Guest Blog: DIY Butterfly Bouquet

Hello! I’m so excited to share an alternative to a floral bouquet, by showing a super simple and elegant butterfly bouquet that you can make at home! These bouquets are perfect for summer/spring weddings… think flower girls, bridesmaids, even for the bride herself (get creative!), or for table decor (even at home!).

Things you’ll need:
Butterflies (there are so many options to choose from on the website, I went with these)
Floral Wire
Ribbon

Things to do:
1. I used my floral wire to extend the height of the butterflies by clipping it at various lengths and winding it tight to the wire that is already on the butterflies themselves.
2. Pull them into a tight bunch and wrap with Ribbon in a criss-cross pattern all the way down and up the wire stems tiding a bow at the top.
3. Bend the top of the wires in various directions spacing the butterflies out as you like. Voila!

If you still want the floral look before you tie your ribbon on you can add flowers in with the butterflies, now you have whimsy and tradition!

Hope you’ve enjoyed today’s project, and link us up with your projects on here or face book!
Happy Crafting!
Lisa from Lisa’s Creative Niche

Felt Wine Bag

As the weather warms up and summer draws nearer, picnics and barbecues will become a part of our weeks again (yay!) and so will the ever-present dilemma of the hostess gift. Wine or prettily bottled lemonade is always a great choice and this year bring your bottle in style by whipping up a few of these pretty (and simple!) gift bags!

Things you’ll need:
Felt
Sewing machine and notions
Contrasting colored thread
Pinking shears
Scissors
Bottle of wine

Things to do:
1. Fold the felt in half and lay your bottle down so that the bottom is lined up with the fold.

2. Adding about an inch to each side and the top, cut a rectangle slightly bigger than your bottle.
3. Set your bottle, end down, ½ inch from the cut top of the felt, center it and trace the bottom onto the felt.

4. Using your pinking shears cut a slit in the center of the circle and then cut out the rest of the circle neatly.

5. Starting 1 inch up from the fold and using the contrasting thread and a decorative stitch, sew around the edge of the folded rectangle about 1/3 of an inch in. Stop 1 inch from the bottom fold on the other side.

6. Slip the bottle through the hole and slide it carefully down to sit at the bottom of the bag so that the neck is sticking out of the hole. Add a pretty tag and you are ready to head out!

Doily and Kraft Paper Gift Bag

I’m sure you, like me, have had those moments where you need something quick and pretty to wrap a gift NOW but there’s no wrapping paper to be found, then this project is for you.

Things you need:
Brown paper bag
Crocheted doily
Clothespin

Things to do:
1. Stuff your bag with the gift in question.

2. Fold over the top neatly.
3. Wrap the fold with a doily, folding it in half so the scallops line up.
4. Attach a clothespin at the top to hold it all in place.

Doily Favor Cones

Just the thing to hold that confetti for weddings, special occasions or just plain fun, these doily cones are easy to make and just as pretty as can be. Use different size doilies for different amounts of confetti or different size hand (little ones are best for little flower girl type hands!)

Things you’ll need:
Paper Doilies
Glue
Confetti

Things to do:
1. Roll a doily into a cone and glue along the edge where it overlaps, holding until it dries.

2. Fill with confetti and have fun!

DIY Doily and Twine Wrapped Gifts

The combination of rustic twine, simple craft paper and delicate doilies makes the prefect, surprisingly elegant wrapping medium for any gift. Use either paper or cloth doilies for slightly different effects. Cloth doilies give a little more grown up effect while paper doilies can serve as decoration and tag, with the to and from written right on them.

Things you’ll need:
Kraft paper wrapped gift
Jute twine
Doilies – paper and/or cloth

Things to do:
1. Wrap the doily around the gift. If you are using a paper doily, inscribe with a message first and make sure it’s centered on the gift.

2. Tie twine around the gift and doily to hold it in place, tying off out of sight or with a decorative bow or tails. Trim the ends.

DIY Polka Dot Kraft Paper Wrapping

Wrapping with simple, clean, unadorned craft paper is a standby at my house. I’ve always got a roll on hand and since it’s not holiday or occasion specific, it’s great for any occasion. But best of all, it’s a blank canvas for decorations, and these polka dots couldn’t be cuter. It’s easiest to go ahead and wrap your package first, so you know exactly where the polka dots should go. Writing the to and from right on the package in matching pen gives the gift the perfect finishing touch.

Things you’ll need:
Craft paper wrapped gift
Pencil with unused eraser
White acrylic paint
Lid or plate

Things to do:
1. Squeeze out a teaspoon or so of paint onto the lid or plate.
2. Dab the end of the eraser into the paint, test out the polka dots on the edge of the plate and adjust the paint as necessary.
3. Dot paint onto the craft paper, either in a random or regular pattern.

4. Allow the paint to dry before giving.

Upcycling: Newspaper Heart Banner

Sometimes, a little banner can send just the right message. Hang this darling thing on a wall or over a special dessert and spread the love.

Things you’ll need:
Magazine or Newspaper pages
Baker’s twine
Heart punch
Glue gun and glue sticks
Scissors
Paper cutter

Things to do:
1. Cut a length of twine a few inches longer than you’ll want the banner to be. Tie a small loop at each end for easy hanging.
2. Cut the pages of the magazine into strips just wider and three times as long as the heart punch.
3. Fold each piece of paper in half and apply a thin coat of glue to half. Fold the strips over the twine and press in half to seal. Allow the glue to dry.
4. Punch the heart into the center of each flag and hang the banner.

DIY Pillow Box Template

There are lots of occasions where a small box is just the thing you need, and just the thing you cant find, which makes this template an excellent one to have in your crafting arsenal. Size it up or down according to your needs and use a variety of weights or cardstock to make the perfect box for your occasion.

Things you’ll need:
Template
Cardstock
Scissors
Bone folder
Glue

Things to do:
1. Using the template, cut the pillow box shape out of your cardstock, cutting on the darker lines.

2. With the bone folder, crease the thinner lines to create a nice fold.

3. Glue the flap under the opposite edge and fold in the ends to finish the box.

DIY Cupcake Wrappers

Personalizing cupcake wrappers for a party is a small thing you can do that will have a big impact. Change the paper, the color and the top to create the perfect wrapper for your event and you’ll be a hit.

Things you’ll need:
Template
Paper
Edge cutting scissors
Scissors
Permanent glue dots or glue

Things to do:
1. Trace the template onto the backside of your paper. If you have a printer/scanner, you can scan the template and print it right onto your paper for ease.

2. Cut out the smaller rounded edge and the two straight ends using regular scissors and the large rounded edge with pattern cutting scissors (or cut in a wavy or zig-zag line).

3. Wrap the wrappers around your cupcakes to fit and tape or glue in place.

Salt Dough Tags

Mix up a quick batch of these holiday gift tags and you’ll be ready to wrap and dazzle this year. All it takes is a few ingredients that you’re sure to have in your pantry and your craft stash and you are set!

Things you’ll need:
Salt
Flour
Warm water
Bowl
Wooden spoon
Circle cutter or glass
Straw
Rolling pin
Stamps

Things to do:
1. Mix up a dough using one part water to two parts each salt and flour (for a small batch start with 1 cup flour, 1 cup salt and ½ cup warm water. Knead until it’s the consistency of play dough.
2. Roll out the dough until it’s 1/8 inch thick.
3. Cut out circles and discard extra dough or re-roll and cut more circles.

4. Press stamps into the center of the rounds firmly but not so hard that it distorts the circle.

5. Cut a hole in the top of each circle using the straw.
6. Allow the tags to dry, this can take up to two days, flipping them once to allow the back side to dry as well.