Paper Cracker Project

Celebrate your special occasion with tiny gifts or candies inside a paper cracker.

What You Need:
2 12-inch lengths of 1-5/8-inch-wide crepe paper
Sewing thread and needle
4-1/2-inch-long cardboard tube
Glue gun and hotmelt adhesive
8-1/2 x 11-inch sheet each of two coordinating scrapbook papers
Scissors: large scallop-edge and other small decorative-edge
Double-sided tape
Computer and printer
20-inch length of 1/2-inch-wide ribbon
Small bag of candy or tiny gift


Instructions:
1. Use sewing thread to sew running stitches along one long edge of each length of crepe paper. Pull the thread ends to gather a crepe paper length to fit around each open end of the cardboard tube. Hot-glue the gathered edge of the crepe paper to the tube.
2. Cut a 4-1/2 x 8-inch rectangle of scrapbook paper using the large scallop-edge scissors. Wrap the paper rectangle around the tube and secure with double-sided tape, covering the gathered edge of the crepe paper.
3. Type the bride's and groom's first names and wedding date using a computer. Print a test sample. Text should fit in a space approximately 1/2 x 4 inches. When satisfied, print the text on scrapbook paper.
4. Use the small decorative-edge scissors to trim the printed sheet into two text strips, cutting a V at one end of each strip. Glue the text strips on the tube.
5. Make a bow at the center of the ribbon and glue the bow to the tube, covering the ends of the text strips. Insert a small bag of candy or a tiny gift into the tube.

String of Paper Petals

Create a trademark of Hawaiian hospitality with these colorful paper leis.

CRAFT MATERIALS:
Muffin-pan liners
Scissors
Tissue paper
Embroidery needle
Yarn

Time needed: Under 1 Hour
1. For each flower, flatten 1 or 2 muffin-pan liners and trim the edge of each to create petal shapes.

2. Cut a round center out of the bottom of another liner and leaves from green liners or tissue paper. Make a dozen or so flowers.

3. Thread an embroidery needle with a strand of yarn long enough to create a loop that fits loosely over your child's head.

4. String on each flower, starting with the leaves followed by the petal layer and center, spacing them evenly along the strand.

5. Tie the ends together.

Lasting Lilies

Brighten your home with a touch of spring: a bouquet of easy-to-care-for paper lilies.

CRAFT MATERIALS:
White card stock
Green card stock
Tacky glue
Acrylic paint
Plastic tri-beads
20-gauge florists' stem wire
Round wooden bead
Floral tape
Large marker

Time needed: About 1 to 2 Hours
1. Cut six 7-inch petals (as shown) from white card stock and two 8-inch leaves from green card stock. Fold all 8 pieces in half lengthwise.



2. Use tacky glue to glue together the bases of 3 petals, creating a ring with a hole (about 1/2 inch across) in the center. Repeat with the remaining petals to create a slightly tighter ring.

3. Give your lily some distinctive speckles by splattering the leaves with an old toothbrush dipped in diluted acrylic paint (a great job for kids). Allow the glue and the paint to dry.

4. To make a trio of stamens, slip 3 plastic tri-beads onto the ends of three 18-inch lengths of 20-gauge florists' stem wire and bend the tips to secure the beads in place. Feed the opposite wire ends through a round wooden bead, then glue the bead in place about 2 inches below the tri-beads.

5. Feed the wires through the narrower ring of petals followed by the wider ring, offsetting the petals slightly. Glue the petals together and to the bead and let the glue dry.




6. Wrap a 2-foot section of floral tape around the base of the lily several times to secure it to the wires, stretching the tape while you wrap to help it stick. Continue wrapping the tape along the length of the wires, adding the leaves partway down. Finally, gently roll the petals over a large marker to curl the tips.

Country Confetti Cone

Country Confetti Cone
Have guests send you off in style with cones filled with rice, confetti, and birdseed.

