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!
TraceyCK
November 15, 2010 at 2:57 pmLove the concept of doing more with less – and that’s a great looking phone – awesome giveaway!
Christy C
November 15, 2010 at 2:57 pmThis is a super cute idea!
Jenny
November 15, 2010 at 3:02 pmWhat a cute idea, love how it turned out! Awesome giveaway too!
micaela
November 15, 2010 at 3:03 pmPLEASE! I need a new phone my bb sucks!
Sarah
November 15, 2010 at 3:03 pmOoh, that’s adorable! And the phone looks quite intriguing…
Kathryn
November 15, 2010 at 3:08 pmI just accepted a new job at a non-profit agency in Seattle and I’ll be riding the bus downtown everyday – 1/2 hour there, 1/2 hour back. I’m still using a Razr Phone! It would be so great to have a phone with mobile web on it to go through emails and such while riding the bus each day. Thanks so much for holding this contest!
Marlene@http://itsallaboutcreating.blogspot.com
November 15, 2010 at 3:10 pmDoing more with less–necessity is the mother of invention (or creativity!). Recycling anything into something creative is my idea of doing more with less. I make junque into art.
Violet
November 15, 2010 at 3:17 pmSuper cute idea! Thanks for showing us the how-to, and what a great giveaway!
Sarah
November 15, 2010 at 3:19 pmI’m doing something w/ less right now. making paper chain to decorate my apt for the holidays & using old magazines for materials. I love how it is turning out!
Claire
November 15, 2010 at 3:33 pmGreat give away and DIY idea!
JLR
November 15, 2010 at 3:40 pmI would love to have this new windows phone – I just got a new Honda w/bluetooth and my old dinosaur phone does not work with it!
(I want a sneak peek at your basement re-do!)
Amanda
November 15, 2010 at 3:44 pmMy boyfriend just got this phone today… I would love to be nerdy and match him :)
MJ
November 15, 2010 at 3:44 pmWhat a cute idea! Very resourceful :) Would also love the phone!!!
steve
November 15, 2010 at 3:45 pmI’m a lifelong thrifter/salvager/finder/trash-picker. I would never ever be able to buy a phone like that for myself!!
Michelle
November 15, 2010 at 3:47 pmAwesome! Iove the idea. Can be modified for different season. I see a Christmas project in my future.
Leah
November 15, 2010 at 3:49 pmWow! What a cool giveaway! Cute project idea too! I think I could even do it. The phone would be an awesome way for me to keep on my blog reading while getting other tasks done. Yay for multi-tasking!!
Traci Ross
November 15, 2010 at 3:50 pmooooh i would loooove to have that phone!
Susan
November 15, 2010 at 3:55 pmLove the project! GReat idea! I’d love the phone too!!
Cora D
November 15, 2010 at 3:59 pmI was laid off in May, so my hubby and I have cut back on our expenses. The biggest difference is we traded in our newer, fancier cars (with big car payments) for two older, cheaper cars with one smallish car payment. We don’t miss the fancier cars and we certainly don’t miss the car payments.
Also, I’ve been shopping almost exclusively at consignment shops and second hand stores and have made out like a bandit! Plus, when I get tired of the clothes after a couple of months – no guilt!
Tara Jane
November 15, 2010 at 4:09 pmA new phone!
Ana
November 15, 2010 at 4:17 pmMy phone started getting squirrelly so I’m looking at replacing it.
Em D.
November 15, 2010 at 4:18 pmI love that this project is something easy to do with all the pretty pictures laying around! I also love that phone :)
Jenn
November 15, 2010 at 4:19 pmHoly cow would I ever love to win this and give it to my husband for Christmas this year!! Fingers and toes crossed (that doesn’t make them cancel each other out does it??) :)
Gina S
November 15, 2010 at 4:21 pmLove the banner.
mary
November 15, 2010 at 4:21 pmwow! What a fabulous giveaway from a fabulous blog!
And a great tutorial as a bonus!
Anne
November 15, 2010 at 4:23 pmGreat way to make use of the tons of magazines we all have laying around! Thanks for this.
