Oh the joys of gifting!  Shellye McDaniel here today with a project that I fell in LOVE with making: "Milk Containers & Caddy" featuring the I Am Collection!

I love crafting gift sets and happy mail and spotted this pretty-popular project while perusing Instagram recently.  When I set out to grab ideas, I look at the main photo and then go to my own drawing board to recreate in my own way :)  So, let's get started with how I constructed the "milk containers":

First I used a very heavy cardstock paper that measured 5.75" X 8.5".  I scored lengthwise at 2", 4", 6" and 8", which leaves a 1/2" tab.  Next, I turned and scored at 1/2" and 4".  Placing the paper in front of me, I have the 1/2" tab to the right (as shown above).  I used a 1/4" corner rounding punch to punch all of the corners on the top flaps. Apply adhesive tape to the side tab and fold the box along the score marks; adhere tab to the inside of the opposite side. To the bottom flaps I made small angle cuts so that it would fold up easier.  You will notice that the second from the end flap is missing; I glued the flap to the inside for a cleaner look when assembled.

Next, cut a small piece of white cardstock to 2"X2.5"; score at 2" and then corner round the edges of the 1/2" tab.  Attach to the last bottom flap; this will be your closure (refer to the photo above).

To join the top tabs together and form the "milk carton" look, I simply folded the two side tabs in and then joined the front and back tabs with a small piece of adhesive tape.  

Onto the decorating!  I used various patterns from the "I Am Collection" and cut them into slightly smaller-than-the-carton- strips.  The tops were adorned with mini clothes pins that were dressed in bits of paper.  I layered on cute die-cuts, chipboard stickers, enamel dots and stickers to each of the containers.  

For the caddy: I created the box using a 7.25" X 7.25" sheet of patterned paper.  I scored around all four edges at 1.5" and then cut along one score mark at each side before folding and adhering the sides together.  I also placed a small square of lightweight chipboard inside before adding the containers. 

For the handle I cut two strips of 1.5"X12" pieces of paper and folded into thirds.  Next, I machine stitched each of the strips and then joined them together at one end with adhesive tape.  Before adhering to the inside of the box, I determined the height of the handle and then trimmed away the excess.  To hide where the two strips were joined, I wrapped a piece of the discarded strip around it and secured with tape.

Finally, I tied on a couple of bows and glued them to the sides.  I attached one of the decorative brads to the center of each bow using fabric glue! Whether you need a couple or a trio of these containers, just make your little caddy accordingly.  Tuck small gifts or treats inside and it's ready for gift-giving!