How To: Yarn Wreath (Part 3: Decorating!!!)

Here is the final version of my yarn wreath! I love this, and am planning on gifting it next month! For this project, I wanted to use some of the papers from Authentique.
Here are the rest of the directions on how to complete this project.

Side note... I dropped the wrapped wreath this morning and the seam busted open. So, I had to glue it, fix the yarn, then wrap this wide ribbon around the wreath's seam to cover up my accident. No one will ever know!!

Step 1: You can cover the seam of the wreath with a wide ribbon (totally by choice, but it does add that extra something!)
Step 2: Pin the ribbon using fabric pins. Don't spend lots of money on these, those gorgeous stick pins are too expensive for something that is not going to be seen.
Step 3: Stick on of your flowers where you want to add it, I used a combination of stick pins, and hot glue to make it stay in place.
See my hot glue. Again... It's in the back. No one will know :)
Step 4: Add more flowers, bling them if you want more sparkle! I attached a Theresa Collins (thanks swap buddy!) gem to the center of a flower.
Step 5: Make smaller flowers!! I just used a couple of strips of paper (about 1/2") to add smaller flowers. Take the strip...
...and crumple it up! The more damage you can do to the paper fibers, the better!! Rips don't really matter either, they will just help to give the flower more detail.
Step 6: Fold the strip of paper in half lengthwise, perfection is NOT your friend in this!
Step 7: Wrap up the "rose", leaving some extra paper to finish the flower. Then use a glue dot at the bottom to stick the extra paper to the bottom! Cut it when you are done.
Here is what the front looks like.
And the back with the extra cut off!
Step 8: Use another stick pin, in a color that matches, or contrasts, the paper flowers. I chose pink, as there are small bits of bright pink color in the Authentique Blissful papers!
Step 9: Make more flowers, use buttons, brads, stick pins, etc. to add more definition, color and interest. Stick pins just stick into the foam. I used glue dots to attach the threaded buttons (the thread just finishes them off). Brads are super simple... Just make sure that the tines of the brad are together... And try to slip them between yarn pieces.
Step 10: I know that the majority of the items are located on one side of the wreath... Create a visual triangle (which makes the eye travel back and forth through your work) by adding a few pieces of interest in a different part of the wreath.
Step 11: To hang the wreath, I hot glued a circle of thinner ribbon on to itself. I used another stick pin to make the ribbon stay in one place. Again... Color doesn't matter since you won't see it!
Final version!!
Closeups of the wreath.
And the visual triangle!
See how the small amount of detail creates a more powerful image...
I hope you enjoyed this three part project! It probably took me about 6 hours to create the entire wreath.

As far as my 100 projects... I'm counting this as three!! Hee hee!!

P.S. I'm still in love with Authentique!!

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How To: Yarn Wreath (Part 2: the flowers!)

Before I debut my finished project... I really want to share how I make these cool flowers! The flower is one of what would be many flowers used in order to make a kusudama flower ball. I like them seperate though, especially using them for fantastic patterned papers!! To make this a little easier to see, and so that the pattern wouldn't distract from the folds... I used a piece of dual colored paper.

Step 1: Cut 5 squares of paper. I used 4" paper, but you could go smaller or bigger. My suggestion however, would be use thinner paper for smaller flowers. It's also helpful to have a straight-edge of some kind, and a bone folder. Not necessary, but helpful.
Step 2: Use your bone folder (if you are using one) and score the center of the paper, diagonally.
Step 3: Fold the paper into half, so that it makes a triangle.
Step 4: Fold the 'arms' of the triangle up to the top of the first triangle.
(Step 4 again!)
See the work in process, you end up with a square again.
Step 5: This is a little complicated, so I'm going to try to make it simple. You're going to take the folded 'arms' of the triangle you made in Step 3, and flatten them out. Line up the crease of the edge of the paper with the outside of the square shape. This is a perfect spot for using your bone folder to sharpen those folds!
Step 6: Fold down the pointed area of the arm. Do the same to the other 'arm'.
Step 7: Fold the arm in half onto itself. Do this to both sides.
Step 8: You are going to round the origami shape so that the folds are now touching. This is where the glue dot will go. Whatever you do, just don't make a fold!
Step 9: Use a glue dot, and stick the two arms together!
Like this!! Round the shape as needed.
Step 10: Do this to the other four pieces of paper!!
Step 11: You're ready to 'build' the flower. Use glue dots, or some kind of adhesive to stick all of the petals together.
Here are three petals stuck together!
And the completed flower!!!!
The back of the flower!
Step 12: Getting ready to use for the wreath... I realized that the flowers themselves aren't particularly sturdy... So, I used a low-temp glue gun to add some solidity to the back of the flower. The way that I'm going to show you tomorrow how these are used, doesn't need the back showing.
If you are going to use the flowers in a more visible way, you could pipe glue into the center of the flower if you wanted. Just make sure that you cannot see it from the top of the flower!

I will post the finalized project using my Authentique papers tomorrow!!!

