DIY GARLAND IDEAS
A few of you asked about the felt garland (inspired by one I saw in Country Living) in my Christmas Home Tour post. You are all so sweet. It is so easy it seems hilarious to me to write a DIY Craft Post, but I’ll be a good sport and pretend I’m all Martha Stewart. Seriously, would I ever do a complicated craft? Um, no. So if you come here for complicated or fancy, look the other way because this is MY KIND OF CRAFT.
I make some sort of easy Christmas garland every year so I’ll share the past three garland crafts here too. Just for fun. Don’t laugh at my crafts. They are fun to do with your kids when they say “I’m bored” over the holiday break. And being prepared for these projects will totally will make you feel like mother of the year. Then if you are a blogger like me you can blog about them and you’ll feel like the most crafty blogger mom out there.
These crafts are good for your self-esteem, good for the kids and good for your home.
FELT GARLAND
1. Buy whatever color of felt you like. I used rectangular felt from the craft store.
2. Cut into squares of any size, no need to be perfectly square or straight. Mine are 2 inch squares.
3. Thread dental floss (the BEST string for garland!!) onto a needle and poke through all the squares.
4. Tie ends, leaving enough floss to hang.
5 Hang bells or balls or other trinkets as you wish, using Christmas tree ornament hangers. By adding the decorations with Christmas ornament hangers you can easily change the garland up if you want to try something else with it next year, or if you want to keep it up year round!
5. Step back and admire your craftiness.
Now that you are on a roll, how about making one of these easy garlands?
PRETTY PAPER GARLAND
Last year my son and I made this garland. Simply use cookie cutters to create holiday shapes with old Christmas cards or scrapbook paper. Cut out and punch a small hole in the top of the paper shape. String on a ribbon and hang!
COOKIE CUTTER GARLAND
And when you are done with the cookie cutters in the last project, string them on some ribbon and hang ’em up!
Aren’t you amazed at my crafting genius? But wait, there’s more!
BEADS & POM POM GARLAND
Stand back in awe. The beads and pom pom garland. This one was really pretty in real life. We made it a couple of years ago with some sort of jewelry string and sadly, it broke this year. Now we are all about the dental floss. String beads and or craft puff balls (do these have a name?) on the floss and hang.
Easy peasy.
With a 5-month-old, I am all about easy! I definitely want to try your felt garland – thanks for sharing!
.-= Jessica´s last blog ..Burlap and Yarn Trees =-.
You are my kind of crafter. If I can do it with a kid in my lap and scissors in one hand, dental floss in another, I’ll try it! :)
.-= Emily@remodelingthislife´s last blog ..Ice Skating in Florida =-.
I want to try the pretty papaer one for my daughter’s room!
Awesome!
.-= Stephaine @ Geezees´s last blog ..took a break for a day … 2 birthdays , one party, and a whole lotta ice =-.
Love the super easy cookie cutter garland. I think I’ll do that today!
.-= Jennifer Wright´s last blog ..Where Have I Been? =-.
OMG – they do look easy – but still, unlikely I’ll do em, no time!!!
.-= Annie@A View On Design´s last blog ..Another Potts Point stunner! =-.
What fun – isn’t it great when you make something and you really like it?? Thanks for sharing your ideas – got us all thinking this morning!!
Totally great EASY ideas! I never think a craft is “great” because of how hard it is….I think it’s great if it makes you happy when you look at it. =) Thanks for these ideas. Now I’m wondering if I can trust my almost-4-year-old son with a needle. Hhmmmm.
.-= Amanda @ LittleDittyMama´s last blog ..Oh, So Proud! =-.
Love it- and great tip about just hanging the ornaments on the garland- sweet.
Happy Day
Simple, but oh so pretty!
.-= Kim´s last blog ..Christmas Tour =-.
Love all of them!
Happy Monday, friend!
.-= Sandy´s last blog ..Joy – Don’t Lose it! =-.