Sarah
November 15, 2010 at 4:25 pmAs a stay at home mom of four children, I have learned to do a lot more than I ever thought possible with a lot less than I thought we could make it on! But with every clipped coupon and every thirsted outfit, I get the satisfaction of time well spent with my little ones!
Circa1972
November 15, 2010 at 4:28 pmThis is a fantastic idea! I have a ton of vintage wallpaper sample books that this would work wonderfully with. I think a garland is in order to help brighten up my basement laundry room re-do. Thanks for the inspiration.
Karyn
November 15, 2010 at 4:35 pmMy phone doesn’t even have QWERTY. This would be a BIG upgrade!
Holly Lacour
November 15, 2010 at 4:38 pmWow, what a treat! Thanks for the great give-a-way!
Jenny G.
November 15, 2010 at 4:39 pmAwesome Giveaway!
Rachel B.
November 15, 2010 at 4:44 pmWould love to win this phone! Awesome giveaway!
Christina S.M.
November 15, 2010 at 4:48 pmSuch a great giveaway! Thanks for this and for all the awesome stuff you have on your site.
Elizabeth
November 15, 2010 at 4:49 pmWhat a fun toy! It is on my to-buy list!
Robin
November 15, 2010 at 4:53 pmI love my Dell laptop running Windows 7, so I know I’d love a Windows 7 phone, too.
I have made a big effort in the last couple of years to recycle and repurpose everything. If I have old T shirts, I cut the knit fabric into strips and knit it into dishcloths. I’ll cut old towels into strips and weave or braid them into bathmats or rugs to put under the litter boxes in my house.
justine tamayo
November 15, 2010 at 5:14 pmI would love to have a new phone.
Lindsey
November 15, 2010 at 5:18 pmGreat idea using things around the house! I like how you incorporated the stitching with the sewing machine.
Nisha
November 15, 2010 at 5:21 pmWhat a GREAT project, love the pretty ribbons. Thanks for sharing.
The phone looks great, pity I dont qualify being overseas
Rachel TF
November 15, 2010 at 5:24 pmI love the idea with banner you made! Super cute! I am also very excited about the new Windows Phone 7! Doing more with less: Buying at garage sales definitely comes to mind.
nic rossouw
November 15, 2010 at 5:25 pmlooks like a great phone and maybe one that actually works without crashing all the time. i am locked into a love-hate relationship with windows based phone systems. i like microsoft outlook and the way it can synch my address book and calendar with the phone as i do a lot of site visits to look at construction projects all over the puget sound area. i have no interest in surfing the web or sending email on my phone and even when i try to do it the expensive phones seem almost incapable of handling what seems to be effortless for google based systems, and then the phones crash and burn on a regular basis. i vowed never to buy another windows based phone when i bought my current one, but perhaps if i win this one it will finally show me that they have made one that works and i will not have to hum john vanderslice’s classic : “bill gates must die” as wait for the phone to do some simple task.
Jessica
November 15, 2010 at 5:26 pmI would love a new fancy phone but there’s no way I could afford to buy one! Which is why I love your DIY paper garland – awesome way to reuse what I already have around the house.
Nicole
November 15, 2010 at 5:45 pmI am so in love with bunting! I can’t wait to try this project with some old Christmas magazines to decorate for the holidays! Of course, winning a new phone would also brighten my holiday season!
Kristen
November 15, 2010 at 5:52 pmI started making a bunting today!
Carol
November 15, 2010 at 5:54 pmLurve the bunting. I just pulled some of my fancy home magazines off the shelf and I’m having a HOOT of a time trying to decide on my color/pattern scheme.
katie
November 15, 2010 at 5:57 pmwhat a great banner! I would have to search to find magazine pages to cut up as I tend to keep mags for inspiration. Thanks for the opp to win a Windows Phone what a great prize.
ElaineMicheline
November 15, 2010 at 5:57 pmGreat giveaway! I’m doing more with less by shopping at thrift stores and garage sales :-)
Terri
November 15, 2010 at 6:08 pmNice craft project and great phone!
