PAPER ROSE BOUQUET

You will need: 24 prints of the paper rose template, scissors and hot glue, florist wire and florist tape, ribbons for handle and bow.
1a) Print 24 rose templates onto a letter weight paper. The PDF has 3 pages (large, medium and small) so you can print 8 of each page. I used common copy paper for my roses, which works beautifully. If you would like a different color, you can print this template onto a colored paper of your choice, though I would suggest it be letter weight rather than cardstock.
1b) Trim all 24 roses. I will be honest, this is the most time consuming part of the project. To make it easier, I trimmed my roses over several nights in front of my favorite TV show. I also cut one size at at time and kept each size in a large zip lock bag to keep the pieces from mixing.
2) Sort your petals into like stacks to make your process simple and organized. At this point, I finish one rose at a time. Curl the two sides of each petal using the edge of your scissors and fold your leaves (see diagram below).
3) Make a 12 inch stem with a folded piece of florist wire.
4) Wrap and hot glue the first three petals around the wire stem and glue petals 4-7 using the tabs to create a cup.
5) Slide petal in order onto your wire stem. If it is easier you can snip a tiny hole at the point of your petal cups, creating a space for the wire to slide through. You can arrange your petals and secure then with a dab of hot glue.
6) Wrap the wire stem completely covering with florist tape.
7) Repeat steps 2-6 for all 24 roses.
8) Holding stems in one hand, arrange your 24 roses to create a bouquet. Mix the 3 sizes to fill the spaces and to create a compact bouquet look. Once arranged, secure bundle of stems with florist tape at base of bouquet. Fold ends of wire up to create an even handle then completely cover stem handle with florist tape.
9) Using a soft ribbon, cover florist tape to finish the stem handle. Tie off at base of bouquet or use pearl pins to secure.
10) Finish your bouquet with a coordinating ribbon.

tissue rosette kissing balls

*Update–Many of you have had questions about how to “twist” the paper.  I have made a quick video showing you how.  You can find the video for how to make tissue flowers here:

How to Make Tissue Flowers Video

Thanks everyone for all your sweet comments about my last Valentine’s day project…the“Be Mine” Framed Art. I had some requests for a tutorial on how I made the tissue paper rosette decor balls {kissing balls}. Well, lucky day, I had this post already scheduled to go! These tissue rosette balls are not my original idea.

Many of you will remember that I have made these before and have them hanging in my daughter’s room. I followed a tutorial from Danielle Flanders, who initially created these, and which can be found here.   We also made the wooden box that I displayed the rosette balls in. I will share the tutorial for that in a future post. I actually made it a couple of months ago with this table saw from Sears Outlet.

First off you will need a couple of rolls of tissue paper streamers. You can find them many places in many colors. Mine were $1 each.  

Start by cutting the paper into strips about 24 inches long. Then crumple them up to make them softer {this part is optional, depends on what look you like–experiment}. Then fold the top 1/3 of it down so it is not as wide. {again…optional}  

Now take your strip and start on one end and begin rolling it up between your fingers.  

After you have a few rolls, continue to roll it up but now twist the paper.  

Now just continue to roll and twist until you have reached the end of the strip. I liked to add a drop of hot glue to the end so they did not unravel.

After you have a few rosettes made, start gluing {I used a glue gun} them onto a round styrofoam ball. I used 2 and 3 inch ones to make them in different sizes. Just glue them close together and fit them in where they sit together nicely.  

On this particular rosette ball, I did not twist the paper. I did some both ways and like that they come out a bit different. Below is a picture of one that I rolled AND twisted the strip of paper. Does that make sense? Can you see a difference?  

The fun thing is to just try different things. You will eventually find something that works for you and your taste preferences.

Pretty easy right? These are the perfect thing to do when you are snowed in and watching your favorite TV program or chic flick!

P.S. Many of you emailed me and asked how I made this felt rosette kissing ball. I made these last year and the tutorial for them can be found here. I was inspired to make these after making this heart wreath. And just in case some of you are wondering about the decorative snowball men…they can be found here.