What You Need:
Tracing paper
8-1/2 x 11-inch sheet of scrapbook paper
Scissors: straight-edge, large scallop-edge, and small scallop-edge
Crafts glue
1/8-inch hole punch
1 yard of 1/2-inch-wide seam-binding ribbon

Instructions:
1. Download the free pattern for this project. (Downloading requires Adobe Acrobat software.)
Confetti Cone pattern
Adobe Acrobat
2. Trace the triangle pattern onto tracing paper, and enlarge 200 percent. Cut it out. Use the pattern to cut two triangles from the scrapbook paper.
3. Aligning the long edges, fold each triangle in half with wrong sides together. Firmly crease along the center fold. Unfold the pieces. Make a 3/4-inch-wide fold on each long edge with right sides together; firmly crease the folds. Unfold the long edges and align the edges of the two triangles with wrong sides together. Glue the long edges together; let the glue dry.
4. Trim the long edges with the large scallop-edge scissors. Trim the short edge with the small scallop-edge scissors. Use the hole punch to make a hole centered in each large scallop. Refold each triangle along the center fold, creating a square opening at the top. Make a hole in one center fold 1 inch from the top edge. Insert the ribbon through the hole, and tie a bow. Fill with wedding confetti.

Country Bouquet Holder

Country Bouquet Holder
Wallpaper embellished with fan flowers and ribbons makes these country bouquet holders special.

What You Need:
8-inch square of wallpaper
Scissors: large and medium scallop-edge
1 25-inch length each of two shades of 1/2-inch-wide silk ribbon
Crafts glue
8-1/2 x 11-inch sheet of coordinating scrapbook paper
String
Silver glitter
Hole punch

Instructions:
1. Download the free pattern for this project. (Downloading requires Adobe Acrobat software.)
Bouquet Holder pattern
Adobe Acrobat
2. Trace the cone pattern onto tracing paper, and enlarge 200 percent. Cut out the pattern. Trace the pattern onto the back of the wallpaper. Cut on the traced lines with the large scallop-edge scissors. Fold the cone as indicated on the pattern; finger-crease each fold. Cut a 10-inch length of each ribbon. Align the ribbon lengths and tie a large knot at the center. Overlap the straight edges 1 inch at the top edge at the back of the cone. Tuck the ribbon knot into the bottom of the cone and glue the overlapped area.
3. Cut a 6- and 9-inch length of each ribbon. Aligning the ribbons, wrap the long lengths around the cone about 1/2 inch from the top edge. Overlap the ribbon ends and glue at the back of the cone. Wrap the short lengths around the center of the cone; glue the ends on the back.
4. For the fan flowers, cut two 1-1/2 x 4-1/2-inch rectangles from the scrapbook paper. Trim the long edges with the medium scallop-edge scissors. Beginning with a short edge of each rectangle, make accordion-style pleats every scallop across the paper; finger-crease each pleat.
5. Tie string around the center of the pleated paper. Pull the straight edges of the pleated paper together, forming a circle; glue in place. Apply a drop of glue to the center front of each flower and sprinkle with silver glitter. Shake off the excess glitter; let the glue dry. Glue a flower to the center front of each ribbon wrap.

Country Candy Container

Country Candy Container
Place delicious candies in this beautiful candy container.

What You Need:
Tracing paper
Anaglypta wallpaper
Scissors: straight-edge; medium and large scallop-edge
1/8-inch hole punch
Crafts glue
18-inch length of 1-5/8-inch-wide pink crepe paper
Sewing thread and needle
8-1/2 x 11-inch sheet of coordinating scrapbook paper
String
Silver glitter
30-inch length of 1/2-inch-wide silk ribbon

