Box o' Chocolates Shirt (With Tutorial!)

Yay for Valentine's Day!!
There is nothing better than a day that celebrates love, and when everything is pink!
My mind has been possessed lately with the thought of boxes of chocolates. They sound so delicious, all the time. Probably subliminal Valentine's Day advertising. :o) I hope it works on husband's minds, too! *wink wink*

Anyway, my chocolatey thoughts made it into the crafty area of my brain, and I thought that little brown buttons would make fun "chocolates", so I came up with this shirt:


It started as a plain pink t-shirt from Target:


To make one, you'll need an outline of a 3-d heart box. I free-handed this one, but if you're too scared to do that you can probably find some clipart online and blow it up to size.


1) Cut out the heart shape and use it as a pattern. Then cut out the same shape in your desired fabric. I chose a brown checked velveteen that I had in my stash.


2) Then take your heart pattern and cut off the "3-d" edges so that it's just a regular heart shape, and use it to cut a heart out of your second fabric. Mine was a red and pink plaid flannel.
3) Then choose your buttons. I chose light and dark brown buttons, for milk chocolate and dark chocolate :o) Arrange them where you'd like them, and place clear scotch tape over them to hold them in place.


4) Set your machine to a zig-zag stitch and lower the teeth below the needle so that the fabric doesn't move as it sews. Sew about 10 zig-zag stitches in and out of each set of button holes, right through the tape. Then peel the tape off of the buttons when you're finished!



5) Lay your 3-d heart on the front of your shirt (you may want to try it on first to see where you want it to go), and pin well. Then sew on with a zig-zag stitch.


6) Lay the heart with the buttons on top of the 3-d heart so that it matches your original drawing, and pin very well. Sew on with a zig-zag stitch, being careful not to let it shift!


Ta-da! You're all done!
Unfortunately I was not as careful as I should have been, so my red heart shifted a little as I sewed it, and it doesn't quite match up on one side. :o( But it's still wearable I think! If anyone says anything about it, I'll just kick them in the shins. :o)





And now I want chocolates more than ever! I love the caramel ones the most. Yum!!
Have a great day everyone!

Comments

  1. What a wonderful idea. Now I want to make some shirts for my daughter. She is so in love with Valentine's Day and hearts this year. Thank you for sharing all your wonderful ideas with us!!!

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  2. very cute shirt! my favorite are the dark chocolates =)

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  3. I LOVE it! I will have to make one for myself! Thank you so much for sharing.
    This chocolate won't go straight to my hips either! :D

    I like dark chocolate and marzipan!

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  4. Very nice. I crave chocolate enough as it is.

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  5. too cute! i love it!! also..great tutorial...love how you used your machine to sew the buttons on...don't know why i have never tried that before..i always just sew decorative buttons on by hand ...you're so smart! xo

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  6. You are awesome! I love, love that shirt - well anything will buttons for that matter - so cute. What a great idea - thanks for the post!

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  7. I am totally craving chocolates now. Thanks a lot!!

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  8. So cute!!! The caramel ones are def. the best!!

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  9. I never knew you could sew buttons on with the zig zag. Thanks for the awesome tutorial

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  10. SO cute! It would be awesome to make a heart like that over long socks. And wear it with a cute skirt!
    Thank you for the idea!
    Ohh and I will eat almost anything with chocolate :D But dark is my favorite!

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  11. What a great idea! I don't do a lot of sewing, but your directions are so spelled out that I may give it a try and make some for my nieces. Love your blog!

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  12. Neat! I love your trick for the buttons. Do you have to set a certain width or length on your zigzag? I'd be so afraid I'd slam the needle into the button and miss the hole! haha

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  13. I love your idea, but how funny??!!? i LOVE your pants, where did you get them, i have to have them!!!

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  14. I love it!! Thanks for sharing. I makes me want chocolate too, I also love the caramel ones!!

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  15. laura: I got these jeans at Macy's a couple of years ago. They were by a brand called "Yaso" and they were only $30!! Unfortunately they're getting a little big now :o(

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  16. This is such a cute shirt!!

