How-To Make a Valentine Gift Tube

I am sending this covered gift tube to my daughter, Mandy who is away at The University of Vermont.  It is filled with lots of kisses – Hershey Kisses that is.  I want to send her something unique and that won’t fit into her dorm mailbox.  This way the mail-room will have to put a note in her mailbox saying - “You got a package, come to the front desk to get it.”  Making it’s arrival more dramatic.   This is a recycling project, re-using cardboard tubes from paper towels, toilet paper, or giftwrap.    By using two tubes, one inside the other gives them more pizazz then just wrapping tootsie-roll style.  I simply covered the tubes with coordinating gift-wrap and used poufy pink tulle to tie them together.  It is very easy to make and can hold many different items, depending on the size of the tubes you use.  If you have something large you could use mailing tubes as they have a wider diameter. 

Gather:

1.  Determine how long a tube you want to hold the gift, add at least 2-inches for tubes to overlap.  Cut the tubes so that you have two that are equal lengths.

2.  Cut a piece of the first gift-wrap slightly larger than the first tubes end and place face down on work surface.  Place one end of first tube on the wrong-side of paper and trace around tube, then draw a dotted line about 1/2 -inch around it.  Cut circle out on dotted lines.  Do the same for the other tube and the coordinating gift-wrap.

Make cuts into the the 1/2 -inch excess as shown. Repeat for other tube.

3.  Glue circle on to end of tube, overlapping tabs if necessary.  Repeat on other tube.

4.  Cut gift-wrap to size to cover tube.  Spray wrong side of this piece with spray adhesive and carefully wrap around tube.  Make sure to smooth down edges.  Repeat this step for second tube using the coordinating gift-wrap.

5.  Punch two holes (as shown) about  1 1/2 – inches apart on the seamed side of each tube.

7.  Make sure smaller tube is inside larger tube.   Pull tubes together by pulling the ends of the tulle or ribbon.  The tulle acts as a hinge. 

8.  Place gift inside.  Pull tulle and wrap around front of tube.  Tie into a bow and trim ends of tulle if necessary.

Get a copy of these cute cupcake toppers here:  They are 1″ little circles that you can cut out.  I used one as an embellishment on the tube.

 Link to download at:

The Creative Party Place

Find a button that coordinates with your gift-wrap and glue a 1″ valentine graphic that you downloaded onto center of button.  You can also use a round sticker and write the recipients name on.

Glue button onto center of bow.

I couldn’t decide which button I liked better, so I made two.

Tagged as: crafty, Re-using paper towel tubes, Valentine's Day Gift Ideas, Valentines Day Craft Ideas