Saleena: christmas

Here are a few easy steps to make your very own pom pom garland!

Materials:

Fork

yarn

scissors

needle

Directions:

Step One: Wrap yarn around fork and cut yarn. The amount of times you do this will depend on (1) the thickness of your yarn and (2) how big you want your pom pom to be. With this particular yarn, I wrapped it around the fork 35-40 times. With a different yarn (which is pictured below), I wrapped it around the fork about 60-65 times for the same size.

Step Two: cut a piece of string about 8in in length and fold in half.

Step Three: Pull folded string through the two middle prongs.

Step Four: Wrap string around so both ends are on one side of the fork. Tie the string once to hold yarn together, then remove fork and tie once more to make a secure knot.

Step Five: Tie the string once to hold yarn together, then remove fork and tie once more to make a secure knot.

Step Six: Using scissors, cut looped yarn on one side of the knot so it becomes frayed.

Step Seven: Cut looped yarn on the other side of the knot.

Step Eight: Trim your pom pom into a nice ball

Step Nine: Repeat steps 1- 8 until you have reached the desired amount of pom poms. (I made 48 of each kind)

Step Ten: Using needle and yarn, string poms in alternating colors. You can have them right next to one another, like so...

Or you can leave an inch or two between each one.

Step Eleven: Put it on the tree :]

Even though this is time consuming, it doesn't take much thought once you get the hang of it. I often made the poms while watching TV or a movie with the hubby.

<3 Saleena

DIY: Ruffled Christmas Tree Skirt

Finals are DONE! Whoohoo! It's time for celebrating. How to best celebrate freedom from studies? Crafting of course! Christmas is right around the corner, and because it is our first Christmas together (meaning we have absolutely no decorations), I have a lot to get done! When I stumbled across this tree skirt on HGTV's website, I fell in love. The best part? IT'S NO SEW! So anyone can do it. :]

Materials:
4-1/2' x 4-1/2' piece of canvas
measuring tape
5 yards cream linen (Or whatever color you would like - even christmas patterned!)
sharp scissors
fray-blocking glue
3 1/3 yards ribbon
hot glue gun and hot glue sticks

Directions:

Using a tape measure, mark and cut a square of canvas that is approximately 4-1/2' x 4-1/2', then fold into quarters.

Once into quarters, fold canvas over itself to form a triangle with the folded center at point. Cut base in a quarter circle.

Cut a small quarter circle out of the point.

Open the skirt until it's folded in half and cut along the radius on one side of the center hole only. This will provide slit in the fabric so the skirt can be placed under the tree.

Apply no-fray glue along all raw edges and allow to dry. Tip: A canvas painter's drop cloth is an inexpensive material perfect for this project.

Using sharp scissors, cut linen fabric lengthwise into 2.5-3 inch-wide strips. A little tip? If your flooring allows, use your grout line as a guide. These strips don't have to be perfect.

Preheat hot glue gun. Apply a line of hot glue approximately 1 1/2 inches from outside edge of skirt. Create ruffles by pinching linen with fingers and pushing gathers down onto hot glue.

Continue this process around the entire skirt edge.

Start the next row approximately 1 1/2 inches above the previous row.

Repeat this process until its all done! Just be forewarned, this is a pretty time consuming project. But don't be discouraged, the result is well worth it!

Next, cut 10 pieces of ribbon into approximately 12-14 inch lengths. Use hot glue to attach ribbon to underside of tree skirt along slit created in canvas base. (For added strength, I stapled the ribbon first and then hot glued it to the canvas. Be careful not to staple your ruffles! Because the bottoms of the ruffles are not glued down, you are able to staple underneath them).