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Recycled Paper Bunting (and a Giveaway)

November
15 492
comments

I have a great giveaway for you today (sponsored by Windows Phone 7), but more on that in just a bit. First I want to share a little project with you.

Supplies

  • paper (can be new, or can come from magazines/catalogs)
  • ribbon (grosgrain works nicely)
  • ruler or drafting triangle (optional — see the second step for clarification)
  • pencil
  • scissors
  • decorative edged scissors (optional)
  • glue (plain Elmer’s is fine)
  • sewing machine or needle and thread (optional)

Instructions

  • Determine how long your garland will be and cut the appropriate length of ribbon (mine is nine feet long). Be sure to leave some extra length to hang down on the ends or to tie into bows.
  • Cut a triangle out of paper to use as a template. The sides on mine were seven inches long. You don’t have to measure, but a ruler is helpful for making straight lines. I used a drafting triangle, but that is totally unnecessary unless you are persnickety about making true equilateral triangles (*ahem*).
  • Trace your template onto different papers to make as many triangles as you need. I cut nine triangles from catalogs and nine from pink card stock.

  • Figure out which triangles are going to be the top layer (the patterned ones in my case), and mark off the top one inch from each. Fold it along the line and snip off the little ends that stick out.

  • Line up each smaller triangle with a larger one and glue them together along the top to make your flags.
  • After I made mine, I decided that they would look even better with a decorative edge so I used my pinking shears. You can leave them plain though, or even draw on a border (dots would be cute).

  • Glue or sew your completed triangles to your ribbon, remembering to leave some length along the ends to hang.

  • Finished!

And that’s how I made a recycled paper bunting using items from around the house, doing more with less. Speaking of which…

Windows Phone 7 Giveaway

The new Windows Phones are helping people Do More with Less, and I have one to give away to you! You can enter to win by leaving a comment on this post. One entry per person, per day, until November 29. Please see the official rules for more details.

This giveaway is brought to you by the new Windows Phone 7. Less tech tired. More tech trendy: Learn more about Windows Phone online and see it in person at local T-Mobile stores today.

* 11.30.10: Congratulations to the winner, TracyCK!


link    'F' for Freebies, Crafty (& Handy)  •  492 Comments  •  November 15, 2010

Fabric Twist Ties in Gifted

November
3 19
comments

Have you looked at Gifted yet? It’s the newest e-magazine on the block, put out by the talented and lovely Ez of Creature Comforts. I was really impressed, and I found a ton of inspiration inside. The feature on Fabric Twist Ties in particular that had me saying “I’m going to make that”.

There are more ideas for using them and full instructions in Gifted, starting on page 97. And you’re going to love the rest of the magazine too.

link    Crafty (& Handy)  •  19 Comments  •  November 3, 2010

Happy Halloween from Olivia

October
31 110
comments

Eleanor loves Olivia, so we dressed her as her porcine heroine for Halloween this year.

Eleanor’s pig nose was drawn on with liquid eyeliner, which held up surprisingly well. I made the ears with fleece, wire, and a headband, and I sewed the sailor collar to go over her store-bought dress. The collar even has stars on the back (drawn on with a marker) for authenticity.

We hope you had as great a Halloween as we did!

link    Crafty (& Handy), Holidays, Parenting  •  110 Comments  •  October 31, 2010

Getting Ready for Halloween

October
28 22
comments

I’ll be doing a bit of crafting and sewing today, putting Eleanor’s Halloween costume together. I’m making it a little easier on myself this year compared to last — just pig ears and a sailor collar. I may be running out of time, but at least our front porch has been decorated (which you can vote for daily until Sunday). Now if you’ll excuse me, I have some fabric to buy.

link    Crafty (& Handy), Holidays  •  22 Comments  •  October 28, 2010

Spooky Halloween Front Porch for BHG

October
26 40
comments

My fourth and final project for Better Homes & Gardens can finally be revealed! I decorated our front porch for Halloween with 2D and 3D spooky crows on twisted branches. My porch is up against the other three bloggers’ projects, so please vote for your favorite at bhg.com.

In addition to the crows, several rats can also be found cavorting about. Even Bernard the monkey (I picked him up on clearance over the summer at Z Gallerie) has found a small furry friend.

The project was pretty straightforward, but here’s how I did it…

Supplies

  • black construction paper or poster board
  • scissors
  • pencil
  • transparent tape
  • large branches (the gnarlier, the better)
  • black spray paint (optional)
  • fake crows
  • wire (if your crows do not have it already)
  • planters and bricks/rocks for bases

Instructions

  • Sketch a barren tree and a couple of crows onto your black paper.
  • Cut out your shapes and affix them to your door or window with transparent tape.
  • If you need to darken your branches, spray them with a bit of black paint and let them dry.
  • Fill your planters with rocks or bricks and insert your branches.
  • Perch your birds in the branches and secure them with wire (my birds’ feet had wire built-in for this purpose).

I also took off our screen door (it was blocking the view of the silhouetted birds), and I made new curtains for the front door and window.

Remember, you can vote every day until Halloween for your favorite project at bhg.com. Now I can’t wait to answer the door for the neighborhood trick-or-treaters on Sunday…

link    Crafty (& Handy), Holidays, Outside, Press  •  40 Comments  •  October 26, 2010

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