Anxious for more graceful flakes of snow? Why not make them yourself?! This simple, enjoyable, and lovely craft can not only be a fun and bonding family activity, but it can also provide gorgeous seasonally appropriate decorations and embellishments! Inspired by the activity: Paper Punch Heart Garland from the wonderful blog: Oh Crafts, which is chock full of fun projects and ideas, I loved the idea of using recycled paint samples to create punch garland, and I thought perhaps I could add my own twist to it. I started with recycled paint samples, glue, and two snowflake punches (one larger Martha Stewart Himalayan Snowflake and one smaller Martha Stewart Alpine Snowflake). Upon further brainstorming, I thought glitter would add an extra special touch of winter magic, so I added some Deco Art Glamour Dust Crystal to the mix.
Next, I had an inspired idea! Just as no two snowflakes are alike, no two craft snowflakes need be identical either! They could be made from anything! Each with its own unique flair! With that in mind, I pulled out this past season’s holiday cards, catalog covers, even used check register fronts… truly a smorgasbord of recycling! My only criterion was the thickness of the medium as I preferred bend-resistant snowflakes. Then I set to work!
After punching, I laid out my creations in Martha Stewart’s fantastic glittering trays! These are perfect for applying and then pouring out the glitter through the beautifully thought-out spout allowing the glitter to be reused again and again! In addition, the trays themselves, made from durable and yet environmentally conscious cardboard, are highly recyclable. I store and reuse them all the time! (They even come with a brush that I find very useful for removing the ultra fine glitter product I chose.)
Even though my primary goal was to make snowflakes, I was overcome with the beauty left behind by the punched shapes!
It occurred to me that these could create beautiful bookmarks… especially for the recycled journals that I gave my guests last year. In addition, they could be used for place card overlays. The possibilities abound! Let your imagination be your guide!
The snowflakes were certainly lovely as is, but since I had decided to make them shimmer, My next task was applying an adhesive. I chose Martha Stewart’s All-Purpose Gel Adhesive though any glue as long as it dries clear would work well. To apply it, I recycled a paper cup. By cutting about an inch from the base, I created a little craft dish. The upper portion could be put to use as well! By cutting wide strips, I now had applicators for spreading!
Next came the glitter. After applying, I brushed the extra back into a paper cup for reuse.
I strung the completed flakes using a needle and white thread. I did not strive for an even distribution, as the naturalistic accumulation of snow does not follow such a pattern. I even seized the opportunity that several of the flakes had unintentionally adhered to one another creating clusters. Rather than try to separate them, I viewed these as spontaneous gifts and incorporated them together!
I created manageable lengths of garland but left extra thread at each end, so if I wanted longer strands, I could tie them together. And there you have it!
What a fun way to bring the magic of the season indoors and share it with loved ones!
Happy Winter!! More to come soon :)
