FaveCrafts

1000s of free craft projects, home decor ideas and DIY tips

Link Love: Pretty Paper Flowers

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Lately, we’ve noticed a growing trend among FaveCrafts newsletter subscribers – they want flowers and they want them now. Unfortunately, the recent polar vortex and multiple inches of snow have prevented readers from turning their floral fantasies into a reality. Well, we’re here to help. There are so many paper flower projects on FaveCrafts and we think they’re a perfect antidote to the painful temperatures and gray skies. This is a quick and easy craft – you can make a bunch in a short period of time and give them as a bouquet or display them in a vase. They also tend to be extremely inexpensive to make – you can use paper scraps or repurpose supplies like books and magazines.

If you plan to host a fancy party, save money on flowers and make your own Crepe Paper Roses. This is also a fantastic Valentine’s Day craft – there’s no need for water or plant food! You can choose particular colors of crepe paper that fit the holiday or you can think outside the box and choose a more unexpected shade – this project is completely customizable. When you run out of crepe paper, dip into your scrapbooking supplies to make Pleated Paper Rosettes. Use embroidery thread and a needle to create your florals (it’s so easy!) and be sure to choose a variety of different patterned papers. If you’re more interested in crafting with recyclable materials, save that newspaper and make Funny Flowers. Stick these little guys on a present and use them as a gift topper. If you’re all out of newspaper, you can sub in wrapping paper instead.

Can’t get enough of these paper flower designs? Check out our collection of 53 Printable Flower Patterns. In addition to paper flowers, you’ll find free crochet and fabric projects as well as helpful video tutorials.

  1. Children Book Paper Flowers from Trashy Crafter
  2. Paper Flower Wreath from Domestically Blissful
  3. Kirigami Water Blossoms from Babble Dabble Do
  4. Coffee Filter Flowers from Sneaky Spoons
  5. Cupcake Case Flower Garland from The Craft Train
  6. Junk Mail Flowers from Grow Creative
  7. Cupcake Wrapper Paper Flowers from Unusually Lovely
  8. Paper Cherry Blossoms from The Bottoms Up Blog
  9. Easy 3D 5 Petal Flower from Moonshine and Sunlight

How to Save Money on Crafting

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Read this article and more thrifty tips on FaveCrafts.com!

When I first got into crafting, I thought it would be a great way to save money. Instead of dropping loads of cash at the mall, I could make my own clothing! Instead of buying cards from Hallmark, I’d make my own! Instead of paying someone to arrange flowers for my wedding centerpieces, I’d make my own tissue paper flowers! After I got done buying fabric, patterns, a Cricut machine, and all the tissue paper in the Chicagoland area, I realized I wasn’t saving money at all. I do have quite the extensive supply of craft supplies though, and I can tell you where the nearest Michael’s, JoAnn, or Hobby Lobby is at any given time. Here are some money-saving tips and tricks I’ve picked up along the way.

  1. Don’t you dare go to a craft store without a coupon! You can look in your local paper for sale flyer coupons, scour couponing sites like The Frugal Girls, or check out the craft stores’ own websites for coupons. There is pretty much always a 40% off coupon available for any of the major craft store chains. Even if you’re only buying a small item, you could potentially save a few bucks this way, every single time you go!
  2. Save your scraps. You can make a lot of things from paper scraps, yarn scraps, fabric scraps, even wood scraps! Save everything, just in case! I also find that saving scraps inspires me to create things that I wouldn’t have thought of if I had all the paper in the world.
  3. Buy supplies from unexpected places. I’ve bought tons of craft supplies from thrift stores and garage sales! Just a few weeks ago I hit the jackpot at a St. Vincent de Paul and left with a huge haul of embroidery hoops, wooden plaques, and unused foam balls. People tend to think of these places as only selling used items, but there are a great deal of unused (albeit ancient) craft supplies at pretty much every thrift store I’ve been to. Vintage notions, sewing patterns, and buttons are especially plentiful.
  4. You don’t always have to use “the real thing.” Can’t afford a circle punch? Trace the bottom of a cup and get used to cutting around the lines. Can’t fathom spending $8 a yard? Cut up old T-shirts or pick up used sheets at a thrift store (or from grandma’s linen closet) to use as fabric. Don’t rule out good ol’ construction paper when it comes to scrapbooking and cardmaking.
  5. Some of the most fun craft media are not even traditionally sold as craft supplies. Tissue paper, coffee filters, recycled magazines and paper bags, water bottles, and other trash make great craft supplies, and they’re all already in your home. Bonus: if you craft with trash, you’re preventing something from ending up in a landfill. Jars are very popular these days, and you can make so much with them. And never underestimate the power of a 99 cent roll of crepe paper!
  6. Make sure you have a mental inventory of your craft closet/room when you go to the craft store. There’s nothing worse than buying a stack of rainbow paper only to arrive home and find a similar stack unopened on your shelf. I always thought this rule was a little silly, but I just accidentally bought my second black cardigan, so now I believe everyone who swears by this! You’ll save money and avoid the dreaded buyer’s remorse if you make sure to never accidentally purchase duplicate craft supplies.
  7. Share with a friend! What sounds better than gathering up your craft supplies and setting up shop at a friend’s house, where there’s double the materials? Scrapbookers have scrap nights, sewers have sewing circles, and quilters have quilting bees. Grab a few friends and a bottle of wine and host an informal craft night so you can share the wealth. That way you can use something your friend has (say, that circle punch you couldn’t afford) and she can use all the extra rainbow paper you accidentally bought.

What are your favorite ways to save money on craft supplies? I’m very interested to learn new tricks to add to my arsenal!

What Can You Make with Paper Scraps?

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If you do any kind of paper crafting (scrapbooking, card making, decoupaging, origami, etc…) you probably accumulate a ton of different shaped and sized paper scraps. If you’re like most of the world, these scraps and nothing more than garbage to you. But most crafters look at scraps as a creative challenge. So save your scraps (and save some cash while you’re at it) by using your paper scraps as materials for creating something fabulous.

I recently put together an article on 17 Scrap Paper Crafts & Paint Chips Crafts. I love the idea of crafting with paint chips–they’re free and they literally come in just about any color imaginable! I wouldn’t go so far as calling this a completely “green” recycling project, since no one accumulates that many paint chips when contemplating a color scheme (or do they?), but it’s still thrifty! Check out this mosaic you can make with paint chips:

We’ve also got a fun and thrifty wreath you can easily make from paint chips. The Paint Chip Valentine’s Wreath is made from red and pink paint chips, but you can customize it for any holiday or home decor style just by changing the color chips you use:

Paint Chip Valentine Wreath

I also really can’t get enough of these Colorful Paper Mobiles. I’m planning on using them as a decoration for my wedding. They’re the perfect way to add a pop of color without spending a lot of time or money. You can even reuse old magazine pages to get the same effect.

I found some other cool projects around the web for using up paper scraps. This paper scrap lamp is seriously awe-inspiring! If you click over to read the how-to, you’ll be amazed at the simplicity of it. Why didn’t I think of that??

Here’s an easy tutorial for making paper circle garlands, another cheap decor element for a party. All you need is a circle punch (or the patience to cut out all of those circles) and a sewing machine.

I also really loved this paper butterfly mobile, which also uses a paper punch (or a butterfly die cut, if you’ve got one). You can switch out the shape to personalize this mobile as well. I think it might be cute with hearts, or maybe the moon and stars? What do you think?

Which project was your favorite? Don’t forget to check out my article, 17 Scrap Paper Crafts & Paint Chip Crafts to see all of the cool ideas and projects to make with your paper scrap stash!

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Jewelry

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Sewing

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