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Hi guys -- Welcome back! Today I'm sharing a super simple tutorial for making decorative tassels out of cocktail napkins. If you spend time on Pinterest looking at the awe-inspiring parties people are throwing for their children, you have seen your share of tissue paper tassel garlands. They're adorable. So, the other day I made a new bunting with our new family motto {I'll get to that later!} and needed just a little pop of color and pattern to finish it. That's when I also remembered these UH-MAZING Vera Bradley paper cocktail napkins that I picked up for a project years ago. I love it when a project comes together like that!
I figured cocktail napkins are the PERFECT thing to make decorative tassels from. They're inexpensive, they come in a whole slew of cute patterns and colors {which can be perfectly coordinated to your party ware if you are so inclined}, and they're already cut to size. Each tassel uses one napkin.
Step 1. Cut slits all along the bottom {unfolded} edge of the napkin. I spaced my slits about 1/4-inch apart. When cutting the slits, be sure to stop cutting a good inch or so away from the top of the napkin {the folded edge}.
Step 2. Begin rolling up the napkin along the uncut {folded} edge. Continue until you reach the opposite end.
Step 3. Scrunch up the tassel ends and shake it around a bit to fluff it up.
Step 4. Cut a piece of twill tape, twine, or ribbon to the desired length. You'll be attaching a tassel on each end. I made mine about 10-12 inches long. Tear off a piece of tape {I used a coordinating washi tape}and attach it to the twill tape as shown above.
Step 5. Wrap the tape around the top of your tassel to hold it all in place and attach it to the "cord". {If you use washi tape like I did, it might not hurt to add a dab of glue to the end of the tape to keep it from coming unstuck.} Now you'll have a cord {or ribbon} with a tassel on each end, similar to what you see used in home decor. You can clip it up or tie it in a bow around something. Anything you want!
I used mini clothes pins to attach one tassel cord at each end of my bunting and one in the center. It's the perfect finishing touch to gussy-up my bunting! Now . . . our family motto. Every family has a motto, don't they? Stephen R. Covey suggested families should have mission statements, just like large organizations, right? Well, we haven't gotten that far. We'll likely never get our act that together. {But I'll give myself bonus points for having read the book!} A motto is as good as we could do.
It's a simple sentence that sums up our outlook on life: It Could Be Worse! It's a "count your blessings", "silver lining" kind of philosophy. No matter how bad things may get, they could always be worse, so we try to be grateful for what we DO have rather than focus on the things we lack. The exclamation point at the end is the key. It's an exercise in faith sometimes to say it without a question mark at the end -- to be confident that we are right where the Lord wants us to be, having the experiences that will help us to grow and bless the lives of others.
So, that's that! It is my favorite thing that we have put up on the chicken wire display board yet, so it will likely stay for a while. Do you have a family motto? If so, please share it in the comments!
Have a great day,
Amy
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Looks great! I would love it if you joined and contribute your awesome posts at my link party at City of Creative Dreams on Fridays :D Hope to see you there at City of Creative Dreams Link Party.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE your sign! The book pages and tassels are the perfect combo! visiting from The 36th Avenue where you were featured! I will be pinning!
ReplyDeleteThese are adorable!!
ReplyDeleteAwww, thanks you guys!!
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