"Chocolate" Pincushions

Materials:

papier mache or wood box & lid
1/4 yd. fabric for box
1/8 yd. fabric for inside rim
small piece of gold lamé
1/4 yd. batting
small amount of polyester fiberfill
thread to match fabrics
1" block of foam (at least 4" x 4")
sheet of tag board
3/4 yd. of 1/2" gold ribbon
Wilton paper bonbon or candy cups
dark brown, med. brown, cream satin
shiny white, hot chocolate, butterscotch Scribbles fabric paint
Plasti-Kote Metallics gold acrylic enamel spray paint
foam scrap from takeout box, egg carton, meat tray, etc.
1-1/2 yds of 1/2" lace, gimp, ribbon, etc.
misc. ribbons and trims

Tacky glue
glue gun and sticks

1. To make the candy box: Cut a circle out of tag board to fit inside the box. Spray with gold paint.

2. Also spray with gold paint the inside of the box and box lid, the bottom of the box, and 12 bonbon cups.

3. Cut a piece of the box fabric to cover the side of the box and glue in place.

4. Glue gold ribbon to the top of the box side. Glue other 1/2-inch trim to the bottom of the box side (figure A).

5. Cut a circle of batting the same size as the lid. Glue the batting to the top of the box lid (figure B).

6. Cut a circle of the box fabric the same size as lid plus 1/2 inch wider. Center the fabric over the box lid and glue to side edge. Cut slits in the edge as needed to keep the fabric smooth (figure C).

7. Glue the 1/2-inch trim to the side of the box lid (figure D).

8. Glue a piece of foam to fit inside the box (figure E).

9. Glue gold tag board circle inside box on top of foam with gold side up (figure F).

10. Glue candies in bonbon cups. Glue cups inside box.

11. Trim the box with assorted ribbon, bows, buttons, and lace (figure G).

12. To make candy: Cut one circle in medium brown (about 3 inches across); an oval (about 4" x 6") in dark brown and in cream (figure H).

13. Fold edge of fabric 1/4-inch to keep fabric from fraying. Hold folded edges in place with fingers while sewing. With thread and needle, sew a running stitch around the folded edge of the circle and ovals. Gather slightly and stuff with filling (figure I). Finish gathering, stuff more if necessary, anchor stitch and end off.

14. Decorate the candy with fabric paint (figure J). For truffles, leave plain or use fabric paint to make dots or short strokes (approx. 1/8-inch long). For cream-center candies, decorate with squiggles, spirals, three straight lines, or a cross-hatch pattern (figure K). Let dry. See below for more ideas.

15. Glue finished candies to inside of candy cups, and glue candy cups into the box (figure L). Display with lid propped up at the side of the box.

To make chocolates with nuts: Thread a long needle with thread matching the fabric. Insert the needle near bottom of oval fabric and anchor it in place. Stick the needle through the top of the candy and take a small stitch, bringing needle back to starting point. Pull on thread until it creates a tuft in the fabric. Bring needle back through the top and take a small stitch. At this point, bring needle out 1/4-inch away and take another small stitch. Pull on the thread to capture some of the filling and create a "nut" under the surface. Take a small backstitch to anchor. Alternate tufting stitches and "nut" stitches until the surface of the candy is covered with "nuts." Anchor the thread and cut off.

To make gold candy coins three: Press a small plastic lid into plastic foam to create an outline of the coin. Cut out three coins with scissors. Cut a 2-1/2-inch circle of gold lamé. Sew a running stitch around the folded edge of the fabric. Insert the foam coin into center of fabric and gather fabric around the coin. End off. Glue three coins together with bottoms facing down. Place weight on coins while glue dries.