Easy Paper Bunting

I finally made some paper bunting for my drab looking university room. Turns out it takes less than an hour and is SO easy!


I got pretty paper from a gifted magazine from my house mates Mum who is craft crazy too.

I had a tonne of pretty paper but thought the freebies with simply homemade should be put to use.

So I collected the paper I wanted to use (its a nice thick paper) from my stash and also got my pretty tape the same friend bought me in Japan.

With scrap paper I cut out a template of a large elongated 'bunting flag' shaped triangle with a slim rectangle included above it, trimming until I was happy with the size. 

Tracing it onto one sheet of paper I then grabbed a handful and some very sharp paper scissors to bulk cut them out. EASY!

Using my pretty tape I taped along the slim rectangles at the top of each flag...

Joining them as I went. This was the only only tricky part as the tape likes to stick to EVERYTHING and you have to double it up behind the flag to ensure it is a strong hold whilst aligning the tape and un-sticking it from everything.Also leave a little at each end for hanging/pinning.

Then hang it! 

See, easy and pretty :) Oh and a sneaky look at my 5 ft map too.

Happy Crafting.

Loo Roll, Bunting and a Party

Finally found some time to share my upcycling venture with loo rolls! I was making decorations for my Mummy's surprise party for her 50th birthday and decided to make hanging decorations.
First I collected lots of the cardboard toilet rolls (because I am a hoarder and hate waste) and then set to work. I squashed them slightly and cut them in half, half again and again, ending with 8 pieces per roll that already had a petal shape.

I then got some pva glue and using a small brush applied glue at and slightly around one of the points of each of four 'petals' and stuck them together in a flower shape holding them tightly for about a minute. As a little insurance I also used nail varnish (and later on extra strong glue) to dab in the centre and hold the four petals together.

Whilst the glue dried I made the flower stigmas (centres). I used old birthday cards and cut shapes out testing my crafty scissors that are curved, brushed pva glue on the card and covered in sequins. I then put a thick layer of glue on each piece and repeated until there was no card visible. This took some patience!

Finally, I sprayed the flowers silver and glued the stigma to the centre of each with extra strong glue, finishing by sticking the flowers back to back so they were double sided, eight petal flowers.

This was the one we put on the wrapping of her champagne but I also tied wrapping ribbon to the rest and hung them around the hall for the party with bunting I also made.

I made 50 metres of bunting (foil wrapping paper, concertinered like a fan, glued in the middle then taped to wrapping foil string. The pictures were doubles from a 'this is your life' 50th gift from my sister) and flower decorations all for about £7! An added bonus was Mummy never cottoned on to the plans and was so surprised she was teary from happiness/shock. Budget, upcycle and party success!