Love Garland

This was the craft we did at the Little Birdie Secrets blog party on Thursday night. Now that I know what I'm doing, I wanted to make it bigger and with stuff that I already had around the house, so I got started RIGHT AWAY!

Here's what you need:

1. 2 file folders, unless you have awesome, thick paper already

2. pretty paper for the hearts- I used wrapping paper because I'm not a scrapbooker with piles of paper around

3. Two strips of contrasting paper for the fan looking thing on the "O" (See garland picture for details on what I'm talking about...). I cut mine about 12" long and 1 1/2" wide.

4. Tulle scraps and ribbons to tie the hearts together

5. Felt, buttons, or anything else you can think of to make the "O" really cute! At the blog party we had crocheted hearts. I was thinking a flower or rose could be cute too. Just go with whatever your heart desires.

1. Draw a heart on the file folders. I liked the lopsided heart the Birdies used.

2. Cut out four hearts.

3. If you're using larger paper like me, cut a piece that will fit your hearts.
4. Glue your folder hearts to your paper. I like Mod Podge and it's what I've got on hand. Just be sure to press out the bubbles before it starts to dry!
5. I got too excited to wait for the glue to dry so I cut those hearts out right away, and then they started to curl! So put something on them to keep 'em flat whether your impatient like me or you're really good at waiting.
6. Now take your strips and start folding them like a paper fan. I did my first fold 3/4" wide. Glue both strips together and then glue the ends together to make a ring.

7. Cut two circles from your file folder about the size of a quarter. Turn your fan circle thing so that it lays flat and glue a circle in the middle, on each side, like this:

8. Lay out your hearts to decide how you want then to hang and hole punch on both sides.

9. Thread your tulle through the holes (not the very end holes, though) and tie. My tulle was about 9-10" long and about 4 inches wide. I added a gingham ribbon in to add some more color. And, I know, I had red tulle in the beginning picture, but I tied it on, and decided I didn't like it. Luckily I had some white tulle laying around. Tie some regular ribbon in the holes on the ends to hang your garland.

10. Cut out an "L," "V," and "E" from contrasting paper. I brushed them with glue and dusted glitter on them, even though you can't really see it. Also, cut a 3 1/2" circle of the contrasting paper for your fan circle to go on. I also put glitter on that. Glue them down on the hearts so that it sort of spells love. Glue your circle fan to the glittered circle that's supposed to be your "O."

11. Add your crocheted heart, some felt, or a button to the center of your fan circle, hang your garland and enjoy!

Happy Valentine's Day!