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Friends online: 0We love these unusual garlands, crafted from our very own catalogues don’t you know. Whether you string them up outside to salute the last days of summer or drape them about indoors to give some lift your living room, we’d love to see what you create…
If you have ever hesitated when recycling your old Boden catalogues because you love the prints and patterns then here is an easy way to reuse them to make paper garlands.
These can be done as a summer holiday activity with kids (though I’d recommend doing some preparation and cutting out of paper first depending on their age). Or make them on your own as a personalised decoration for a party.
Here’s what you will need…
An old Boden catalogue or pretty (and preferably quite stiff) paper
Sharp scissors
Double sided sticky tape or glue
Ribbon or string to hang them on
Here’s what to do:
- Draw round a glass or similar to make circles on your paper, you will need 6 in total for each shape.
- Cut them out and fold in half making sure the pretty side of the paper that you want to see is on the inside of the fold.
- Using double sided sticky tape (you can use glue but I am impatient!) stick the folded circles together back to back.
- When you get to the last circle, stick down one side and then place the ribbon down the middle before sticking down the last piece to make a ball.
- If you are using string, you may need to add a knot either side of the ball.
- Repeat to make lots of different ones with assorted patterns, sizes and you can have more or less circles – 4 looks good too.
- Evenly space them along your ribbon, you can also use circles of paper stuck back to back over the ribbon for a bit of variety. I traced round a 2p piece for these.
These are particularly pretty when hanging in the garden as they flutter about and catch the breeze.
I hope you have fun making them and have had a great summer so far!
x
Ooh yes can easily be adapted for Xmas
This is such a lovely idea! I’ve been thinking about making flags or banners that we can use to decorate on special days like birthdays and this garland would be a great addition to that! Thank you.
These are amazing, wonder what I did with all those catalogues, will keep from now on!.
Such a great idea for using up old pieces of paper, magazines and cards (I’ve got loads! Bit of a hoarder!!) Might make some for Christmas, make a change from the usual bunting.
I’ll definitely make these lovely garlands — thanks for the idea & demonstration! I can’t bear to cut up my treasured Boden catalogs, though…I’ll have to use origami paper instead!!
what a brilliant idea, it looks fabulous
Thanks for the beautiful idea. They look so pretty. Can’t wait to try them!
Lovely, very original. I think I shall have to find some other catalogue to cut up though, as I (not quite sure why) horde my Boden catalogues!
These look fantastic – can’t wait to try this out – shame about cutting up the catalogues though
Thanks for all the lovely comments everyone!
Wow, these are really neat!
What a fab idea, our little boy will love this
)
Love these, I think they would look beautiful made with origami paper
Guess what I’ll be doing during the upcoming storm!
Oh I love this idea, I’m going to have a go and will post the resulting mess (oh, I mean fabulous creation!!).
I think this is a lovely, original, idea. Monsoon weather will prevent me stringing these outside to enjoy the last of the summer wine. However, I think they would be a great addition to the CHristmas decorations. Groupd of three small shapes ( in suitable colours) could be strung up inside a window to be visible from the great outdoors.
Wow, these are lovely, I’m a teacher and we’ll be making these in class !!
they are very pretty
My Brownies now have their Christmas decorations sorted for this year!!
Can’t wait to try making these with my daughter ( and my son if we can find some football themed card!)
Can’t wait to have a go at making these with my daughter – (and my son if we can find some football themed card!)tomorrow
I love this! Thanks for the idea.
They are really pretty and look very well made. Keep them coming kate.
Thanks Georgina!
love this idea, got to do something with all those catalogues!
they look lovely would be great in my daughters room
These are lovely and I like the Christmas idea too.
These are lovely; we could use our tea packets for this at work.
I love these, think i might try and make them for my baby’s bedroom.
we’re having a thrift christmas this year, presents will all be home made and now I can make our decorations myself too!
These look lovely. I have just spent 2 days making 30m of fabric bunting and am wondering now whether to make a load of these instead – might take less time.
These are really great to make for in the garden or as a template for Christmas decorations.
I love these and think they’d be a different spin on *whispers* Christmas decorations.
what a great idea, I made these at the beginning of the summer thinking about garden parties but they would be great for Christmas. Sorry to mention that word in September!
These are really gorgeous but I keep my catalogues like treasure to research vintage items, so I’ll have to make my bunting using the catalogues of other less treasured companies (;)
good idea – sometimes they are too pretty to cut up!