While my Christmas decorating isn't quite done yet, the tree is set which makes me happy. Few things set the tone for the season like the glow of a lit Christmas tree. This year I wanted to add a little whimsy to the tree by making some crepe paper ornaments.
These are so easy to make and add a fun texture to the tree.
All you need is:
- crepe paper
- floral wire- 18 gauge
- floral tape
- scissors
- wire cutters
First you start with a strip of crepe paper about 2 inches wide. For length, I cut them about as long as my arm. You can make this longer or shorter if you want to make different thicknesses of tassels. This is the hardest step.... are you ready? Put the strip on the table and start bunching it together. Use your fingers to pull the crepe paper toward your thumb, creating small, irregular pleats.
To attach it to the stem, use the 'gather and wrap' method... which is exactly what it sounds like. Gather a pinch of the paper and put your stem into it. Use one hand to hold the tassel and stem and use the other hand to gather another pinch of paper and wrap it around the stem.
Continue to "gather and wrap" until you reach the end of the paper.
Next, wrap your floral tape over the bottom pinch of the tassel where you see my fingers holding above. Start at the bottom of the tassel and wind the floral tape at a slight diagonal, stretching it just a bit. Wind it down from the tassel onto the stem a few inches.
Voila, you made a tassel!
To make this tassel into an ornament, use your wire cutters to trim the stem about an inch from the base of the tassel and fold it over. This will give you a place to attach an ornament hook.
Attach ornament hooks and start decorating the tree!
After installing my floor to ceiling book shelve last year, the short, squatty, fake tree that I've had for years just felt out of proportion. This year, when I stumbled on a 6' pencil thin tree, I knew it would be the perfect fit for the limited space in front of the book shelves.
The crepe paper ornaments add a touch of fun and "fluff" to the mostly neutral tree. I'm actually tempted to make a mess of these ornaments and adorn a tree head to toe with them. Like little jazzy snowflakes.
And because dancing ornament gifs make me smile, I'll leave you with the same image that started this post. Happy weekend!