CRAFT TUTORIAL: Paper Circle Garlands

Posted by Crystal

Well, I have been asked to post more craft tutorials, so here is one especially for you, Tanya!  :)

I fell in love with these circle garlands at the 2010 DIY Street Fair.  I saw them hanging vertically like beads in a doorway in the booth by JuliBuli74. 

You could hang them vertically or swag them or make a mobile!  I think the garlands above were made with fabric circles, but I am going to show you how to make them with paper circles.

Paper Circle Garlands

Materials/Tools:
1) Paper of Various Colors/Prints (e.g. scrapbook paper, catalogs/magazines, junk mail, etc.)
2) Circle Punches (one large, one small)
3) Glue Stick
4) Twine (or string or yarn, etc.)

Step 1: Gather your materials.  Get creative with the paper you choose!  You could also use old photos, calendars, etc.

Step 2: Punch out lots of large and small circles.  The closer you plan to place the circles next to each other on the twine, the more you will need.  You could also use other punch shapes like scalloped circles.  Or, if you don't have punches, you can print/trace shapes onto the back of your paper and just cut them out with scissors.

Step 3: Apply glue to the entire back side of one of your circles.  I like to use a junk mail catalog underneath the circle, so I don't get glue all over my workspace.  Place the twine across the glue on the circle and then sandwich another circle back-to-back on top.

 

Step 4: Vary the sizes of your circle for more interest as you work your way down the twine. 

Hint: If you are doing a repeating color pattern as shown above (yellow/blue/green/yellow/blue/green), make sure you glue the same color circles to each other, so that when the twine twists, you will have the same pattern regardless of which side of the circle is visible.

Step 5: Hang your garland!  They make great party or holiday decorations!  I also think they would look awesome in a kid's room or craftroom.  :)

If YOU want to make a paper circle garland, join us at craftLAB on Sunday, November 7, 2010 from noon-3pm at The Lunch Studio! 

We will have all of the supplies available, but feel free to bring your own if you have special paper, punches, glue or twine that you want to use.  :)