Instructions:
1. Download the free pattern for this project. (Downloading requires Adobe Acrobat software.)
Country Candy Container
Adobe Acrobat
2. Trace the container pattern onto tracing paper, and enlarge 200 percent. Cut out the pattern. Trace the pattern onto the back of the wallpaper. Cut on the traced lines, using the medium scallop-edge scissors to trim all edges of the front flap and the long edge of the back. Use the hole punch to make holes in the flaps where indicated on the pattern. Fold the container along fold lines; finger-crease each fold. Cut a 10-inch length of ribbon. Tie a loose knot at the center. Overlap the side/back flap with the back scalloped edge. Tuck the ribbon knot into the bottom of the container and glue the overlapped area.
3. Trim one edge of the crepe paper with the large scallop-edge scissors. Use sewing thread to sew running stitches along the opposite long edge. Pull the thread ends to gather the crepe paper length into a circle. Glue the gathered area of the crepe paper to the front of the container so the crepe paper circle is about 2 inches from the top of the container.
4. Cut a 1-3/4 x 8-inch strip of wallpaper. Trim one long edge of the strip with the large scallop-edge scissors. Use the hole punch to make a hole centered in each scallop. Beginning at a short edge of the paper, make accordion-style pleats at the center and edge of every scallop across the paper; finger-crease each pleat. Sew through the pleated paper at the straight long edge with sewing thread, pulling the thread tight to create the center of the flower. Glue the short edges of the pleated paper together, forming a circle. Glue the fan flower centered on the crepe paper circle.
5. Cut a 1-1/4 x 4-inch rectangle of scrapbook paper. Trim the long edges with the medium scallop-edge scissors. Beginning with a short edge, make accordion-style pleats every other scallop across the paper; finger-crease each pleat. Tie string around the center of the pleated paper. Pull the straight edges of the pleated paper together, forming a circle; glue in place. Apply a drop of glue to the center front of the scrapbook flower and sprinkle with silver glitter. Shake off the excess glitter and let the glue dry. Center and glue the scrapbook flower on the wallpaper flower.
6. For the hanging loop and to close the container, use a 20-inch length of ribbon. Fold in the side flaps. Working from the wrong side of the front and back cone flaps, thread the ribbon ends first through the holes in the back flap and then through the holes in the front flap. Loosely knot the ribbon ends to form the hanging loop.

Easter Basket

Materials:
67 Yards 5 or 6 mm cord that can be brushed
1 1-1/2" ring
1 4" ring
1 7" ring
1 8" ring
1 9" ring
36 20mm beads
1 wire coat hanger
1 piece of cardboard approximately 8" square

Cut:
12 cords 2 yards long
6 cords 1-2/3 yards long
18 cords 1-1/2 yards long
1 cord 5-1/2 yards long
Using the inside of the 7" ring, trace a circle on the cardboard and cut out circle.

Instructions:
Fold the twelve 2 yard cords in half and Larkshead (LH) onto the 1-1/2" ring. Pull the cords straight out and Double Half Hitch (DHH) all cords to the 4" ring. Be sure to pull cords as tightly as possible.
Separate cords into groups of four. Add one of the six 1-2/3 yard cords with a Reverse Larkshead between each group of four cords already on the 4" ring.
Pull all cords straight out and DHH onto the 7" ring, pulling as tight as possible. Separate into groups of two. Add one of the eighteen 1-1/2 yard cords to the 7" ring between each group of two cords with a Reverse Larkshead.
Tie a row of Square Knots (SK) around the ring with all cords, using four cords per knot. The rest of this pattern will now be worked down from the 7" ring. Turn the ring upside down and bend the first row of SK's down. Tie a row of Alternating Square Knots (ASK) around the ring.
Alternate cords and thread a bead onto the two filler cords. Tie a SK below the bead. Repeat around ring adding a total of 18 beads in this row. Tie a row of ASK.
DHH all cords onto the 8" ring. Tie two rows of ASK. Repeat Step 5. DHH all cords onto the 9" ring. Cut cords to 1-1/2", fray and brush.
Cut a piece of wire coat hanger to 24" - 26" long. Attach one end of the wire to the 9" ring between SK from the last row and the other end of the wire to the opposite side of the basket. There will be 9 SK on each half of the basket. Fold the 5-1/2 yard cord in half. Hold the middle of the cord behind the wire handle where it was attached to the basket. Tie a DHH with each end over the 9" ring, trying to cover the wire end of the handle.
Using the two long ends as tying cords and the wire handle as a filler, tie Half Knots (HK) around the wire until you reach the other end. DHH the ends over the 9" ring and the wire, again trying to cover up where you attached the handle to the basket. Cut these ends to 1-1/2" and brush. Place the cardboard circle in the bottom of basket and fill with Easter "grass".

