DIY Paper decorations for a tropical themed party

If you want to decorate your venue for a party but are trying to stick to a budget, here are some fantastic ideas for decorations that you can make yourself. Plus you can win a copy of Cutting Machine Crafts for yourself in my giveaway, so read on to find out some thrifty tricks for creating tropical party decor and to enter the competition below..!

This week I’ve been reviewing Cutting Machine Crafts by Lia Griffith. This book contains countless projects that you can create at home from paper. The projects will help you make the most of your Cricut, Sizzix, Silhouette or Scan ‘N’ Cut machine – or you could even cut out the shapes by hand! Whatever method you use, there are thrifty projects for every occasion, such as Easter gifts, Christmas decorations and party treats. There are even some thrifty home decor ideas too!

The book comes with 60 downloadable SVG files that are compatible with most electronic cutting machines to make it even easier to get started. Let’s face it, finding the graphic you want can take up the majority of the time you’re working on a project, so it’s great to have these design at hand so that you can get to work on creating something straight away.

Today I’m sharing the instructions for a creating a topical themed party – so on-trend right now! You can make cake toppers, table decorations, party props and more. And don’t forget to enter the giveaway at the end of the blog post to win a copy of Cutting Machine Crafts for yourself!

Can’t you just feel the ocean breeze? Imagine creating a paper lei for each of your party guests and decorating their beverage straws with a pretty paper hibiscus bloom. Don’t stop there… decorate your table with large paper palm and monstera leaves and top things off with a flower garland and well-placed hibiscus. For dessert, decorate your tropical cupcakes with mini monstera leaves and a matching wrap. Thanks to the quick work of your cutting machine, this will be a party that everyone will talk about.

MATERIALS & TOOLS

LEIS

• text-weight frosted paper in petal and leaf colours
• green baker’s twine
• paper curling tool
• large needle
• low-temp hot glue gun

CUPCAKES

• text-weight paper
• wood toothpicks
• low-temp hot glue gun

DECORATIVE LEAVES

• Canson paper, card stock paper, or text-weight frosted paper
• 12 × 24-inch cutting mat (for larger leaves)

LEI STEPS

1. Cut flowers and leaves from text-weight frosted paper.
2. Shape all petals with curling tool.
3. Glue tabs on flowers and attach to side to cr eate cone. Small pink petals will curl inwards and larger flowers curl outwards.
4. Fold all leaves on score lines.
5. Shape all edges of leaves with curling tool.
6. Roll center stamen pieces.
7. Apply glue to base of stamen pieces and place in center of small pink flowers.
8. Thread large needle with green baker’s twine. Attach larger flower through center of bloom.
9. Sew through base of leaf to attach to thread.
10. Glue underside of small flower with stamen. Glue leaf to thread and attach flower.
11. Attach third flower and three-pointed leaf cluster by sewing through centres.
12. Attach blue leaves by gluing twine between base of two leaves.
13. Repeat sequence with flowers and leaves to create your paper lei or garland.

CUPCAKE DECOR

1. Cut leaves from text-weight or card stock paper and use hot glue to attach toothpick.
2. Cut cupcake wrappers from text-weight or card stock paper. Use tab to create wrap shape or glue into position for smaller cupcakes.
   

   

   

Extract taken from Cutting Machine Crafts by Lia Griffith, published by Clarkson Potter (£14.99, available from www.thegmcgroup.com)

And now, here’s your chance to win a copy of Cutting Machine Crafts for yourself! There are plenty of ways to enter the competition via the Rafflecopter widget below and each option will gain you more entries into the prize draw. Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway is open to UK residents only. Competition runs from 10th August – 19th August 2018. 1 winner will be chosen at random from all entries via Rafflecopter and will be contacted by email. The winner will need to provide a delivery address to receive their prize.