13.12.11

Dictionary Page Garland


I've kind of been on a roll lately making ornaments for our tree which I'm glad about because I was having a bit of a dry season the last couple of months. Enter my wonderful old dictionary with pages and pages (literally) of availability for every idea I've had. I don't even think I've gone through 3/4 of it yet because it's so huge! Couple that with the repeated raiding of my linen closet and tearing up sheets, quilts and pillow cases for my crafting pleasure. I tell you what...nothing releases tension like ripping up fabric! Except maybe breaking dishes. I'll have to try that sometime.

I wanted to make a garland for our tree (which I don't actually have just yet) and I wanted it to be lonnnnggg because I hate that when I buy it, it mostly comes in 6 ft increments then there's always a gap or I always run out because I didn't buy enough. This year my decorations are cream and silver and vintage-y so off to the linen closet I went and found an old, dark cream, twin-sized sheet that I promptly started ripping up into 3-inch wide strips then started tearing pages out of my dictionary and cutting those into 1/5-inch wide strips that I crumpled up before I flattened them out (I like the look plus it makes them softer and more malleable).



I put a strip of hot glue halfway down one side then halfway down the opposite side then laid it down the center of my fabric strip (note: if there are images on one side of your page and you don't want them to show, just make sure that this is the side you put the glue on).






I wanted something on top that would pop so decided on some thin, shear black ribbon.



Originally thought of making a ruffle but ended up pleating as I went along; much easier imho.



I just kept going and stopped at 19.8 feet. Our tree will be about 6 feet and I want the garland to be generous. I have enough supplies left over to go longer if I need to.




It turned out pretty and I'm looking forward to seeing it on the tree with my other ornaments and lots of white lights! This would also be pretty as ribbon for a gift wrapped in brown kraft paper. Ahhhhh.....



Have you ever made a garland for your Christmas tree? What materials did you use?


35 comments:

  1. Whoa!!! That is AMAZING!!!!! Do you have a ruffler foot for your sewing machine? If you like to ruffle, you should get one.

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  2. thanks so much haley! you know, i've heard of a presser foot that can do ruffles. i should probably look into getting one since i've been doing them the old fashioned way ~ pulling on big stitches! merry christmas!

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  3. Beautiful, creative, resourceful. This is SO you!!

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  4. I've got about 15' of garland made from the buttons from old shirts and spare button packs. Either 6 strands of red and green embroidery floss or variegated Christmas yarn run through the holes. For the last set, I just used the white buttons, but the rest run the gamut of colors. It gets a little lost in the hubbub of the tree, but I like the idea. Bigger buttons and/or wide chiffon ribbon would make it stand out more, but the ribbon still has to make it through the holes.

    This year I also plan to string together all the cheap Mardi Gras beads the kids seem to accumulate to make a sparkly garland. No sewing, just snip the strand (if it's not already broken) and twist the end beads together.

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  5. ang....you're my biggest fan! love you bunches, friend.

    alexa, your button garland sounds so whimsical! love the idea of big fat buttons connected with a nice wide ribbon. lovely!

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  6. Oh my. I LOOOOVE this. Loving it, Pinning it, Making it. Thanks a million for sharing!

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  7. Omg.. love, love, love. I have to make this! New follower here. :)

    xo

    Christa

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  8. Beautiful garland! Great job :) I used cute up strips of burlap as my garland this year. SOOO easy and really cheap :)

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  9. Your garland is darling! I don't know if I've ever done such fun garland before, but you have inspired me to "reach outside the box"! Thanks!

    Visiting from Flaunt It Friday at Chic on a Shoestring linky party,
    Smiles and thanks for sharing :D
    ~Suzanne in NW Illinois

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  10. I love this! You had me at dictionary pages! Old books are my favorite. I actually made a garland out of ornaments that I used this year. Come check it out.

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  11. i'm glad so many of you are getting inspired by my garland - i just love how versatile garland can be as so many of you can attest too!

    christa & miriam ~ i hope you both make this and send us some pics!

    erin, loving the burlap. i'll bet it looks vintage-y and rustic.

    rachel, your ornament garland is so pretty. what a brilliant idea to use the clear thread!

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  12. Really fabulous, so in love with this, Thanks for sharing at Beyond The Picket Fence.

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  13. Very pretty! Glad to find you on the tt&j linky party. Will be pinning this!

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  14. I just stumbled across your blog and wanted to say it's so cute! I love many of your projects & bookmarked a few to try out. Thanks for the inspiration!

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  15. That is beautiful - I can't wait to try it! This is something I'd decorate with all year long!

    Visiting from TT&J

    Rhonda @ home.made.

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  16. It is absolutely gorgeous!!! I love this idea!! I want to make one now!!

    Ruth

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  17. Visiting from Funky Junk Interiors...you garland is so beautiful and creative. What a great idea, and yes get that ruffler foot, makes it sooo much easier. Hope you share this over at Sunday's Best Sunday at 4pm central. Sharing is a good thing, especially as lovely as this.

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  18. Thanks for posting this! I used this basic idea to make a shabby garland for my tree yesterday, after seeing this post. I love how it turned out. :)

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  19. your garland is fantastic! I have tons of old dictionaries and use them for everything...love the old type and the yellowed pages...thanks so much for visiting my blog and leaving sweet comments!
    amy of four corners design

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  20. Have not seen anything like this before! Simple, elegant, and inexpensive! You're a genius! Would love love love for you to share this at our party going on now http://space46.blogspot.com/2011/12/co-hosting-pinteresting-link-party-week.html. Best, My

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  21. This is so pretty! What a great addition to your tree!

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  22. I LOVE this.... I was wanting to do something like this and stumbled upon your blog tonight. I'm a new follower. I love all of your ideas...and I feel like I need to get off the computer and start creating. But I can't stop reading. ;)

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  23. This is a fabulous idea and such a great tutorial too. Thanks so much for sharing it!

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  24. How cute and clever is this? Love the layers of fabric, vintage dictionary and black ribbon. So creative! I'm a bit jealous, lol!

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  25. This is just gorgeous! I can see it being used all year round :) I'm so glad I stumbled upon your blog today :)

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  26. p.s. I've bookmarked more than a few of your crafts - I really like your aesthetic! Keep up the great work :)

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  27. Oh my that is just beautiful may have to make some after the holidays!!!! Thank you for the tutorial

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  28. I really love this! I posted a vintage garland tutorial this month. I also used paper, fabric and ribbon, but mine is totally different from yours. Come have a look. Cindy

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  29. Me likey!!! :)
    Shannon
    www.akadesign.ca

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