Halloween Book Treat Boxes

I know that Halloween is tomorrow, but I have one more project to share this year.  If you’re looking for an extra special way to package treats for a handful of your favorite trick-or-treaters, this awesome 3D book design in the Silhouette Design Store works great for that.

These books are the perfect size to stuff with a bunch of treats or a giftcard…or resize them and use them as decor!  And if you don’t have time to assemble these before Friday, books work great for any other holiday or birthday.

I have always had a thing for old leather-bound books, but just didn’t have the perfect patterned paper in my stash to accomplish that look.  So, I decided to make my own by printing one set of my book covers on some Silhouette Adhesive Cardstock.  The Printable Backgrounds in the Design Store can be so versatile when used with the Print and Cut feature of the Silhouette.  I couldn’t find a maroon pattern exactly like I wanted…so I made my own!  By overlaying this damask pattern on top of the same shape filled with a solid color, I could alter the transparency of the pattern to allow the color to show through.  To do this, start by making a copy of any shapes you would like to fill with your “new pattern”.  Then, fill one copy in with your pattern and the other with your solid color (or even another pattern).

Align the two copies directly over top of one another using the Center Tool in the Alignment Window.  Then select the patterned shape and increase its transparency using the Advanced Options in the Fill Pattern Window until you are happy with the final pattern.  Now just print your new shapes out onto some Adhesive Cardstock with your registration marks turned on.  Don’t forget to turn off cutting on one copy before you send the final design to your Silhouette (otherwise it will cut each shape twice).

For the Ghost Stories book, I used some black and gray cardstock from my stash to make the covers and then embellished it with gold corners cut from Silhouette Printable Gold Foil.  The title was typed out in the Studio software using this font, cut out of the same printable gold foil as the corners, and layered over a mat made using the Offset Tool and black adhesive cardstock.

Complete instructions for assembly of the book can be found here on the designer’s website.  These treat boxes require a little patience, but assembly definitely goes more quickly as you get your rhythm down.  I filled mine with candy and then tied it shut with the added ribbons.

Here you can see both of my final book treat boxes.  The Spells book uses embellishments included in a separate, coordinating design found here as well as my homemade patterned paper.  I could see also using this design around Christmastime to make ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas and A Christmas Carol gift boxes or decor!  Do you have any special trick-or-treaters in your life that you go the extra mile for on Halloween?  I’d love to hear your comments!

Designs Used:

3D Book Box

Spells Book Cover

LD Mad Hatter Font

Damask Pattern