Confetti System Garland DIY

I made this knock-off Confetti system christmas tree garland on Thanksgiving eve. On one hand I feel bad for stealing someone's idea and showing how you can make it for less money, but on the other hand, I went on Martha and sold out on my big idea so it happens to the best of us. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, no?

The other part of seeing it in the catalog and making it myself at a break-neck pace was also simply to have it in my hands right now. It's so cute!


But it's always sweet to make something yourself. When your sewing machine gives birth to something beautiful... well, it's a beautiful thing.

It was seriously one of the simplest, fastest sewing craft projects I've ever done.
I texted a photo to my home-ec teacher-friend immediately.



Directions: 
1. Cut up a bunch of same-size (I eye-balled it per usual) squares of tissue paper.
I used metallic silver and different shades of pink and translucent. 

2. Get your sewing machine threaded in matchy threads.

3. Fold a few pieces of tissue paper together.

4. Stitch those bitches together.

5. When one square is done, get another one ready.


Note: Once I had about six feet, I would start a new garland because I fear that if these guys get tangled up, since they're made of paper, they will be doomed.

Also, having 6' increments was easier to work with in decorating my tree.

If you want a more rustic look and have absolutely no money for this non-sense project, you could use kraft paper or cut-up grocery paper bags. I'm lucky that my husband is on-board for me to make everything look like teenage girls were behind it. 

Vintage Matchbook Art

We have our first official guest room ever! Matt and I have lived together for about ten years. We've had spare space and a blow-up mattress, but now we have a whole special room with a real bed for our guests.

I'm pulling this room together.

I've had this pile of vintage matchbooks for a few years now. I never knew what to do with them.
Today I figured it out.


I took two sheets of kraft paper - the size of my frames, and masking taped them to the table and marked off 2" border all around with pencil dots.


Then I used double-stick tape to tape down matchbook covers on the 4 corners...


Then I eyeballed it the rest of the way.


I laid them out and did re-arrangements until I was pleased with the colors and composition, then I just used double-stick tape to commit to the layout.

Getting there.


I love how this one is flipped open to show the matches.




Bonnie is never impressed.


Notes: I used my exacto knife to cut some of them because they were cute on both sides and I wanted to use both sides but maintain the look of the matchbooks.

Here's a Flickr set with more photos and details. This project was pretty fast and easy and I know there are tons of bags of vintage matchbooks at thrift/antique/flea markets.

Most of the matchbooks in the frames have the actual matches removed.

DIY Times - Decorative Art

I suspected I would start making things when I got on Arkansas time. Out of necessity, I made some decorative art.

I followed this DIY for this one.


I'm really happy with it because it works no matter which way the canvas is turned and your eye keeps moving. And there's glitter. I kind-of totally free-handed the shapes, so I could continue to clean it up. It looks good in photos.

Next project:  I needed to cover this big column and I love this Marimekko pattern, but I don't live down the street from a Marimekko store anymore, and sometimes I'm impatient and didn't want to order the fabric online and then make a stretch canvas, so...  This was much cheaper anyway.


I read that the artist made the shapes to look like chunky cut-out circles so I used masking tape to make a similar effect and try to have sharp edges.



I just used acrylic paint for both of these. I never felt like I had the time or space to do things like this in NYC.