Holiday & Party Lights for Less! by Clare Dempsey

I love a look for less, and these days we are all looking for ways to stretch our dollar!  So, I pulled out my salad packaging again to decorate for Halloween and make some custom lights with Art Glitter!  You could use triangle boxes for Candy Corn lights like it did, or Christmas Trees!   I used my Cricut Tags, Bags and Boxes and More cartridge to cut the triangle box.  This cartridge has some great purse boxes that would make great lights for a little girl’s birthday party too!  You could use a box shape for ABC blocks for a baby shower.  Any box shape could be adapted to the make the perfect custom lights with Art Glitter!  So, let’s get started on the how to’s!

Supplies:
Salad Packaging or other Packaging
Box Template,  or Cricut or other electronic Cutter, or Sizzix Die
Art Glitter Dries Clear Adhesive
Art Glitter 56 Pumpkin Ultrafine Opaque Glitter
Art Glitter 92 Bananan Ultrafine Transparent Glitter
Art Glitter 86 Angel Dust Ultrafine Transparent Glitter
Low Temp Glue Gun with Glue Sticks
Paper Hole Punch
Strand of lights
Paper Scoring tool
Scissors

Cutting & Scoring your Box Light:
Cut the lips off the lids from salad packaging or some other packaging, so that your packaging lies flat, using a scissors.  You will need one top per light bulb.  The edges will be sharp, so be careful!   Cut your box shape from the packaging using a template or electronic cutter such as a Cricut.  If you use an electronic cutter, try the deep cut housing blade and or the multi-cut function to get through your packaging material.  Sizzix also has some box templates that cut through packaging like butter! Punch a hole with a regular paper hold punch where you want your lights to be inserted.  I chose the center of my triangle box (see photo).

Once, the box is cut, I scored it.  I have found that if I fold my box after the glitter is applied it messes up the glitter and creates more glitter dust.  So, I score first and glue second.

Gluing your Box Light:
To glue your glitter, start by applying the glue to the box where you want your darkest colors first, being sure to leave your box flaps free of glue and glitter for gluing and assembling later.  Sprinkle on the glue, shake off excess and carefully dust the unglued plastic with Swiffer cloth.  I have found that the glitter likes to cling to my plastic more than to paper, so I keep a box of Swiffer clothes handy in my craft room!  Continue gluing in this manner applying one color of Art Glitter at a time.  Since the box is scored, you will need to weight the edges to keep the box flat while your glue dries.

And for your convenience, I did a glue review!  If you are a serious crafter, you have some serious opinions and loyalty to your glue!  This is how I feel about the Art Glitter Dries Clear Glue:  It’s the best for glitter!  In this comparison, I tried the Terrifically Tacky Tape by PC and found that did not hold as much glitter and was not as rich.  Take a look at these lights and you will see how much more glitter is held in place by the Art Glitter Dries Clear Glue!  The light on the left was created with the Art Glitter dries clear Adhesive and the one of the left was created with the Terrifically Tacky Tape.

Once your Art Glitter Dries Clear Glue is dry, you can finish gluing your box together with the low temp glue gun.  Then just insert your lights through your punched hole and you have a great custom look for less!