Decoupage Candle Holder

How to Make a Summer Candle Ring Wreath With Pretzels

Hi! This is Ginny with Simply Beautiful Crafts on behalf of Expert Village and today we are going to make a simple sweet summer candle ring. I am going to start out with a pretzel wreath that you know is going to fit your candle. You either made it big enough to begin with or you used your candle when you first made it. You want to have a little bit of space beyond the candle, so that as your ornaments spill over, there is still room for your candle. This one was a lot of fun to do and unlike most of my wreaths, I kind of placed things and then glued it as I went. I used a combination of silk flowers and paper flowers. You can also use real things like baby’s breath. What I did was just to cut off the buds of the flowers and place them around on the wreath where I thought I would like them and I started with just my sunflowers. I am going to put a sunflower in the same corner of each one of the pretzels. That way, I had a rhythm and I had symmetry and yet you might not want it to be exactly symmetrical. This would be one that I would do perhaps with roses and maybe daisies so you put your first flowers in, in exactly the spot that you want when you have it the way you would like it, take your glue gun. I went around this part of the flower like this so that it would stick inside the pretzel and these stems are a little bit too long you would want to cut them shorter and put them in. So I started first with just the sunflowers. After that I took the little yellow roses. So you would take your second color of flower or your second style of flower and cut it off and then place it. Perhaps, this one would go at the bottom of the pretzel all the way around. So you go ahead and put the second one in and then may be a third and may be a fourth. You have already planned your colors and your different flowers before you start. But if you start with one flower and then your second flower and then your third flower, it will be a lot easier to do your ring than if you try to lay them all in and then pick them up and put them, glue them on. That would be much more time consuming and difficult than doing one particular flower at a time. When you are finished, your glue is dry because you are using a hot glue gun, it is dry already, just slip that over your candle and there you have a sweet summer candle ring.

Letterbox

A typical week's mail brings an assortment of bills, solicitations, advertisements, and hopefully some greetings from friends and family. Once it's out of the mailbox, you can keep all of your letters organized and accessible with this attractive and easy-to-make box.

Tools and Materials
Letterbox Template
13-by-16-inch 4-ply mat board
Double-sided adhesive paper such as Twin-Tack or spray adhesive
Decorative paper
Mat or utility knife
Ruler
Scalloped scissors
Leather punch
Seam binding
Bone folder

Letterbox How-To
1. Cover one side of the mat board with adhesive paper (or spray adhesive). Peel off remaining protective backing, and adhere a piece of decorative paper to it.
2. Download and print the letterbox template (above) onto the papered side. Mark the hole placement. Cut out the shape using a mat or utility knife, guiding the cuts with a ruler. Once the shape is cut out, cut along the rounded edges with scalloped scissors. Place the cutout, face up, on a flat surface. Score four lines (as indicated on the template pattern) to create the base of the box. When scoring, make sure to only cut about halfway through the mat board.
3. Using the leather punch or crafter's hole punch, make holes as indicated on the template.
4. Fold up the sides. Thread a 64-inch length of seam binding through the holes: Starting from the inside of box, thread seam binding through one hole. Bring seam binding back through adjacent hole, and repeat for the three remaining holes. To secure, first tie the seam binding in a knot, then in a bow.

Note : U can catch up the how-to-make video at this site : http://www.marthastewart.com/portal/site/mslo/menuitem.3a0656639de62ad593598e10d373a0a0/?vgnextoid=f8eafe6b5262f010VgnVCM1000003d370a0aRCRD&vgnextfmt=default

Bouquets: Astrantia and Calla Lilies

Astrantia
Crisp, star-shaped Astrantia burst forth from a ruff of gathered silk ribbon.

Astrantia How-To
Michael George prepared the bouquet by first wiring the stems of about three dozen blossoms. He cut off the stems just below the heads, then inserted floral wire through each, folded and twisted it down, and wrapped it with floral tape. After gathering the flowers into a loose dome, he bound the wire stems together with floral tape. To finish the bouquet, Hannah Milman folded black and lavender ribbons across the stems' base, then wound them in an overlapping spiral up the shaft. She made the ruff from a yard of 6 1/2-inch-wide ribbon.


A running seam of inch-long stitches is sewn along one edge, then pulled to gather the ribbon into a circle of ruffles. The cut edges are trimmed with pinking shears and folded to the back. An inch-wide opening allows you to insert the bouquet through the center of the ruff, which is held in place with floral pins.


