Garlands of paper: interesting ideas and tips for making your own hands

It is difficult for a creative person to stay on the sidelines, denying himself the pleasure of making something beautiful to decorate his home. One of the decorative elements can rightfully be called a garland. Depending on its theme, it is able to bring a fresh look into the interior, adding a sense of celebration to the atmosphere. The most common material for making garlands is paper. It is worth considering what can be made of it so that with a minimum of effort the product turns out to be spectacular.

In order to make a paper garland with your own hands, Depending on the model, you may need the following materials:

• colored paper;
• colored and coated cardboard;
• foil cardboard;
• corrugated paper;
• paper napkins;
• glossy magazines;
• kraft paper;
• old newspapers;
• music notebooks;
• PVA glue;
• thin cotton threads;
• clothesline;
• ribbon;
• soft wire;
• scissors;
• awl or hole punch (if you need to pierce holes);
• stapler;
• decor for scrapbooking;
• stationery knife.

The paper used to make the garland can be single-sided or double-sided. Scrapbooking paper looks beautiful in such crafts, often having a colorful pattern, which the simple color variety does not have. In addition, paper garlands are often supplemented with beads, felt balls or cotton balls, decorated with foil on top. Someone likes to decorate blanks with curly slots. For example, sometimes holes are made in the elements using curly hole punches of medium and large sizes.

A paper garland is notable for the fact that it can carry different emotional colors and is suitable for different seasons. This decor can be used to decorate not only the holidays: it is good for decorating a room and raising the mood. It is a means of self-expression that allows you to show the maximum of your creative imagination. All models can be divided into 2 categories: adhesive and sewn. Some types are assembled on a sewing machine, since the stitches do not deform the paper - this is both faster and more reliable. However, this technique is suitable only when the machine itself is available. It is possible to sew products by hand, but the result does not always meet expectations, as a rule, in appearance they are inferior to analogues made on a sewing machine.

In addition, paper garlands are ribbon (a single ribbon of decorative elements) and thread (base with decor on separate threads). Each type is unique in its own way, it can have different lengths and degrees of difficulty. Threads look beautiful, but they get confused, which requires special care in their manufacture and operation. Variants of the tape type more than others need high-quality glue, since it is this that determines their durability and resistance to tearing between the elements. Depending on the type of product, it may need assembly diagrams or beautiful thematic templates, which allows you to create crafts that will look stylish, beautiful and professional.To make a product, taking into account the existing interior composition, the master usually pays attention to the color and texture of the furnishings, correlating them with the available material, and the season is also taken into account. It is worth considering a few simple, but at the same time original solutions.

Such garlands are created from elements of several geometric shapes (usually from circles). With the seeming simplicity of the templates, the look of the finished products turns out to be special.

It is not difficult to make a geometric garland of circles, you should adhere to the following algorithm:

• in the Word program, they create templates or download ready-made ones from the Internet;
• they are cut out, and then they are circled and cut out on colored paper;
• blanks are glued or sewn to the thread;
• glued fragments, if desired, are pasted over from the second side, closing the thread;
• further, the thread blanks are fixed to the base, which can be used as a clothesline, as well as a tape.

Elements can be made on such a basis in different ways, using elements of different sizes for decoration and diluting them with other figures, for example, Christmas trees, snowmen, stars, pumpkins, hearts. If you don't like simple flat options, you can improve the craft. In this case, each element will consist of 3-4 identical parts. They are folded in half to indicate the place of gluing and glued, placing the thread inside. Then the fragments are straightened, which is why they become voluminous and resemble lanterns.

This garland can be made on the basis of medium-sized circles. Having folded them 3 times in half, they are cut alternately on one side, then on the other, they do not reach the edge of about 0.7-10 mm. Having done this with each round workpiece, they are straightened and glued together exactly in the center, which is not cut.

Many paper products can be made using this technology. Their principle resembles the method of attaching circles to a thread. However, this method is simpler and faster, because it does not require glue. If you have a special curly hole punch for creating butterflies, you can make such a garland very quickly. When there is no such device, paper templates can be dispensed with, which are cut out of multi-colored paper or coated cardboard in the required quantity. Then, on a sewing machine, they scribble about 0.3–0.4 m in vain, after which paper butterflies are stitched at regular intervals. If you want to make the elements voluminous, instead of one blank, you can use several by folding them exactly together and laying a line in the middle.

Such a product is as easy as shelling pears to make: the sheet is folded in half and cut into the desired shape. To make the garland look more interesting, you can use different patterns for the craft, for example, rectangles with a triangular cut, triangles. After they are cut out, you need to take care of decorating the flags. It can be applique, gluing contrasting paper with thematic figures. Letters look beautiful on such decorations, moreover, this is a great way to indicate that the garland belongs to a certain holiday. To prevent the flags from moving along the base (rope), their fold must be smeared with glue. For a more colorful design, you can use a variety of decor (cuttings from postcards, lace fragments, wooden buttons, and much more). The flags with decoupage, collected on a rope with a hole punch, look gorgeous.

Tassels are made of thin crepe or crepe paper.

Such a garland looks original, while making it quite simple as follows:

• paper folded in several layers is cut to the desired length;
• on the sides it is cut into a fringe, leaving the central part intact;
• in the middle, the workpiece is twisted, then, leaving a part on the loop, is connected by means of hot glue;
• the junction of the element is covered with a piece of paper to match;
• all the elements do this, after which they are put on the main rope due to the loops;
• so that the elements do not slide on the base, they are attached to it with glue.

If it seems to someone that such a garland is rustic, you can complement it with another decor.

For such decoration, you will need strips of colored paper or double-sided cardboard. To make them look more interesting, it is worth choosing a beautiful and thick paper. You can complement the hearts, for example, with round flat elements, details with a wavy edge, or even paper folded into an accordion, fastened in a circle. It can change the mood and add something special to the interior.

