Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Vintage Garland Tutorial And Giveaway

Turn your fabric scraps into beautiful garland
This garland was born from a scrappy scarf,  that a friend gave me. I've made them in all kinds of colors, but this color combination is my favorite. My second favorite is a mixture of bright colored fabric and ribbon. Each garland is 6 feet long, but you can easily tie them end to end, for any length you need. I had so much fun with my last giveaway, that I wanted to have another.  I would love to give away 2 six foot garlands to one lucky winner. To get your name in the drawing. Leave a comment, join as a new follower,  post about the project, or put it on your sidebar. Leave a comment for each one, so I can add you multiple times. I will draw a name on the 22nd of December. Luckily this garland looks nice year around, but I'll get it in the mail asap. I had to stop this giveaway a few days early, but checkout my 100 follower giveaway going on Dec 20-Jan 10th.
Congrats to Meghan at LOVEPETUNIA, you are the winner!
Twenty five finished garlands, part of a Christmas order for a local store. Click on pictures for larger view.

Garland displayed in my entryway at recent holiday show.

Garland on white Christmas tree.

The first step in making the garland, is cutting squares, lots and lots of squares. I cut 1 1/2 inch to 2 inch, they don't have to perfectly square. Lots of mine are more rectangle than square. The bigger they are however, the faster the construction of the garland is. I use burlap, muslin, fabric from sample books, old tea towels, wool, lace, any neutral colored fabric, even old clothes.


Cut a 6 foot piece if seam binding. Lay your first fabric square face down. Sandwich the seam binding between the first square and the next one that is face up. Mix up your squares, layer smaller ones on larger.Anything goes with this project.

Continue to sew your squares to your seam binding. I like to use sheet music, book pages, ribbon, wool, anything that adds texture and interest.

Layer shear ribbon here and there.

When you get to the end of your seam binding, you are finished with the first step of your garland.

Don't worry if you have spaces between some of your squares. You will be tying various ribbons and fabric between them that will hide the seam binding gap.

Cut 4-5 inch strips of fabric, lace, ribbon, yarn, seam binding or anything you think fits into the color theme.

I usually tie in between every three squares.

Ready for hanging

60 comments:

  1. Oh my what an amazing amount of creativity you have been up to!
    Your garlands are enchantingly beautiful!
    Thank you for sharing all the fun.

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  2. Oh, these are so intricate! I love the textures and the muted colours. Just wonderful! I've hopped on over here to say thank you for your kind offer of the rabbit ornament. I don't know what to say! That's so sweet and generous of you! Good luck to everyone with the giveaway!

    Oh, and, the word verification for this post was the the word 'blesses'. Don't you love it when things like that happen?

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  3. How cool are these???? You are right! Those paper starts would be perfect with it!! I have a friend who has a kitty that won't stay out of her tree. This garland would be perfect for her!!!
    Thanks for inviting me over! Merry Christmas!!!
    xo,
    Karen

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  4. Oh WOW, that garland is quite the undertaking.
    Very cool. I'll post it on my sidebar.
    Hope your enjoying the Holidays!
    hugs Lynn

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  5. Awesome garland!! It looks so good in your entryway!!
    Thanks for inviting me over! Count me in!

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  6. This is so beautiful....pictures don't even do it justice. I did a blog post on it. I hope it brings a few more followers. Thanks for a great day on Saturday. It was a blast!

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  7. I am so soooo going to try this. I am in wow and I think it is really coool!!!

    I want to thank you for your beautiful visit to my place along with taking the time to dance on my stage :)

    I am your newest follower and would love to be included in on this giveAway! It would sooooo look great in my Burlap home :) very unique :)

    I will see you soon.
    Blessings to you and yours.
    Dore

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  8. I hit your follower button :)

    I don't want to miss out on your peaceful Garland.
    xx
    Dore

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  9. This is great! Thanks for sharing! Now I know what to do with all of my scrap fabric! Have a great holiday!
    Best, Sherri
    sherrisfunkyjunk.blogspot.com

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  10. What a great looking garland! Thanks so much for the invite over to your blog, and for the wonderful tutorial! I just signed up as a follower so I don't miss anymore of your creative goodness. Have a great day.

    Hugs,
    Robin

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  11. I'd love to be the lucky winner of your beautiful garland.

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  12. Hi, thanks for sharing this marvelous how-to. Lovely. And thanks for stopping by and letting me know about our parallel lives. So funny. Happy Holidays!

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  13. well.isn't this just a marvelous,marvelous ,creative idea!!!! i just love it!! thanks so much for sharing how to make this garland...but thanks even more for the chance to win one!!! i am a new follower..came via Rhissanna's blog!

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  14. I posted this on my blog!!..i also shared it on facebook and tweeted because i think its so cute..and such a great idea!!
    thanks for a second chance to win!

