I’ve mentioned before that I love parties, and a really good party involves several personalized finishing touches.  Obviously, any celebration should be fun, inviting, and entertaining, but if you like to go above and beyond the fundamentals, candy bars can be a really simple and creative way to add those personalized details.

First of all, there are actual businesses out there who do this, and charge a fee, and I, by no means, intend to deter from their business.  If you’re short on time, and have the extra money to spend, you could certainly order labels from one of the many home businesses that offer this.

Second, there are online tools that allow users to create wrappers online, but they leave little room for creativity, and generally require that you use their pre-formatted designs, inserting only text variances.

On the other hand, if you have a creative streak, prefer to save money, and have a little extra time, creating your own labels is a very viable alternative.  The actual label creation takes very little time, and the process of wrapping each candy bar can be done while watching a movie (or two) – and you can even recruit other members from your circle of family or friends to help!

Before I created my very first set of personalized candy bars, I actually WANTED to order them already made.  Discovering, however, that most companies provide you only with sheets of labels that still need to be cut and wrapped around the candy bars, I decided to create my own from start to finish.

Should you come to the same decision, you’ll need the following items to get started (in addition to a computer with an internet connection!):

A.) Color Printer
B.) Color Laser Gloss Paper
C.) Paper Trimmer
D.) Clear Glue
E.) Miniature Candy Bars

A little more detail, regarding the items above:

A.) Color Printer
     Even my trusty $70 All-in-One printer does a fine job! 

B.) Color Laser Gloss Paper
     I use Hammermill 32 lb. 90-Brightness Color Laser Gloss…click HERE, and enter Item #622234.  Office Depot’s price is currently $10.49 for a 300-sheet package. 

     I have created wrappers for weddings, wedding showers, baby showers, corporate events, birthday parties, school events, New Year’s Eve parties, and Christmas events, printing an average of 300-500 wrappers per event, and am still only on my third package of this paper.

C.) Paper Trimmer
     Use a trimmer with a very sharp blade that accommodates 8½” X 11″ paper.

D.) Clear Glue
     Scotch Clear Glue works really well, using the precision tip applicator of Item #742968, currently priced at Office Depot for $2.69. 

     So far, I’ve gone through five of these bottles – but our kids have used them for a number of projects, as well.  If used solely for wrappers, each bottle will probably last as long as each package of paper.

E.) Miniature Candy Bars
     Use Nestlé Treasures or Hershey’s Nuggets, which are available in a variety of colors that can be coordinated with your events and wrappers.  I prefer Nestlé Treasures, but resort to Hershey’s Nuggets when the colors of Nestlé don’t coordinate well with the event.  These range in price from $2 to $3.50 per bag…unless you buy at CVS!  As you can imagine, the candy bars are generally the most expensive item of the project.

Once you have the items above, you’re ready to start creating your labels! 

1.) Software Download
Labels can be created using a variety of different software applications, but my personal preference is Avery Design Pro Limited.  You can download this software, free of charge, by clicking HERE. 

2.) Using the New Software
Once the software is installed on your machine, open and select the “Design from Scratch” option at the prompt.

3.) Select a Label Size
When prompted to select a template, highlight Label #5160, and select OK.

4.) Edit a Blank Label
A blank document will open to a Master tab.  (Notice the tabs at the bottom of the Avery document window.)  Unless you want to create several designs that incorporate the same text and graphics, do NOT edit the Master tab (doing so will apply all text and graphics from the Master tab to every tab in the document).  Instead, click the Label 1 tab at the bottom of the Avery document. 

5.) Get Creative!
Use the Insert Text or Insert Image options from the Insert option available at the top to design your wrapper.  Use your own photos, online clipart, online borders, etc. and then add desired text.

Add text phrases to the sides and bottom of each wrapper, by creating a text box and then using the Rotate Text tool to rotate your text to the desired angle.  Examples of text may be an event date, names, catchy phrase, etc.

Use the font tools, to change the font style, size, and color.

6.) The Creativity Continues!
I generally create no less than four different designs for each event, though you can certainly set your own limits…including one!  To create additional designs, select the New Tab option from the Edit button in the toolbar.  Repeat Step 5 on Label 2, using different images, text, colors, etc.

7.) Print Preview
I typically print one black and white copy of each label (by toggling the Select All button from the Print screen)…just to be sure everything looks perfect in smaller dimensions.  Once printed, it’s also a good idea to cut each label and test on an actual candy bar to be sure text is centered, not cut off at the end of the wrapper, etc.  

8.) Final Edits
If any of your designs were off in Step 7, fix them now. 

9.) Final Printing
Once you’re satisfied with the designs of each label, set your printer to print in color at best quality.  Print full pages of each label, by selecting the first label, and then toggling the Current option from the Print button.  Repeat that step for each label created in Steps 5 and 6.

10.) Drying Time
Once each page has printed, lay it flat to dry for at least two hours.  (More or less time may be required, depending on the humidity level in your area.) 

11.) Wrapper Trimming
Once each page is dry, use the paper trimmer to cut the individual wrappers.  Once you’ve cut one to perfect size, use it as the master.  Depending on your trimmer, several sheets can be trimmed at once, though trimming one page at a time allows for better precision.

12.) Entertainment
You’re now ready to wrap!  Pop in a good movie or audio book, then grab your wrappers, candy bars and glue!

13.) Wrapping Up a Fun Project
Center each label tightly over the existing candy bar and wrapper (do not take the original wrapper off).  Using the precision tip of the clear glue, apply a thin strip of glue to the end of the wrapper edge at the bottom of the candy bar, and hold firmly for a couple of seconds.

14.) A Candy Wrapping Event (Optional)
If you’ve bitten off more than you can chew, call a good friend and invite her over for a good movie…when she arrives, surprise her with a pile of wrappers, candy bars, and her own bottle of glue!  No, I’m just kidding – but wrapping is more fun with a friend.

I’ve created personalized candy bars more times than I care to mention, and on one occasion, didn’t realize I had volunteered to wrap over 2,000 miniature candy bars…many thanks to my awesome friend, Teri, for coming to my rescue on that one!

Home Business and Other Ideas

Home Business…

Though I’ve made these candy bar wrappers for a number of friends, I’ve always done so free of charge.  If, however, you’re looking for a way to earn a little extra income, you could market these with the full service of trimming, wrapping, and gluing.  The amount of time spent in the full service offering may not be fully reimbursed in most orders, but it’s an option.

Other ideas…

* Make miniature candy bar favors for a friend’s wedding, shower, or birthday event.

* Design family wrappers and place candy bars on a hall table for visitors.

* Design wrappers that incorporate your business logo, and place them in an insulated coffee mug with your attached business card.

* Change the label size and create full-size personalized candy bars, using Cadbury, Nestle, or Hershey’s full-sized candy bars.  Remove the original paper wrapper, and wrap your personalized label around the existing foil wrapper.

* Anything else you can think of!