    I linked to your tutorial on Craft Gossip Sewing:
    http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-box-of-chocolates-appliqued-t-shirt-for-valentines-day/2010/01/18/

    --Anne

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  17. I would NEVER think to sew on buttons with my machine!! Can't wait to give it a try!

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  18. I love this shirt, and I think it looks perfect! I was about to ask where you got your jeans also, but I saw someone beat me to it. They really are cute!

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  19. I, too love caramel; thanks for the great zig zag button tip...didn't know! Really fun; bright and colorful, who doesn't need chocolate and some color in the winter!

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  20. "kick them in the shins" Love it!

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  21. I just found your blog, and really enjoyed looking at it. I am also a Jesus lover who is enjoying being a creative housewife to an incredible husband! Thanks for sharing your ideas, and I look forward to dropping back by!
    -Em

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  22. This is such a cute idea Disney, thanks for the tutorial. I would love to try something similar on a pillow.
    I am new to your blog but love it and am now addicted!!

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  23. Now I want a truffle So. Bad. =) Thanks so much for this, I'll be linking.

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  24. The chocolate box looks great but,
    chocolate boxes have to have a lace don't you think? ;)

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  25. I love the shirt :) The caramel ones used to be my fav until I got hooked on the cherry cordial ones, lol.

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  26. I love this shirt..I was just thinking about upcycling one of my daughters shirts to make her a Valentines shirt, could think of anything i really liked til i seen yours...
    I might make me a matching tee
    thanks for the great idea.

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  27. *sigh* so. cute.

    i made a team logo shirt for my butterfly today as it is spirit week at her school and tomorrow is sports day... i'll be posting it tomorrow, i hope :)

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  28. Love it! That reminds me that I need to get started on my daughters Vday shirt! Thanks for the jump start!

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  29. I am always amazed by your cleverness and jealous of your skinniness. You are too cute, Disney.

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  30. fabulous and simple, that can be made in simple steps..I love it.You rock Disney!

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  31. so cute!!

    i love this... i can't wait to make one! :)

    -stephanie.

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  32. Yep, that is so cute!! And no, no one will say anything about it being slightly off because ya can't tell! It looks really nice. I heart it! =-)

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  33. Great idea Disney...once again you come up with omething adorable.

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  34. I am looking for great valentines treats! great Job!

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  35. Adorable idea. I teach a craft class for kids 2.5 to 5 years of age and I am going to adapt your wonderful idea into something they can do next week.

    Thanks!

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  36. SOOOOO CUTE! I want one to wear for Valentines Day. And your jeans are really cute too.

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  37. Thanks! This shirt is awesome. I'm going to have to scrounge through my fabric for some pink knit... or find a pink tee-shirt by V-day.

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  38. Very cute beginner project. I have been out of the sewing loop for a few years and just got a new machine the other day so I am looking for EASY ideas like this. I think the sewing the buttons on part is too scary for me... I'll have to do it by hand but the rest... a cinch! Thanks for the great idea and step by step tutorial!

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  39. very cute, I so wish I could so if I could I would make this. visiting from Jen of Tater Tots love your site too!

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  40. You totally inspired me and I made two of these today- one for me and one for my daughter. Im leaving my link so you can see how they turned out. Thanks for the idea!!! :)

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  41. I used Adrianna's machine to sew a button on the other day. I did it with my eyes covered (almost) and a sense of dread, totally praying her needle wouldn't break and poke out my eye AND break her machine all at once... and it worked PERFECTLY! So so so awesome. Thanks for sharing! Susan

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  42. I really like this! I have three of those shirts from target in different colors, and I may just have to find something to do to it! :) I really like your pants by the way, super cute!

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  43. Hey Disney! I just wanted to let you know that I've included this in our Button Crafts roundup on the FaveCrafts Blog: http://www.favecraftsblog.com/link-love-buttons-buttons-and-more-buttons/

    It's really cute :) Please let me know if you're ever interested in publishing your tutorials with FaveCrafts!

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  44. Hi, Disney,

    Thanks for your idea! I created heart shape pockets (two heart shapes sewn together for two overlapping pockets) for my eldest girl. She is so happy, and says, " mummy, can I wear it every day?"

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