Autumn '09 treats

Who doesn't love a little Autumn treat? Whether it's for Halloween or just because - these handcrafted containers are sure to make treats taste just a bit sweeter, and make a little gift something extra special.

Designer: Kendra McCracken
One of my favorite things about the arrival of Fall is that I begin to spend more time in the kitchen baking. And I love to share what I bake! 
Presenting your baked goods in a pretty package is an easy way to make a gift of something as simple as a batch of cookies extra special.

I'm a fan of making things that are reusable, so I made a basic fabric bag and then decorated it by creating this cute owl bag from fabric. I fully expect it to be returned for refills!

Tip: You could easily, and quickly, recreate it using patterned papers and a paper sack in lieu of fabric.
To make the ruffled feathers for the body, I used the scalloped edge of the Shapes 1 Shape Template, tracing it on the back side of a single layer of  fabric, stitching along the traced line, and cutting about 1/2" beyond the stitching with my No. 8 Razor Edge Scissors before fraying the edges.

The wing feathers were made using the leaf from the Flower Shape Template. I used a die cut journaling card as a pattern for my owl's head.  I wanted a finished edge around his face so I traced my pattern on the top layer of a double layer of muslin, stitched around my pattern lines leaving an opening for turning, and top stitched around the edge after turning. The eyes and beak were added after completing the face.

A lot of times I will used a shape punched from a piece of paper as a pattern. When using a punch with an intricate design, it's easier to retain the shape when transferring it to fabric by using the opening of the punch as your pattern rather than a paper pattern. I did this when marking felt for my eye pieces, using the Extra Large Seal of Approval, the Large Round 'n Round, and the Medium Round 'n Round Squeeze Punches. Once I had all my pieces cut and stitched and frayed, I hand stitched them to my bag and filled the bag with a batch of my favorite chocolate chip cookies!

Designer: Patti Milazzo
My family all agrees that candy corn is our favorite Halloween Treat!  The moment they see the bright colored bags filled with sugary triangles in the stores they are begging me to bring some home.  They add candy corn to ice cream sundaes, mix them into bowls of popcorn and might even find a few in their lunch boxes. 

They’re also a great treat to fill these pillow boxes.  The puffed boxes measure 3” wide by 6” high and are perfect for small treats, party favors or even gift cards. 

enlarge 400% to use this template for project shown.
I created my template using the Circle Shape Template and Supersized Oval Shape Template to draw the curved ends and the cut outs that make opening the box even for little fingers.  I photo copied my template directly onto my green patterned paper, but you can also trace and cut using the template.  I cut out the outline of the box with scissors and used my Medium Round ‘n Round Squeeze Punch for the half circle cut outs.  Then I used the Scoring Rotary Blade on my trimmer and the Dual Tip Stylus to score the remaining lines.  I followed this by folding along all the scored lines, inking them with black ink and then unfolding the box again so that it lay flat.  I folded the box in half and folded the side tab in and applied glue to seal the box.  While that dried, I created the Jack-o-Lantern accent.  I started by adding texture to the orange patterned paper with the Dot Texture Plate and Dual Tip Stylus.  Then I used the Little Out of Shape, Funky Love and Twinkle Twinkle Squeeze Punches to paper piece my Jack-o-Lantern. 

The Rectangle Hand Punch and Medium Round ‘n Round Squeeze Punch work nicely in making that toothless grin on Jack’s face.  I adhered Jack to a 2.5” circle cut with the Ultra ShapeXpress Tool and Circle Shape Template from white cardstock and then inked the edges.  I placed this on top of a rectangle cut from purple paper and then used the new Romantique 3-in-1 Corner Punch on all four corners.  I again inked the edges and turned them up slightly before adhering this to the box’s front.  Now it’s ready to fill with whatever Tricks or Treats you please!  Whatever you decide, the recipient is sure to enjoy!