Great ideas, thanks for sharing! I LOVE the little kitchen one … so dear. thx xx
.-= Gena´s last blog ..Christmas Wreaths : 11 days to Christmas =-.
Very pretty :)
Melissa, love the felt garland :)
.-= Gussy´s last blog ..{can you guess my ruffles?!} =-.
These are so easy, even I might try one. Its something I can do while I’m laying on the sofa watching TV after dinner.
.-= Michelle, Home Staging Pro´s last blog ..Los Angeles Home Staging Tips To Stage Your Kitchen With Feng Shui =-.
These are such great ideas, I can’t wait to make some! Just made the Mason and Epsom jar candles last night with my 2 year old. They look so cute :)
.-= Shannon´s last blog ..Ready for Christmas =-.
I love all these ideas. Actually I am loving that bed headboard as well. I am looking for a white iron bed. Where did you get it?
.-= Courtney´s last blog ..this pregnancy… =-.
I am standing back in awe. You rock.
.-= Richella´s last blog ..Christmas Tour of Homes =-.
Love the cookie cutter garland. So sweet for a kitchen. Love it.
.-= LesleySW´s last blog ..Allen condo is both warm and modern =-.
Love it! The felt garland…More ideas to try next year! Janell
.-= Janell Beals´s last blog ..Mulling Over The Possibilities =-.
I really, really LOVE that felt garland! Going in the archives for next year.
.-= Jaimie´s last blog ..Straws, Awesome Craftiness, Sunday Love =-.
With 8 sets of hands that always want to be doing something to amuse, I’m all about easy to implement ideas!! Thanks a bunch. :)
.-= gina´s last blog ..Irony is =-.
Very cute ideas and easy, love them, thanks!
.-= Dariela´s last blog ..More Cafecitos =-.
These garlands are fun. The first one is my favorite! And I’m with you on the easy crafts. I don’t even like to use a glue gun :)
I’m planning to post a wrapped gift garland soon on my blog, if you want another easy-peasy garland to add to your collection :)
Amy
.-= Amy at The Red Chair Blog´s last blog ..Wreath to Topiary Conversion =-.
You have great ideas. I tried putting a garland on my bed and it was just too much, but yours look great, so I think mine was just too big. I’ll have to try again. I love the other garlands too and they look easy which is always a plus. Thanks for sharing. Linda
.-= Linda´s last blog ..11 Days Til Christmas-Midieval Angels =-.
I used dental floss to hang my wreaths!
.-= Meghan´s last blog ..We Now Have an After =-.
Thank you for sharing! I love your pictures. Thank you for sharing EASY crafts!! Merry Christmas!
.-= Norma Lee Good´s last blog ..Vintage Christmas Monday =-.
These may be easy but they are still beautiful! Thanks for sharing these are good ones to make for Christmas next year. Love your blog!
Teacup Lane (Sandy)
.-= Sandy´s last blog ..Red and White for Christmas… =-.
Love the felt garland! So beautiful yet so easy. Can’t wait to try it!
.-= The Working Home Keeper´s last blog ..The Nester Christmas Tour of Homes =-.
I love that felt garland! I think I may have to try that one out…it would match my neautral theme this year! Thanks for the ideas!
~Meg
Oh Melissa, your garlands are lovely !!!!!! Clarice
.-= clarice´s last blog ..Snow Tree =-.
Um, that IS easy. I think I may even attempt it :) I also love the epsom salt ideas. My house is covered in it but I love it!
.-= becky @ our sweet peas´s last blog ..The Photo Shoot of 2009 =-.
I love your home. I have been visiting your site for a long time, I always enjoy my time here. I could not believe it when I saw you commented on my home on my site. If you find my house lovely I have done well. GOD BLESS AND MERRY CHRISTMAS
.-= Cha Cha´s last blog ..ALL DECKED OUT FOR CHRISTMAS =-.
