Recycling paper: How to Make Book Page Medallions / Rosettes

This craft is part of the 13 Days of Halloween project. Download number templates for the project, as well as the bug template for Day 3, in the tips and supplies post. Links to all of the crafts from this project can be found in the main 13 Days of Halloween post.

Medallions, rosettes, accordion fold circles … whatever you call them, they’re a neat detail that you can use as everything from ornaments to gift embellishments. I love the look of old book pages in this craft, but you can use any paper that you’d like. I would recommend a text weight paper, as opposed to cardstock, since it’s easier to bend and fold.

 Recycling paper:  How to Make Book Page Medallions / Rosettes

Supplied Needed

a book page or pages

a ruler

a pencil

a hot glue gun

a 1″ circle or square of cardstock

glue dots or double-sided tape

Instructions

1. Cut a 1″ wide by 11 1/2″ to 12″ long strip from the book page. You may have to use multiple strips, which you can connect together using glue dots or double-sided tape. Lay the strip flat, and using a ruler and pencil, mark the edge of the paper every 1/4″.

2. Fold the paper in an accordion fold, using the pencil marks as your guide. When finished, connect the two loose ends together using glue dots or double-sided tape, forming a circular shape. Add hot glue to a 1″ circle or square of cardstock.

3. Immediately place the piece of cardstock over the center of the back side of the medallion. Hold in place (watch your fngers – that glue is hot!) for 30 seconds or so, until the glue begins to cool and the cardstock is firmly attached.

4. Add the calendar number to the front of the medallion using glue dots or double-sided tape.

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Paper crafts for kids: MAKE YOUR OWN ENVELOPES, origami tutorial

Paper crafts for kids: MAKE YOUR OWN ENVELOPES, origami tutorial

You will need:
An existing envelope, (any shape and size you wish).
Your favourite HB pencil
Coloured card, (you could have each one a different colour if you like).
An inlay sheet, printed from the downloadable template
Spray glue, double-sided tape and scissors.

Step 1: Firstly gently undo the glued sides of an existing envelope, careful not to tear them and cause too much damage. Lay the template flat on to some coloured card of your choosing and trace around the shape with a  pencil then cut out.

Step 2 + Step 3:
Carefully fold in the bottom and two side corner flaps of your new envelope to give it the basic shape. Leave the top one flat as this will be easier to trace when placed onto your inlay paper. With a pencil trace around your envelope shell onto your downloaded inlay paper and cutout. You will now have the exact size of the outer side of the envelope. This is not ideal as it will be too snug when the sides of the envelope are folded in so the inlay needs to be trimmed.

Step 4:
With a pencil and ruler mark about a 3 mm border from the edge at small increments all the way around the inlay. Then with a pair of scissors carefully follow the guide you have made and cut off the 3mm border.   Trim any rounded corners to neaten.

Step 5:
Place the inlay against the base of the envelope and check if you are happy with the size and border/rim shown by the envelope. Spray glue and return to the envelope, centering the inlay by lining it up with the bottom fold of the envelope. For a smooth and solid finish run your hand over it to eliminate any bubbles that could appear left between the inlay and the envelope.

Step 6:
Gently fold all the sides of the envelope back together again including the top flap and make sure you get a clear, crisp fold on all the edges. Use your double-sided tape to stick town the sides with the bottom flap.

Step 7:
With some white ink and a calligraphy pen, write your desired address and adorn with some pretty stamps and whatever else you like and it’s ready to go.

Cute aren’t they?!  I love how you could really personalise the liner to match your day!  How about using old comic book pages for a quirky retro wedding? Or maps for a travel themed celebration?  You could use old book or newspaper pages for a literary-inspired invite, or if you’re not worried about fraying edges how about trying it out with fabric?  What would you use to match your wedding?!

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Paper crafts: fun favour boxes fubumedia

Paper crafts: fun favour boxes fubumedia

Hey lovely people! You know it’s Thursday right?  Yup, that means we’re back with another cracking DIY project for you today! Woop!

The lovely Fanni over at Fubumedia has been beavering away on this fun little idea to share with us today.  A cute and unique favour box, just big enough to squeeze a couple of your favourite treats into as a delicious thank you for your guests.

 As with all our projects, it’s pretty simple, all you need to do is print the free templates, and get sticking!

You will need:

1 x favour box template

1 x thank-you flag template

2 x sheets A4 card (you could use complimentary colours to add an extra bit of pizzazz when your guests open the box!)

A pair of sharp scissors

Pencil

Cocktail sticks or toothpicks

Ribbon to coordinate with your wedding colours

Method:

Dowload and print the templates, and cut out the favour box template.  Glue the two pieces of card back-to-back and then cut out the box shape using the template

Once you have the shape, fold all the little strips inwards, place your favours in the middle, and pinch all the strips together at the top before securing with a little bit of tape.  Cover the tape by tieing a pretty piece of ribbon in your wedding colours

Cut out the ‘thank-you’ banners, snipping one end in a ‘v’ shape to make a flag.  Roll the other end around a cocktail stick an secure with a bit of tape.  Gently push your flag into the top of your box…

and voila!  Cute little DIY favour boxes that your guests will love!

