How-To's Day: Paper Decorations for a Craft Party

I love making things out of paper!!! It is one of my absolute favorite materials to work with. One of my favorite materials to have in the studio are maps.  Thomas Guides are especially helpful since there is so many pages of maps inside each one.  The warehouse is so vast down at CRAFTED that basic paper garlands are a must to help add to the decorations.  We recently did a demo using the small tubular ornament template by Martha Stewart Crafts as seen here, and it is the perfect tool to crank out some massive decorations.

For the paper lanterns we are using this time saving tool, but you can also create the same result by folding a 6.5" square into a rectangle, then cutting slits in 1/2" intervals making sure to leave at least a 1/2"  border on the raw edge.

Always an easy favorite when making paper decorations is the classic paper chain.  We have been using the scraps leftover from the lanterns to make paper chains to add to our decorations.

Another awesome paper decoration is these great mini suitcases to reinforce the Wish You Were Here theme as well as decorate their booths. Using a rectangle box and some imagination you can make a super mini suitcase too! Check out this great example from Desiree B-

Off to keep making paper lanterns for our decoration meeting tomorrow ;)

XOXO, KC

Upcycled Necktie Banner

I worked with Alison Zeno to create a unique twist on the red ribbon at the grand opening of CRAFTED. We decided old red neckties would make a visually impactful banner that would be both visible from most angles and photograph well. It was simple to make, and I am thinking of making a second one in all grey ties for a Fifty Shades of Grey book party ;) wouldn't that be fun!

First things first, tie all your ties like you would wear them. I only know one way to tie a necktie to begin with. There are all kinds of ways to initially tie the neckties - tie each tie like you are going to wear it with whatever knotting method you choose. I used small tacking stitches to secure the tail of the tie in the back as well as at the neck to get it to lie flat. The main trick to turn the neckties into a banner is to get the neck hole to lie flat by tacking it. To get it flat you smooth the fabric up from the knot and fold one of the sides over at the top slightly almost like making a dart. This step is optional since it is reinforced when you attach the ties together I just thought I would note it in case yours isn't coming out fully flat. Attaching the tip of one of the ties to the next one is shown in the picture above. Place the angled tip of one tie inside where the neck touches together of the second tie and make some small stitches attaching both of them together.  It really is that simple!

For this banner I used 12 ties.  There was a 13th but the material was different from the others and it twisted and didn't lie flat with the other ties.  I decided to take it out and thankfully it was plenty long without using it.  Depending on the area you want to hang your banner up I would say 8-14 ties would be plenty to make a statement banner.

We would love to see if you try one for yourself :) Feel free to post pictures to our Facebook of what you come up with.

XOXO, KC

DIY Outdoor Party Decorations

Are you taking your Cinco de Mayo outdoors this year? We posted last week a DIY project we shared at West Elm's customer appreciation night at their Beverly Blvd. location. These lanterns take a bit of prep work so if you are able to start them tonight you will have them in perfect time for Cinco De Mayo.

DIY LANTERNS

All you need for these lanterns are some old cans, some dried rice, nails, and a hammer. Here is some cans that will be turned into lanterns after eating all the tomatoes.

The first step after cleaning up your cans is to make the middle solid again so the can doesn't buckle when adding the holes.  I saw tutorials on making similar upcycled lanterns on Pinterest that said to use sand. Being that I don't have a yard and am a city dweller, the thought of all the soggy sand leftover from this project seemed problematic. I thought trying my hand at this project with rice might make better sense.

The rice expands in the freezer so leave plenty of room for expansion left in the can. I found it works nice to freeze the rice all day and add more water to fill out the rest of the top portion of the can and refreeze.

If your rice expands too much like the picture shown on the right just scrape the top portion of the rice off and top it off with as much water as possible before refreezing.

Once frozen you can make any design you'd like with your hammer and nail(s). You will really just need one nail.

Once you poke your design in the can you will want to flip the cans upside down in a bucket so that it collects the rice and water as it thaws. 

Pop in a candle, or some of those flame-less battery operated kind if you are indoors and you are in business!

DIY FABRIC STRING GARLAND (No Sew)

This garland is a simple and easy way to put old fabric and yarn scraps to good use.  

Since the strips are looped over in what ends up being a cow hitch/ Lark's head knot--otherwise known as "really easy"!

As pictured you fold the looped end over the string and you pull the tails through the loop fastening it over and securing the fringe. Do this as many times as you see fit for your garland.  The best part is with this type of knot you can move the fringe wherever you'd like so there is no way to mess this project up :)  It could even be hung up in your studio as a way to organize the smaller leftover strips too! I love when decor holds an extra function. 

Enjoy! XOXO, KC