1930s Paper Flower Garland

I am almost done with the decorations for Tuesday's Sewing Bee. This evening I finished this paper flower garland. The photos are not as pretty as I'd like because...well..it's dark here in the evening in Alaska. :) But I hope you can see clearly enough to get the idea of how to make these. I will replace with better photos if I get the chance.

1930s Paper Flower Garland

Step One: Cut 4 inch circles from cardstock. Punch a lot of 2 inch hearts from pretty papers in 1930s-styled colors and prints.



Step Two: Place double-sided sticky tape in a square around the interior of the cardstock circle.



Step Three: Fold hearts in half and then unfold. You want them to be partially opened. Press onto the sticky tape having the points towards the center, but leaving about a 1-inch circle of cardstock exposed. The round tips of the heart should just extend over the outer circumference of the circle. Each heart should slightly overlap the next. I like to alternate color prints with text or illustrations punched from vintage children's books.



Step Four: Pat the flower lightly with the palm of your hand. You want to secure the hearts and flatten them slightly while still leaving them partially open to create a dimensional effect.





Step Five: You can finish the hearts by gluing poker chips, vintage buttons or a silk flower in the center. I chose to take apart a silk flower and use only one layer. They were then topped with a miniature spool of thread since this is a decoration for a sewing bee. When the party is over, this will go into my sewing room which is being done in a 1930/40s theme.

To create the garland...

***Rip narrow strips of 1930s repro fabrics.
***Knot ends together leaving tails and tucking a sprig of ivy into each knot
***Staple a paper flower in the stretches between knots. Gently fold a heart back on each side of the flower and staple through flower and into fabric strip. Fold back heart to hide the staple.