Calla Lilies
For a sophisticated bride, a sheaf of miniature white calla lilies. Flat on top and tapered at the bottom, the bouquet is designed so the stems make as strong a statement as the blossoms. The flowers are bound with a rubber band that is covered by a 1 1/2-inch-wide length of grosgrain. Folded into a flat bow, it is secured with a button covered in the same ribbon. The stems are cut at a 45-degree angle.

Pink & Poppy : Crepe-Paper

Making Crepe-Paper Flowers
Use crepe-paper streamers to create the blooms. If making a garland, stop at step 5, and tie flowers to lengths of thin silk ribbon.
1. Cut streamer to about 35 inches long.
2. Fold end in about 1/2 inch; pinch at base. Wrap about 1 inch of streamer around center, and fold back, pinching at base.
3. Fold forward again and repeat, working around flower until you're left with about a 3-inch-long tail.
4. Fold tail in half lengthwise.
5. Wrap tail tightly around base; pinch.
6. Tie wide ribbon around takeout box; knot at top. Thread another piece of ribbon beneath ribbon on box. Lay flower on top; tie a bow around its base.
7. Neaten bow, and fluff flower.

Favor Centerpieces: Fancy Candy

Humble supplies can take on an elegant air: Monogrammed stickers and crepe paper decorate clear plastic tubes filled with champagne-bubble candies. They're then piled into a glass compote around a smaller compote of crepe-paper flowers.


Tools and Materials
You will need candies; acrylic tubes, 3 3/4 by 2 inches in diameter, with lids; regular and double-sided tape; scissors; crepe paper cut into 6 1/2-by-3 3/4-inch pieces (two per tube); 3/8-inch-wide double-faced satin ribbon in 6 5/8-inch lengths (four per tube); sticker paper; and a craft punch.

Fancy Candy How-To
1. Fill tubes; tape lids closed. Wrap crepe paper around ends, lining up seams; secure with double-sided tape and fringe ends with scissors.



2. Tape a ribbon around each end where tube meets paper, lining up seams. Gather paper and tie.



3. Photocopy a monogram on sticker paper; punch out, and affix to tubes on side without seams.

Making Paper Flowers
You will need crepe paper, 18-gauge cloth-wrapped floral wire, floral tape, and our petal template. Trace template, and cut out petals (12 to 15 per flower), making sure grain of paper is vertical. For stamens, cut wire to 6 inches. Then cut a 3-inch square of paper, and fold it into a triangle. Bring tips in together; twist. Secure tips to end of wire with floral tape. Cup each petal by holding at center and tugging gently outward; curl top edge outward; and pleat base. Tape petals to stamens, wrapping inner petals low and raising subsequent rows slightly, overlapping them. Fluff out petals.

Crepe-Paper Flowers

Use these directions to make the crepe-paper flowers that adorn our fondant-covered cake.

To decorate the tiers with the crepe-paper bands, cut the crepe paper into strips with the ribbing running top to bottom, and gently stretch the top edge to create a ruffle. Wrap the band snugly around the tier, and secure to itself in the back with double-sided tape.

Tools and Materials
Crepe paper (purchase the kind sold in folds, rather than streamers)
Artificial stamens
Green cloth-wrapped floral wire for stems (20-gauge)
Thin wire for wrapping (26-gauge)
Green floral tape

Crepe-Paper Flowers How-To
1. Cut the crepe paper into teardrop-shape petals; for each poppy, you'll need five of the same size.

2. Pull gently across the top half of each petal to ruffle it slightly. Cluster several artificial stamens (cut them in half if they're double-ended).

3. Bend a small, slim loop at one end of each cloth-wrapped floral-wire stem, and use the thin wire to bind the bunched stamens to the loop.

4. Place the petals around the stamens, and tape in place with the floral tape, winding it around the stems to secure well and wrapping up on the petals just enough to bring them in to the stamens.

