Oragami Flower

This is my first craft request! One of my favorite people is getting married in April and she asked Kayleigh and I to figure out how to make these really cool flowers for decorations :)

photo credit: elizabethannedesigns.com P.S. She featured my wedding this summer :)
Great inspiration!

SO, I started googling, as any great crafter would do, and found this tutorial for a Kusudama Flower

what you'll need: Origami Paper, and Glue. I used paper that was 6" x 6" and the finished product ended up being about 5" across. 

After a few tries following the tutorial I got this little guy folded up. Isn't it cute? 

First attempt at the flower doesn't look quite as nice as the tutorial pic, BUT to be fair I was using sketchbook paper which is much thicker than origami paper, and tape which doesn't really hold the flower together very well.... glue would be better. This is what I'd like to call a prototype...

We are going to get together and do a flower tutorial/wine night, so I'll post some pics of the result. If you wait until April maybe I'll let you sneak a peak at the finished wedding decor!

Halloween Paper Chain

Remember making construction-paper paper chains when you were little? Just me?? Well, here's the grown-up version that can be used for any holiday or party or just for fun.

Here's all you need:

pretty scrapbooking paper (mine was 60 cents per sheet)

scissors

ruler

hot glue gun (trust me, you do NOT want to use tape)

First:

Turn your paper so the back is facing up. Use your ruler to trace 1 inch sections so that each chain is the same width.

 

Second:

Cut on the lines. Then cut those strips in half. You should have strips that are 6 inches long when you're done.

Third:

Make a full circle with one strip and glue it together.

Then slide another strip through it, and glue in a circle around the first one...

Then keep on doing this until you run out of paper, or get tired of gluing ( I stopped because of the second reason).

Last-- Hang it up! Mine will be moved to hang by the windows.
>>>>Another option...make your kids do it!