Paper Trees and Book Page Wreaths
Yes, we tore up books for these projects. If it makes you feel better, they weren’t very good ones…
Photo Credit: Emily A. Clark
Do It Your Style
Holiday Craft Ideas
by Emily A. Clark
I wanted to share the specific projects the guests at our holiday crafting party were able to make and take home.
We set up three different “stations” based on the themes of paper, moss and nature, offering a couple of different crafts at each one. What I like most about the projects is that almost all of them could also be used throughout the year.
View the slideshow above to see what we made!
For more Christmas decor inspiration take a look at It’s a Pink, Pink Christmas!, and Artificial Christmas Trees: A Brief History.
Read more from Emily A. Clark here.
Photo Credit: Emily A. Clark
-
Pin It
-
Pin It
The book page trees were one of the easiest crafts we did. (And, I think they have a fun Anthropologie vibe.) We pre-painted two sizes of terra cotta pots with spray chalkboard paint, and provided skewers in two lengths. (I just bought inexpensive dowel rods, cut them to length and used a pencil sharpener on each end.)
Photo Credit: Emily A. Clark
-
Pin It
Once I was ready to start stacking the book pages, I first used pages torn in half, then torn in thirds, in fourths, etc., working my way to the top. (We didn’t pre-cut anything.) Older books work great because the pages almost fall apart when you fold them.
Photo Credit: Emily A. Clark
-
Pin It
This is a super easy project for kids, too. (Unless they try to stab each other with the skewers...) Of course, they also think it’s fun to be able to tear up a book without getting in trouble.
Photo Credit: Emily A. Clark
-
Pin It
We also made book page wreaths. Simple? Yes. Time-consuming? Double yes. But, it’s a great craft if you’ve got a friend to do it with, time to work on it and lots of glue sticks. We just used straw wreaths (with the plastic still on) and rolled each page into a cone, hot gluing them to the wreath in layers.
Photo Credit: Emily A. Clark
-
Pin It
I found that it was easiest to start by turning the wreath over, hot gluing two layers of longer book pages to the back. Then, I flipped it over and glued shorter pages to the front in layers. It may look a mess while you’re doing it, but you really can’t mess it up. Mine is now hanging on the front of the bookcases in our office.
Photo Credit: Emily A. Clark
-
Pin It
Moss Wreaths and Topiaries
At this station, everyone did their own thing, with the option of making a moss-covered wreath, trees, or topiaries. Here’s what we supplied...
Photo Credit: Emily A. Clark
-
Pin It
- Embellishments like faux fruit and glittery styrofoam balls
- A mixture of moss
Photo Credit: Emily A. Clark
-
Pin It
- A variety of pots and small urns
Photo Credit: Emily A. Clark
-
Pin It
- Rubb ‘n' Buff (to decorate the plain terracotta pots)
- Hot glue guns
Photo Credit: Emily A. Clark
-
Pin It
- Styrofoam wreath, ball and tree forms
Photo Credit: Emily A. Clark
-
Pin It
Driftwood Centerpieces
Since some of the other crafts took more time, we wanted to offer a station where they could quickly put together another project to take home.
Photo Credit: Emily A. Clark
-
Pin It
For the “nature” station, we supplied several driftwood pieces, succulents, air plants, pinecones and hot glue guns.
Photo Credit: Emily A. Clark
-
Pin It
These make great centerpieces or accessories to set on a coffee table. Here's a similar one I did and dressed up for our holiday table.
Photo Credit: Emily A. Clark
-
Pin It
StyleList Home