Christmas garlands

 Welcome!

Lia Griffith

Let’s get started on some fun DIY decorations for the upcoming holidays.

No, I’m not skipping Thanksgiving. However, if you haven’t started on your crafting projects for Christmas/holiday season you better get cooking!

(As in, hurry it up now).

I love garlands.

They can be in such a broad range of styles, colors and themes. Many are very easy to put together, and many are also kid-friendly to do together.

Let’s start with a basic shape.

Perhaps you did paper chains in school. You can’t get much more basic. Start with strips of paper or ribbon. Construction paper and scrapbooking paper works great. Cut them all equally sized in a rectangular shape. Make a circle and fasten it in your preferred way. Some use staples. Some use glue or a glue stick. Double stick tape works. Thread a second strip through the first and fasten the second one. Repeat for as long as you want your garland. Look at the photo to understand the directions.

Mixed ribbons of equal width and in the same color family can look super!

Try two or three coordinating colors.

Or just go with the Merry and Bright look and mix up holiday colors for a kaleidoscope of hues.

The one below uses recycled music sheets edged with glue and dipped in glitter. Do the glitter before you make your chain.

Here is a garland made from circles. A paper punch will cut the circles out in a jiffy. Fasten the garland together with baker’s twine, 1/16 inch ribbon, rickrack or yarn. You can even use your sewing machine for a stitched garland.

Paper Dot Party Spot

DIY par Alice Gerfault

Cut your circles from any material you want - paper, double sided scrapbook paper, cardstock, felt, stiffened fabric…

My next garland is a simple tree shape you can cut from paper. I would use my Cricut for a fast and easy project using different color cardstock and double sided heavier scrapbook paper.

Anthropologie 

Or you can cut accordion style with scissors. Be sure to leave an area on both sides of your folded paper that touch. Here is a simple pattern:

Oxford University Press

Overlap your cutouts to make your garland as long as you want. I use dabs of glue to connect them.

Here is another pattern:

Onelittleproject.com

You might want to make your garland with fabric trees. Here is a nice pattern for that:

Next is a garland of hearts. Make it rustic with fabric stuffed shapes, or elegant with gold and silver cardstock. Connect the hearts with rickrack or metallic thin ribbon. This garland also works well for Valentine’s Day decorations, or?

Michele Sartin

Vintage Stitch Studio

The felt gingerbread men bring a country charm to that last garland. Here is a pattern for one, although there are MANY patterns out there for slightly different shapes.

Poshmark

Notice the mismatched buttons.

I thought this gingerbread couple was cute for a garland also:

For the next garland, have the kids help you color the dove shapes. Fingerpaint, markers, crayons - whatever you want them to use will look great!

terrain

Holly leaves and berries are always associated with Christmas. If you have a home cutting machine, such as a Cricut, you can have a long garland of holly in no time. The sample below used stuffed paper balls for the berries, but you can just as easily cut large circles.

Adjust the size of leaves to where you want to hang your garland.

At Home With Ashley

There are numerous patterns online for simple or detailed holly leaves. Choose one that works for you. This next garland uses a simple shape cut from stiffened fabric and machine stitched edges.

I think red buttons for berries would look really charming.

It’s The Season

Have a little extra time and want to put more effort into your garland? This next one is for you!

Sophie Turner

I found this fairly simple Santa head pattern that will work. Cut out just the outer shape and hand draw in the features (mustache, beard, etc.) or cut out the main shape and then individually cut out the inner shapes and glue on top. You could use paper or felt. You could also use fusible webbing and fabric.

Coloringpage.eu

Santa might need a clothesline to get ready for the Big Night. 

The Craft-at-home Family

While I couldn’t find an exact duplicate pattern, the shapes are fairly simple. Here are a few clothing pieces to inspire you:

RoyalBaloo.com

Pinterest

The two samples are cut from felt. I think sturdy paper would look fine also. When choosing your materials decide how long you want to use these garlands. One season? Paper is great. Want to re-use them for several seasons? Go with fabric, felt or sturdy cardstock.

Paper chains are almost the least exxoensive garland you can make and the materials are readily available. Don’t have any plain white paper? Try using magazine pages, or paper placemats.

Pinterest 

Oxford University Press

Here are a few more ideas:

Crafty Cue

AuntAnnie.com

Firstpalette.com

Does Santa need a few reindeer? 

