Crepe Paper Bunting

Welcome, pretty spring colors! In honor of the first sunshine days of 2013 (I know, it's been a gloomy year so far!) let's celebrate with a happy crepe paper bunting. The event takes place at my space - in fact the party has already started in my bedroom. The painted dark purple wall (painted by yours truly!) is the perfect backdrop for all the yellows, greens, turquoise and indigo flashes of my crepe paper bunting.

Crepe paper has been my favorite DIY media ever since... oh well, kindergarten! It comes in all colors and it's affordable for anyone. Speaking of its low cost, you can use crepe paper for projects that require LOTS of material, without having to break the bank. Also, you can get creative and try lots of new stuff, because if you mess up with something, there's always plenty more crepe paper rolls and you can start all over again.

The key to display a happy bunting is to gather around some items that you love and are dear to your heart. This way, the impact on your brain doubles, triples, gets ten times bigger and you just have to smile every time you go pass the little "spring shrine". For example, my white princess lamp makes the perfect accent on the purple wall. I also love the contrast between its romantic shape and the mundane texture of the colored crepe paper triangles.

But my display doesn't feel quite right with just ONE lamp. So I also added the green apple floor lamp. An apple a day keeps the doctor away :) Also two lamps in one spot make the perfect backdrop :) And the evergreen "Two lamps are better than one" :)) Seriously now, I think this is definitely my styling signature, because in many of my home corners I've used two lamps together. And I loved it every time.

I've made the crepe paper bunting last spring, so it's not big news on my blog. Still, for those of you who need a little guidance in putting together a banner of your own, here is a small tutorial and the steps to follow:

1. Choose your colors. The variety of crepe paper colors can be overwhelming, so I suggest to play with the rolls until the color combo looks right. The safest way is to go with 3 main colors and then you can as many nuances as you want. 

2. Cut the crepe paper into triangles. The triangles mustn't be even on all sides: leave one side bigger, because that's where you'll be attaching the bunting triangles to the yarn.

3. Apply glue onto the thick side of the triangles, choose a happy colored yarn and start putting everything together. Enjoy!

 A big, big Thanks! to Abbie for featuring the crepe paper banner on Five Days... Five Ways, this is awesome!
 

Origami Boat Garland

My return from the seaside holiday seems fruitful and full of inspiration. At the seashore, there were lots of boats. New boats, old boats, sandy boats, golden boats. Their charming silhouettes, fragile and sturdy at the same time, are sailing through my mind whenever I close my eyes or I just look at the sky. So what better thing to do other than a cheerful garland of origami boats!

I will not insult anybody by posting a tutorial on how to make an origami boat, even a toddler can make one. I took photos of the different stages from the making of... just for fun. First, you make your helmet shape, then you TWIST it on one side and suddenly your whole perspective changes. Just when you think you couldn't possibly have more fun, you twist it over on the side, again, then gently unfold the corners, like they were petals from the most delicate of flowers!

And the turqoise thread is the perfect compliment for my beachy origami papers. I chose a thich yarn, in order to add contrast to the composition. There's one trick I've got to share: make a simple knot under each origami boat, keeping the same distance, so that the boat won't slip away.

I almost forgot: I am a cheat and I stole the idea from my friend, Francesca from Xgioco. Mille baci, Fra!

And thank you so much, Petite Hermine, Little Inspiration, Here's To Handy Andy, Romance On A Dime and C.R.A.F.T. for featuring the origami garland!

      

I've toned it down

The bedroom, that is. You might remember the colorful Spring Bedroom from an earlier post, which was supposed to cheer me up and get me out of the spring depression. Well, it worked!

So now I reduced the bedroom color scheme to restful shades of green and purple. The sheets are simple, with a single pair of pillows (the only ones that matter). For a little hint of happy color, I went with a bright yellow pot holder and a matching crepe paper bunting (there used to be two buntings, but less is more in my book).

It still looks like a teenage bedroom, but I am sleeping like a baby.

Crepe paper bunting

Step one: Come back late from work, tired, angry and stressed out. Look for something pretty to rest your eyes upon. Crepe paper! My favorite media since kinder-garden :)

Step two: Remember the slogan from one of your favorite blogs: "Go Do Something!" (and the blog is Dos Family). Make a bunting! Yay! Cut little triangles from assorted crepe paper.

Step three: Apply glue onto the thick side of the triangles, choose a happy colored yarn and start putting everything together.

Step four: Call at wonce "Cat Services" for a feline companion, to help you make the crepe paper bunting.

Step five: I finally made two buntings, because I like overlapping stuff. A lot. Put it on the wall temporarily, to see how it looks. Go to bed happy and relaxed.

Update: Click here to see what I've really done with the bunting...