Teeny Tiny Totes

These are SO CUTE! and SO easy and quick to make. I originally thought they would be cute little Easter baskets, and they would also be cute little gifts for co-workers, committee members, hairdressers, teachers, and so forth. They would also be make nice Mothers Day or May Day gifts too.

When I was a kid, we made little cornucopias from construction paper which we were to fill with flowers (or weeds… we were kids, after all), and hang on door knobs. We don’t do that any more though.

Anyway, here’s a picture : 

I put my bottle of Tombow’s all-purpose glue in the picture so you could see how little they were.

Here’s a couple of closeups: 

I put some Easter grass in them, and some jelly beans. My “dollar store” didn’t have any paper Easter grass so I had to use the plastic cellophane kind, but I am keeping it away from the kitties who would love to play with the grass – and eat it too, which could be fatal.

Here’s what you need to make one Teeny Tiny Tote:

• Card stock – any color, cut 3 1/2 x 3 5/8 inches (I know, I know – using eighth inch measurements)
• another piece of the same color card stock 3/4 x 3 inches for the handle
• scrap of card stock for the flowers
• pretty printed paper – 2 pieces measuring 2″ x 1 3/8, and one piece 1/2 x 3 inches
• glue and glue dots
• embellishments for flower centers – I used rhinestones, but pearls would be nice too

Useful Tools:

• paper trimmer, of course
• scoring tool
• little flower punch, or tiny flower framelits (a punch is faster)
• scissors
• paper piercing tool – to pick up the rhinestones
• paper piercing pad, or mouse pad – to be a cushion for cupping up flower petals

Instructions

Cut all the papers

Lightly mark which side is 3 5/8 and which is 3 1/2; long side and short side, but it’s hard to tell unless you mark them

Using the scoring tool score the long (3 5/8) side at 1 1/2 inches, and then at 2 1/8 inches. This makes the bottom of the tote

On the short (3 1/2) side, score at 5/8 inch and 2 7/8 inches. These are the sides.

Fold up on the score lines and burnish

Cut the little square in the center of each edge up to the score line, and “wedge” it. Here’s a picture of what I mean.

Now put glue on the OUTSIDE (or backside, whatever…) of the small tabs, and also glue on the INSIDE of ONE of the rectangle tabs.

Glue the small tab to the inside of the  rectangle tab that has the glue on it, and then glue the rectangle tabs together. You’ll want to make sure the top of the two tabs are lined up nicely. If you get the sides lines up too that’s a plus, but not as important as getting the tops lined up.

Glue the printed paper strip for the handle to the plain card stock handle piece.

Glue the printed paper rectangles to the sides of the tote.

Put some glue at the very bottom of the handle strip, and glue it to the center of one of the sides of the tote. Mine is about 1/4 inch down from the edge. Repeat on the other side.

Punch out about six little flowers; put them on your mouse pad or paper piercing pad, and press the centers with the stylus from the scoring tool or the end of the paper piercing tool to make them “cup” up.

Put a rhinestone in the center of each flower, and then, using glue dots, put them on the base of the handle on each side of the tote.

Add Easter grass and jelly beans and that’s it.

All Done!

As usual, I didn’t make this up myself, but copied it from Sam Donaldson – aka “Pootles.” She also has a video where she is making a much larger tote. The video can be found here.

I think I’ll make some with butterflies instead of flowers, and gingham paper instead of flower paper too. I’m having Easter dinner with some friends, so I think I’ll make a bunch of these as place cards. Shouldn’t take too much time, and would look nice. I already checked with my hostess, and she said sure.

Thanks, dear friends, for reading all the way to the end. I hope you try them out. If you have any questions or get stuck, just send me a comment.

Thanks again for your support – you’re the best.

Blessings, Carole