Here we go!

Paper Source

SIMPLYLOVECOLORING.COM

Here is a fun reindeer garland:

Duncan’s Woodcraft

Pinterest

Let’s close with perhaps my favorite garland - gingerbread houses!

I found several variations with this theme on Pinterest. I love the way it looks! The base is simply cardboard. You could use the inside of cereal boxes or any cardboard type box. Draw a simple house outline and cut out. Want it to be 2-sided? Slap on some paint to cover any writing/graphics. I would use brown to go with the gingerbread theme. To make the white ‘frosting’ lines you can use a white acrylic paint pen. I find these at my local craft/hobby store. If you can’t find them there, Amazon also carries them.

If you are uncomfortable with freehand you can sketch out your designs in pencil and then ‘draw’/paint over them with the paint pen.

Want to make it even more fun with the kids? Prepare several bowls with different kinds of candy - M&Ms, sweet tarts, peppermints, etc. Have the child squeeze a circle of glue and press a candy into it, to make your gingerbread houses really fun looking. Use some string licorice for piping. Let dry thoroughly before hanging, and keep out of strong sunlight so the candies don’t melt.

(Eating the leftovers is part of the fun too.)

On a smaller scale these also make really cute magnets.

I hope you try at least one of these ideas to bring some holiday cheer to your living space. Do I hear office cubicle, anyone?

‘Til next time,

inkspired

A Nature-filled Autumn Home

 

All kaleidoscopes by inkspired and KaleidoCam.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Autumn…

The days are getting shorter,

Mornings are darker,

And the weather is starting to crisp like an apple pie in the oven. Just a chill around the edges…

My thoughts are ready to switch from cheerful sunflowers and orange and green vases to the warmth of wood bowls with piles of red apples and brown nuts in them.

Yep.

Time to bring some nature inside. What better way to do that than with a few nature craft projects to decorate with. Let’s look at a few together.

A simple straw or grapevine wreath can easily be decorated with a couple bunches of Dollar Store flower bushes. Remove the flower heads from the stems if you want, then use a glue gun or thicker glue (like Aleene’s Tacky Glue in the gold bottle) to place the flowers, leaves and buds around the wreath. Always lay your design out first, before gluing. When it looks good, then you can start gluing things in place.

Rope a ribbon around if you want. Keep it simple however.

Let’s turn to some table decorations next.

Debbiedoos, Pinterest 

Candles just seem to go with cooler weather. It may be chilly outside, but we are warm and cozy inside.

Place cinnamon sticks around a pillar candle, and tie in place with twine or raffia.

Better Homes and Gardens

DIY, Art and Crafts Ideas, Pinterest

You can use the same idea only substitute small decorative corn, twigs from fallen branches or even stalks of wheat and grass. Dab a bit of glue or melted wax on the candle to hold things in place if you need to before you wrap it up with string. 

You can’t light your candle this way however, as you don’t want to catch your table on fire. Alternatively, put your candle in a glass container. Jelly jars, Mason jars, pickle jars - whatever you have clean and empty. Then you can decorate the glass with no worries. Do keep the flame BELOW the top of the jar for safety. Or use battery operated faux candles.

UseDecor.com

Here is a similar idea, using a hurricane lamp to protect the candle flame. Place securely in a low, flat dish. Fill the dish with nature - pine cones, nuts, small oranges, small pumpkins and squash, etc.

Brendid.com

This arrangement has added some silk leaves and a strand of tiny battery operated twinkle lights.

Let’s get a little creative with those silk fall leaves.

Snip off any stems. Gather a glass container, cleaned and wiped with a cotton ball and rubbing alcohol. Using a sponge brush, brush on a thin coat of Mod Podge. Press a silk leaf into the Mod Podge. Move on to the next leaf, repeat, overlapping as you go.

The 1st photo shows how to make a clear glass ornament using this method.

The 2nd photo shows how to make candle holders from Mason Jars using this technique.

Better Homes and Gardens

Posted on Pinterest 

Let’s get the kids involved, and paint some rocks!

No kids? Borrow some! Or ask a young-at-heart friend to come over for some painting fun.

It’s Always Autumn

Blossom butram, Pinterest

I have done rock painting tutorials in previous blogs - just search for ‘rock painting’.

