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!
Kate
November 17, 2010 at 12:11 amGreat Phone! And very cool idea for the bunting!
Shirley
November 17, 2010 at 1:10 amamazing project! my younger sister has been looking for a new remodel to her bedroom and this would be a terrific idea to add something different, already loving your blog and i’m a first time reader!!
Jennifer
November 17, 2010 at 1:37 amI love that bunting! And my husband would love that phone for Christmas!
Maggie
November 17, 2010 at 5:40 amCute.
Great timing on the giveaway as I’m recently returned to the US, so both sans phone and finally eligible to enter!
Amy S
November 17, 2010 at 5:48 amThe phone is still calling out to me!
katrina
November 17, 2010 at 8:33 amI’m curious which magazines you were willing to sacrifice for the bunting… I’ve envied your domino collection for some time. Entering again, keeping my fingers crossed that I win, could really use a new phone!
Amy Cygan
November 17, 2010 at 8:35 amMy current phone is on it’s last leg but has been good to me. Been out scouting for a new one and did see a windows phone at my t mobile store. Great phone!
Love the bunting.
Intisar
November 17, 2010 at 9:43 amCool phone!! I could definitely use it.
suzanne
November 17, 2010 at 10:10 amgreat idea for the bunting, and would love the phone!
lisa
November 17, 2010 at 10:16 amphone please.
Amy
November 17, 2010 at 10:22 amI just made a paper bunting for my son’s first birthday, but this one is way better. I wish I had seen it earlier. This is an awesome giveaway too btw.
Christina
November 17, 2010 at 10:32 amI just found your blog and love it! Thanks for all the ideas. I wouldn’t mind a new phone either :)
Jane
November 17, 2010 at 10:48 amThat’s a great idea, and couldn’t be more timely! (The bunting, I mean.) We’re hosting our annual New Year’s party, and we’ve used the same decorations for the past 4 years. So it’s definitely time for new things — with all the wrapping paper, etc. laying around, I could make this in a snap. Thanks!
Dele O
November 17, 2010 at 11:05 amReally liking the blog. I’m all about doing more with less by making vs. buying gifts.
Tonia
November 17, 2010 at 11:27 amI am in love with this project, What a eco friendly way to decorate for a party or a child’s room. I think that I would try this with some of my vintage wrapping paper, and thanks for the opportunity to win the phone.
Susan
November 17, 2010 at 11:53 amEntering to win!
Kari Holland
November 17, 2010 at 1:03 pmLove the idea – love the phone!!
Melissa Collins
November 17, 2010 at 1:24 pmI love to do more with less by buying chicken in bulk from a local farm. Then I make a months worth of meals and freeze them. Then when its dinner time I pull one out of the freezer and cook in no time.
maria
November 17, 2010 at 1:36 pmgreat phone and wonderful give-away! thanks for thinking of us!
Kathy
November 17, 2010 at 1:44 pmLove your blog and this phone would be the perfect gift!
Natalie
November 17, 2010 at 1:46 pmLike the phone, and I know my husband would like it even more!
cortney
November 17, 2010 at 1:52 pmThis is a great blog and I could use a new phone!
Alison F.
November 17, 2010 at 2:13 pmThanks for all of your great ideas!
Rian
November 17, 2010 at 2:27 pmI love this, I am so behind with my antique phone! This would be great!
Lisa
November 17, 2010 at 3:46 pmI love all the great projects on your site, and I stop by every day, if only to give my eyes something pretty to look at. Would love a new phone, too, but that’s beside the point.
Overfriendly Concierge
November 17, 2010 at 3:51 pmYet another post to win a much needed new phone!
Angela
November 17, 2010 at 4:04 pmI think it is so neat that you sewed the triangles to the ribbon.
Heather
November 17, 2010 at 4:33 pmReady to win a new phone!
Holly G
November 17, 2010 at 5:53 pmIs the new Windows 7 phone only compatible on the At&T network? I used to have AT&T and I regret that I have switched to Sprint. My Blackberry barely works where I live!
Abi
November 17, 2010 at 6:00 pmLove the paper bunting, and a new phone would be, well, fabulous!
Allyson
November 17, 2010 at 6:15 pmSuch a cute idea (and great re-use project!!!). The hubs would love the Windows phone!
Jean YY
November 17, 2010 at 6:27 pmCool!! I would LOVE to win this. Not for me but for my husband. I just upgraded my phone less than a week ago but my husband is in need of a NEW phone!
hanna
November 17, 2010 at 7:21 pmso cool!
Shannon
November 17, 2010 at 7:27 pmI’m hoarding all the incoming magazines now with an eye toward using the paper for wrapping and other uses, thanks for the inspiration here.
Sheri
November 17, 2010 at 7:53 pmLove the project and the phone! Thanks!
Ellyn
November 17, 2010 at 8:10 pmLove the project and your site! Great timing to enter for a new phone as mine recently went for an unintentional swim. Thanks.
