Attempting Homemade Holiday Decorations

Thanks to Steph for posting the link to One Pretty Thing on her blog. I found two holiday decorating ideas and tried them out. The first was the wreath. Super easy:

1. make a cardboard cutout of a wreath

2. wrap it with fabric scraps - I opted for tissue paper with a festive print and an old map. I was super jazzed to use the map because (1) I heart maps, and (2) Some creative family members used it as wrapping paper for my birthday gift earlier this week. So the map was on its 3rd reuse function.

3. add string and voila!

I strung my four wreaths on our staircase, but they looked more like life savers than wreaths. They're still missing something, so I welcome any suggestions.

To defray the "carnival cruise ship look" I had going, I printed out the "How to Make 3D Stars" pattern that was also feature on One Pretty Thing. Instead of printing the patterns on card stock like the instructions suggest, I used the scrap booking paper I had clepto'ed from my mom a few years ago. I opted for a few reds, hoping to bring out more of a holiday decor feel. I added ribbon and string then voila!

I don't think it's quite as "holiday" decoration as I originally envisioned, but I'm happy with my first attempt. More importantly, I love that I was able to use scraps, tape and cardboard from our recycling pile to pull these together. Reduce, REUSE, Recycle. :)

Here are a few close ups of the stars: