Paper Heart Garland

I officially began decorating for Valentines today; I'll share a couple of these easy decorations the next couple of days. Yes, the first one is another paper garland.  I like paper decorations like this, because they are inexpensive and easy to make, and charming to look at; at least I think so.  Did I mention that My daughter Elizabeth and grandson Winston are arriving here on Saturday... I am sure I did mention that before, but just in case I haven't, let me just say: " my daughter Elizabeth and grandson Winston are coming for a visit on Saturday". You know I can hardly wait!!!!  Oh, and did I tell you that Elizabeth and Winston and I are having a Valentines Tea Party (yes another one) on Valentines Day. With some old friends;  So, its time to decorate.  Here's the easy  Paper Heart Garland "How to" by pictures.

Get a nice selection of scrapbook paper.

Draw and Cut out your hearts: Use the back side of the paper to draw them.

Sew them together, leaving a tiny bit of space between each.  Make a long garland or several short ones; big hearts or little ones; I did all of the above.

Now its time to dec the halls.

Star Spangled Banner

Today I am getting ready for the  Fourth of July Celebration.  I am going to be doing some cooking and baking.  Tomorrow we are going to the "Wet Parade" out in Pueblo West like we have in years past, and are going to our friends the Jone's house afterwards for some food and fun.  We are all going to pitch in and cook.  

Meanwhile back at the ranch...   I was wanting to make a few easy decorations this year ; I had a few simple things that I do every year,  but had an itch to do something crafty, fun and easy. I ended up making this little banner.  I thought I would share it with you.  If you need a simple Fourth of July craft you can make with the kids... this is one you can add to your list.  The kids will have fun helping you cut these out.  I like to put on an old movie and watch it while I do stuff like this.

On the back side of your paper, draw star  shapes with cookie  cutters as a stencil.  I dug through my cookie cutter collection and came up with four different cookie cutters.  I used all four to make a variety of sizes.

Cut  your shapes out in  different "Fourth of July type paper"... even brown paper bags will work nicely in a pinch.

I happened to have an extra piece of burlap, so I cut some burlap stars too.

Cut the burlap stars using the paper stars as a pattern.  I cut them roughly and slightly bigger than the paper stars.

Sew them together.

Sew a little bit of looped ribbon to each end (you can barley see mine on the top right corner).  That works well for hanging it in a variety of places.   In the picture above I didn't have it looped over a hook or a nail, because I didn't have the space to let it hang the way I want to leave it. I just had it on this wall to get a picture (it is my only blank wall in the house.... I am going to hang this outside; but at the moment it is too windy to get a decent picture... this is the best inside wall picture I can manage..and its not a very big wall).

Sew the stars together in a variety of ways, some with paper and burlap combined, some with only burlap and no paper stars, and you can even layer some of the shapes and sizes... which I did, but can't show you, because I took these pictures in too much of a hurry and didn't remember to get a picture of each type... sorry.... now if I done this a week ago.... I would have had plenty of time to get it just right for you; but what can I say... the fourth of July is tomorrow.  I have to get to cooking.

I will hang them out in our patio after we get everything spiffed up out there today.

They twist and turn and dangle nicely.

Have fun, and have a great Fourth of July.

Paper Butterflies

               This is an easy Springtime craft that only requires paper and stencil, scissors and glue.
Sewing machine and grapevine wreath is optional.

Supplies

Paper: 

Scrapbook paper, old sheet music, old newspaper or magazines (find the colors you like). 

Butterfly stencil

Scissors

Glue

Grapevine Wreath

Use a stencil to create  a variety of butterflies.  You can use a scrapbooking paper punch if you have one; It is more consistent in its cutting perfection and is quicker to use, but the stencil has a variety of butterflies, which is nice.

 Draw your butterflies on the backside of the paper

 I used scrapbooking paper, but you could use any paper that had a pattern;

old sheet music, newspaper, magazine old books.

  Cut out all of your butterflies.

 Pick out and match up butterfly shapes

Glue them together. (wrong sides together)

 I like matching up two colors, then you have a different color on each side.

Press both pieces together, smoothing all sides and edges.  Allow to dry.

You may have edges that don't match. Once the glue is dried, Trim the white off of the areas that don't match.  Bend the butterfly wings like a real butterfly.

 You can run them through a sewing machine to create a banner.

I sewed them in every direction to create a hodgepodge of shapes and directions as they hang.

 You can also glue them onto a grapevine wreath.

To create a soft and pretty springtime decoration for your door.

Happy Springtime