DIY 3D “I love U” Card for your Valentine’s Day

Who cares those expensive love cards from stores? I made this for you by my hands, from my heart.

Cut solid lines & fold dashed lines= perfect gift for your sweet heart

DIY 3-D Heart Valentine Card

I have a bunch of Valentine-y paper in my stash and decided to create a 3-D heart card for Valentine's Day. I bought a Martha Stewart heart shaped paper punch since I knew I could use it with future projects, but you could easily cut out a bunch of hearts, either free-hand or by tracing and cutting. I'm super pleased with how it turned out- it's cute and (fairly) simple to make - perfect for Valentine's Day, or for any time of the year when you want to tell someone you love and appreciate them.

Supplies:
- Valentine-y paper (or use magazine scraps that are red or pertinent to a color scheme you would like to use) - I used cardstock in this tutorial
- Blank white cardstock card (and envelope to put it in!) - I used a 4.25"x6" card
- Blank piece of cardstock to line the inside of the card and cover up the sewing - I used a red 4.25"x6" piece to line the card (this gave it a .25" white border on the inside- see picture below)
- Permanent adhesive
- Heart punch
- Scissors
- Sewing machine

Begin by punching (or cutting) out hearts from your paper- punch two of each design- I had 12 different patterns (my paper was double sided), and punched 2 of each. (*If you are cutting out hearts, you will need to decide how big they need to be depending on the size of your blank cardstock card.)

Arrange the hearts on the front of your card to your liking (I used a simple grid). These will be the "background" hearts and will be directly adhered onto the card. Adhere the "background" hearts with the permanent adhesive. Once you finish this step, you could even leave the card as-is like this and call it finished! :)

Next, take the matching heart, lay it on top of the already adhered "background" heart and sew a quick stitch and then a reverse stitch. Repeat with each heart.

Once that is complete, trim off the excess thread.

Now, take the liner sheet of cardstock and adhere it to the inside of the card. This will help keep the stitches in place and keep from unraveling, as well as cover up the stitching. I also rolled some extra adhesive over top of the stitches.

Now you have a lovely lined inside of your card with a nice .25" white border. Back to the front of the card-- gently fold up the top heart you just sewed down to create the 3-D effect. 
Voilà! A cute 3-D Valentine card. Perfect to give to your significant other, or perfect to send to a loved one or family member! Just write a message, seal it in the envelope and you're done :)

LOLLIPOP FLOWER VALENTINES

LOLLIPOP FLOWER VALENTINES

Here is a super easy Valentine we came up with the other day. All you need is some crepe paper and lollipops and you’re set. We added some “You’re my best bud” labels but these are sweet on their own too.

Materials Needed: Crepe Paper, Glue, Scissors, Tape, Lollipops

Step 1: Take a fold of crepe paper and cut out a stack of petal shapes with the paper grain going from top to bottom. Leaving a long piece at the stem.
Step 2: Stretch out the petals with your thumb to form a round petal shape.
Step 3: Take the sucker and add petals pinching them at the base of the candy.
Step 4: Continue adding layers of petals and add a piece of tape to secure them in place.
Step 5: Cut off excess paper beyond the tape.
Step 6: Cut off a strip of crepe paper for the stem and dap some glue on the end of it.
Step 7: Starting at the base wrap the strip around the stem and secure with a dab of glue at the end.

DIY POP UP CARDS

I’ve been seeing a lot of pop-up cards around the web lately, all using very intricate, sometimes complicated folding and glueing techniques. Since I’m really more of the simple-diy-lover, I’ve put together a quick and versatile pop-up card tutorial. The idea is that you can use one basic technique for an endless amount of different pop-up cards.

Start with a simple card and fold it in half. Then cut parallel lines (in pairs of the same length) into the middle fold as shown in the picture. The cuts should be max half the length of the card (otherwise they’ll stand out when you close it). Push the flaps forward until your card looks like in the bottom picture.

