DIY Origami Gift Box

After this post, I hope you've dipped everything you could get your hands on in dark chocolate! Here are a few ideas for how to wrap them up into a pretty package for Father's Day.



Here's what you'll need:

• Wax paper
• Colored papers, vellums, card stocks
• Cello bags
• Twisty ties

 To wrap the dipped caramels, cut a stack of wax paper rectangles, about 5" x 4". Place the caramel in the center, wrap and twist, salt water taffy style. Once they're all wrapped, place them in a cello bag and twist off with a twisty tie.

Fold up a few origami boxes to hold your bags of treats! I used this tutorial, but used a different paper size. It's not in English, but I found the photos easy enough to follow. If you have some trouble, check out my pics and quick instructions.



Start with a letter sized (8.5" x 11") sheet of paper. I used this great teal vellum. Trim .25" from the long side, making a 8.5" x 10.75" sheet. Fold in half, unfold, then fold the ends to the center crease, making 4 columns. Fold the other side into 3 rows, approximately 7 cm each. Fold two corners of one end in. Fold this flap towards the center. Fold this flap up, creating one side of the box. Fold the next two sides up and crease diagonally. Fold the last side of the box upwards, creasing the diagonal ends. Fit the ends into the pockets inside the box. Done!



Place your treat bags inside your new boxes. What I love most about these is there's a little pocket on the outside for a gift card!



Fold up a box for each of your treats. Impress your dad on Father's Day with his handmade (and delicious) gifts! Have a wonderful weekend!

DIY Chocolate Dipped Snacks

My dad is impossible to shop for. Yeah, sure, he likes books and magazines, but ones that are so specific I'd never be able to pick them out in a bookstore. He's not big on electronic gadgets, grooming products, or accessories. So, besides a trusty Amazon gift card, my go-to gift item for him is something he can eat! He loves snacks! His favorites are nuts, peanut butter, dried fruits, and dark chocolate. With Father's Day coming up this Sunday I decided to make a gift of some handmade treats.



Here's what you'll need to make your own:

• Peanut butter filled pretzels
• Dried apricots
• Fleur de sel caramels
• Dark chocolate & 72% cacao dark chocolate bars
• Cocoanut oil
• Parchment paper

Chop up the chocolate bars. I used two, 1.75 ounce bars. Using a double boiler on low heat (or just make your own like I did with a bowl on top of a sauce pan with about 1" of water in the bottom) melt the chocolate with about 1 tsp of cocanut oil. Stir until completely melted.



Dip half of the pretzel (apricot, or caramel) into the chocolate and lay on the parchment paper to set. Refrigerate to help set the chocolate (it's been hot here the past few days so this was necessary!).



I was able to dip about 1/2 bag of the pretzels, 20 apricots, and about 15 caramels with this batch of chocolate.

Tomorrow I'll be sharing some packaging ideas so you can make your treats into a nice little gift for Dad on Father's Day!