D.I.Y. Garland + Little Giveaway

When we wanted to add some visual interest to a family portrait, we thought immediately of something hanging in the background. But what? Buntings are a little..ahem, overdone. Not that we don't still love them. But. Mobiles require trees or ceilings from which to hang, which this family's location didn't have. We came up with this garland that still has the fun festive feel of a bunting, but is a little different. They're going to make their own in various sizes in their color scheme, and hang them along vintage oars stuck in the sand behind them. Even if you're short on oars, make one today and hang it from your light fixture above your dining room table to make your weeknight dinner feel like a party, in your backyard (or on your fire escape) for a little added color (but take them down if it looks like rain!), or in your baby's room as a summery mobile. You, like the folks aforementioned, can even make them in varying sizes and hang them in multiples to add interest!

Materials:
string of some sort
tissue paper in various colors
something round to trace, like a glass or a mixing bowl
a pencil
a glue stick
scissors

Make it!
Step 1: Trace your round object, and cut out circles in various colors. We like to keep the paper folded over on itself, and cut out multiple circles at once.

Step 2: Fold your circles in half around your string, and glue in place. Use a ruler if that helps you keep even spacing between your circles. Hang and enjoy!

Can't/Don't want to D.I.Y.? Win it! Just leave a comment here by 12:00PM (noon) EST on Friday, August 6 telling us where you would hang this, and we'll pick one of you to win 10 yards of this garland in the colors shown.

DIY: Nautical Flag Birthday Mobile!

Don't you just love nautical themed things? Whales, ropes, salty sailors, you name it, we love it. If you know someone who has a birthday coming up, why not make them this easy-peasy mobile that we made for a certain birthday boy a few weeks ago?
how much do you love this photo? it was taken by the lovely and talented brookelyn photography. we can't stress enough how much we love her.

You'll need:
* The Nautical Flag Birthday Mobile .pdf, available here,
* scissors and a steady hand, or a metal ruler and exact-o knife
* bakers' twine or other string
* glue
* an embroidery hoop or anything with a similar shape
* wingnuts, beads or anything else that's heavy (optional)
*(optional to make number flags: construction paper!)
Directions:
*Print a few copies of the Nautical Flag Birthday Mobile .pdf. The exact number will depend on how big your embroidery hoop is and how many strings of flags you want. We used plain printer paper, and 8 strands for our 16" diameter embroidery hoop (so we printed out 8 copies).
*Using your scissors or exact-o knife, cut out the flags in the pdf that you've printed out. Fold each flag in half around the baker's twine, spelling out "happy birthday", and glue to affix the flag to the string. Do this on a separate strand for each print-out of the .pdf that you've made.
*Tie each strand to your embroidery hoop using a square knot ("Right over left and left over right makes a knot sturdy and tight!").
*(optional step--create number flags to hang down from your mobile. You can find the numbers here: Copy the numbers that you wish to attach to your mobile. You'll need twice the number of flags that you want hanging. Once you've made all of your flags (by cutting and pasting), make little string sandwiches by attaching one end of the string to the back of one of your number flags, then attaching another number flag on top of that (reference the picture above if you're having trouble visualizing that). Attach the number flags with square knots to your embroidery hoop.
*When all of the strands are tied to your embroidery hoop, cut one more strand that will remain flagless to about 12" longer than your other strands. This strand will hold your wingnuts or beads to give your mobile a little heft. Tie your wingnuts to one end.
*Gather the ends (the ones that aren't affixed to your embroidery hoop) of all of your strands as well as the un-wingnutted end of your wingnutted strand. Tie them in a surgeon's loop. Trim the ends, find somewhere pretty to hang it, and eat yourself some cupcakes!