Now start crafting the bits and pieces to display in your card. I made some balloons and a Good Luck sign for this one. Stick these with paper glue onto the front (not top) part of the folded out flaps. Now when you close your card, it’ll look like in the bottom left picture. Just take a 2nd card and glue it on to cover the outside.

Stick some more balloons, or whatever it is you’re crafting, onto the flaps and voilà – you’re done. You could still add a background to the top and bottom halves. Stick on some clouds in the top part, some grass in the lower one for example.

In the same way you can also create text cards (Happy Birthday), fields of flowers or rows of trees. These would be great for birthday’s, graduation, Father’s Day or really just about anything.

All photos by Michaela for Oh Happy Day.

Making Fall Leaves of Paper, Festive Fall Decorating Ideas

Fall decorating ideas add unique charming accents to room decor, bringing beautiful fall leaf colors and unique shapes into home interiors. Eco friendly fall craft ideas that use natural materials, leaves, fall flowers, tree branches, dried grass, berries, glass and wooden beads, pine cones and small rocks make excellent, healthy and cheap fall decorations for eco friendly modern homes.

Fall craft ideas help bring beautiful fall foliage designs into home interiors, decorating rooms in bright color palette. Rich yellow color tones, burnt orange shades and festive red colors can be used for fall decorating ideas, creating warm and welcoming fall home decor.

Nature inspired fall craft ideas, made of used clothes and old paper help recycle useless items that clutter modern homes, creating personal and artistic festive fall decorations that add warmth and cosiness to interior decorating. Old magazine pages provide wonderful material for making fall crafts and decorating your home interiors in style.

Fall craft ideas with paper and falling leaves

Making pillows-pumpkins of decorative fabrics, fall craft ideas

Making fall leaves of old paper, recycling and creative fall decorating ideas for kids and adults

Homemade fall decorations are a cheap and creative way to interpret amazing changes that you see from your window in fall.

Get some inspiration, looking at your yard, notice fall foliage color tones, textures and leaf images and use them for beautiful, warm and festive fall decorating ideas.

Paper recycling and decorating ideas for fall, simple fall decorations, inspired by falling leaves

Collect some beautiful leaves from outside, place them between two pieces of plastic or glass, tuck them into the inside of a picture frame or create fall decorations, inspired by designer works, creating interesting and charming fall decorating ideas for your home.

Creative fall decorating ideas to recycle paper, wall decorations, framed leaves, bright warm colors for fall home decor

10 modern simple wall decoration ideas with fabric
Table decorations, charming table decoration with fabric

Frame and hang colorful leaves on walls or use them for making festive table centerpieces and fall decorations for windows and doors, bringing a true symbol of fall into your home for creating bright and peaceful atmosphere that help to relax and enjoy the natural beauty.

Simple fall decor, tablle decorations, leaf individual centerpieces made of paper

Fall leaf colors and inspired by bright foliage decorating ideas for fall are great for those who like creative do it yourself decorating projects and support recycling and green design ideas.

Table decorations made of leaves, candle holders, small decorating ideas for fall

Glass painting ideas
Simple glass painting design ideas, vase and wine glass painting

Fall decorations made of colorful leaves are inspiring and impressive, offering organic fall decorating ideas that make home interiors look eco friendly and attractive. You can transform your home into a beautiful, connected to nature retreat without spending money.

Window decoration, leaves and tree branches, fall crafts, eco friendly fall decorating ideas

Beautiful and simple fall craft ideas and easy to make do it yourself fall decorations that use dried leaves and old magazines.

Colorful wreath for window decoration, fall craft ideas

Fall decorations made of natural and artificial leaves

Two more fall craft ideas, – unusual and festive leaf garland with letters and falling leaves decoration, – offer creative fall decorations that can be made of natural or artificial (or colorful combination of natural and artificial) leaves to add an artistic touch to your fall home decorating ideas.

Painted pink color maple leaves and pine cones for fireplace decoration, simple eco friendly decorating ideas

Use your creativity, add a personal touch, create beautiful fall inspired designs for your room decor that improves mood and bring more joy into your life this fall.

Colorful decorating ideas, glass beads, natural or artificial leaves for front door decoration