Jennifer
November 17, 2010 at 10:35 pmI’m back to enter again for my once a day entry (and I never do that!) I just think this is an awesome giveaway!
Breenah
November 17, 2010 at 10:37 pmEntering again! I’m so excited for this. And each time I come back, I want to make the bunting more and more!
Samantha
November 18, 2010 at 12:10 ami love scrapbooking. its a relatively cheap hobby and it lets u relive the happy memories with someone :)
Anna
November 18, 2010 at 2:31 ami kick my husband out of the kitchen, it’s easier and faster when he’s NOT helping, lol
Kate
November 18, 2010 at 2:34 amI have to admit, I have a bit of a crush on your website. It’s filled with creative ideas, great links, an abundunce of projects, and fantastic clothes! What more could a girl ask for? Oh, right…she could ask for a new phone. Dear Santa, please pick me?
Kate
November 18, 2010 at 2:49 amDoes the Windows Phone 7 have spell check? I really hope so, as it would have saved me the humiliation of misspelling abundance in my previous post! See, not only do I want that phone, I need it… badly.
Pauline
November 18, 2010 at 5:39 amlooks groovy :-)
(i need a new phone!!)
Janet
November 18, 2010 at 5:50 amI have been attempting to do more with less. With my first baby on the way, I am striving to live simply and live well. Whether it’s what I eat, what I buy, what I think, what I spend my time doing….I am certainly attempting to simplify and change my perspective to be thankful for all that I have instead of anything that I am lacking.
Colette
November 18, 2010 at 6:22 amLove the bunting! Just have to unearth my sewing machine…
Rian
November 18, 2010 at 7:55 amBuntings are so cute and versatile! Love it… thanks for the giveaway, also….
Pastor Jim
November 18, 2010 at 8:13 amPick me! Pick me! Ooooh, pick me!!!
katrina
November 18, 2010 at 8:40 amTrying to mix things up, how about a haiku for the phone?
What a pretty phone
Helps us to do more with less
To win, I would love
Sasha
November 18, 2010 at 9:04 amOh, to have a “smart” phone…my current one is having self esteem issues…he doesn’t understand why I don’t love him anymore…maybe it’s because he only takes calls and texts (even that he only does half the time)? Just maybe.
Ducky
November 18, 2010 at 9:13 amIf I have leftover sauerkraut after cooking with it, I call up my pal Saul, and we make ruben sandwiches. Great way to do more with less with Sauerkraut Saul!
Breenah
November 18, 2010 at 9:30 amI am loving the new file cabinet! It’s effective and super cute.
Dele O
November 18, 2010 at 11:52 amDoing more with less sometimes means working on the go. Which is where my laptop and a good smartphone comes in handy. Go windows phone
Yogi
November 18, 2010 at 1:05 pmI stay organized with Microsoft OneNote, which helps me do more with less time.
Casey
November 18, 2010 at 2:10 pmWhat a great idea! This would look great in my little sister’s room. I might try it this weekend. Thanks!
Overfriendly Concierge
November 18, 2010 at 2:34 pmCruising by for another entry in the phone contest. Of course, I cruise by every day whether there’s a contest or not. :-)
Katie W
November 18, 2010 at 3:09 pmWhat a good idea! I always see things in magazines that I want to keep but I end up thinking, “what am I actually going to do with this?!” Now I know!
cortney
November 18, 2010 at 4:29 pmFlags are so fun…as is a new phone!
Angela
November 18, 2010 at 4:47 pmI would love to have this phone. I have never been able to justify spending extra money on a phone. I’m “frugal” so I always get one that is free with a new 2 year contract.
Malinda Lloyd
November 18, 2010 at 5:48 pmoh – I like the flags!!
I want to stop carrying 2 phones – I have a work blackberry and personal android phone. I love them both but with the W7 phone I can access both sets of data without crossing the streams or at least that’s what the Win7 rep at SXSW told me :) woo hoo!!
Craig
November 18, 2010 at 6:20 pmYou are alarmingly talented! But anyway, thanks for the chance to win a phone millions of times better than my current clunker!
Danielle
November 18, 2010 at 7:06 pmI could soo use a new phone. This one looks great. Doing more with less seems to be my lot in life lately so this would be perfect.
– Danielle
other-option AT hotmail DOT com
kaitlin
November 18, 2010 at 7:10 pmgive me now
Jennifer R
November 18, 2010 at 9:27 pmYou are an amazing blog wizard..you did way more than I knew could be done with wordpress..are you for higher? Love to win the phone too. :)
Jennifer R
November 18, 2010 at 9:28 pmIt’s been a crazy long day..just saw I wrote higher for hire….god Lord! I am cracking myself up!
Samantha
November 19, 2010 at 12:21 ami use colorful newspaper sections such as the comics to wrap presents or even old calendar pages. kids love cartoons
Yogi
November 19, 2010 at 5:08 amBy using Quick Steps in Microsoft Outlook, I do more and do it quicker.