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How To: Yarn Wreath (Part 1: the wreath)

So... This is Part 1 of my fun yarn wreath! I love this project! Seriously... It's not that difficult, and looks AMAZING when it's finished. Once it's all finished... It's also not that expensive. The project does take awhile, and this is really the most time consuming part. More so, if you're kind of particular like me... :)

Step One: Gather your supplies. I have a foam wreath ($4.99 from JoAnn's), some grey yarn (acrylic, but you could use anything, wool might 'felt' better at the end of the project!), and some stick pins (I snagged these out of my MIL's garage sale).
Step Two: Find a starting point. I would suggest that you avoid the 'seam' that is located on the foam wreath. Not because it's the biggest deal, but more because it's kind of annoying to start there... The yarn would snag on the seam. Use a stick pin to jab the yarn onto the wreath.
Step Three: Just start wrapping. There really is no science to this. I suggest popping in a movie, or watching a show while you are working on this... It takes awhile. I think this one in particular took about 2 hours. Let's put it this way, I watched a few DVR'd shows!!
Step 4: After you've wrapped a section, tighten up the wrapped area. I just twisted the yarn tighter, then wrapped more, tightened, etc.
Step 5: When you need to... Use another pin to keep the yarn tight.
Step 6: Keep working. Seriously, it takes awhile!!
Step 7: When I was at the end, I simply wrapped everything fairly tight, and used the beginning piece of yarn as my tie off spot. I made a double knot, where I could also use this area to hang the wreath if I wanted to.
Step 8: Totally optional, but I prefer to make my yarn wreath look more 'felted'. I took this neatly rowed yarn... And rubbed it really hard to make it look more like this...
It's just that little extra touch that I feel makes it more special. I think next time, I'm going to use wool yarn in order to create a truly felted look.
Thanks for looking at my wreath! Stay tuned for how I love to decorate these wreaths!!!
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More Authentique!! A Card and a Layout!

I am loving Authentique!! I continued my love affair with a simple blank card. I took some of the 6x6 pad, some kraft paper, a found ribbon (I have NO idea where it came from...) and two stick pins. One was from my lovely friend Elizabeth, and one is just from the sewing section of one of the big box stores!
I really loved Authentique when it came to this layout. I used one of Kristy Lee's fantastic sketches from www.scrapbooksteals.com This one is from the Topaz club!
I changed a few things, used a square photo, some gray satin ribbon, and some yellow inked edges. I really liked how both the 12x12 sheets, and the 6x6 pages worked fantastically in sync to create a layout that both I, and my husband love. I created it using a picture that I really wanted to use, but couldn't find the right paper to really complement it. I also used my husband's point-of-view for the journalling. Not my normal forte, but it fits with the photograph.
I really enjoyed this layout, as well as all of the lovely paper that I was able to use in it. And those journalling stickers are GENIUS!!!
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I LOVE Authentique!!!

I saw the first few sneaks of Authentique before CHA, but was even more amazed by them once I actually played with the papers! I couldn't find the brand in my personal LSS, but my friend Karen lovingly snagged me a few sheets of paper, a 6x6, and some of the embellishments from an LSS that she knew about. They are all from the Blissful line. So far... I'm in love!!
This card uses some of the 6x6 pad, some lovely satin ribbon in a matching gray, one of the Authentique embellishment sayings that I stapled for emphasis, and some iRock bling!
I used some more of the 6x6 pad (love that thing!), another Authentique quote, a Martha Stewart punch, and some paper raffia that I untwisted and tied into two 'double bows'. Of course i had to add some more bling (Theresa Collins that my lovely swap box partner sent me!).
I actually used the cover of the 6x6 pad for this card... It worked perfectly! I then added strips of the regular paper, edge punched part of it, added a diecut sentiment and fleur-de-lis and a button.
I really love this look! I love seeing all of the different patterns together. This is a combo of both regular papers and 6x6 pieces. The circles are all pop-dotted, and then I added bling, a button, diecut and twine for fun. Just to add more interest, I matted the dots in black, pearl cream and pearl pink paper. I also used the saying stickers from Authentique!
I kind of really like this one! I used the raffia twine for more color against the 6x6 papers. I then used the saying that is actually on the bottom of each 12x12 sheet, then pop dotted an Authentique quote. I also added a little Glossy Accents for more definition.
I used both the 12x12 and 6x6 papers, wove them together, stamped my sentiment and added bling!
This is a great way to use up scraps! I took a few of all of the papers, added a ribbon, stamped my sentiment and then pop-dotted it! I also inked the edges of the sentiment.

Well... I'm 7 cards down in my 100 projects until I can purchase scrappy items again... I'm becoming a powerhouse. I also have 2 layouts that I will hopefully debut tomorrow or Tuesday. I have to get a few photographs printed first :)
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Vacations and Seminars...

Last week, I was at a seminar in San Diego with little time to breathe... This week, on vacay.

So... This means no blogging. :)
But I am sneaking papercrafting supplies with me!! Pin It