The Mom
November 15, 2010 at 6:13 pmThis little gem, if won, would have to go under the Christmas tree for some lucky family member. It might even be me! Ha ha…or ho ho ho!
Terri
November 15, 2010 at 6:15 pmI’ve never even seen this phone before, it sure beats my free flip-up phone I have…
Dayna
November 15, 2010 at 6:24 pmSuch a cute idea with the magazine pictures! Not too bad on the giveaway either :)
Mary
November 15, 2010 at 6:36 pmI am CONSTANTLY saving scraps of things “to use later” and rarely end up using them later. Love seeing ideas for things like this – you’ve inspired me!
alexis
November 15, 2010 at 6:38 pmLove this idea today with the garland. I am thinking of doing a “christmas themed” one :)
love the phone too..of course!
Thom
November 15, 2010 at 6:39 pmMy wife and I are total diyers, doing more with less. I’d love to try out this phone.
Mary Ferrara
November 15, 2010 at 6:41 pmI just love this blog so much. You are always so fresh and creative. I LOVE the idea of making the bunting with magazine/ catalog pages. That is so smart, and so pretty! I have just been seeing them with fabric everywhere–but magazine pages–well that is something to get excited about!
I would love to win this giveaway. How generous of them to offer! Thanks so much for all you do.
Elena @ Breakfast for Dinner
November 15, 2010 at 6:43 pmI’m trying to do more with less by digging into my fabric stash more often instead of buying new stuff all the time. Thanks!
Michele
November 15, 2010 at 6:47 pmlove the bunting! i did a similar thing last year for christmas using cardboard from the recycling bin and cutting it in the shape of ornaments… my favorite? rainier beer ornament! ritz boxes have lots of red, too.
oh, and phone? yes, please!
Kara
November 15, 2010 at 6:48 pmMagazines always have the best patterns & print in them, makes sense to put them to good use.
Sure would love to win that phone, I would give it to my husband for christmas, check that off the list! lol
Shifra
November 15, 2010 at 6:49 pmI’ll take it, please! (Oh, that’s not enough characters, is it)
Emily S
November 15, 2010 at 6:50 pmI love all thing bunting – and this one is adorable!
Tara R.
November 15, 2010 at 6:53 pmI think this project is really great. I would love to try and make it for my daughter’s room. She is 14 and quite picky about how her room it decorated, but I think she would really love this idea. I would make it using blues and greens to match the rest of her room. Thanks for great ideas!
Jen S.
November 15, 2010 at 6:58 pmI’d love to make some bunting to celebrate a new phone! Thanks for the tutorial.
Emma
November 15, 2010 at 6:58 pmI love this idea! Really festive and a great project for a party. I will definitely try this one out. The giveaway is awesome, too. This new phone looks great.
Ellen K.
November 15, 2010 at 7:07 pmI LOVE the ad campaign for these new phones! It is SO true that people spend too much time obliviously staring at their phones and not paying attention to the world around them. I’d love to try one of these out!
AshleyG
November 15, 2010 at 7:08 pmgreat bunting! even better giveaway! I’d love to give this phone to my hubs!
Christie
November 15, 2010 at 7:21 pmCute garland idea! Thanks for a great giveaway!!
Danielle
November 15, 2010 at 7:26 pmLove the bunting idea! Would definitely be a lot of fun for a bday/congrats/etc party – and more stylish than the usual offerings.
And the giveaway sounds amazing! I’m out of work and going to school part-time so I currently can’t even justify paying for texting charges. A smart phone?! Be still my heart!!
mrs. lady
November 15, 2010 at 7:27 pmyou could do a fun christmas one with wrapping paper!
Shannon
November 15, 2010 at 7:30 pmI think this would be just the thing in toy boy prints for my little guy’s next birthday party. Thanks for the great idea!
Mary L
November 15, 2010 at 7:30 pmcute banner!
need phone!!
Casey
November 15, 2010 at 7:31 pmWhat a great idea! This would look great in my little sister’s room. I might try it this weekend. Thanks!