Designer:  Lisa Storms
For Halloween this year I have been obsessed with making stripped pumpkins and decided to figure out a way to make one that could be a functional "goodie bag".  An easy solution was to build a pumpkin around an orange party cup. 

The scallop blade in my desktop rotary trimmer made quick work of 1" strips that I cut in half and scored a ¼" tab on each end.  I added two Glue Dots on each tab and attached one end to the cup rim and the other end to the bottom lip, working my way around the entire cup.

The large Nice Tri Squeeze Punch paired with the ¼" Circle Hand Punch made perfect jack-o-lantern eyes.  The mouth was just as easily formed by punching out half of an XL Oval 'n Oval Again Squeeze Punch with a few teeth created with the Rectangle Hand Punch.  To complete the project, use an Ultra ShapeXpress to cut a stem and swirl using the Rectangles and Shapes templates.  Run the stem through the Crimper for a bit of texture and attach both to the inside of the cup using Glue Dots.

Designer: Kelly Purkey
With me, it's often all about the food and Fall is no exception.  As soon as the calendar hits September, I'm looking for my favorite Halloween candy!  My treat of choice is the Brach's Mellocreme Pumpkins that taste almost like candy corn, but better. 

I eat bags of these every season.  And I'm always wanting to take them with me, but these sugary sweet candies will get soft and smush very easily.  To be able to have my treats tagging along everywhere I go, I put together this little pumpkin pouch to carry in my purse.

Easily sewn with the help of my Fiskars sewing tools, this little sack will fit nicely inside your purse.  Start by using Fiskars Circle Templates to trace four circles onto fabric.  Trim them out with Fiskars No. 8 Scissors.  Add a cute little embellishment on the front with the help of a punched heart from Fiskars That's Amore XL squeeze punch.  I traced it onto fabric, then cut out and stitched.  Sew the pouch together and add a little flap with velcro to help keep it closed.  A little stem was cut out of fabric using Fiskars Pinking Fabric Shears and stitched on.  The result will be a pumpkin pouch almost cute enough to eat!  Enjoy!

Designer: Becky Novacek
To make these cute classic style treat cups, all you need are a few handy Fiskars tools, chipboard, tissue/crepe paper, scrap cardstock, pipe cleaners, a strong wet adhesive and perhaps some vintage ledger paper and a typewriter. As I was perusing an older cookbook with party ideas recently, I came across these classic treat cups and thought how simple it would be to make my own. So I did.

Simply, use the Fiskars Extra Large Round n Round Squeeze Punch on a piece of heavy cardstock. Then take a 1.5 inch wide strip of chipboard and create a *tube* for the sides of the cup. Use wet adhesive to adhere and then use a bulldog clip to clamp it in shape until the glue dries. When the glue is dry, glue the tube shape to the circle bottom and set it aside to dry. Then, take crepe paper (I used the new Melissa Frances Crepe Paper Sheets) and cut a long strip about 3 inches wide with the Fiskars Pinking Sheers. Take wet adhesive and lay a fairly thick line down along the bottom of your cup, then start adding the crepe paper strip, pleating and bunching slightly as you lay it on the adhesive. Let it dry in place and then fan the top of the paper that overlaps the cup shape.

Take a 3/4 inch strip of cardstock and use the Fiskars Scallop Sentiment Border Punch along the long side. Measure and cut to size to fit around cup, then adhere. Use a typewriter or handwrite "happy halloween" on vintage ledger paper or cardstock and adhere to cup right below and overlapping scallop strip. To finish, take a pipecleaner and add a dollop of wet adhesive to each end and stick between layers of papers/chipboard to create a handle. Tie a bit of ribbon around handle and it's ready to go. My favorite Halloween treat is popcorn mixed with Reese's Pieces and M & Ms. I think that if I have time before Halloween, i will make a tray full of these, only a miniature version. I'll just use the Fiskars Medium Round n Round Squeeze Punch for my base and then adjust sizing the rest accordingly. Wouldn't a mini version be sweet?

By Fiskars Design Team