guest post

First off, I want to greet my craft mentor on this special day.

Since today is Mother’s Day, and I think it was only apt that I let my mom post one of her tutorials here on the site.

Collect twigs long enough to make a six inch full circle with some more that sprays to the side. Willow (aka Weeping willow) works well because they are pliable. For tougher twigs, soak in water for about 30 minutes or until it becomes manageable.

Use brown or black small plastic ties to keep the shape of the circle. I use 2 on what I refer to as to top of the wreath. Trim off excess plastic.

Using a butterfly punch, cut out 3 of each color of cardstock (plain or printed). Cut a minimum of 36 – enough for 12 butterflies.

Using 3 cut-outs of the same color at a time, glue the body (center) of the butterflies. This give them the 3-D effect.

When glue is dry, separate/open the left and right wings. You can mix colors, too!

Using a stronger grade of glue, strategically glue each butterfly to the wreath in various positions. Let glue dry.

Display by a window using a suction cup hook.

You can also hang by the side of a mirror or frame.

You can also try making straight twig arrangements instead of wreaths!

So who’s the special guest posting here at I Try DIY?

The Martha Stewart of My Life: MY MOM!

For Christmas, my mom gave me the Martha Stewart Crafts Circle Edge Paper Punch Starter Kit. It was a crafter’s solution to making custom paper doilies. I had seen it advertised in a crafts magazine once, but never expected to get one.

Because my mom had given me the puncher, she didn’t have one for herself. With her crafty ways, she learned of a way to be able to make these doilies without the special circle edge puncher. I told my Mom to share the instructions so all you readers can make your own as well. Read on to learn how!

❤ ❤ ❤

Here’s what you’ll need:
Paper, Puncher, Circle Protractor, Scissors, Pencil, Scissors, Ruler

Prepare a punch sample. Measure the size of the punched area (giving allowance to the next
degree)

Using an 8” (or desired size) 360 circle protractor, mark the degrees you will be using as well as
the center of the circle. For example, if you use a Floral Vine Punch around the page – punched area covers 42 degrees – use 45 degrees. Divide 360 by 45 to come up with the number of triangles (in this case is 8)

Mark the “8 degrees” you will be using and the center of the paper. In our example: 45, 90, 135, 180, 225, 270, 315 and 360.

Using a straight ruler, connect opposite degrees passing the center of the paper.

In our example: connect 45 with 225, 90 with 270, 135 with 315, 360 with 180. Cut your circle.

Mark the center of your puncher. Set this center mark with the line of your triangle and punch away. Continue punching around until you have completed the circle.

Note: Some “punch around the page” punchers will cause a solid area – do not worry. This can be an added design to your doily.

Also, sometimes the size of the punch area cannot create an equal number of triangles. For example, If you use the Monarch Butterfly Trim, the punch area is 50 degrees. Dividing 360 by 50 will give you 7 triangles with an approximate measurement of 51 – 1/5 degrees per triangle. Just keep trying on regular bond paper prior to using nicer paper.