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  15. I love your blog and your artwork so much!!! Thanks for coming by ours.
    Mama Winger with Things with Wings
    Connie Berends

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  16. This is really a super cute and inventive idea! Thanks for sharing and thank you for following my blog and signing up to win my hand painted box. Good luck on the giveaway!

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  17. Thank you for showing us how to make this, I would love to win I am your newest follower, good luck in my giveaway!

    Carol

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  18. What a great idea...love it!
    Thanks for inviting me over for a chance to win!

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  19. Lovely tutorial! I love it! And thank you for visiting my blog!

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  20. Dear Santa, Please bring me one of these CRAZY WONDERFUL FABULOUS garlands!! I love them and I promise to be better next year!!

    Kim/from IMGIRL

    These are totally me! If I am not lucky enough to win one, I am going to find the time to make one to use in my studio... one day! :)

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  21. Following and I will add to my side bar as well.
    I hope to be able to blog about it as soon as I get my ELF duties completed before Christmas!

    Have a Holly Jolly Christmas!
    Kim

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  22. Hi Cindy, Thanks for visiting me at my blog, Boogieboard Cottage! I enjoy meeting other Christians who also love the beach too. I'm in love with your garland and it would be a great idea to make since I have so many small scraps left over from other projects. Very Frugal and it could be used all year and for any holiday, really. Why don't you link up your give-away this Monday on my Masterpiece Monday linky party? That way, more people can check out your cool blog and become a follower like me! God bless, Mary :O)

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  23. I would love to win this garland..it's incredible and even more so, since I can't sew!!!

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  24. I am now your newest follower...thanks for the opportunity to win!

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  25. That is so cute, thanks for inviting me over!

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  26. These are darling! Thanks for opportunity to win my own!

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  27. These are really beautiful...I can tell you put lots of love into each! How special is each one! And yes, it would look lovely on my tree! Thanks, Christie

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  28. thanks for the chance to win a garland...they are beautiful!

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  29. Hello Cindy love the Garland.
    Great giveaway please add my name
    I am now a new follower, I am also having a giveaway so come back to my blog and signup
    Brenda

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  30. Cindy, this is just the most fantastic Garland...oh boy, please throw my name into the hat! Gosh, I'll have my fingers and jingle bells crossed!

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  31. I love your garlands! Sooo creative! Thanks for sharing the tutorial.

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  32. I adore the garland! And I'm a new follower! ;)

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  33. Hi Cindy, I love your garland! Thanks for the great tutorial. Linda

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  34. Hi: Love the garland. I am a follower. Thanks for inviting me to join. I would be proud to own that garland. Have a great week. Blessings, Martha

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  35. Wow what a garland! Looks like a lot of work goes into these, and I would be honored to win one.

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  36. I absolutely love your burlap garland! Thanks for the tutorial and the opportunity to win one!
    Blessings,
    Janet

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  37. I am now your newest follower!

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  38. Very nice! What a fun project! Thanks so much for sharing your technique! Thanks for coming by Motley Junket earlier today....it is very nice to connect with you!!

    Polly

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  39. Oh u are so right! I love it so much! great work and thanks for visiting me:)
    Lina

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  40. Thanks so much for popping by and sharing this lovely tute! LOVE it.... and would be so happy to win one for myveryownself... :-) If not, I'll have another project in the hopper. How will I ever finish all of them?

    Merry Christmas!

    Spencer

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  41. love this idea~~~and I have LOTS of scraps, actually that would be an understatement...I have TONS and this would be a perfect idea for them, except mine would be pink. Thanks for sharing:)

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  42. These are great! I just made a homemade garland from twine and scrap fabric for the Christmas tree. I like yours better though! Happy Pink and have a terrific week!

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  43. So pretty and festive! Love the garland...put my name in the hat, please! Happy week!...hugs...Debbie

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  44. They are just gorgeous! What a great way to use the scraps!

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  45. Totally amazing!!!! Merry Christmas!!!
    XO
    Cindy

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  46. I'm your newest follower--how exciting!!! I was 101!

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  47. I love this, what a lovely idea!

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  48. I look forward to keeping up with artsy endeavors as I am your newest follower.

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  49. Hi, I just found your blog. I love, love this garlnd. What a fun give away. I would love to be included in your drawing. Now following you and anxious to get to know you better.

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  50. I am saving this tutorial just in case I am not the lucky winner. Would love to make one. Thanks for sharing!

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  51. I know that it's a bit late, having just found you. I am posting about your give away on my sidebar.

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  52. Wow! Talk about inspirational ~ You've got it going, my dear. Your garlands would be absolutely perfect in my new/old house - a lovely 1896 neglect beauty that we're bringing back to life!

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  53. Thanks for the chance to win and a tutorial. Can't ask for a better Christmas gift. I would love to win.
    tish cattish@verizon.net

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  54. Just a not to let you know that I blogged about your site and giveaway on my blog: MissBirdiesBeads.blogspot.com

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