Giving a handmade, personalized, no-calorie box of paper chocolates is bound to elicit surprise and curiosity from the lucky recipient. “How did you do that?” “Are they hard to make?” Here’s how to answer these questions. But first, a disclaimer: Paper chocolates are just as addictive as the edible ones. It’s hard to stop making them!
Crafters will recognize that the basis of these creations is a paper art form called “quilling” which involves shaping and rolling small-scale paper pieces into patterns and shapes. Last year, talented artist and I.D.E.A. Store volunteer Ruta Rauber showed me how to make them, and I especially loved the variety of shapes and “toppings” she developed as examples. The materials you’ll need—often available at The I.D.E.A. Store -- are construction paper and/or scrapbooking paper in chocolate and mint colors, white glue, a Styrofoam craft ball, and paper raffia and shredded paper packaging in accent colors. Helpful tools are scissors, a paper cutter or strip-cut paper shredder, hot glue gun, and toothpicks.
First, prepare your papers and toppings. Use your strip-cut paper shredder or paper cutter to turn construction or scrapbooking sheets in 1/4” wide strips. You’ll need 4-5 strips for each chocolate. Use scissors to cut scraps of papers into paper confetti. As you can see, Ruta reused cupcake baking pans as toppings organizers.
Next, condition or train the paper strips to curl by running them between your thumb and fingers. This helps the rolling go more smoothly, saving strain on your hands. Before you begin rolling a strip, have your glue and a toothpick applicator ready to use. To make a round chocolate, keep the paper rolled somewhat tightly. Getting started is, in my experience, the most challenging step but with a little practice your fingers will learn how to convince that paper to cooperate. Ruta found that the scrapbooking paper was easiest because the paper fibers are longer and the quality is better. As you get to the end of the first strip, apply the glue to the last ¼” to secure it to the roll, then hold it for a few seconds while the glue sets. Start the next strip by applying glue to its first ¼” and butting its end against the first one to keep the roll looking seamless. Add strips until you achieve the desired size. To create squares, diamonds, ovals and other shapes, you’ll be pinching the paper as you roll it. I referred to the book Miniature Quilling by Diane Boden Crane which features a nice range of options and clear pictures.
Now you’ve reached the “fun part” steps of doming the rolled shape and adding toppings. You can use your finger to carefully and slowly push the layers into the dome, then apply hot glue into the dome to hold the shape. Another way to build height is to stack and attach three roll layers to each other. Once you’ve established the overall shape of your “chocolate,” apply white glue to the outside of the dome and dip it into your choice of topping, or carefully position topping bits with tweezers. My favorite topping looks like grains of salt or sugar, made by cutting a Styrofoam craft ball in half and rubbing the two pieces against each other to produce the small pieces. Other toppings are made of finely-cut paper raffia, construction paper scraps, and fancy pre-shredded paper packaging
To continue the illusion, place your finished paper chocolates into candy cups which can sit easily in a paper jewelry gift box. I love the gift tag ideas at http://www.stampingwithbluemooncreations.com/my_weblog/paper-quilling/. For inspiration, check out the fine examples at http://today.deviantart.com/art/Chocolates-without-calories-paper-chocolates-310596281.
Youngsters can help finish these paper chocolates by adding the toppings. Some may be challenged by the paper rolling, so here’s a related easy and quick project they can do.
Crafters will recognize that the basis of these creations is a paper art form called “quilling” which involves shaping and rolling small-scale paper pieces into patterns and shapes. Last year, talented artist and I.D.E.A. Store volunteer Ruta Rauber showed me how to make them, and I especially loved the variety of shapes and “toppings” she developed as examples. The materials you’ll need—often available at The I.D.E.A. Store -- are construction paper and/or scrapbooking paper in chocolate and mint colors, white glue, a Styrofoam craft ball, and paper raffia and shredded paper packaging in accent colors. Helpful tools are scissors, a paper cutter or strip-cut paper shredder, hot glue gun, and toothpicks.
First, prepare your papers and toppings. Use your strip-cut paper shredder or paper cutter to turn construction or scrapbooking sheets in 1/4” wide strips. You’ll need 4-5 strips for each chocolate. Use scissors to cut scraps of papers into paper confetti. As you can see, Ruta reused cupcake baking pans as toppings organizers.
Next, condition or train the paper strips to curl by running them between your thumb and fingers. This helps the rolling go more smoothly, saving strain on your hands. Before you begin rolling a strip, have your glue and a toothpick applicator ready to use. To make a round chocolate, keep the paper rolled somewhat tightly. Getting started is, in my experience, the most challenging step but with a little practice your fingers will learn how to convince that paper to cooperate. Ruta found that the scrapbooking paper was easiest because the paper fibers are longer and the quality is better. As you get to the end of the first strip, apply the glue to the last ¼” to secure it to the roll, then hold it for a few seconds while the glue sets. Start the next strip by applying glue to its first ¼” and butting its end against the first one to keep the roll looking seamless. Add strips until you achieve the desired size. To create squares, diamonds, ovals and other shapes, you’ll be pinching the paper as you roll it. I referred to the book Miniature Quilling by Diane Boden Crane which features a nice range of options and clear pictures.
Now you’ve reached the “fun part” steps of doming the rolled shape and adding toppings. You can use your finger to carefully and slowly push the layers into the dome, then apply hot glue into the dome to hold the shape. Another way to build height is to stack and attach three roll layers to each other. Once you’ve established the overall shape of your “chocolate,” apply white glue to the outside of the dome and dip it into your choice of topping, or carefully position topping bits with tweezers. My favorite topping looks like grains of salt or sugar, made by cutting a Styrofoam craft ball in half and rubbing the two pieces against each other to produce the small pieces. Other toppings are made of finely-cut paper raffia, construction paper scraps, and fancy pre-shredded paper packaging
To continue the illusion, place your finished paper chocolates into candy cups which can sit easily in a paper jewelry gift box. I love the gift tag ideas at http://www.stampingwithbluemooncreations.com/my_weblog/paper-quilling/. For inspiration, check out the fine examples at http://today.deviantart.com/art/Chocolates-without-calories-paper-chocolates-310596281.
Youngsters can help finish these paper chocolates by adding the toppings. Some may be challenged by the paper rolling, so here’s a related easy and quick project they can do.
Start with small plastic or paper condiment cups and cut a chocolate-color paper band to cover the cup. Tape the band in place,
If you keep the cup right-side up, it can hold a small treasure or gift like an edible chocolate. Create toppings or lids by making paper circles of various sizes to stack. I chose construction paper, used Valentine’s Day greeting cards, and a young friend’s photo. To add height between levels of your stack, cut and glue reused paperboard pieces in place of adhesive foam dots. (I cut up the lid from a box of noodles.) Use the same toppings to decorate, adding glitter or other little inedible-looking bits as desired. Attach the top with a hinge of tape, leaving room for the lid to open wide enough to take out whatever small edible chocolate treat or small gift your child wants to place inside.
Happy Crafting from your friends at The I.D.E.A. Store!
