Apple Candy Capsules

Happy Monday, Lovelies!! Today is a BIG day at our house. My oldest daughter starts Kindergarten this morning. I cannot believe I have a kid in elementary school! It happened so fast.....too fast!

Like any Mom, I really wanted her to open up her lunch box on her first day, and find something really fun & special.  Here is what I came up with. I really hope these cuties find their way into your little people's lunches too!

Here are the supplies you are going to need:

1. green card stock or scrapbook paper cut into 1 1/2" wide strips

2. red card stock or scrapbook paper (optional)

3. 1/2" round punch (optional)

4. vending machine capsules

5. x-acto knife

6. pipe cleaners

7. glue gun (not shown)

  

Start off by placing a cap from one of the vending machine capsules on a cutting mat. CAREFULLY, score a small "x" in the center. This is where you will place the pipe cleaner, so make sure your cut is big enough to fit a pipe cleaner through.

Before we get to the next step, I wanted to talk about the pipe cleaners really quickly. Of course you can use any pipe cleaner you have on hand. However, I LOVE the ones that we carry in the shop, simply because that have these beaded looking ones in the pack. They are perfect for apples stems because they are tapered. 

Okay, enough about pipe cleaners....grab what ever kind you have, and cut a piece that is about 1 1/2 inches long (or just under the second bead, if you are using the ones from the shop)

Steps 1, 2 & 4 are optional. The reason that I added the little circle piece of paper is to cover the pipe cleaner from showing through the lid (without it, you can see the bent piece that is glued to the bottom of the cap). I made some with & without. The decision is completely up to you

1. punch a circle using your punch

2. score an "x' in the center of your circle

3. take your piece of pipe cleaner that you cut, and push it through the center of the cap. 

4. put a small amount of glue around the pipe cleaner that is poking out of the top part of the cap, and thread the circle punched piece of paper onto the pipe cleaner. Press the piece of paper into the cap so it sticks to the glue. 

Next,  flip your cap so the underside is facing up. Put a small dap of hot glue to the right of the pipe cleaner. Now, bend the pipe cleaner so that the tip is in the glue. Let dry.

Now let's a make leaf! 

Take one of the 1 1/2" strips of paper and fold it in half. On the end with a crease, cut a shape that looks like a leaf.

Open up the leaf and apply hot glue to the back.

Wrap the leaf around the pipe cleaner "stem".

Fill with treats & surprise your little people!!

xoxo,

Stevie

I had to snap some quick pics of her actual lunch this morning. She really wanted a new lunch box, but we had a couple that were still in good condition from last year, so we decided to be green and reuse it.

She doesn't know it, but I painted the inside with chalk board paint so I could leave her daily warm fuzzies. I hope that her fancied up lunch box makes her day.

And here is little sis trying to steal her apple treat.........pretty sure this means it is going to be a hit!

source guide & credits

concept, tutorial & photography: stevie pattyn for shop sweet lulu

vending machine capsules, pipe cleaners in chameleon & 6" milk glass cake stand in white: shop sweet lulu

round fluted 1/2" punch: martha stewart crafts