For those of you who did not yet read yesterday's post, I've decided that dedicating some time to our Succah decorations now will ultimately save time later and enable us to really create something wonderful while we aren't under pre-holiday pressure! Plus with all the kids still home, this is a great activity!
When I discovered this technique of making ornaments from strips of paper, I was so amazed at the possibilities given the simplicity of the supplies required! I think these are simply gorgeous — one could decorate an entire Succah with only ornaments in this style and the results would be stunning. Not only would the results be stunning, but the fact that you were able to make your own paper ornaments adds that personal factor to the decorations.
You'll Need:
- medium/heavy weight colored paper
- quick drying tacky glue, or double sided tape
- a craft knife and metal ruler plus cutting surface
- a needle, and thread for hanging
How To:
- Decide how thick you'd like the strips to be. For the best results, it is important to cut all the strips so they will be the same width.
- Using a ruler, mark increments of about 1/2" to 5/8" (about 1.5 cm) and cut using (ideally) a craft knife, a metal ruler and a cutting mat. (Craft knives are very sharp and for adults only)
- First experiment to get the hang of this craft, by joining strips end to end with glue or double stick tape, to form rings. One can make rings in a few sizes and then attach one inside the next and so on as seen in the ornament on the left.
- Make teardrop shapes by simply pinching one side of the ring. Make a petal shape by pinching the ring in two opposite points. If you are using heavy weight paper, you may need to score the paper at the point where you'd like to fold it for a crisp fold.
- Study my photograph until you really get the idea involved here, and then there are an unlimited number of possible designs one can create!
- For hanging, run a needle and long thread (doubled for strength) through the top of the ornament, and hang. Match the color of thread to the color of your ornaments.
- Have a great time, and take pictures! I'm going to start a Flickr group for Succah decorations soon, and I'd love for you to contribute your work!
