Valentine Llama Candy Box - Fun Valentine Craft

Here it is - the funnest Valentine Llama Candy Box. Really, a Llama Candy Box

Yes, you want to make the Valentine Llama Candy Box, right?. Because who wouldn't love to get a candy-filled Valentine Llama? Last year I made a mini llama piñata around May and ever since I've wanted to make another one. Valentine's Day is the perfect time for this cute little candy box. I tweaked the design a bit so it could hold more candy and added a velcro closure under the saddle to hold the candy better.

(And you can use it for other holidays, too!)

So let's get started. First you need the free pattern from the Paper Glitter Glue library. This file comes in 3 formats:

• PDF - the portable document format for printing the files if you cut out your patterns by hand
• SVG - scalable graphics format for most automatic cutting machines - a Cricut or Silhouette for example
• DXF - cutting format for desktop plotters (I don't have one of these)

To get the files, just go the library page. Click in the big blue text area in the middle of the page which takes you to the password page. Type in the password and the entire library opens up for you. If you don't have the password, just subscribe to my email with the form below and you will get the password immediately.

The files are listed chronologically with the most recent file first.

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What do you need to make the Valentine Llama Candy Box? Here's the materials list:

• Cardboard
• Cutting materials - I used my Cricut to cut out the llama and other pieces
• Masking tape - inexpensive, plain old masking tape
• Gesso (optional)
• Tissue paper or crepe paper - this is my favorite crepe paper
• Paint or scrapbook paper
• Glue
• Velcro dots
• Candy!

And here is the outline of steps to make the Valentine Llama Candy Box:

• Download the pattern from the Paper Glitter Glue library
• Cut out the pattern
• Tape the side strips to the body of the llama
• Prime the llama with white gesso (optional step)
• Cut the crepe paper strips
• Glue on the crepe paper strips
• Paint the saddle or decorate with scrapbook paper
• Glue the saddle to the little llama
• Adhere the velcro dot to the saddle
• Glue on the on the eyelashes
• Tie on the heart necklace

Now read on for more detail on each step to make the llama. You can also watch the video where I show you how to make the Valentine Llama Candy Box.

• Download the Valentine Llama pattern from the library

I talked about how to the get pattern from the library above. If you have any problems with the download email me at [email protected] so I can help you. The files are in a zip format to protect the files and to make it easier to send to you. You have to unzip or extract them to use them.

• Cut out the Candy Box pattern

This pattern is easy to cut out without using an automatic cutting machine like a Cricut or Silhouette.

Here are the pattern pieces in the photo below.

For those of you with a cutting machine, the only score likes are the lines on the saddle. If you are using an automatic cutting machine be sure to specify that these lines are score lines and attach to the saddle.

• Next tape the side strips to the body of the llama

First make the side strips more flexible by pulling them through your fingers. But do be careful of paper cuts. Another way to do it is to pull the strip along an edge of a table so the cardboard bends more easily. It makes taping so much easier.

You can start taping anywhere on the solid llama body (the one without the cutout. Sometimes I start with the ear because that is the sharpest bend for the cardboard, but really it doesn't matter where you start. At first the taping is a little difficult, but once you have strip started it gets easier. And remember you can't mess it up because it's going to be covered with crepe paper for the piñata effect.

I do try to make sure the llama stands up so the bends at the feet need to be flat.

Finally tape the back llama piece (the one with the cut out on it) to the front. Just match it up as best you can. Put a piece on the lower legs, then the back, then head. After that go around and make it more secure with extra tape. I showed the entire taping process in the Valentine Llama Candy Box video. But I did speed it up so you didn't have to watch all the taping in real time.

• Prime the llama with gesso (optional step)

Most people don't do this because they cover their piñata with crepe paper or tissue paper. I do it on the llama because the crepe paper is white and a little more transparent.

• Cut the crepe paper strips

Well, first you have to make the crepe paper strips. For a few of my projects - the Scotty Dog, Merry ChrisMOOSE, and Happy Hollydeer Gift boxes, I did cut the crepe paper with my Cricut Maker. It makes very even strips that look good.

Here are some tips to cut crepe paper with your Cricut Maker:

• Cut out a 12 x 12 inch piece of crepe paper
• I used the Cricut Fabric Mat based on this recommendation from Abbi who makes lots of flowers with crepe paper.
• Once you have it in cut out and are ready to apply it to the fabric mat, stretch it just a little. That helps prevent big wrinkles which affects the cutting.
• Smooth the crepe paper on the fabric mat with the crepe paper ridges vertical - the same way it goes into the Cricut.
• Then go over it again with a brayer to make sure the crepe paper is adhered well.
• Make sure you are using the Cricut Rotary Blade. That is the only blade that will cut crepe paper. The other cutting blades drag along the material and will get caught and tear it.

The pattern to cut crepe paper is in the file.

But after all that, I think it is faster and easier to cut the strips by hand. Just cut one inch strips from your crepe paper roll. Fold it and then cut the fringe.

Just decide which way works best for you.

• Now glue on the crepe paper strips

Always start at the bottom of your piñata design so the strips overlap. Usually I overlap them by about ¼ inch. And the other thing I do is start on the sides of the llama, then I do the front and back of the candy box. That is also in the video.

• Paint or decorate the llama's saddle

Since the saddle functions as the door to the candy box it does need to be made of cardboard. Card stock or scrapbook paper is not strong enough.

I just decided to paint my cardboard saddle and glue on one of the cardboard hearts that is in the pattern. But you could cut out a piece colorful scrapbook paper and glue it to the top of the saddle if you want. That would be very cute.

Let dry before you try to glue the saddle down.

• Now glue the saddle to the llama candy box

For this step I use my strong glue Aleene's Fast Grab because it is thick and really adheres fast so you don't have to hold it in place for very long. Glue one side and the top part of the saddle to the llama.

• Glue on the velcro dot to close the saddle part of the candy box

Once the glue is dry I cut a ⅝ velcro dot in half and glue one side to the saddle so it overlaps the little semi-circle on the body of the llama. To make sure it is stuck down very well, I add some glue to it rather than just trusting the glue that comes on the velcro dot. Once that piece is dry I match it up with a piece on the bottom and glue that one down the same way.

Let them both dry before you test to see if they work because velcro is very strong and will pull the sides off if they aren't dry.

• Cut out the Llama eyelashes and glue to the face

Just print out and cut out the eyelashes and glue to your llama's face.

• Glue on the heart necklace

Punch 2 holes in the little hearts and thread string or yarn through the holes to make the heart necklace. Tie in place.

There are so many other options for decorating the Llama Candy box. You can glue on tiny pom poms on the saddle or on yarn around the neck. I was going to buy some when I made the llamas but it snowed. And you cannot drive in the snow safely in South Carolina because it is such an alien phenomenon for us here. So no pom poms on this Valentine Llama Candy box - maybe next year.

Or add ribbon around the llama's muzzle like it did on the Mini Llama Piñata.

Questions? Comments? Feel free to email me at [email protected] or you can comment here or go to my private PaperGlitterGlue Facebook group to share projects and ask questions.

Thank you for reading.

Lucy

P.S. Pin to your favorite Pinterest board if you like.