I am going to feature this on my Tutorial Tuesday tomorrow! I hope that is okay! Be sure to stop on over! : )
.-= Jaimie´s last blog ..Welcome to my Holiday Home! =-.
All of these are beautiful! I especially like the felt garland. Such a great idea to use dental floss. Don’t know why I never thought of that. Duh!
.-= Kara´s last blog ..Easy Shabby Christmas Tree Tutorial =-.
I love the cookie cutter garland idea!
.-= Amy´s last blog ..Pursuit of the Perfect Picture…or not =-.
I made something very similar to the felt wreath on Sunday at our church. We took floral wire and threaded it through about 6 bay leaves, then a felted patch from old wool sweaters. This was repeated until the wire was full. The ends were formed into a loop and jute was tied on. Some of the patches were sented in cinnamon oil.
.-= Karen´s last blog ..Deck the Halls – Dec 8 =-.
Well done. I really enjoyed your home tour. Thanks also, your advice that said not to unpack everything for Christmas decorating helped me, as we used less this year as I was so tired, but still had just as much fun.
These are fantabulous! Thanks!
.-= Bonnie @ Savoring Simplicity´s last blog ..Great Gift Wrapping Ideas =-.
Oooh, I love them all, especially the felt one. Thanks for sharing!
.-= Kimm at Reinvented´s last blog ..Use What You Have Ornaments =-.
I love all your garland ideas! Thanks for the inspiration and Merry Christmas!
.-= karen´s last blog ..Hello My Friends!!!! =-.
i love the beads and puffy balls. that is so cute.
i am looking for something with a pop….that could be it! but i really don’t want to go to another store….ugh.
maybe next year. :)
.-= meg duerksen´s last blog ..zozobugbaby =-.
It may be easy, but it is the inspiration that makes the difference!
Such cute iteas.
Susan
.-= Susan – Penless Writer´s last blog ..SHOW & TELL #14 – Nativity Scenes & Santa Clauses =-.
I absolutely love these simple garlands. It’s lovely to make things which don’t take up a lot of time! Your home will look great with them I’m sure.
Wishing you seasonal greetings from my house to your house!
Hugs and Love From Sue in the UK.x
.-= Mrs Twins´s last blog ..‘Show and Tell Friday’ – Crocheting for my Home 2009. =-.
GREAT!!!! post.
My Show n Tell is a gift to me from years ago…ANGELS WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH
.-= Hootin’ Anni´s last blog ..…Angels we have heard on high =-.
Those are adorable!
.-= Janet@The Decorating Diaries´s last blog ..~Santa and Toys~ =-.
Wow! I’m truly impresses. Simple, beautiful and fun to make. You are so creative.
.-= Janie Gore´s last blog ..I’m so EXASPERATED!!! =-.
Ok this is what I will do this weekend with my kiddie…We will have a fun time! Thanks for sharing!
.-= Beth´s last blog ..CHRISTMAS STARTED MY COLLECTION =-.
I love, love, LOVE the felt garland. Perhaps I’ll be different and do circles. :)
.-= Laura Ingalls Gunn´s last blog ..Santa’s Got A Brand New Bag~ Craft 6 =-.
These are darling! Tomorrow I will be sharing a garland that I made. Not as original as yours though! :)
~Liz
.-= Liz´s last blog ..The Christmas Bath =-.
Thanks for the fun ideas! My fave is the cookie cutters! Check out this little wreath I made so similar to your felt garland:
http://www.theshabbychiccottage.net/2009/12/christmas-cheats-fleece-wreath-and.html
I thought it was funny that they were alike! :)
I am including a link to this post in my Inspire My Saturday post today. I adore the garland in your kitchen. So simple and sweet.
XO*Tricia
.-= Tricia´s last blog ..Trimming the Tree =-.
Thank you so much for these tutorial. I saw more than one I want to make. We moved into a new home and really want something new and pretty for our staircase. That felt garland would be PERFECT! Thanks again!
Love them all! The pom pom and bead garland reminds me of “visions of sugar plums.”