5. Wrap the tape all the way down the stem to cover. Spread the stamen tips slightly to flare them.

Hand-Wired Bouquets: Roses and Hyacinths

A stylish nosegay achieves its perfect domed shape with wired pink roses and hyacinth blossoms with yellow floral pins at their centers. A coiled bouquet cuff is a lighthearted accent: Wire wrapped in pale-pink ribbon was shaped into a looped design and attached to the stem to frame the bouquet. Matching satin ribbon is wound around the wire stems and tied in a graceful bow.

Tools and Materials
To make the bouquet cuff seen here, you will need:
22-gauge white cloth-wrapped floral wire, which comes in precut pieces 18 inches long
Silk embroidery ribbon 7-mm-wide
Floral tape
A dowel or broom handle that's about one inch in diameter.

Wire Bouquet Cuff How-To
1. Lay the end of the ribbon against the end of the wire at a 45-degree angle, and affix by wrapping with floral tape. Then wrap ribbon tightly around wire to cover. Cut away excess ribbon, and secure end with floral tape.

2. To create the looped design, wrap the center of the ribbon-wrapped floral wire around the dowel three times, as shown above. Slide off dowel. (If you'd like tighter coils, use a smaller dowel.)

3. Shape the curled wire by pulling the loops apart slightly. Bring ends together, creating a stem, and tape together. Repeat with as many wires as needed to surround the bouquet (our bouquet required 15 wires). Arrange the coiled segments around the bouquet, and tape stems of coils to handle of bouquet with floral tape. Bend wire loops outward.

Teacup Lights

Antique teacups that have lost their saucers still make sweet gifts when fitted with candles.

Tools and Materials
Nested pans
Partially burned candles
Candy or candle thermometer
Tongs
New wicking
Teacups
Wick sustainers
Wooden skewers

Teacup Lights How-To
1. In a small pan set over a larger pan of simmering water, melt down old candles; clip the thermometer to the upper pot, and keep temperature at about 185 degrees. Remove old wicks with tongs.


2. Cut a piece of wicking to the cup's height plus 2 inches. Clamp one end to a wick sustainer; tie the other end around a skewer. Dip wicking and sustainer into melted wax to coat them. Remove and stick sustainer to cup's bottom.


3. Pour in the wax, stopping 1/2 inch below the cup's rim. Allow wax to set, about 1 hour. The candle will harden with a well in the center. To even it out, use another skewer to prick a circle of holes about 1/16 inch deep around the wick. Pour in melted wax until surface is 1/4 inch below rim. Cut wick.

Pink and Brown: Elegant and Easy Favors

Use paper to give favors colorful details. These ideas use rose and chocolate brown, evoking an earlier era.

Stamp tissue for one-of-a-kind wrapping.



Tissue-Paper Favor How-To
Twisted just so, these treats will stand up on their own.

1. You'll need large, box-shaped candies, such as these Neopolitan coconut squares. Cut two sheets of 71/2-inch square tissue paper in contrasting colors. With brown ink and a rubber stamp in any design you like, decorate one corner of the lighter paper, as shown.

2. Lay with stamped side face down. Stack candies in the corner opposite stamped section. Fold paper against side and then bottom of candies, as if wrapping a gift box.

3. Roll candies up in the tissue, holding them carefully so they don't shift.


4. Twist top of tissue paper above candies to secure -- no tape is needed.

A trio of envelopes encloses sweets and serves as a place card.



Envelope Favor How-To
You'll need hot pink, pale pink, and brown 31/2-by- 5-inch envelopes.

1. Create a template (for making many favors): Trace envelope onto paper; cut out, and make two holes using a 1/8-inch hole punch. Lay template over front envelope; mark holes with pencil.

2. Lay front envelope over other two, staggering so tops show. Using a paper clip to hold in place, punch holes through all three envelopes.

3. Add candies to each envelope; seal.

4. Tie together with ribbon. Print label on a computer (use clip art for fancy designs); affix with a glue stick.


You can find a wide selection of candies in both pink and brown. Of course there are myriad chocolates; and jelly beans, M and Ms, and dragees come in almost every color (food for any palette). Use all one hue, or mix the colors in flavors that go well together.

A cuff of scrapbooking paper secured with clear tape dresses up prewrapped taffy.

Customize a white box with a brown paper band; votive candles nest in pink wood excelsior (a packing material); a computer-printed label is attached with twine.