Don’t worry about washing your rocks, either. I just scrub mine with water and a nail brush. Let dry before applying paint.

If you use a Sharpie marker for details, put a coat of Mod Podge on to seal. Then spray with a couple coats of clear acrylic sealer. I like Krylon brand.

Place these rocks throughout your home - in plants, on a shelf, in a corner. Let your family or guests discover them! They also look cute grouped 3-5 in a garden area, or a few in a bowl.

Here is another painted rock idea:

Painted rock by inkspired

While you have your paints out, why not make a nature inspired wall hanging with your kids?

Brush the palms of little hands with acrylic paint, then press the hand to a piece of butcher paper. When dry you can add leaf vein and stem details with a black or brown marker.

If you use parchment paper or vellum and place in a window they look extra special.

Gathered Living

Fall is the perfect time to take family walks. Bring the dog on a leash. Be sure to carry a small bag (I like canvas) to hold any treasures you may find along the way. This is the time to collect fallen leaves, acorns, and a few last flowers.

As soon as you get home, press the leaves and flowers in a microwave flower press. Do be sure they are not moist or damp.

Here are several ideas you can use them for:

A Hanging Mobile

Use a fallen branch/twig. Tie twine or string at the base of each leaf. Add a dab of glue to the knot. Then tie the other end onto the branch. Again, secure with a dab of glue. Make a hanging loop from twine.

Lovely Harbor, Home Decor

I like the addition of a few acorns and pine cones to this one:

Jenny Jean, posted on Pinterest

Don’t like the fragility of pressed leaves? Why not Mod Podge them. Place leaves on parchment paper or wax paper. Using a foam brush carefully brush on a thin coat of glossy or matte Mod Podge. Use whichever you prefer. Let dry. Turn over, repeat.

LauraRadniecki.com

Using this same technique, you can make leaf bookmarks!

Thetablereadmagazine.co.u

If you don’t have time to Mod Podge you can also strengthen the microwave pressed leaves by gluing them onto vellum or mulberry paper. Punch a hole at the top and hang in a window for a charming nature-inspired suncatcher. I have included some basic leaf shapes if you want to use those as your base.

Michelle, Home Organization; Pinterest

321STARTdiy

Remember those late blooming flowers you gathered? They will make lovely bookmarks or framed nature collages. Microwave press them. Then taking a small paintbrush carefully brush glue onto the backs and press onto home made paper, precut to your desired size. Glue paper to sturdy card stock, punch a hole at the top, thread some yarn or ribbon and you have a one of a kind bookmark. You will need to spray some clear acrylic sealer (I like Krylon) over the top to make them durable enough to use.

Or

Arrange a few flowers and leaves, following the directions above. Place in frame. Make a grouping of 3-5 frames depending on the size of your frames, and wall space.

While you have your frames out (I keep a stash of them from thrift store and dollar store finds) try this idea:

She knows; Pinterest

Attach acorns with hot glue or a thick glue like Aleene’s Tacky Glue. Don’t have acorns? Try other nuts in the shell like walnuts, pecans or almonds.

These next ideas you don’t even have to step outside for - just raid your kitchen pantry!

Donna Zoller-Bieker 

Donchka

The next two ideas use both natural and artificial decorations. Don’t be afraid to mix the two. Do keep in mind that ‘fresh’ materials will get old and need to be replaced or re-done.

You can find old lamp bases, table legs or tall candleholders at the thrift store. Paint a solid color - I do like the black. Place a styrofoam wreath on the top, hot glue in place as needed. Set a pumpkin in the center. Then have fun with leaves, small branches, small flowers and medium sized ones also. Poke these into the styrofoam with a bit of glue on the end. You can ‘prep’ the hole with a knitting needle if you want. Twirl a string of tiny lights around it as another option.

This last photo shows an arrangement using a trunk as the base. You can also use a discarded suitcase. I think a small suitcase would look really good. Look around! The thrift store is your friend…

Roberta Deprospero-Johnston

That’s it for today’s blog. I hope I have encouraged you to bring in some nature and decorate for the season. Any of these projects will look great through November. If you need a more Halloween themed decor, use these as a base and add in your spiders, bats and goblins. Then November 1 pull those out and you have a great item for the Thanksgiving holiday season.

‘Til next time,

inkspired