin ribbons, scalloped scissors from SU!, felt flower from american Crafts,epoxy brad from Making Memories, clothespin from Dollar Tree, button from unknown source, magnetic closure from Basic Grey, Trendy Tubes
Finished Size: 5-5/8" wide and 7-3/4" tall.

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