Time for a Thursday Tutorial!!!!

I love making decorations but of course ya'll already knew that....hehe!!! I wanted to share one of the ways I make a wreath with you. It's inexpensive and very VERY easy peasy to make. I bet you have most of the items we will need on hand already. If not then all can be purchased at Dollar Tree. I LOVE Dollar Tree, don't you? Here's what you'll need:

A swim noodle

coffee filters

scissors

glue gun

duct tape

string

embellishments

See, I told you that most items you would probably already have on hand....so let's get started. First thing is to decide on how big you want your wreath. Once decided take your scissors and cut into the noodle but not all the way through it. Cut around until you are back at your starting point. Pull the pieces apart. Now you will see why I told you not to cut all the way through. There is a long piece of plastic inside the noodle and if ya hold it in one hand and over your head and then twirl it, it makes the coolest whistling sound. HEY, ya already know how quirky I am and I love to make noise. (where do you think the Chazman gets it from)

Ok now, you can put the piece of plastic down for now...hehe  Pull the ends of the noodle together and duct tape with several pieces. Ya might need a bit of help with this part. It makes it sooo much easier if someone holds the noodle together for you. (yes yes, I'm speaking from experience) Once it's all taped up then take a piece of string and cut it about an arm length....that's from your shoulder to your fingertips. Yes, I measure Southern gal style. ^_^   Fold the string in half and then tie the two loose ends together with a double knot.

Place the string over the top of the noodle where the duct tape is...this is the top of your wreath and pull it through itself. This makes a great hanging loop for when you are finished. I always place a piece of duct tape on the back to keep the string securely in place.

Isn't duct tape awesome?

Next step is to lay the noodle down on your workspace with the string at the top. Take a coffee filter and place your finger in the center and fold upwards like you are making a flower. Twist one time (after you remove your finger of course) and flatten bottom. 

Take your glue gun and please please be careful (yes yes speaking from experience again) and put a few dabs on the bottom of the filter. Then place filter on to the noodle. If  the back of your wreath is going to be showing then you will probably want to spray paint it white or cover it in felt before starting this process. Mine doesn't show so I just started gluing!! 

This is with three filters already in place. With mine I did four rows starting at the top and coming downward. It helps if you lift the noodle up every so often to check and see what kind of coverage you are getting. From this point ya just keep folding flowers and gluing....folding flowers and gluing....folding...OK OK ya get my drift....hehe. 

An important thing to remember is the glue that comes out of a glue gun is HOT HOT HOT!!! I have found that if I take the flower and bunch it up as I press it on the noodle or I take a wooden stick and push it on that I don't burn my fingers as easily or as often. Now...back to folding flowers and gluing....folding flowers and gluing. Ohhhh...don't get into a rush...you will be doing this routine for a while yet. It took me about an hour and a half to make mine but that's because I have to get up and stretch these old bones...can't sit in one place to long. Ya might be faster or slower...it doesn't matter which just have FUN!!!

Now once you have all the noodle covered that you need to then hold it up and see if there are any spaces that might need a little extra flower pressed in. I guess I should call them snowflakes, eh? I mean this is a Christmas wreath. Ohhhhh....don't try and put the snowflakes really close together in the beginning or you WILL be taking longer than my time to complete. That's the good part about checking it after you're all done.

All you do after adding the snowflakes (that's filters) is add whatever embellishments you want. They really look pretty plain but I like to add purties to things...so I did. I added one of my handmade snowflakes and if you would like to make one of those too then just click HERE and go to my tutorial on making one. They're fun to make too and you will be surprised at what they are made of. Well...if ya know me then ya might not be surprised at all. 

I also added a pretty dark red bow just to give it some color and to pull it into the other decorations that are in the B&B room...hehe

This is a fun project to do with others...like a girls day out. I have been thinking about having some craft parties just not sure I know enough gals that would come.  Perhaps I will try and have one or two next year and see how they turn out. I mean what would be more fun than to get together with the girls, eat some snacks, gossip a bit (hehe), drink some wine (AFTER the glue gun is turned off) and just have a good time AND make something pretty to take home. 