Rian
November 19, 2010 at 7:35 amI think that even I could handle making this cute bunting – and that is saying alot. I love reading the craft blogs but I’m really inept at producing a good final product myself!
Breenah
November 19, 2010 at 7:48 amI can’t believe we still have to wait ten days for this to end!
Rose
November 19, 2010 at 8:12 amI am so in love with this project and I can’t wait to try it! :)
kirsty
November 19, 2010 at 8:17 amWhat an inventive idea and great to do with family at christmas time!
suzanne
November 19, 2010 at 9:00 amphone! and cool bunting.
Jennifer
November 19, 2010 at 9:47 amI love the idea of doing more with less. That is probably our Christmas motto this year! Love that phone too. :)
Forever Friday Links 11.19.10 |
November 19, 2010 at 10:36 am[…] Bunting may be overdone, but I still love it. Make your own out of recycled magazine paper – easy […]
Elizabeth
November 19, 2010 at 12:11 pmI saw this phone in a magazine, would love to have it!
Cecy
November 19, 2010 at 12:59 pmhey, is that a giveaway for the phone. Sweet
Dele O
November 19, 2010 at 1:03 pmi’m all about replacing my stone age phone. I’m sure it will allow me to do more with less time
Callooh Callay » Blog Archive » Weekend Links: November 19th Edition
November 19, 2010 at 2:20 pm[…] Recycled bunting at Making It Lovely […]
Overfriendly Concierge
November 19, 2010 at 2:32 pmSure would love to win a brand-spanking new phone!
Emma L
November 19, 2010 at 6:02 pmI think I’m going to bring out the brand new Singer this weekend and use this post as inspiration!
Jen K
November 19, 2010 at 9:08 pmI love a bunting! This is such a great idea! Using magazines is clever. I have posted a couple tutorials on fabric and paper buntings. If you have a minute, check ’em out.
http://www.eatplaylaughoften.blogspot.com
Jearv
November 19, 2010 at 10:57 pmIn terms of less is more, we definitely try to do hand me downs and homecooked meals. We’re a tight-knit family and no one really complains about hand me downs. Homecooked meals are also cheaper and probably healthier than ordering take out everyday!
Samantha
November 20, 2010 at 12:53 amcardboard, plain ol cardboard has always helped me. fold them into boxes, use as a make shift table, line areas for crafts. always works for me :)
jenny
November 20, 2010 at 2:01 amwhat an awesome bunting!! you’re so creative! i would love to try the new windows phone!
Dele O
November 20, 2010 at 10:40 amCalendars are a huge help. And the Outlook Quickstep is a great shortcut tool that helps me quickly create some of my common tasks, appointments, and emails while on the go. The win phone 7 will be a great mobile tool to aid in this
Elizabeth
November 20, 2010 at 11:11 amAwesome idea for bunting and a great phone!
Rian
November 20, 2010 at 11:47 amI love how festive this bunting is – simple and easy too! I like how simply changing up the colors or patterns of the material you use can make this applicable for any holiday
Natalie
November 20, 2010 at 12:24 pmI have just been directed by my husband to enter this contest on his behalf. So here’s my entry for today!
Tanya
November 20, 2010 at 12:46 pmI love the bunting idea! And the phone is awesome! I’ve not always been a Windows fan, but I like the concept behind the phone…
monica
November 20, 2010 at 7:37 pmoh, such cute bunting! fun phone, too…
Steph
November 20, 2010 at 7:41 pmvery neat decoration idea, phone looks awesome. hope to see it in person soon
anna p.
November 20, 2010 at 9:11 pmWhat a fun project! Thanks for the inspiration! And fingers crossed for the phone.
Holly G
November 20, 2010 at 9:38 pmI’m glad that I read the official rules. I always think I am missing something if I don’t!
Tamara Styles
November 21, 2010 at 2:54 amI need that phone in my life..
allison
November 21, 2010 at 4:33 amWish I would have seen the bunting idea before my daughter’s birthday party, would have been adorable (and easier than the cloth we made). Love the blog! Excited to see the progress on the new nursery and basement! Tired of my blackberry:)
Yogi
November 21, 2010 at 6:37 amI’ll be able to get more done with less by consolidating my devices when I get a Windows Phone.
Beth-BTW
November 21, 2010 at 7:42 amWhat a cool bunting idea! That new phone would transport me lightyears ahead from my vintage flip.
Rian
November 21, 2010 at 9:14 amWe really do more with less at the holidays by focusing on making a meal plan and sticking with it. That prevents us from being impulsive with dining out and picking up carryout.
Overfriendly Concierge
November 21, 2010 at 10:22 amBack again to enter to win this great phone! Just dreaming of how much more organized it will make me.
Elizabeth
November 21, 2010 at 11:20 amThinking of trying the bunting with holiday pages…of course hopefull I will be busy with my new phone:)
Sharon
November 21, 2010 at 5:22 pmMy more for less: I organize and gather everything needed for the next day the night before. I also use my google calendar to notify me of upcoming events and deadlines.