Looking for a Valentine project that’s simple to complete (even in bulk) that doesn’t require baking or buying chintzy, over-priced, mass-produced cards?
Good, because we’ve got one for you!
These adorable little “book of love” chocolate valentines are easy to make in any quantity. You can cut the paper pieces assembly-line style, print this book of love template or make a design of your own, and even snack on chocolate as you go. It’s really the perfect project.
Supplies you will need:
- AdTech Crafters’s Tape/Permanent Glue Runner (pictured; could also use AdTech Archival Permanent Glue Runner; both would work, though archival is actually stronger)
- Colored cardstock cut into 2 1/8″ x 1.5″ rectangles (these are the backs of the books)
- Patterned scrapbook papers cut into 1″ x 3″ strips
- A printed page of our PDF file, cut along guides (download here)
- Scissors or a paper cutter
- Hershey’s Nuggets in any flavor (see image to be sure you get the right shape)
- Thin ribbon or paper, cut into 2 ½” lengths (very thin… use paper if you can’t find ribbon 1.8″ wide)
Step one: Wrap chocolates with decorative paper
Pick one of your decorative, 1″ x 3″scrapbook paper strips. Use your Glue Runner to apply adhesive to both the 1″ ends, along the blank side. Place one of the 1″ ends down at the middle of the underside of the chocolate nugget, as shown (below). Wrap around, and press to seal, creating a sort of wide belt around the chocolate.
(In the end, you’ll only be able to see the decorative paper along the sides of the book, but this makes the project much cuter, we think!)
Step two: Apply adhesive to the cardstock
You’re going to fasten down your chocolates with your glue runner. Because it’s like tape, it’s not going to melt or potentially seep into your chocolate.
Be sure to leave about 1/4 -inch around the edges.
Step three: Place down the ribbon and chocolate
Place the ribbon in the center of the cardstock, with almost all of it sticking out the center of one of the longer sides (off the edge of the card).
You want 2 pieces of wrapped chocolate per valentine. These create the illusion of pages in an open book. Place these side by side on the adhesive, in the center, with the long sides touching. The long sides will be placed over the ribbon, and facing the same direction as the ribbon.
Step four: Fold your valentine message
We created this handy PDF with the definition of “love” on it. The dimensions should already be correct if you print full-page on an 8 x 11″ piece of printer paper. Trim each definition according to cutting guides. Fold in half so that it looks like a page.
Step five: Fasten the message to the chocolates
Place your adhesive closer to the edges of the back of this message than the center, and tuck the fold down (slightly) between the chocolates before pressing message down. This is just more likely to make the pages look even and not crooked.
Step six: Create your ribbon bookmark
Carefully apply adhesive from your glue runner along the side of the ribbon that is facing up, then fold it snugly over the seam of the “book” and press to secure. Trim as needed.
Step seven: Hand out your valentines!
These chocolate “books” are the perfect balance between handmade, which shows thought and care, and simple, which means you can hand them out at work or to friends or classmates. You can even modify them for other occasions: Make school “textbooks,” or “literary fiction” for libraries, or even Bibles for church events!
Love what you created? We will, too! Share your project image with us on Instagram. Be sure to tag @adtech!