Monday, June 10, 2013

DIY Decor

Tissue Paper Pom-Poms and Flowers
 
 
 

Make these simple tissue pom-poms to dress up a tablescape or hang them from a chandelier for a vibrant look.
 
Materials Needed:
  • colorful tissue paper
  • scissors 
  • florist wire
  • ribbon

Layer six to 10 sheets of standard-sized tissue paper on a flat surface. Fold width wise in an accordion-fold pattern.
 
Use sharp scissors to cut both ends of the folded tissue paper into a point. Try different designs by cutting the tissue paper into a half moon or v-shape.
 
Bind the center of the tissue with florist wire. Tie a ribbon onto the wire so the finished pom-pom can be suspended.



Gently pull apart layers of tissue and fluff them to form a sphere. Alternate between pink, lime green and white tissue to create a striped effect or choose paper in varying shades of the same color for a floral effect.
 
Create a different effect by tidying the tissue paper with water colors.
 
Paper Garland
 

Dress up your space with these simple, relatively quick paper garland decorations.
 
Materials Needed:
  • Paper, heavy card stock or two sided scrap book paper
  • Large paper punch, I used 2” round
  • Coordinating thread
  • Swing machine
 
First you will want to cut lots of paper circles! Keep in mind you will be able to see both sides of the paper once the garland is complete so make sure both side of the paper is pretty.
Next decide how close together you want the circles to “hang”. 25 circles, about an inch apart can make around five feet of garland.
 
Then just sew them together, down the middle, one after another.
 
Fabric Flag Garland

Materials Needed:

  • Fabric: about one yard of two different fabrics or a bunch of leftover sewing scraps.
  • Something to string flags on (rope, ribbon or cording)
  • Pinking shears
  • Basic sewing supplies (scissors, thread, sewing machine)
  • Large safety pin


Fold your fabric about one foot from the edge. Use pinking shears to cut triangles out of the fold. The amount of triangles you cut will determine the length of your garland.
 
Use a sewing machine to sew a straight line across the top of each folded triangle, about 1/2 an inch from the folded edge. Reverse to lock the stitch at the beginning and end of your line. For the "leftover" triangles, you'll need to sew two lines to make a pocket for the rope, one as close as possible to the top of the triangle, the second about 1/2 inch underneath.
 
Attach a safety pin to one end of your string/rope/ribbon, and use it to thread the rope through all of your triangles. Keep going until you have the look and length you want, then cut the rope and tie the ends up wherever you need a little splash of color. Create a banner by ironing on letters to the center of the Triangles.
 
 
 
Directional and Decorative Signs
 
 
 
Make your own rustic looking signs pointing people in the right direction.
 
Materials Needed:
 
  • 3 ft pine steaks
  • wood stain
  • white paint
  • Nails or Screws
  • Pine Planks or wood made for fencing (Most places will pre-cut the wood for you, just let them know the dimensions you need)

Nail or screw the Pine steaks to the pine planks or fencing.
 
Using a small can of wood stain, I applied one coat and let it dry.
 
When dry, if you only use one coat, the wood stain becomes uneven, perfect for a weathered look.
 
Then, paint the letters. Use stencils if your freehand lettering is less then wonderful.
 
Make sure your arrows are pointing the right direction!