Candy Lei with Candy Box Pendant

It’s the middle of April and I’m in the thick of all things graduation and prom. I’ve been running non-stop this week approving announcements proofs, event planning, and candy lei making! But I’m not making any ole’ candy lei, I’m making a candy lei with candy box pendant!

Being from Hawaii, it’s a tradition to adorn a graduate in leis. And with my oldest daughter graduating this year, she threw out a few not so subtle hints to remind me of this tradition. She even put in requests for the type of leis she would like. Oh, and did I mention that she has a growing list of friends that she wants to gift leis too?!

If you’ve ever priced leis, it can get expensive. Lei prices can range from the low end at $10 and go up to $50 or more! Since my daughter wants to give out a good amount of leis, candy leis with giant candy box pendants are the best way to keep cost down when mass amounts of leis need to be made.

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Candy Lei with Candy Box Pendant

Supplies:

cello wrap – school color or clear
bag of candy
box of candy (find a candy box in a similar school color or wrap the box in paper)
curling ribbon in school colors (I used three colors)
tape
scissors
hot glue gun/glue
ruler

Directions:

Cut two (2) 6″ pieces of cello off the roll.
Place candy on one cello, approximately 1″ apart. Leave about 1 1/2″ – 2″ space at each end. Set aside and repeat this for the second piece of cello.
Bring one side of the cello over the candy and place a small piece of tape between each candy.
Carefully roll the entire candy tube to cover the candy. It’s ‘ok’ to have a little extra flap to wrap around the candy.

Tip: This lei is suitable for a tall person. I left about 2″ on each end of the candy cello tube. For a petite person, adjust the amount of candy used and leave 2″ on the top end of the cello candy tube and 4″ on the bottom. The 4″ end will be tucked into the candy box or it can be cut to 2″ and tied together to make a regular candy lei.

Cut enough 12″ long ribbon ties from each color ribbon to go between each piece of candy and to tie the ends together.
Tie ribbons between each candy, leaving the ends untied.

Tuck one end of the cello tube into the end of the other, leaving about an inch between the two pieces of candy.
Tie ribbons close to one candy. Tie another set of ribbons close to the other. This will leave you with two ribbons tied next to each other.
Regular candy lei – Tie the other end if you want a regular candy lei without the candy box pendant. Curl all the ribbons and the lei is complete.

Adding the Candy Box

Gently open the top of the candy box.
Add glue to the small flaps, let cool for a bit if using high temperature and press the ends of the cello tube onto it.
Add glue onto the top of the cello and press the large flap onto it. Turn the box to use the weight of the candy to help add pressure.
Add glue onto the large flap and press close.
Cut two sets of 18″ colored ribbon. Tie at the corners of the box.
Use a scissors and curl all of the ribbons on the lei.