Merry Christmas Banner

I have been eyeing this garland from a certain (over-priced) store with the initials P.B.

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Here is a zoomed out version. So pretty. So expensive.

(Source)

I knew I didn't have enough room (because of this) to make a whole garland, so I just made a banner instead. Besides, it's easier to make and doesn't take as long.

I also switched mine up a bit and used some old music I found at Goodwill for .49 cents. I used my Cricut Schoolbook cartridge to cut out the letters in black.

Cut a sheet of music in half (hot dog way) and glue together at the seam.

Use the same Cricut cartridge to cut the scalloped edges. If you don't have a Cricut, use those fancy-schmancy scrapbooking scissors instead! Glue it all together.

Set up your Christmas tree and place the banner on it. (Never leave paper on the Christmas tree with the tree lit unattended, I would hate to have your craft (among other things) go up in flames. Yikes!)

So pretty. So NOT expensive.

Just wait till you hear what happened when I started hanging the ornaments on the Christmas tree... At least my banner is pretty! I am going to link to these parties this week.

PS: I am linking this to the Christmas Craft Contest at Poppies at Play. If you like my banner, head over there and vote. Thanks!

XO,

Paper Ornaments

Sometimes I like to embellish my presents. This year I decided to put paper ornaments on the outside of my presents. I have seen these before and decided to give them a try.

I started out with six 4 inch circles of three different patterned paper. Could I type that any more confusing? That equals three 4 inch circles in one color, three in another and three more in another color or pattern. (For a grand total of 6!) I also found that a bone to help fold the paper worked well too.



Fold each paper circle in half.



Glue half of the back of one paper circle to another back's half. As you get down to the last circle, you will need to put the ribbon in. I like to tie a loop onto the top.





Then glue the last circle on.

After it dries for a bit, I tie a bead to the bottom where the ribbon dangles. Here is how my first attempt turned out.

Notice anything? Yeah, I put the ribbon loop on the wrong end- it is hanging upside-down. Perfect for Christmas in Dr. Seuss' Whoville!! If I had noticed it earlier, while the glue was still wet, I could have switched it.

Here are some other attempts.

And, sometimes the ends of the circles don't match up perfectly. You might want to trim them or just distress them a bit with distress ink to cover the white.