Tuesday Tutorial -- DIY Tissue Garland

This is a simple but beautiful craft to spice up any activity or to just make a porch or deck look festive.  This will be useful for those last of the summer garden parties and these are so easy to make.  Let me know if you make these and how it worked out please.  I plan to make this garland and use it to decorate the psychiatric unit where I work to make it feel more festive.  I'll let you know if it works out or not.

You can visit the original blog to find this and other really fun things to make and do.


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Y'all, this might be the best... fastest, cheapest, eye-pleasing-est party decorating trick ever. You can literally make this Tissue Garland that I made for Clare's Buggie Birthday an hour before your party starts when, eh-hem, you should be showering.

Click here to get the so easy DIY for Tissue Garland.

DIY Tissue Garland

These directions are for the flower garland that I made but you could easily make squares, circles or pennants... any shape really! Ooooh snowflakes!

1. Grab a few sheets of tissue in party coordinating colors.  I used about 6 sheets to create 4 - 6' strands


2. Fold a few sheets up until the short width is the width of your large flower (mine were about 5") and then cut off the extra. Cut through the folds on all sides so you have a stack of squares.


3. The extra becomes your smaller flower. Cut it square. Cut through the folds on all sides so you have a stack of squares.


4. Take a few squares (depending on scissor performance) and fold them in half. Then fold them in thirds to a point on the folded side (like a sliced pie)

mmmm pie.

5. Cutting through all layers at once, cut the top into the rounded curve of one petal.


6. Unfold and you have a flower (hopefully.)


7. Repeat with the rest of your tissue squares.

8. Arrange your stacks of flowers by color and size next to your sewing machine.

9.And start sewing! Just place one flower into your machine and start and as that flower finishes slip another flower in. You can leave a bit of space between or overlap the flowers. I will overlapped even more next time. Perhaps even sew through multiple layers at the same time and fold them to create 3-D flowers.


Note: My machine did best on a standard stitch length (2.5), when I tried a (5) it started to bunch. If you are having trouble with bunching, you can pull the tissue from the back of your machine (gently) and it should stay smooth.

The strands are so light that you can easily hang with tape. They look great on windows!

This was so fast and easy and it added alot to the party!

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Tuesday Tutorial -- Toilet Paper Roll Wall Hanging

This is almost the same way I made my Christmas tree decorations, only I saw the procedure on the Carol Duval Show a long time ago.  I had a blast making these and they are really cute on my tree.  Here is a pic of how my snowflakes turned out.  Mine are white and dipped in glitter.

Recycled Toilet-Paper-Roll Wall Decor!

I hope you've been saving those toilet paper rolls because this project is fantastic! But I can't take credit for the brilliant idea, that goes to my friend Tali the architect here. I've had this one on my agenda for ages and I've been diligently saving those rolls, and now I've got something special hanging in my kitchen. Yippee!
And I'm slowly chipping away at the list of recycled materials that I suggested you save. And toilet paper rolls can be stored collapsed and bound together with a rubber band if you're short on space!
This is a great project for all ages, and for those of you who'd like to get a head start on Succah decorations this would be perfect!


My project is still in it's "natural" state, but I'm considering spray painting it gold. Then I have a feeling no one will guess it's humble origins!
You'll Need:

• recycled toilet paper tubes, or paper towel tubes, lots of them!
• white glue or a hot glue gun
• lots of paper clips, if you're using white glue

How To:

1. Cut tubes into evenly sized rings. You do want the rings to be the same depth, so do take the extra time to measure! If you want to be a perfectionist, cut with a craft knife and a metal ruler.
2. Start gluing tubes together. I used hot glue since it's quicker, but I'd recommend using the white glue and paper clips method for kids. Use the paper clips to hold the pieces together as they dry flat on a table.
3. I really didn't have a plan so I decided to assemble flowers, and figure out what to do with them afterwards! You might want to actually design something first for more certain results. You could even plan your design on the computer!
4. Run to the neighbors to see if they have some extra tubes, when you run out!
5. Finish assembling your entire design and paint if desired. Hang and enjoy!