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Monday, November 10, 2008

Flower Garland Tutorial

Thank you to everyone who left a comment asking me to post a tutorial. It made my weekend to see all the comments. So without further ado, here's the tutorial.

*Click on the pictures to enlarge images

Supplies:
Catalog - I used the kind that are stapled together, not bound. You'll need a catalog with at least 30 pages/pieces of paper.
Scissors
White Glue
Cut off the bottom of the catalog, make sure the piece you're using is stapled together. You might want to add another staple for extra reinforcement.

Step 1: Open the first page of the catalog. Now place glue on the page (refer to picture). Glue down to the back of the cover.

You should now have a loop.

Repeat step 1 with the next page.

Now you should have two loops.

Repeat the process till all the pages are glued except the cover page to the left. Let sit for a half hour to dry.

Now, glue the last page to complete the flower. Let dry overnight.

Thread fishing line through a loop to hang.

* When I first made the flowers, I was concerned if they would hold up. After hanging all day, stepped on and batted at by a three year old the flowers are still in tact. So in my opinion, they pass the test.

If you have any questions about the project just leave me a comment or email me.

42 comments:

Unknown said...

I LOVE this garland tutorial. School holidays is starting this week, I'd like to do this with the kids...what a fun project.

Heather "Hev" said...

Thankyou :)

I was right in my thinking of how to do them - just wasnt sure if there was a trick to the fishing line for the hangers.

THANKYOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!!

Bobbi said...

Very cool idea! Did you use white Elmer's glue?

Anonymous said...

I'm definitely going to make these! I'm so glad you posted the tutorial.

Misty Bourne said...

Thank you so much for posting this! These are so great! :)

Rachel@oneprettything.com said...

These are awesome, thanks so much for writing up the tutorial! I'll be linking.

Pamelamama said...

cool, maybe we'll try in kindergarten!

Anonymous said...

Love it! It would also make a great package bow if you don't finish it off.

mayaluna said...

I'm so glad you wrote this up, it's really a beautiful tutorial. This project deserves all of the attention it's been getting in blogland. Such a great way of reusing something we all have too much of and making beauty. You did it AGAIN, Jessica!!!

Rachael Hutchings said...

LOVE this project! I also love your test--three year olds make the best testers of quality control!

Anke said...

I think I just clicked through one year of your posts and I'm in awe. Wonderful blog and projects!

Rae said...

These are so amazing!!! I have two paper bags full of magazines and catalogs! Guess what I'm going to get out of the recycling bin!

CC said...

That is so cool! It looks like tiny catalogs work best for this project.

Realmarce said...

Great idea!

Anonymous said...

This is so terrific. I'm so excited, I'll have to try making one today. Thank you!

Kami said...

Amazing! They really look so beautiful... I'd never guess they were so easy. delicious, delightful, thank you!!

Anonymous said...

hi there!
i really love this craft! it is so multipurposed. i can't wait to use it for a big even--have them hanging all over the place.
i posted about them here...

http://gardenpartynyc.com/wordpress/?p=880

Ro Bruhn said...

These are wonderful, thanks for the instructions.

Jessica Rae said...

I made half-versions of these and affixed them to Christmas presents I am giving. I love this idea. Next year I might use colorful card stock to change up how they look.

I used a glue pen type dealie and it worked really well.

Arte da Luluzinha said...

Very beautiful.
=D

Melissa of {craftgasm} said...

These are gorgeous! And I love that you can personalize them by just stapling a bunch of strips of same-sized (or different sized, I suppose, too) papers together to achieve a similar result.

Christie said...

I thought I'd say thanks for the idea. I ended up making one of these yesterday. I'd read the post a while back and knew right away that I wanted to do them with Coir and Cassi's classes. I was thinking Valentine's day or Mother's day. Anyway, I did them. I added a little color by spraying them a tad and I added a flower to the center. I've got pictures on the blog but they are a bit bright so you don't notice the yellow so much. We are going to make them with their classes for an upcoming holiday. Very sweet. My middle girls wants them in her room too! Gotta get busy. Thanks again.

Montse said...

Oh! Thanks for sharing this!! Such a simple but GREAT idea ! :)

Anonymous said...

after having them hang for a while, how do they hold up? thanks in advance!
afrindiemum

Anonymous said...

This is a wonderful idea. I will try to make this. many many thanks for this tutorial

Anya said...

Beautiful tutorial! Thank you so much for sharing it.
I linked it at PassiFlora magazine today (http://passifloramag.com/2009/04/vegetables-and-flowers/) Hope you don't mind.

Anya

carbona said...

Is it better to take the cover off so that all of the paper is the same thickness?

zakkalife said...

yes. I recommend taking off the cover if it's not the same thickness as the rest of the paper.

susan said so said...

so cute! what a fun and unique way to recycle catalogs/magazines - thanks for sharing! :)

CalleLillyCafe said...

I just found your blog via Elsie's blog! I love it! I'll be back to try out these tutorials! I love this catalog flower, I'm thinking I'll make w/my girls w/a little tweeking for Xmas! Thx! I'll be back & leave a link! =)

banu said...

it is very very cute and i love it. I tried it with my children in the preschool and they also love this....We use 26 pieces of colorful paper and it was amazing...

Sicara said...

What lovely crafts you have! I especially like the paper crafts ^_^ Although I think your Kawaii Section has got to me my most favourite! It's just adorable!

flower Philippine said...

Thanks for guiding me through this. Rarely do I find good entries that would walk me through. Great post.


-pia-

Jessiena said...

This is a lovely tutorial, I love finding more ways to make flowers- thanks for writing! I linked it here:
http://designbees.blogspot.com/2010/06/friday-flowers-magazine-flowers.html

Gia@ silk bouquets said...

Lovely tutorial, this is fun to do with kids, this is perfect for the coming Christmas holidays. I can use this as additional decoration around the house. Thanks

Anonymous said...

muy bueno

Florist Sydney said...

Lovely idea! this is perfect for Christmas decorations. A fun project with your kids around, they'll gonna love making it.

josette.272@gmail.com said...

merci elle est trop belle j aime bises jojo

Holly said...

Here is a question: When you hang them, how do you keep the "petals" from falling down? How do you keep all of the loops poofy and in the flower shape once it is hanging?

Thanks! I really enjoyed this craft project!!

@pril said...

This is such a beautiful piece! I love repurposed projects! Thanks for sharing. I featured this on my blog: http://koolbeenz-blog.blogspot.com/2011/06/gallery-of-featured-crafters-4-with.html

Feel free to grab my Featured Button if you like.

@pril

Anonymous said...

i tried to make this garland but i am just wondering that even after sticking so many pages why the flower is not ready.

zakkalife said...

Anonymous,

Are you using a catalog with over 30 pages?

If so, maybe when you glue the last page to the first page the petals will stretch out.

It's hard to know exactly what's going on when I can't see your project but I hope this helps :)

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