DIY STAR GARLAND, BOOK PAGE PINWHEEL, PINE TREE FAVORS, AND PAPER TREES!

   This comes from www.theknottybride.com.  Alot of neat diy projects in one neat little package.  Take an afternoon to yourself and get into the zen of paper folding and cutting!

Happy holidays TKB readers! It’s Lauren from Lauren Elise Crafted again and today I am back to share a special holiday version DIY. {Note: each of these projects could be employed as décor elements for a lovely winter wedding! … Especially if it’s holiday-themed!}

 

 

Christmas is in just a few days! Are you ready?

As usual, I am running a bit behind and if you’re like me, you’ll be scrambling for a few days trying to get everything done. Every year I tell myself that things will be different, that I’ll be organized beforehand but it never seems to play out that way. As much as it plagues me to say this, I am contributing to that holiday rush.







I am here today to help ease the holiday madness and show you some quick décor options!




I have pulled together a small table scheme that you could recreate for Christmas dinner or for making your house look more festive! I pulled this look together in just a few hours and you could do the same since the supplies are fairly common. The idea is to have something cute and Christmasy ready to display quickly so that you can focus more of your energy on the rest of your to-do list.













What you’ll need:

• x-acto knife & metal-edge ruler
• scissors
• thick white and/or grey posterboard and cardstock for the Christmas trees {1-ply or 2-ply will work – just remember that the thicker it is, the harder it is to cut through}
• Christmas tree template {or draw a tree and create your own template}
• tacky glue
• paper ephemera for star garland & paper pinwheels {vintage or new – I used kraft paper, paper doilies, manila folders, corrugated paper, and the index pages of an old book
• pencil
• scotch tape
• double-sided tape
• white thread for garland
• small square, white porcelain dish {I bought mine at Crate & Barrel}
• sprigs of Christmas tree
• washi tape with grid print
• sparkle Christmas snow {I bought mine at Anthropologie}

Directions:


To make the Christmas trees:







° Print out the Christmas tree template at the desired size or draw your own tree. Trace the template onto the posterboard and/or cardstock {image a}. Use an x-acto knife to cut out the trees {image b & c}. Then cut a narrow slit down the center of the trees, making the slit as wide as the paper’s thickness {image d}. Slide the two parts of the tree into each other. Glue the ends together for stability {image e}. The completed tree should stand freely {image f}.
To make the pine tree favors:
° Buy white porcelain square dishes. For added decoration, wrap the dishes with washi tape and stick to the edge {image g}. Cut sprigs of pine tree branches. Cut down to about the size of the porcelain dish {image k}. Place a handful of the pine sprigs into each dish. Adorn with paper stars if desired. Each favor acts as a mini Christmas tree. Hand them out to guests so that they can smell the great pine scent.







To make the star garland:
° Draw a star freehand on some thick cardstock and cut it out. This star will become your template {image h}. Trace and cut out the star from a bunch of types of paper ephemera (kraft paper, graph paper, manila folders, vintage book pages, etc) {image i}. The amount of stars will vary on the desired length of the garland. Use scotch tape to stick the thread to the stars {image j}. When hanging the garland, make sure to turn the tape side away from view. Hang your garland.
To make the book page pinwheels:
° Cut book pages down to about 5”x10” for a 5” diameter pinwheel {image l}. Create a ½” fold going the long way {image m}. Continue making these folds, accordion style {image n}. Fold the entire piece of paper {image o}. Fold the accordion strip in half {image p}. After folding, tape the two halves together {image q}. This will create 1/5 of your entire pinwheel {image r}. Fold another 5”x10” paper and follow all the same steps. Create four more of these {image s}. Put tape on the edges {image t} and stick the pinwheel pieces together {image u}. After taping all five pieces, you will have a complete pinwheel {image v}.

Create a wintry scene with all of these elements and sprinkle with some sparkle Christmas snow!