TIPsy Tuesday: Butterfly Mobile

Hey guys!  So this is my guest tutorial post that was featured on www.craftionary.net last week.  I was so excited about Hani asking me to do a guest tutorial and so grateful that Meredith from www.themomoftheyear.net was so kind to guest post on our TIPsy Tuesday last week.  I decided to share my tutorial once again this week and post on some linky parties.  Thanks for always reading!!!  Enjoy!

What you'll need:  pencil, scissors, ruler, hot glue gun, string, tissue paper, double sided paper, a dead branch, ribbon

First we will make some butterflies.  On your double sided color paper (I recommend  using thin paper - I learned that the hard way), make 6"x6" squares and cut them out.  You can pick and choose how many butterflies you would like to add according to the size of the mobile you are making.

Fold your square in half both ways.  Flip the square over (make sure to do this because it will help with the next step) and fold diagonally both ways.

Pinch in the folds on the side into the middle to form a triangle ending with the point facing up.

From the bottom left and right corners, fold the top layer of paper up into a diamond shape.

Flip your triangle over so that the point is now at the bottom and you are working with the other side.  Fold the bottom part up and fold the tip of the point over the flat top.  You'll want a little more of the tip folded over than I have pictured.  It will help stabilize your butterfly better. 

Give the butterfly a good fold in half and Ta Da!  Pretty butterfly.  Now prepare to hang it by using a needle and string.  Knot the string at the end, but let the end going through the needle hang loose.

To get the butterfly to hang nicely I poked holes in the top diamond layer in the middle and then pulled the string up from the inside on one side and down through the top on the other side.

Once you knot the other side and cut the excess string off, with another piece of string knot it at the center of the piece going across the butterfly.  The lengths of these pieces will depend on how you choose to hang and balance the butterflies.

Now we will work on the tissue paper cherry blossoms.  I used two different color pink tissue papers.  Lying one on top of the other I drew out different flower shapes.  They do not need to be perfect (that's the best part).  Cut them all out.  You can pick and choose how many you'd like to make.

Take whichever color you want to be the inside layer and place a dot of hot glue in the middle.  Pinch together.  Place some hot glue on the middle of the second piece and place the first piece inside of it and pinch together.  Easy!

Next you'll be tying the butterflies onto the branch and gluing the blossoms on.  I was fortunate enough to have my husband find the perfect branch for me!

Tie the end of the strings connected to the butterfly to your branch (check the weight and balance as you go for placement).  Using my hot glue gun I glued the cherry blossoms over where I tied the string on the branch to hide the string.

Lastly I used a piece of ribbon to hang the mobile.  I was able to loop mine around, but you may have to be a little more creative depending on the shape of your branch.

Ta Da!  You have a beautiful Butterfly Mobile!

Thanks for following along!

xoxo,

My entry into Craft and Tell @ Cherished Bliss is sponsored by Appliances Online and the Bosch Washing Machines

First Santa, now the Easter Bunny

I knew Easter might be a crazy cape ordering time, but I had no idea how busy (being that this is our first year open).  I am up to my ears in capes.  Leslie is the "bow maker" and I am the "cape maker", so when you are getting tons of orders and requests for something to be in time for Easter you can't help, but want to say yes to everyone.  If you were reading around Christmas you might remember that I would stay up until 3 am (even 2 days before Christmas) getting capes done and mailing priority and overnights.  Being Santa and the Easter Bunny's help is awesome! BUT tiring.  Right now I stay up crazy hours making capes and that's on top of volunteering as a coach for Girls on the Run, working part time, spending time with my husband and pup, working on our new website, shipping all the packages, getting our next TIPsy Tuesday ready, and getting yard work done (I love yard work). All in all, I'm VERY busy, but VERY happy!!!

 Sometimes I swear I live in a post office. :)

 I promise, no super heroes were taken out with kryptonite in the making of this photo.

 Dex is always on the lookout!

 The turtles have been loving this wonderful Carolina weather!

Jarret was so happy with getting a new tree for the yard!!! (He really was, I'm not being sarcastic) :)

Hope everyone is having a great day!!!! Oh, and we've had some people do a recreation of the pinwheel wreath I made for TIPsy Tuesday and I'd love to share them with you!!  Too cute!!!  Thanks guys!!! :)  Toqua's Crafts and Capital B

xoxo

TIPsy Tuesday - Tetrahedral Kite

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It’s that time of the year again! Time to break out the sunblock, bubbles, and kites!!! You can make a fun kite at home with your kids with supplies you probably already have! Leslie and I had a blast at a kite festival in my neighborhood this past weekend and I made a fun kite for us to fly!

What you’ll need: scissor, 2 sheets of tissue paper, light string (I used baker’s twin, you could always use kite string), straws (that don’t bend), scotch tape, pencil, ruler, scratch paper

Put a long piece of string through three straws and knot together making a triangle, leaving excess string for later use. It is easy to get the string through the straws by sucking it through (I wouldn’t let the kids do this part) I left part of the string still attached to the roll of string before I cut it, this way I didn’t have to knot another piece of string onto one of the corners.

With the long piece of string left over, put two more straws on it forming two triangles attached to each other with one straw as the base in the middle.

Place a long piece of string through one straw and then attach to the tops of each triangle forming a pyramid shape.

Now you’re going to want to make a template on your scratch piece of paper that measures like this:

Next, fold a piece of tissue paper in half long ways (like a hot dog bun) and then fold 2 more times - right side in and then left side on top of that, like so:

The folded ends should be closest to you. Place your template on top of the tissue paper and trace it. Cut the template out.

When you open the tissue paper you will have three shapes. You’ll want to cut them apart from each other.

When you open one of your patterns you’ll want to lay one of your pyramids on one half and then fold the excess pieces over the straws and tape down.

You’ll want to tape down on four sides of your pyramid to make each piece look like this:

*You’re going to want to make 4 of these for a smaller kite and 10 for a larger kite.*

Now you will want to connect three pieces of your kite for the base of the kite (6 if you are making the larger one). Use the excess pieces of string on each corner to attach them together.

After you’ve attached the three on the bottom you will add the fourth piece on top. (For the larger kite you will put 3 on top of your base and then the last one on top).

The last thing you’ll have to do is take a piece of string and knot it at the point of your kite and attach it to bottom of that same piece (easier said with the picture that follows). This piece is important because it is where you will attach your kite string to fly your kite.

Now go and enjoy the beautiful Spring outdoors with family and friends while flying your kite!

Flying the small kite!

Flying the larger version

Have fun!
xoxo

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