Valentine Party Cone

 Valentines Day is just around the corner and what better way to celebrate the holiday than with a Victorian Valentine Cone you can make at home. These cones have been around for over a century and it is traditional to fill them with candy and gifts. Place one at each setting or hang them from the back of a chair as a sweet hostess gift. The possibilities are endless. They are easy to make if you take it step by step. Here is what you will need: 1 12X12 Card stock, 2 pipe cleaners, an image for the front and assorted embellishments, 45" crepe paper, 18" ribbon, two sided tape, glue gun, stapler, 10" garland( I got at party supply store), needle and thread. I have included a cardboard cone I picked up at Packaging Specialties to help roll it. If you don't have one that's okay.

Grab your 12X12 card stock and with the point facing you measure up the right side 9" and make a mark, do the same on the left. Draw a curved line from one point to the other and adjust until you have a it right. Now cut out the cone. Next get read to ruffle your crepe paper with your needle and thread.

I am using vintage crepe paper sold in a sheet but the rolled ones from the party supply store work fine. Place a knot at the end of your thread. Start at one end  about 3/4" from the bottom and sew along the edge with a running stitch. Your stitches should be about 1/2" long. Gather gently as you go along. You want to end up with about 10" of gathered paper. Tie it off.

With the wrong side facing you, place a strip of two sided tape along the right side of the cone from top to bottom. If you have a cone mold just roll the cone starting on the left side to the right and you are done, if you don't have a cone just roll the paper from right to left. You want about 4-5" overlap at the top, this will help make your cone sturdier and will be just enough room for your 10" of ruffled ribbon and garland. Secure edges with a staple close to the top.

Now lets attach the ruffled edge and garland. Find the back seam and start there. Place a small amount of glue along the upper edge of the cone. A zigzag motion about 1" high works best. Also, work in short lengths attaching ruffle a little at a time keeping it gathered as you go along. Now attach the garland on top of the ruffle hiding the stitches in the same manner.

  

For the sweet ribbon behind the image I cut strips of vintage piano sheet music into 9X1/2" lengths. Two for this project. Gently curl the strips around a pencil starting at the top and working down. This makes a gentle curl. Using your glue gun attach the pipe cleaner around your image.

Find the seam and make sure it is in the back. On the front of your cone attach the paper ribbon to the front of the cone crisscrossing them like an "X"  and attach your image on top of that. Using the last pipe cleaner punch holes on both sides of the cone and feed the pipe cleaner through turning the tip up to secure. Wrap one of your 18" of ribbon gently around the wire leaving an equal amount on both sides. Do the same with the other piece working in the opposite direction. You can now tie bows on both sides.

For the small banner in the front. This is just card stock. On my computer I printed out "Happy Valentines Day" in Verdana font at 15. I cut it out and banner cut the edges. I then attached it with a dot of hot glue. I also attached a glittered red heart I found at the craft store. You can finish off any way you like. The finished product is below. Isn't it lovely.

Fill with crinkled paper and goodies.

There is our project. I hope you enjoy it and make many more as gifts. Let me know if this tutorial was helpful and leave me a comment or question.

Comments

[Carrie]

Amada - This lesson is really great. I have never had a chance to make a hat with you and I feel like I was right in there in your craft room. I love the cone and it is such a darling idea. Wish that we could do a project like that in Africa, but I can't even imagine the bedlam!

Wonderful shots...all pink and confection-y. Can't wait for Valentines now.

[Dana V. (*danavee* on SCS)]

Congratulations! This blog post was featured in the latest Carnival at http://www.craftcritique.com We would love it if you’d let YOUR blog readers know too… you know, share the love! Happy Valentine’s Day! Craft Critique loves you!