D.I.Y. Wednesday: Paper Stars and Flowers

Waiting for family to arrive? Looking to kill some time while that beautiful Thanksgiving bird browns? What better way than with one of our simple, stunning D.I.Y. designs? Today is a two-for-one post with adorable crafts meant to decorate your holiday tree or next celebration. Let’s make our used paper pretty again, shall we?

Paper Stars

What you’ll need:
One sheet from a Vera Bradley paper item, a pen or pencil, scissors, glue stick, stapler and Binder Clips

1. Draw a line down the edge of the margin where the holes are located. Cut to remove this portion.

2. Keeping the paper in the portrait position (or hamburger style), fold the paper back and forth to create an accordion effect. (Our folds were about ½-inch thick, but it doesn’t really matter, as long as they’re consistent.)

3. Your page should look like this (above) when you’re done. If your last fold is too long, trim off the edge to make it even.

4. Staple the folded paper across the center.

5. For a little added flair, cut the edges of the paper at an angle before you open it.

6. Open up your star shape a little bit to stretch it out. Add some glue to the outside edges; you’ll stick them together to make the star shape.

7. Use a Binder Clip to hold the two edges together while the glue dries. Repeat on the other side. Let the glue set for a few minutes before you open it.

8. Punch a hole and add string to complete your paper star decoration. If you have the patience to make a bunch of stars, these would make for very festive party garland!

Paper Flowers

What you’ll need:
A used Vera Bradley Mini Notebook with Pocket, double-stick tape, needle, thread and scissors

1. Tear out pages along the perforated line. (If the pages are used, please be sure to recycle them. If they are still blank, you can save them for another D.I.Y.)

Separate the colored paper margins from the spiral. Try not to rip them. (Hint: Pull them out of the spiral only a few at a time. This is much easier after you take off the covers and folder.) Gravity takes a toll on this shape while hanging, so use at least 16 strips if you want your flower to look even.

2. For a stable flower shape, use a needle and thread to pierce the ends of each colored strip about ¼-inch from the end. We kept all of the square holes to the outside to keep it consistent, but you can alternate them if you like.

3. To maintain the flower shape, add a small piece of double-stick tape on the outside to stick the “petals” to each other. You can use less strips of paper if you use longer pieces of tape to hold the shape together.

4. Continue stringing your paper strips until you get the desired number of “petals.”

5. When you’re done stringing, thread the string back through the first petal, and tie a knot. Weave the remaining string up through the square cut outs between two of the petals; this helps the final flower hang straight.

6. Tie a loop in the end or add some ribbon and hang your flowers!

Come back each Wednesday for more of Erin’s eco-friendly D.I.Y. designs.