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Unique cards for kids: Printable Monkey Tags and cards

   

Unique cards for kids: Printable Monkey Tags and cards

Paper crafts monkey garland  for holiday and birthday for kids

Just save the inage as with the right button of your mouse to your computer

Found on

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Paper crafts: Making Pom-Poms flowers for holiday decorating

Paper crafts:  Making Pom-Poms flowers for holiday decorating

Here’s what you’ll need:

• tissue paper
• thin beading wire
• scissors

Here’s what you do:

1. Cut 6 to 8 small sheets of tissue paper. The width of the sheets should be a little more that the desired diameter of the pom-pom.
2. Make 1-centimeter accordion folds, taking care to firmly crease each fold.
3. Cut a piece of wire, about 10 centimeters or longer, depending on what you plan to use the pom-pom for.
4. Slip the wire over the center of the folded paper and twist together.
5. Snip each end of the folded paper into a point or a curve.
6. Peel up and fan out each layer of tissue paper, one at a time.
7. Arrange the layers to the desired shape.

These are nice and easy if you are making just a small handful of them, but if you have to make a huge bunch for your wedding, you might want to share the load with some friends. Invite them over for a pom-pom-making party. Serve puffy things like profiteroles and doughnut holes and make some pom-poms!”

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Recycling paper and arts: 9 Incredible Book Sculptures

Recycling paper and arts: 9 Incredible Book Sculptures

Some folks freak out everytime they see some traditional form of media made into something else - books, vinyl records, and the like. As someone who has altered these things into many a how-to project, I constantly recieve comments about how "sad it is that books are no longer valued" or "instead of ripping up albums, try listening to them." Folks, my entire home is filled with books. And records. And lots of old furniture, plenty of heirlooms, and even a few cassette tapes. I get it. But, not all old things are worth saving.
Or, better yet, sometime a thoughtful transformation proves the everlasting value of historic media. Honors it in a unique way that doesn't say, "This is old, so I'm gonna turn it into something else," but "this is awesome, and I want it to participate in a work of art, or be echoed throughout my home."


On that note, GammaSquad has assembled nine seriously awesome book sculptures. I know there are lots more of these out there.

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Paper crafts for kids: Paper Boutonnieres tutorial

Carnation boutonnieres made from cupcake liners are easy to make and kids love them.

Perfect for St. Patrick's Day.

To make these, I find that the king-size cupcake liners work the best. I got mine in the baking supply aisle at Jo-Ann's.

Flatten out cupcake liner.

Fold liner in half.

Fold into 4th, 8ths and then 16ths.

Twist the bottom into a point.

Using floral stem wrap tape (available in the floral supply section of any craft store), wrap the stem of your boutonniere.

Fan out the top.

Create the look of petals by cutting into the paper.

To add color, I painted my flower with watercolor paint.

Tie stem with ribbon and add a safety pin.

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Unique clock for your home: recycling paper ideas

  

how to make a clock from junk mailhome

What You Need

Materials:

• approximately 24 sheets of junk mail: this can be magazine sheets, grocery store ads, newspaper, whatever you'd like, as long as they are all the same size
  
• pen or pencil used for rolling guide
  
• scissors
  
• tape (invisible works best)
  
• long needle (a yarn needle works best)
  
• embroidery floss
  
• two clear CDs (the kind that protect your CD 50 packs)
  
• round cardstock circle with hole punched in middle
  
• battery-operated clock mechanism with hands

Instructions

1. To make a clock, 24 of these tubes will have to be created. Start by taking your pencil or pen, and use it as a guide to roll up your sheet of paper around it.

2. Tape each end of the tube with preferably invisible (matte clear) tape.

3. Fold approximately one third of the tube towards the other end, as shown above. As mentioned before, you will make about 24 of these, and its pointed tapered end will help create the round effect needed for your clock.

4. Take a long, thick sewing needle, (a yarn needle works best) and thread your embroidery floss through. Pierce the folded pointy end of the folded tube. Color doesn't matter for the embroidery floss--it won't show.

5. Thread the floss through the first end again, creating a "knot" that will prevent the thread from slipping through. Don't pull too hard! Next, begin to sew the additional 23 pieces onto your clock.

6. Take one of your clear CDs and place the middle hole above the hole that forms naturally in the center of the starburst. This will be the back of the clock, so choose whichever side you'd like to be the back.

7. Take your battery-operated clock mechanism and place the rod that holds the hands into the starburst and clear CD holes.

8. Flip the clock over and place the other clear CD above the hole on the other side.

9. Take your pre-punched paper circle and place on the mechanism. You may be wondering why this piece is necessary...it keeps all of the parts together and allows the nut to be threaded onto the rod. The hole of the cd has too big of an opening to keep all of the parts together tightly.

10. Screw on the nut tightly. Almost done!!

11. Add your hands!

12. AND VOILA! You have a totally unique recycled atomic starburst clock that's green and swanky!!

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