{scissor variations}

happy october

 

This is one of those super easy + very satisfying projects

Along with the pumpkin heads + milk caps--you only need a glue stick to complete, a bit of ribbon and an awl or other sharp tool to poke holes into the milk caps for stringing

{mr.pumpkin head + orange milk tops}

 

 

{everything is a garland} series: tiny spring garlands

 

 

 

Gather Together

punches

decorative paper (I used origami + vintage papers)

glue stick

stringing material: thread, twine, embroidery floss, string, etc

Punch out your shapes.

I made my garlands 2-sided + sandwiched the stringing material in between the 2 punched out shapes.

If using animal shapes as I did and you want to do this remember to punch some animals from the decorative side and then flip the paper over and punch some shapes from the "underside"--so when putting them together they "fit".

Alternate different shapes, knot sequins in between or buttons. If using animal shapes have the animals face each other. Alternate colors.....whatever suits your fancy.

 

The vintage paper medallions are sandwiched between brown + white tying string--this is also one of my favorite ways to gussy up a gift package.

origami crane garland

 

 

{or what to do with the rest of that waxed scale paper}

This book, Amazing Origami for Children by Steve + Megumi Biddle is, in my opinion, one of the best origami books for introducing someone to the wonderful art of paper folding.

The easy to read + understand instructions coupled with the diagrams that show the hand positions are a perfect formula for folding success.

We all know of the "crane", perhaps the singular most popular origami figure.

.....and now that we all know about the wonders of waxed scale paper

I decided to pair them together:

Once you have folded a flock of cranes, stringing them together is easy.

You've probably seen these strung together before, but not often mentioned is that because of the way the cranes are folded, it creates a perfect threading hole in the bottom of the crane body:

  

.....also worth mentioning is the way the paper is folded during the process creates a small "x" on the body top for you to use as the piercing guide for your needle + thus insuring a balanced "hang" of your garland or mobile:

 

   

You can knot sequins in between each crane as a "resting place" so that they don't end up all willy nilly on top of one another.

Unless willy nilly is your thing.

Note:

If using the same waxed scale paper that was used to make the flowers here, it comes in rectangular sheets--you will have to fold it to create a square, then cut off the excess end paper before folding your crane. Do not worry about the fold that will be created/creased when you do this, as this is in fact the first fold of the crane instructions and will not affect the "look" of your finished crane. 

e.t.a.

waxed scale paper also comes in smaller pre-cut square sizes

333 {faux tissue} paper flowers for $24.99

 

 

 

...yes, 333

 

  begin with this

     + also use these

  ...then begin doing this

 until it looks like this

   you will then need to do this

..... pull tighter 

  fan out the pleats

 + begin to separate the layers

  ...a little more

now peel back the layers on the other side 

  

   tie string ends together + thread a ribbon for hanging

 

Gather Together

"

8" x 11" sheets of waxed scale paper ( not household waxed paper), purchased at a restaurant supply store. It has a lovely milky white translucence

scissors

string or wire for tying your accordian folded paper

 

The waxed scale paper is easy to work with and is not so delicate, so it can handle the peeling back of the pleated layers without feeling too precious.

I actually did tear the paper a few times, but I just kept separating the layers and pulling towards the center--where the string was tied. 

You could not tell where the tears were --so there was no need to start all over on another flower and no expensive paper was sacrificed.

 

When you tie your accordian folded paper do not cut the string ends (or wire if using), but leave the ends hanging on the back side of your flower. Once you decide how you will use your flowers, you can use the string ends for creating loops to hang or as a "pass through" for a longer length of hanging ribbon or wire.

I used 6 sheets of paper per flower

It was easy to manipulate and re-shape the flowers as needed -perfect if you need to store them before transporting them to a venue + they will not go limp----perfectly suitable for an outdoor event.

You could also put 2 flowers together back to back to create a very full blossom.

Finished flowers are approximately 7- 8" in diameter based on the paper size used.

 

 

 

itty bitty wire bunting

 

gather together

A piece of wire

I used 19 gauge, annealed, approx 20” in length

 

 

1” wide Ribbon-

I used grosgrain

 

 

Vintage monograms

-or other tiny fabric embellishment

 

 

Tacky glue

 

 

Cut your ribbon into several 3” long strips.

I like odd numbers best for the “symmetry” factor.

Snip the bottom of each ribbon strip to create a “V”.

 

 

Turn your ribbon piece over to the wrong side and “turn down” from the top a ¼” seam.

Iron—this will create your “pass through” for the wire.

 

 

Run a very thin bead of tacky glue under the edge of the folded over ribbon to seal the seam.

If your glue tip is not small enough to create a thin strip of glue—use a bamboo skewer to help spread the glue {my all time favorite crafting tool}.

 

 

Repeat with all of your ribbon pieces.

 

 

Turn your ribbon pieces over to the right side.

Glue 1 set of tiny monogram initials about half way down.

 

 

Thread your tiny flags onto the wire.

 

 hang and admire the wiry wonkiness of your itty bitty bunting

 

 

variations:

• experiment with different textures + widths of ribbon--try velvets or moirés
• you can stitch your "pass through" instead of using glue, either by machine or by hand--use thread or embroidery floss as a decorative element
• embroider an initial onto each tiny "ribbon flag" to spell out a name or a special occasion greeting
• stitch a tiny locket onto each flag
• experiment with different gauges and colors of wire

²bunting

Function:

noun

Etymology:

perhaps from English dialect bunt (to sift)

Date:

1711

1: a lightweight loosely woven fabric used chiefly for flags and festive decorations

{merriam webster}

©J.Rusnak+Papier Valise 2009

A Simple December: Crafting a Pinecone Garland

You will need:

Pinecones (preferably found)

Small eye screws (we used 7/16”)

Ribbon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Screw the eye hooks into the tops of the pinecones.

You may need to push gently and then start turning. If you find that once you have screwed in the eyehook it feels “loose”— remove the eyehook, brush a bit of craft glue around the screw portion and push back into the hole in the pinecone to secure.

 

 

 

 

The smaller the size of the eye hook- the more difficult they can be to grasp and screw in-persevere!

 

 

 

 

Thread your ribbon through the eye hooks...

 

 

 

& your garland is ready for hanging!