Amber
November 15, 2010 at 7:39 pmI love the idea of doing more with less & would like to see just how much this phone can trump the iphone. So awesome.
<3
Kristin
November 15, 2010 at 7:43 pmI’ve never seen bunting that original!! such a cute idea. That phone is pretty cute too!!!
Christine P
November 15, 2010 at 7:45 pmThis is fantastic giveaway! Doing more with less is a great idea for this time of year!
Laura
November 15, 2010 at 7:47 pmwhat a great idea for old magazines!
erin michelle
November 15, 2010 at 7:57 pmi need a new phone in the worst of ways.
Cherie
November 15, 2010 at 7:57 pmOf all the ways to decorate for the holidays, I never thought about paper bunting! How did you come up with this novel, inexpensive idea?
andrea k
November 15, 2010 at 8:05 pmpick me pick me
Emma L - Wohoo!
November 15, 2010 at 8:08 pmOh my, I don’t know what I love more, the giveaway or that amazing bunting!
Monique
November 15, 2010 at 8:08 pmIs it bad that I can recognize most of those magazine clippings from which catalogue they came? Novel idea, good for the earth, too.
Dana @ House*Tweaking
November 15, 2010 at 8:10 pmI made a similar fabric bunting but your paper one looks fab! Oh, and I want a new phone even though I can barely text the word “ok”.
Nicole N.
November 15, 2010 at 8:17 pmI love your bunting–it is so cute! The phone looks amazing too!
Tracy Slayne
November 15, 2010 at 8:24 pmOh my gosh!! If I win this, I too could join the groups of women who simply slide their fingers magically over a screen and have calendars, phone numbers, apps??? at their fingertips..Literally! Oh, please oh please! :)
elise
November 15, 2010 at 8:25 pmRecycled bunting, new phone? Yes, please!
Cali
November 15, 2010 at 8:29 pmOh, what a wonderful giveaway!
Delta
November 15, 2010 at 8:36 pmAwesome project and awesome-r phone giveaway!
Meggan
November 15, 2010 at 8:45 pmI think the garland would be cool with wrapping paper (Christmas or something else).
Dawn Zaffron
November 15, 2010 at 8:46 pmI love love love bunting…I just made a scalloped bunting for my baby’s room this past weekend. That is a pretty snazzy looking phone…who knows, maybe I’ll win it!
Tara
November 15, 2010 at 8:55 pmOh, I love the bunting, what a great way to recycle and be festive! Do you think I could possibly make one in time for my daughter’s birthday party this Saturday?! Here’s hoping!!
Erin Wilson
November 15, 2010 at 9:09 pmgreat idea! ideas swirling!!!
Kate
November 15, 2010 at 9:15 pmLove the bunting, and great give away!
Shannon R
November 15, 2010 at 9:18 pmCute bunting, and a new phone is always a good thing!
Sarafina
November 15, 2010 at 9:31 pmSuper cute and a fantastic way to get me to leaf through the massive pile of magazine that need to be recycled ASAP.
Fair
November 15, 2010 at 9:42 pmSuch a cute project! I think I’ll make a sweet wintery one.
amanda
November 15, 2010 at 9:47 pmOh, to have a brand new phone! Crossing my fingers.
Lisa S
November 15, 2010 at 9:56 pmYay for recycling! And a new phone!
jen
November 15, 2010 at 10:04 pmwhat a great idea!
Crystal
November 15, 2010 at 10:06 pmLove your website- always inspiring!
Christy G.
November 15, 2010 at 10:10 pmThis is a wonderful idea for the Holidays. :)
liz a.
November 15, 2010 at 10:35 pmyour banner came out really cute. i love the colors you chose too, soft pinks. i keep wanting to make a banner but then chicken out; i shall get out all my scrap papers, close my eyes and just start! ha! and thank you for the giveaway, i must cross my fingers! lol!
Heather
November 15, 2010 at 10:40 pmMy husband can’t stop talking about all these new phones, I’d love to be able to suprise him with a Windows Phone to replace our bottom-of-the-line-free-with-contract phone!