scrumdilly diy: crepe paper cupcake toppers

I made these happy little cupcake toppers for Cinco de Mayo but I think they are delightful for any occasion. All you would need to do is change your color scheme to suit.

Materials:

crepe paper streamers

toothpicks or food picks

sturdy craft glue

glue stick

scissors

embroidery floss or bendable wire

 

Creating these happy toppers is just like creating tissue paper or coffee filter flowers, the only difference is that you are working small.

 Cut a piece of streamer about six to eight inches in length and accordion fold it onto itself. 

Use a pair of scissors to round out the ends or add points. 

If you have bendy wire, twist the wire around the center of each folded piece (I purchased my wire many years ago and can't seem to find the source but it is a bit like this.) If you do not have wire, tie a length of embroidery floss around the center and knot it.

Fluff out your flower shape and use a dab of glue stick to adhere your crepe paper ends together. If you do not have a glue stick or your glue stick is lacking, use a dab of good old white glue and let dry.

To finish, wrap wire ends around your toothpicks or food picks and add a bit of glue to secure or use your glue to attach your thread knotted flowers.

 

 

 

Pop into any cupcake and enjoy! I doctored up a box mix with extra cocoa and cinnamon and topped the cakes with barely sweetened whipped cream and sprinkles! Can't forget the sprinkles, have fun!

fiesta diy: tiny crepe paper lantern garland

Oy! Well, this was supposed to be up before Cinco de Mayo but since it is still the month of May I won't beat myself up too much. Here is another fun garland project you can make in a jiffy, and even your kiddos can whip up a few.

Follow the same instruction for the crepe paper papel picados but instead of using large sheets of paper, use smaller, narrower sheets. I did not manage any progress pics but you can fold a sheet of plain white paper into fourths from top to bottom, cut strips out then layer your scalloped streamers on top. Once dry, cut each strip into thirds and roll those into tubes, sealing with  dab of glue. Use a needle and thread to string up and enjoy!

fiesta diy: painted doily garland

 

This happy bit of color is so simple it is silly. I cut my doilies in half and taped them to their yarn. To make it even more simple fold your doilies in half, add a line of glue on the fold and fold the doily over your length of yarn. These pretties can be painted up any which way you choose. I went for bold fiesta-happy colors.

I think I might just keep a bowl full of painted doilies hanging around as they make me that happy! Have fun!

fiesta diy: crepe paper picado

I think I can officially be called a garland-maker. Maybe it's my calling. Stringing up bits of arted up paper makes me very, very, happy. For Cinco de Mayo, I created three different garlands. I am a big fan of the beautiful papel picados that hang all over Olvera St. in Los Angeles and wantd to infuse that kind of happy into the tiny casa.

To create this garland, you will need a few different colors of crepe paper which can be found in the party aisle at most supermarkets, drugstores, big box stores, party stores, etsy, and online. I used a large sheet of white paper to start (you tend to have these things when you teach kiddos art) but I think this could translate onto index cards as well. Truth told, the large sheet of paper will create four flags quicker than using index cards but any type of paper will work...even old magazine pages will suffice.

Materials:

*11 1/2" X 17" paper or other large/scratch paper

*5-6 colors of crepe paper streamers

*scissors

*glue

Gather up your large sheet of paper and cut in half lengthwise. Roll out a length of streamer so that is matches the length of your paper, cut. Gather up the remaining colors of streamer and trim to match.

Roll up a length of streamer so that is about two to three inches across. Use your scissors to scallop, fringe or zig-zag the bottom edge. When you unroll it, the whole length of streamer will be happily festive. Repeat for each color and vary your trimming. I made a few scalloped, a couple trimmed and one was left alone.

Working from the bottom up, apply a line of glue about an inch from the bootom that travels from one end of your paper to the other. Gently press down your first choice of streamer. Next ,add another line of glue in the same manner about half and inch from the top of the first streamer and press your next layer down. Repeat for all of your colors. If your paper is too tall, simply trim the top blank edge. Set aside to dry.

Once dry, flip over paper and trim excess crepe paper. Next, cut fringed sheet in half to create two happy flags. Repeat entire process until you have the number of flags you like. To create your galrand, stitch across the top of your flags with a sewing machine or staple a length of ribbon or bias tape across the top. You can also glue a wide width length of bias tape or ribbon along the tops. There are many ways to turn your flags into a banner. Take a look at what you have available and run with it. Clothespins and paperclips will work as well.  Dîas Felices!