Yet Another Paper Wreath Tutorial

If you do a search for paper wreath tutorials you will likely find a bazillion. There are folded paper wreaths and rolled paper wreaths just to name a few. I'm sure there is already at least one crunched paper wreath tutorial, yet I will add another just in case you haven't had the time or inclination to search. Paper wreaths are so popular because they are relatively inexpensive. However they are time, paper, and hot glue stick consuming. Each of the wreaths I made as centerpieces for the wedding reception took about an hour.

I started by using a simple wreath from the dollar store.

In order to camouflage the wreath, as well as make it easier for the crunched paper to stick,

I first covered it with strips of sheet music.

This was when I received 75% of my hot glue burns so be very careful with this step!

Next I cut pages from a music book into fourths.

My wreaths were covered completely on all sides so each took an entire music book that was about the thickness of a magazine.

Using one piece of quartered paper, I placed a dowel (a pencil would also work) into the center of the paper and then crunched the paper around the dowel.

Making sure to first flatten out the crunched end a bit for more surface area, I then applied hot glue.

Next I used the dowel to place the crunched paper onto the wreath.

I continued. . . and continued. . . and continued until the wreath was covered.

***I will now impart what little unique knowledge I gained from this procedure***

If the paper is thin it will adhere much faster than if it is thick and stiff. The stiffer the paper the longer the wait time for the glue to hold. And while you may think that the paper is stuck you will soon find out that the little stinkin' stiff paper will try to hightail it right off the wreath just as you are placing the next piece causing you to grab said piece and possibly cause additional finger burnage.

After the wreath was complete I lightly sprayed each with the desired color of spray paint. To give them more color and interest I added in pieces of crunched colored tissue paper.

To make them hang I hot glued on some evenly placed ribbons and glued the ribbons onto a large dowel that had been glued into a piece of 2x4. The dowel was topped with a finial painted to match the wreath and ribbons. I then adhered photos of the newlyweds onto the ribbon.

The centerpieces resembled little maypoles which was very appropriate since it was a May wedding.

Yet Another Paper Wreath Tutorial

If you do a search for paper wreath tutorials you will likely find a bazillion. There are folded paper wreaths and rolled paper wreaths just to name a few. I'm sure there is already at least one crunched paper wreath tutorial, yet I will add another just in case you haven't had the time or inclination to search. Paper wreaths are so popular because they are relatively inexpensive. However they are time, paper, and hot glue stick consuming. Each of the wreaths I made as centerpieces for the wedding reception took about an hour.

I started by using a simple wreath from the dollar store.

In order to camouflage the wreath, as well as make it easier for the crunched paper to stick,

I first covered it with strips of sheet music.

This was when I received 75% of my hot glue burns so be very careful with this step!

Next I cut pages from a music book into fourths.

My wreaths were covered completely on all sides so each took an entire music book that was about the thickness of a magazine.

Using one piece of quartered paper, I placed a dowel (a pencil would also work) into the center of the paper and then crunched the paper around the dowel.

Making sure to first flatten out the crunched end a bit for more surface area, I then applied hot glue.

Next I used the dowel to place the crunched paper onto the wreath.

I continued. . . and continued. . . and continued until the wreath was covered.

***I will now impart what little unique knowledge I gained from this procedure***

If the paper is thin it will adhere much faster than if it is thick and stiff. The stiffer the paper the longer the wait time for the glue to hold. And while you may think that the paper is stuck you will soon find out that the little stinkin' stiff paper will try to hightail it right off the wreath just as you are placing the next piece causing you to grab said piece and possibly cause additional finger burnage.

After the wreath was complete I lightly sprayed each with the desired color of spray paint. To give them more color and interest I added in pieces of crunched colored tissue paper.

To make them hang I hot glued on some evenly placed ribbons and glued the ribbons onto a large dowel that had been glued into a piece of 2x4. The dowel was topped with a finial painted to match the wreath and ribbons. I then adhered photos of the newlyweds onto the ribbon.

The centerpieces resembled little maypoles which was very appropriate since it was a May wedding.

LITTLE MAN STAMPED PAPER PLATES {Party}

I bought some white paper plates at the dollar store for my Little Man shower.  Today I saw much nicer plates at Wal-Mart for 97 cents.  So, I am MAD!  I can’t return them because I have already stamped mustaches onto the dinner plates and bowties onto the dessert plates.  I am pretty happy with how they turned out.

I traced a mustache onto a new foam sponge and then used an Xacto knife to cut around the shape.  Once I had cut down into the sponge around the mustache about 1/4”, I used some little trimming scissors to cut away the excess to create a raised stamp shape.

I mixed some of this black paste food coloring with a couple tablespoons or so of powdered sugar and a few drops of water.

I mixed mine on a dark brown plate since I was using black and didn’t want to risk dying one of my white plates.  I just experimented with the consistency until it seemed to work alright stamping it.  I originally tried to do just food coloring and water but it didn’t stick at all.  I also tried just some ink (not on this sponge) but it never got dry on the glossy surface of the plate.  The puddle of goo was about 1/16 to 1/8 of an inch deep.

I simply pressed the sponge into the goo and then looked to make sure it all seemed well covered, then gently pressed it onto the plate.  Some of them turned out better than others.  But I think the effect if perfect!  Here is the bowtie.

Then I just set them aside to dry.  Once dry, I was able to stack them all up on each other again.  I am wondering how black people’s mouths are going to get from eating off these.  I will keep you posted on that!

LITTLE MAN STAMPED PAPER PLATES {Party}

I bought some white paper plates at the dollar store for my Little Man shower.  Today I saw much nicer plates at Wal-Mart for 97 cents.  So, I am MAD!  I can’t return them because I have already stamped mustaches onto the dinner plates and bowties onto the dessert plates.  I am pretty happy with how they turned out.

I traced a mustache onto a new foam sponge and then used an Xacto knife to cut around the shape.  Once I had cut down into the sponge around the mustache about 1/4”, I used some little trimming scissors to cut away the excess to create a raised stamp shape.

I mixed some of this black paste food coloring with a couple tablespoons or so of powdered sugar and a few drops of water.

I mixed mine on a dark brown plate since I was using black and didn’t want to risk dying one of my white plates.  I just experimented with the consistency until it seemed to work alright stamping it.  I originally tried to do just food coloring and water but it didn’t stick at all.  I also tried just some ink (not on this sponge) but it never got dry on the glossy surface of the plate.  The puddle of goo was about 1/16 to 1/8 of an inch deep.

I simply pressed the sponge into the goo and then looked to make sure it all seemed well covered, then gently pressed it onto the plate.  Some of them turned out better than others.  But I think the effect if perfect!  Here is the bowtie.

Then I just set them aside to dry.  Once dry, I was able to stack them all up on each other again.  I am wondering how black people’s mouths are going to get from eating off these.  I will keep you posted on that!