A happy accident

The other day when I was trying to put some things together for my giveaway (good till Sunday, Nov. 28) I stumbled upon something by accident.

I originally wanted to make some ornaments out of book pages, but when I started making some, I just didn't like them like I thought I would.

I got out some twine, some book pages, a hole punch, and tried something different.
This was the end result.  Book page garland.

Needless to say, THIS soon became part of the giveaway.  I'll show you how to make it, though.  It's easy, just takes a little time.

First, you'll need a hole punch, scissors, book pages, twine, and some tape (any kind will work.)

Cut some pages, the width of the paper.  Cut as wide as you'd like.  I think mine were about 3/4" thick.

Punch a hole on the end of each strip.

Next, pick one end of your length of twine (cut to desired length of garland...can be any length), and add tape to the end, since you will use this to thread through the holes punched in the pages.

On the other end of your twine length, tie a knot about 3 inches from the end.  This will be where your first paper "bow" will start.

Fold one strip of paper in half so the punched holes line up and thread the taped end of your twine through it.

Add as many of these folded over strips as you'd like, rotating their positions until you have a bow similar to this....

I don't know how many folded over pieces I used, but I just kept adding till it looked full.  The number is up to you.

Before you start another "bow", tie a knot where your bow ended.
Then tie another knot about 6 inches from the bow you just finished, and start another bow.

Repeat until your entire length of twine is filled with bows.

Now you're done. Add it to your tree, and stand back and bask in the brilliance of something so simple and cheap to make.

I'm sharing this homemade craft/gift over at Funky Junk Interior's Saturday Nite Special linky party. (click on the link below to visit.) And Shabby Art boutique.

Good luck with your garland.  Once you make some, you won't want to stop.

Love...homemade style.

I'm a big fan of decorating for the seasons. Really. I am.


I have decorations for Easter, and Thanksgiving, and Christmas. (LOTS of decorations for Christmas!)


But for Valentine's Day, not so much.


However, this year, I decided to put some up. Some HOMEMADE ones. You see, my inspiration over at Flowerpatchfarmgirl made these lovelies.


I didn't have a heart punch like hers, so I just folded magazine papers in beautiful colors in half, and free-handed the hearts.


HUNDREDS of hearts while I was watching a movie one day.


It took me an entire 2 hour movie to make these. (Probably would've went faster with a punch...I priced them in the store...but it wasn't worth it.)



I just used my tape runner to attach them all together, and put them on long pieces of embrodery floss I had in my sewing box.


I think I like flowerpatchgirl's are a lot better....but mine do the job.



Then I added some decorations I already had.


Helps that I have red throughout the house anyway.



It's comin' ya'll. The Holiday is upon us.

Don't hesitate to tell your sweetheart/kids/anyone you love them. NOW!