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 Paper Doll Party

 Welcome!

Taina Nebrego, papel boutique

Let’s have a party!

A paper doll theme party!

Needle and Thread, LLC

Paper dolls are so fun,

with so many styles & variations.

Altered Art paper doll angels

Wordpress.com

Paper dolls are always in style,

for any age, any time, don’t you think?

Graphic 45 collection

Let’s start with some invitation samples -

You can make them as simple

Whimsy-girl.blogspot.com

Or as fancy as you want.

Andrea Malpass, where the green grass grows designs

invitationforsleepoverparty.com

Sweetparties.blogspot.com

Once your invitations are done, you can start work on decorations.

This is the fun part!

Here are some ideas for a sweet 

BALLERINA paper doll party -

BonjourFete/A Party Boutique

Lanissa Youngquist

I found some vintage ballerina paper dolls with pretty outfits. You don’t have to use the adult ballerinas if you want little girls only, but the outfits would make great garlands and accessories.

Don’t forget you can use the costumes each doll is wearing too.

The Cross Design

Next are some ideas for a different themed paper doll party -

a fashion paper doll party!

Bloglovin’

Here are some paper doll books from great artists to inspire you!

Julie Allen Matthews 

Eileen Rudisill Miller

Sandra Vanderpool

Tom Tierney

These would make great place cards -

Adele Knight

Here’s another theme -

Wouldn’t it be fun to throw a 

Barbie 1960’s paper doll party?

You can purchase different re-printings from 

Vintage Paper Dreams on Etsy, for just one resource.

I liked the full-body clothes these had.

Adapt any of the ideas here to fit your theme and budget.

Now -

Let’s not forget the food!

Let’s help make your food goodies fit the theme of your party.

Printed paper dolls and accessories attached to the side of a cake look charming:

Tainah Nobrega; Papel Boutique

This cake has a cute clothesline atop -

Chelle Michelle; Pinterest

Popcorn is a budget food that is easy to dress up by placing in cups with just a little decoration-

Elena Galli, World Wide Party; Pinterest 

Do the same with inexpensive canning jars 

for drinks. This one is tied on with ribbon -

Simone N., Catch My Party

Using your printer,

or using paper doll books that are torn or incomplete, you have so many opportunities for budget decorating.

Also check out local $Dollar$ stores for inexpensive paper doll books.

Whimsy-girl.blogspot.com

Any place you use a toothpick,

Glue a paper doll or costume on it to add to the theme look.

(We can do recipes in another blog.)

G

lucy.jp

Jennifer Gallagher

I love this idea -

Using cupcake wrappers for decorative little bowls.

craftinessisnotoptional.blogspot

What is left to help our party be a success?

Activities

Especially with younger children, they need activities in small amounts of time as their attention spans wander.

Let’s see what we can do about that!

ChattyCathyB

While the above was meant as a charming home display, you can adapt the idea for your party.

Tape baker’s twine onto individual metal trays (found in thrift stores). Add small clothespins and paper doll cut outs. Each child then has a tray for individual play, or with a neighbor.

Posted by Leslie Dye; Pinterest

Here’s a sheet of paper dolls you could print for activity time. As far as I can tell there is no copyright.

Here is a simple doll paper chain for them to cut and decorate -

Best Coloring Pages

Why not print up a sheet of simple ballet costumes, and have each attendee sit at a table with crayons, markers, glitter glue, sequins and feathers, etc.? They can create their own fantasy costumes to take home & display.

Found on Pinterest, this pattern is to make a jointed paper doll! Here’s a ballerina -

Kimweissenborn.com

Sweetonparties.blogspot.com

Speaking of taking home, little gift bags for each attendee to take home is a sweet gesture, but can get pricey.

Let’s explore some options.

Send home a paper doll sheet for them to cut and play with.

Found on Pinterest

Make a bookmark for each one.

Stampittome.files.wordpress.com

Using inexpensive Dollar Store frames, mat & frame a small set of paper dolls as a keepsake.

Mouse House Creations, Hayley Crouse

This next one takes more time, but I love the idea! Stitch up a simple drawstring bag. Print a favorite paper doll set on good cardstock. Cut and glue onto magnet sheets. Cut out.

You now have an adorable refrigerator magnet set of paper dolls, all kept in its’ own bag!

Clara Clips; Flickr

Last idea!

Print and cut out a paper doll.

Glue onto sturdy cardboard, like a cereal box. Glue that onto a piece of fun foam.

Cut out, leaving a rim as desired.

Glue a bar pin back on.

(Hot glue works pretty good)

Voila! 1 pin.

CircaAD; Etsy 

I could go on  and on with more fun projects, ideas, recipes etc., but let’s close for now shall we?

Origami Resource Center

I would LOVE to see some of your work.

Drop me a note or photo.

‘Til next time,

inkspired