SATURDAY SCOOPS
Box up something sweet

Advertiser staff and news services

The boxes can be made any size. Just cut out the pattern below and enlarge it on a copying machine. Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser

Make a box.

Decorate it with your personal touch, or simply use our sample.

Fill it with a note, some sweets, a memento.

This simple project creates a tab-at-the-top interlocking box, big enough to accommodate a handful of foil-covered chocolates and small enough to conceal a folded, hand-written love note.

Tips

Duplicate the pattern at an instant printer; for best results, run off on card-stock paper (available at print shops). Red works best for Valentine's, but, hey, pink will do, too.

Option 1: You could paste the pattern on card-stock paper, then further decorate with pens, markers, stickers, even photos cut into heart shapes.

Option 2: Paste and cut the pattern on stiff cardboard, trace around on colored card stock of choice, then cut out.

Also: You can reduce or enlarge the pattern depending on contents.

A no-no: Don't use ordinary bond paper, which is too flimsy to hold contents.

Materials, tools:

• 8 1/2-inch card-stock paper; as many sheets as you need.
• Scissors.
• Double-edged tape (or glue), for sealing the tab to the box.
• Decorating extras, such as puffy paints (you can "dot" the hearts or outline them in glitter gold), stickers (pink hearts inside the black ones on the pattern).
• Ruler.
• Scoring tool (a ballpoint pen without ink will do), to ease folding.

Instructions:

• Before cutting out pattern, score at appropriate points (dotted lines).
• Carefully cut on solid lines.
• Apply double-edged tape (or glue) on tab.
• Assemble and decorate.
• Fill and present to your valentine.

Download pattern #1 (Adobe Acrobat file)

Here's another heart box project to explore for Valentine's Day.

Materials, tools:

• Card-stock paper (red or pink suggested).
• Scissors.
• Scoring tool (an embossing stylus, or an expired ball-point pen also works well).
• Ruler.
• Paper hole puncher ("smaller" hole type suggested).
• Candy, trinket, or note to place into box.
• Optional for accessorizing: Colored markers, lace, quiltwork squares on cellophane, cord or raffia for bows, tape, glue.

Instructions:

• Print out pattern.
• If your home printer can accommodate card stock, print on colored paper. Or duplicate pattern at a copier shop.
• Score on dotted line, for folding pliability.
• Then cut pattern on solid lines.
• Assemble box, to shape into heart.
• Insert candy, trinket, or note.
• While holding in place, punch two holes at the top, to insert cord or raffia for a bow.

Download pattern #2 (Adobe Acrobat file)

Optional: If you dress up with lace or use cellophane squares with quiltwork pattern for an eye-catching variation, do this before punching holes.

Wayne Harada is a box hobbyist, creating miniature boxes for holidays, when he's not covering entertainment. Reach him at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com, 525-8067 or fax 525-8055.

Jump on thrill ride, chew malassadas at Punahou's carnival

Those best-selling sugary delights at the Punahou School Carnival can still be taken away by the bagload (at 25 cents apiece at two booths, indeed they are) today, the final day of the annual fund-raising feast of food, thrill rides and fellowship. And people — lots and lots of people — who come from all over the island to the campus at the corner of Punahou Street and Wilder Avenue each year.

Among the other attractions at the carnival are the white elephant tent, the plant booth, fresh produce, Kiddieland games (at the diamondhead side of the grounds), the art gallery and a live auction. Food lovers will delight in the Hawaiian plates, Portuguese bean soup, corn, hamburgers, chili, noodles, gyro — woo hoo! Just find a place to sit and grind away.

This year's theme is "Sizzlin' Safari," sponsored, as in years past, by the junior class to benefit the school's financial aid program and student activities.

Parking is free on campus, if you're lucky (enter through the Nehoa Street gate). And there are other nearby parking lots that charge fees. What the heck, take the bus; city buses Nos. 4, 5 and 18 stop near the campus.

Hours are 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Admission is free, but you'd better bring some money for the goodies.

Interior designer Vicente Wolf takes you on an exploration of your home spaces

The book isn't exactly a how-to guide to home design, but it does share Wolf's ideas for finding inspiration, assessing a space and outfitting it in a way that's both usable and beautiful. Wolf includes instructions for specific tasks such as drawing a floor plan, and gives practical information such as paint color combinations, but he also touches on less tangible aspects, such as mixing furniture styles and creating a sense of motion.

Wolf wants to help his readers see a space as a designer might, so they can downplay its weaknesses, emphasize its strengths and imagine its possibilities. The book includes plenty of photographs of rooms he's designed, so readers can see examples.

"Learning to See" is published by Artisan and is priced at $40.

Ask the pros at home remodeling show this weekend

The ninth annual Building Industry Association Home Building and Remodeling Show, themed "Seek Professional Help ... Before It's Too Late," continues this weekend at the Blaisdell Exhibition Hall for handymen — and women, too. And for those seeking professional home improvements.

Browse the latest products or gather professional advice all under one roof.

The show will be open 10 a.m.-9 p.m. today and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. tomorrow. Admission is $4 general, free for children under 12 when accompanied by a paying adult. Seniors can get in for $1 tomorrow. Have a computer and printer? You can download a $2 discount coupon at www.bia-hawaii.com.

Kissinger film at Academy of Arts

Whatever your political views, the documentary "The Trials of Henry Kissinger" is sure to get your blood up. Based on a book by Kissinger-detractor Christopher Hitchens, the film characterizes the former secretary of state and Nobel laureate as a war criminal, a liar and, dare we say it, the ultimate politician. Well, OK, power-seeker, then.

"Trials" is screening at the Doris Duke theater at the Honolulu Academy of Arts at 7:30 tonight; 4 p.m. tomorrow; 7:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday; and 1 and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday.

Admission is $5; $3 for art museum members. 532-8700.

Local commentator and writer Bob Rees will introduce the film at tomorrow's and Tuesday's screenings.

Critic Roger Ebert's review was published in yesterday's TGIF section; he gave it three stars.

Find out more about the film at www.firstrunfeatures.com.

Garden Friends will glow on you

If you love the schlock factor of garden gnomes, we've found something even uglier: FireGlo Garden Friends. The smiling frogs and turtles are sure to bring contempt from neighbors who despise yard ornaments.

But if you're a fan of yard art (and of ticking off your neighbors), consider this: The FireGlo decorations are made to glow in the dark all night long.

Simply place the garden friends near a light source or in direct sunlight for two minutes and the company promises the characters will glow during the night. The FireGlo product line ranges from garden angels to cemetery decorations. $12 to $45 at www.fireglo.net.