Hot Fun in the Summertime

Summer is heating up and so are the parties. Decorative matchboxes can add some flair to your summertime gatherings with these little “works of art” for the table. Paired with candles, they can also make hot hostess gifts.

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Materials Needed for Hot Fun in the Summertime:

4 matchboxes (restaurant or hotel giveaways)

Lightweight cardboard

Felt, decorative paper or pictures from magazines

1/4″ grosgrain ribbon

Glue gun

White glue

Natural/artificial leaves, berries and acorns

Crepe paper, candy paper cups, initial logo
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Here ‘s How:

Glue 4 boxes into a square allowing strikers to face out
Cut 1/4″ ribbon into four 1″ tabs, fold over evenly and glue underneath in the middle of four matchboxes
Cut two squares of cardboard 1/8″ larger than the size of the four glued boxes
Glue felt to each side of cardboard squares (four)
Glue felt covered squares to the top and bottom of matchboxes showing a 1/8″ border
Glue natural/artificial leaves, berries, acorns to top of box

If you have been following me, you know that I recently relocated my studio. While packing up, I came across some Christmas decorations and a box of unusual items I have been saving over the years and July is the time of year that I start thinking about ideas for Christmas gifts. This baby shoe makes an ideal vessel for upcycling old Christmas trinkets. You can borrow old baby shoes that your friends probably have saved and surprise them later with a beautiful keepsake ornament. They can also be used as sweet tabletop decorations for the holidays.