This wreath also looks very pretty if you use the natural colored coffee filters...it gives it a vintage look. Love vintage and before ya ask, I used the white ones because #1 that's what I had on hand and #2 I wanted to use my handmade snowflake. ^_^  

This wreath can be made for other holidays too just by changing the filters. You could use tissue papers in red for Valentines or pastel colors for Easter or black and orange tissue paper for Halloween. I think your imagination can take it from here. 

Now stop twirling that plastic tube over your head and get to crafting....hehe

Until next time.........Hugs,

Regi

Oh oh ohhhhh, if you have any questions, please feel free to post a comment and I will get back with you. Leave an email addy too...that always helps. Hugs again!!!

Let's make a little paper box..shall we ^_^

I know that a good while back (probably well over a year...I think) I did a "How to" on making a paper box.   It was made from card stock which made it sturdy enough to cover in fabric...which I did!! ^_^   I needed some little boxes to put the Chazman's little WhoDoo characters in and that's why I remembered my paper boxes from earlier. I really didn't want to make the heavy duty ones as I know good and darn well that these aren't going to make it through the opening up part..hehe. I thought that some of you might want or need a small box to put a gift in and well I thought you might just like to make it yourself.

Step One......using a piece of letter size paper, take and fold one edge up into a 90 degree angle. Like this...

Cut along the line with scissors or whatever sharp instrument (exacto knife, paper cutter) you feel comfortable with. Me...I do good with scissors. ^_^

Step Two......After cutting off the edge (you can throw this away or keep and use to make a little gift card with it later) Unfold paper...turn and fold opposite corner up to meet top corner. Once open you should have a nice X (or cross...depends on how you look at it) in the paper.

Step Three.....Take each corner and place point in the center of the paper. It should look like this when this step is complete.

Step Four......Take the bottom of one side and fold it to the middle. (Should look like photo below) Take the edge directly across from that one and do the same. Open them up and turn paper and repeat for those two sides.

Step Five......Open up paper and cut one side up to the center square. (Where my lines are drawn) Repeat on the opposite side of paper once completed. Only do the two sides!!

Once cut the paper should look like this.....

Step Six......Turn paper around and fold the first flap over. Then take and fold upwards. Take sides and fold inside. It should look like the second photo below after this step.

Step Seven....Repeat on the other side. Then take the smaller flaps and fold them over the sides making sure that your points on sides are tucked inside one another. (makes folding easier)

Now...wasn't that easy peasy? You just made the top part of your box. To make the bottom part follow the same steps. Just make sure after you fold the first edge 90 degrees, to cut about 1/4 in further than you did the first time. This will make the top fit over the bottom.

Now if you don't want a plain white box, you can use scrapbook papers, Christmas wrapping paper (just make sure your design is on the outside when folding...HEY...I forgot the first time) brown paper bags, really just about anything that can be folded easily. You could even color on the white paper or splash some paints on it and let dry or even do some stamping on it. Your imagination has no boundaries...remember that!!!

I left the Chazman's boxes white because I knew that the pretty pom pom bow I was going to make would pretty much cover what ever was on the paper. WHAT? You say you want to know how to do a pom pom bow? No problem..hehe  You will  need string or yarn...scissors (yes..just scissors this time) and a plastic credit card or gift card.

Step One.....Take string and measure out at least 84 inches. YIKES..that's a lot of string or yarn you say but it really isn't. YOU might even want more if you want a fuller pom pom. Just sayin!!

Step Two....Cut a separate piece of string about 6 inches...this is your piece that will tie all the other string together once you finish wrapping it around the card. Just lay it one way on the card (either way is fine..the longer side just make a bigger pom pom) and then start wrapping your string the opposite.

Step Three....Once you have wrapped all of the string on the card, take your tie off piece and tie it off. HEHE.  Then gently slide the string off of the card.

Step Four.....Hold both ends and flip it over. Tie this side and make sure you make two knots or ties here.
Take scissors and place in between loops on one end and cut. Repeat on the other end.

That's how you make a pom pom bow. You can fluff now if you want but I find it much easier to wait and fluff after you have tied it onto your package. I use a different string to tie around the package and then I tie the bow on.

Now you know how to make a little paper box with a cute pom pom bow. I hope my directions were simple and I hope that you can use this "How to" to help you out with some of your gift giving wrappings.

Until next time...........Hugs,
Regi