PRETTIE...GARLANDS

I have always loved streamers, garlands and bunting. They always project feelings of happiness, as well as sense of occasion. I love that they are appropriate for any celebration or event, that you can use them on packaging, in food and tabletop design as well as in your everyday seasonal decorating elements!

These stunning garlands are made from hand punched designer paper which have then been machine stitched together by Mara May - a very talented paper and scrapbooking crafter who also makes beautiful and one of a kind party hats too! The garlands are available here!

PRETTIE...MINI TUTORIAL..TREAT CUPS

I am thinking about the holiday season already....Neighbourhood gifts are a tradition and a lot of fun for the kids to deliver and receive. Traditionally I make some sort of ornament. This year I am going with white and soft pink so it can be displayed during Valentines and Spring (!?!) too. These would also make great shower, birthday or wedding treat/favor cups as well.

Equipment I used:

• Peat moss cups (mine are 1.5" at base and 2" high) from Home Depot
• Acrylic paint and paintbrush
• Crepe paper strip (1.5" x 36")
• Tinsel pipe-cleaners
• Bakers twine
• Fine cut paper shred
• Clothes pegs
• Glue Gun

Step 1 - Gather together all your supplies.Step 2 - Paint the inside and the outside of each peat moss cup with 2 coats of paint - let the paint dry thoroughly between each coat.Step 3 - Glue each end of the tinsel pipe cleaner separately on the inside of the peat moss cup approx 1/2" from the top, making sure that both ends are opposite each other. I let the glue cool down and "dry" for 20 - 30 seconds while steadying with my hand before I used the peg to hold the tinsel in place. The peg will help flatten the glue and the tinsel. Let dry.Step 4 - Remove pegs then gather your crepe paper strip to fit around the rim of your cup. (I used my sewing machine and gather stitched down the middle then pulled and bunched to the correct size) Fold your gathered crepe paper strip in half and glue at the stitch line (starting at one of the handles) to the top outside rim of your cup. Lightly glue a piece of bakers twine around the base of the gathered crepe paper (to help hide any irregularities!) Embellish with a little twine bow and the paper shred. Shape the pipe cleaner to the style of handle you would like your treat cup to have!

I am just going to wrap in a cellophane bag with a pink cardstock base and attatch a simple gift tag with some pink seam binding and deliver!

PRETTIE...EMBELLISHMENTS

How gorgeous are these paper embellishments from here? I would love to decorate some of my kraft gift packages with any or all of these goodies or make a lovely garland with those butterflies!! These yellow and light green hues are fantastic - they are also available in blue, peach, orange and red too!

Sasha of The Gilded Bee is a tremendously talented and generous crafter. She created this paper carnation tutorial which is posted on one of my other favorite blogs Oh Hello Friend... These flowers are make perfect year round or seasonal home decor accents and will look lovely on some of my gift packaging as well! Click on the link/s above and get "lust" in her nostalgia and use of color too!