Clamshell Box from Game Board $1

Materials needed:

Game board (I scored all of my boards for $1 at D.I.)

Hot glue gun

X-acto knife

Straight edge

Cutting mat

Extra game cards, game money, playing pieces

Flat super-strength adhesive magnets (only if you want the box to snap shut)

Printable tutorial here.

During my third year at BYU I took Bookbinding from Chris McAfee, possibly the world's coolest teacher. Our final project was a clamshell box. I sliced the tip of my middle finger off with an x-acto knife the day before it was due and fainted. Then I had to go to the Campus Health Center to get it sewn back on. My hand was all bandaged up and Chris took pity on me and said, "I'll give you an A...just finish your box someday." I'd like to think of this project as some sort of redemption on my end for the free A I was graciously given.

I make these to use as birthday gifts for my daughter's friends. We fill them with goodies and so far they have been a hit. I like odd boards from games I've never heard of as well as the classic boards I grew up with. If I can ever get my paws on a vintage Candy Land I might die of delight. The games were so much better when I was a kid. Just sayin'.

Sweater Arm Leg Warmers $0

The arms of the D.I. sweater I used to make Valentine garlands with.

Cut the arms off of the sweater. Hem the unfinished edge, put the cuff on the ankle.

Paint Swatch Valentines $3

Paint swatches: FREE (I grabbed a few per week leading up to Valentine's Day as to not wipe out Lowe's or Home Depot's supply of swatches.)

Candy $3

Envelopes

Rubber Stamps & Ink

Clear Coat Aerosol Spray

Corner Rounder

Saw this in Country Living magazine a year ago. Appropriately, most of the pink and red paint colors are named "Sizzle," "Burning Love," "Crush," etc. RE and I trimmed them, rounded the corners, stamped the letters with Versafine ink, sprayed an aerosol clear coat to prevent smearing, filled the square vellum envelopes with candy, and taped them shut with pink grid washi tape.

These would have cost money if I didn't already have a bunch of scrapbooking supplies on hand, as well as the vellum envelopes, which can be pricey. I'm a sucker for vellum AND squares, so I would have cashed out an IRA for these if I had to.