For the purposes of these directions and the sentiment cut out we have used heart shaped boxes sized 1.75 oz., 5.5oz and 8oz.

Unless you are giving the nick nack box filled with the chocolates most came with, you will need to empty box of all contents. If you cannot find any heart shaped boxes you can make them.

Making heart shaped box 1
Making heart shaped box 2

The best time to pick up craft supplies for this project is after Valentines Day when everything is marked down.

Remove anything on the box, like ribbon, flowers, etc.

1. Choose your base color for your nick nack box from among the construction/colored paper you have..

2. Take the lid of the heart shaped box and place it upside down on top of the paper you've just chosen. With a pencil draw the lid out line on the paper. Then this heart shape cut out.

If this project is for preschool/kindergarten or grades 1 and 2, you may want to skip steps 3-8, go to number 9.

3. Now chose a sentiment. Sentiment sheets you may also use the game pieces from the free MHSNR game.

4. Cut out the Sentiment the you wish to place on your heart shaped box.

Note: Older children; middle school and high school, may want to write out a sentiment, instead. If so please skip to number 8.

5. Place the sentiment cut out you just made in the center of the heart you cut out in number 2. Draw an out line of the sentiment cut out on the heart. Then carefully cut out the shape you just drew on the center of the heart. You are cutting out the window and the heart shape is the frame.

6. Place your window frame on top of your heart shaped box lid. Place it on the lid so it exactly fits. Now trace the outline of the window onto the box lid.

7. Remove window frame from box lid. Now glue your sentiment on top of the outline on the lid, making sure it exactly matches.

You may wish to add additional protection to the sentiment or give it a special look buy placing a portion of large tape over the sentiment OR cutting out a shaped slightly larger than your sentiment from colored cellophane wrapping paper. Place the cellophane paper of the sentiment and either tape or glue down the edges of the cellophane

Now, skip to number 10

8. If your teens are choosing to write their own sentiment have them determine where they want to write it on their base paper. Then lightly draw in the border lines with help from a ruler.

Now, skip to number 10

9. If your children are too young to really do too much with scissors have them pick out their sentiment. Have them (or you) draw an outline of it centered on your heart base paper. Ask them to try not to cross that outline while decorating in step 10.

10. Now taking your heart base paper (here after referred to as the "window pane") begin decorating it using sequins, Rick rack, glitter, ribbon, additional sheets of construction/colored paper, wrapping paper, etc.

Let the children go free with their own creativity in this step. Just watch for the gravity defying attempts at art, like trying to glue a pile of ribbon onto the top.

The tops can go in two directions here and you might want to explain to the children before the start decorating these two directions:

• If they want their Nick Nack Box to be mostly to look then they can allow for ribbon and things "grow" from the top.
  
  
• If they want their Nick Nack Box to be used as such then the pane decorations must be as "self contained" as possible. That is nothing sticking out from the edges or "growing" too high out of the top.
  
  

Afterward let stand to dry.

11. After the pane is dry -- glue it to the top of the heart shaped box lid.

If you cut out the center of the pane then make sure the "window" lines up with the sentiment you've already affixed to the box.

If you out lined a place to put a sentiment either write it in now or glue it into the space you outlined.

Let dry.

Put M&Ms, Hershey's Kisses, Bite Size bars, etc. inside. OR

Add No Bake Cookies to this gift.

Adding No Bake Cookies adds math, science, home-EC. and bachelor skills to this project.

If you are adding no-bake cookies to this gift remove the top from your Nick Nack Box. Empty box of all contents.

Put in sheet of wax paper...push down into the bottom of the box and form paper to shape of box as well as possible. Do not rip the paper or allow any gaps of the paper on the bottom or on the sides. Side walls and bottom must be totally covered but wax paper. Leave enough wax paper lapping over the sides of the box to fold over the top of your cookie once set (depending on hold close to the sides your cookie sets this will also allow for the receiver to get the cookie out of the box.

Follow directions for making cookie.

Recipes:

http://www.cookierecipe.com/AZ/NoBakeCkies.asp http://www.allrecipes.com/directory/575.asp http://www.grannys-coupons.com/recipes/cookies/nobakecookies.html http://southernfood.about.com/library/weekly/aa071099.htm

http://www.geocities.com/cookie_recipes/nobake-cookies.html http://www.melborponsti.com/nobake/index.shtml http://www.allhomemadecookies.com/article1017.html http://cooksrecipes.com/cookies/no-bake-cookie-recipes.html

When it becomes time for the cookies to be placed on cookie sheet or into form before setting/hardening -- place cookie mixture onto the wax paper in the bottom of the heart shaped box. Form by adding what you need and pushing mixture to each wall so it "molds" to the shape of the box. Thickness of cookie should be less than the depth of the sides of the box.

Let cool, set and harden. Afterward fold lip of wax paper on top of cookie and close with lid of the heart shaped box.

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