Making such a decor is simple: in addition to cardboard, you will need a stapler and any accessories that are at hand. Cut strips of the same width, but different lengths. For one heart, you will need 2 larger strips, 2 - medium and 2 - smaller, as well as one for the tail (the size depends on the desire of the master, since this will be fastened to the base). The strips (without the ponytail) are connected at the bottom, equalizing the length, and connected with a stapler. Then they take the upper ends and wrap them inward, insert a strip-tail and fix all the strips with a stapler. According to this principle, all the elements are created and attached to the base.

For such a decor, you can use different techniques using templates for winter and New Year's themes. In order for the garland to successfully fit into the existing style and correspond to the theme of the holiday, you can make it in its colors, which include a combination of red, white and green. In this case, the addition of other tones is allowed, it is better if the main ones dominate. As for the look, the New Year's garland can have elements such as Christmas trees, snowmen, as well as snowflakes, which can be not only flat, but also voluminous. The volume can be created according to the previously described technology by gluing or stitching identical blanks with their further straightening. Christmas trees made of green, white, silver paper folded like an accordion look beautiful, combinations of stars and balls are original, as well as options for thread snowflakes in two contrasting colors. New Year's socks, mittens and boots create a holiday feeling.

Today you will not surprise anyone with a simple chain. In general, this category includes products that are a chain of interconnected elements, each of which is its link. For example, hearts can be created from the same stripes that are usually used for a classic chain. To do this, take 2 strips of the same size, combine them at the top and fasten them with a stapler. Further, the upper ends are unfolded, which results in two rounded sides of the heart, then the lower ends are combined, but before fastening them with a stapler, two more stripes are added to them on the sides (the beginning or top of the next heart). The whole garland is made according to this principle. Due to the paper clips, it will hold well, but it is not recommended to pull it too tight, because this can affect the shape of the hearts. You can create a chain by connecting different elements with a stapler, a hole punch, bows from a thin satin ribbon.

A garland of flowers can be not only a simple flat, but also a volumetric electric one. Bulky items can be made using regular LED string lights and cupcake baking tins. In this case, thin corrugated paper of different shades will become the main material. The correct size paper is applied to the mold and the corrugated edge is pushed through. Then it is removed, neatly folded like a snowflake, making sure that the corrugated edges are level with respect to the center.

After folding, the edge of the workpiece is cut off, giving it a rounded shape. The more times the part is folded, the more petals the future flower will have. You can make a flower out of multi-colored corrugated paper, which will give it volume and make it more interesting. All that remains to be done with paper blanks is to fix them on the garland itself.

This decor is mainly made of corrugated paper. Products made of corrugated paper are notable for their lightness, besides, this material is elastic and stretches well. You will need three differently colored paper cuts of the same width. They are put together in different ways. The two lower ones can be combined with the approach to one another by about 1.5 cm.

After that, you need to put the third on top and sew everything together on a sewing machine. So that the product is not flat, it is lightly assembled. Since the paper can tear, you need to collect it on the "wide step" line. You can make another "tape" by cutting a roll of corrugated paper into narrow strips, then cutting them into a fringe along the edges. The sewing technology is the same: several strips (for a larger volume) are stitched on a typewriter, then gathered.

A few years ago, the focus of the decor was on garlands with a variety of voluminous ballerinas, bundles of which were beautiful snowflakes. Today you will not surprise anyone with angels, but you can go the other way. For example, decorate a room with paper applique birds, connecting them with light wooden beads. Looks good on the walls and ceiling and such decor as a garland of multi-colored paper bulbs, fish, bunnies, deer, as well as origami figurines.

Reindeer can simply be cut out of thick cardboard, made with a hole punch in several holes in the horns and threaded through them onto a narrow tape. If you combine such figures, change the color or dilute them with the same snowflakes or ribbon bows, this will create a festive spirit in the room. Someone prefers garlands, the heroes of which are elves, dancing princesses, gingerbread men, giraffes, pigs, elephants. Cutting them, of course, takes longer, but if, in addition to them, the garland is diluted with other decor, you can shorten the production time.

Lanterns can be made of corrugated paper, due to which they will look especially elegant. Two rectangular blanks are taken, one of them is folded with a tube and fixed in the middle with a stapler. The second is folded in half, cut at regular intervals (0.7 cm). After that, one edge is wrapped around the top of the tube and fixed, with the other they do the same, attaching it downward. Next, it remains to make holes for the eyelet and hang the flashlight on the base of the garland.

Further, the workpiece is straightened, forming two sides, connected into a ring and shaped into a circle. It is important to make sure that the holes along the edges are very small, otherwise such flashlights will not be able to hold onto the garland. After all the elements are completed, they are attached to the garland at the locations of the diodes. You cannot use any other types of light sources for paper decor, since only LED bulbs do not heat up, and, therefore, will not burn the paper.

You can choose a different type of paper garland to decorate a room.

The most successful examples are worth considering.

• Such wall decor can become a decoration for a romantic photo zone.
• This is an original and extraordinarily delicate decoration for any room.
• Decorations can be stylish even if they are made from regular newspapers.
• A garland of thread hearts can bring a sense of romance into your home.
• Leaves and vegetation themes give a fresh feeling and plunge into the atmosphere of summer.
• Confetti mugs look simple, but at the same time stylish, filling the space with a festive atmosphere.
• Volumetric flower balls made of corrugated paper can decorate any celebration, be it a children's birthday or a wedding.
• A garland of colorful cards looks unusual and beautiful.
• An original solution for decorating a summer cottage allows you to feel a special day everywhere.
• Even a written note book can become a special decoration if the soul requires creativity.

For information on how to make a paper garland, see the next video.