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December 16, 2012

Aluminum Wire Crafts for the Holidays


Aluminum Wire Crafts, Wire vases, ornament hangers, ornament hooks, DIY, Holiday Crafts

Are you on the market for last minute gift ideas or some fun holiday craft projects?  Aluminum craft wire is  the answer. We love the variety of colors, flexibility, and ease of use of aluminum craft wire. There are endless ways to use it. Here are three great projects with easy step by step tutorials!

Project Idea No. 1

 Beaded Pearl Letter
Mardi Gras Beads, Aluminum Wire, How- to, Bead Crafts, Initials, Bead Letters, Christmas Tree
 Personalized Christmas ornament, accent for gift wrap or lettering on a wall, this beaded pearl letter can be used in many different ways.
Mardi Gras Beads, Aluminum Wire, How- to, Bead Crafts, Initials, Bead Letters

SUPPLIES

To purchase these products from www.mardigrasoutlet.com, click on the individual product link below or click HERE for a complete supply list.
  1. 24 Gauge Paddle Floral Wire: Gold
  2. Pearl Mardi Gras Beads, 10mm 33" Pearl White

*These pearl letters can be  created in any color combination. There are lots of different options for aluminum craft wire (click HERE), as well as additional mardi gras bead colors (click HERE.)

Cost/Time
The cost of two the two basic wires is $6.50.  If you aren't upcycling your old Mardi Gras Beads, that brings the total cost to just over $10 with materials left over.  This does not include accents such as vases or floral sprays.  The aluminum wire crafts all took under 20 minutes to make.

Mardi Gras Beads, Aluminum Wire, How- to, Bead Crafts, Initials, Bead Letters
Step 1
Choose a font you would like to use as a basic template (curvy fonts look better).  Print out your desired letter in a large size (about 6" tall). We used "Twelve Weeks Pregnant" font, available for download HERE.  Using your printed letter as a template,  mold the craft wire to the shape of the letter.


Mardi Gras Beads, Aluminum Wire, How- to, Bead Crafts, Initials, Bead Letters
Step 2
When you have finished outlining the letter, cut the aluminum craft wire.  It is soft enough to be easily trimmed with scissors, but you may want to use a pair of wire cutters.  


Mardi Gras Beads, Aluminum Wire, How- to, Bead Crafts, Initials, Bead Letters
Step 3
Attaching the pearl beads. Cut the pearl bead necklace between two beads, to create a long strand. Using the smaller gauge paddle wire twist the wire between the first two beads.

Mardi Gras Beads, Aluminum Wire, How- to, Bead Crafts, Initials, Bead Letters
Step 4
Starting at one end of your wire letter, attach the pearl bead to the aluminum wire form you created.   Try to keep the pearl placement on the top of the wire, but don't worry too much about it because both the wire letter shape and pearl placement can be adjusted once you are finished.

Mardi Gras Beads, Aluminum Wire, How- to, Bead Crafts, Initials, Bead Letters
Step 5
Move around the letter winding the paddle wire around the bead strand and the aluminum wire, holding it tightly.  If you come to the end of an arm or the top of a cap as we did here on the "W", end the chain of beads by twisting it tightly on the back and trimming the wire.  Begin again the same way you started the letter- by attaching the floral wire to the bead and then the bead to the end of the aluminum wire form.

Mardi Gras Beads, Aluminum Wire, How- to, Bead Crafts, Initials, Bead Letters
At the end cut the remaining wire and bead strand  On the right, notice we doubled the wire twist to ensure that the beads won't slide or fall off the end.

Mardi Gras Beads, Aluminum Wire, How- to, Bead Crafts, Initials, Bead Letters

 Our finished pearl letter


Project Idea No. 2:
Curvy Wire Ornament Hanger
Ornament Hook, Aluminum Wire, How- to, Tutorial, Christmas

Ornament Hook, Aluminum Wire, How- to, Tutorial, Christmas

Curvy Wire Ornament Hanger
This project is super easy and you can get as elaborate as you want with your twirls of wire or keep it simple.  Cut a small piece of pliable craft wire. Create small curl at the base and then at the top. Add ornament onto the bottom curl. A great idea for heavy or delicate ornaments that you would like to hang with something a little more sturdy than a traditional ornament hook.


Project Idea No. 3:
Wire Vase Accents
Aluminum Wire Craft, Wire Vases, DIY Decor, Holiday Craft, Glass Vase


This project idea is fast, easy, and quickly gives plain glass vases a little added texture and color.  Simply wrap the wire around clear glass vases. You can match the wire color to your flowers or decor, even using multiple colors of wire on each vase.

Aluminum Wire Crafts, How- to, Bead Crafts, Clear Vase Craft, Floral Craft Ideas



Mardi Gras Beads, Aluminum Wire, How- to, Bead Crafts, Initials, Bead Letters, Upcycle
 Mardi Gras Bead Upcycle!  Fill wire accented vases with beads in one color or add them in layers.  This is perfect for a mantle, coffee table, or shelf that needs a little holiday color.  Silk flowers can be inserted into the vase of beads as well.



Mardi Gras Beads, Aluminum Wire, How- to, Bead Crafts, Initials, Bead Letters, Holiday Crafts


December 9, 2012

DIY Holiday Burlap Tree created with a Tomato Cage

Tutorial for a burlap holiday tree decoration created with a tomato cage

Simple supplies combine to create a precious holiday decoration- a lime green Burlap Christmas Tree! A standard wire tomato cage, craft wire and 9" wide burlap ribbon are all you need to make this pretty ruffled Christmas tree. Spurred by the popularity of our previous post on using a tomato cage and deco mesh ribbon to make a Christmas tree decoration (click here to see it), we created another version with a great new natural burlap texture in a lime green color.  Festive, fun and fresh!  Keep reading to see how simple it is to make your own burlap Christmas Tree for the holidays.

Supplies used to make a ruffled burlap Christmas tree decoration


SUPPLIES

To purchase these products from www.mardigrasoutlet.com, click on the individual product link below or click HERE for a complete supply list.
Scissors and/or Wire Cutters
Wire tomato cage 

Optional Accents:
Candy Striped Christmas Balls Spray
 

Cost/Time

Our 4' tree took approximately half a roll of 9" burlap ribbon. The total cost of the basic supplies is approximately $14 with materials left over. This does not include accents such as the ribbon and floral sprays or the cost of the tomato cage.  This burlap Christmas Tree takes about 20 minutes to make.


Cut craft wire into short pieces

Step 1

Cut short lengths of the aluminum craft wire, approximately 6 inches long.

Weave craft wire in and out of the top of the burlap ribbon

Step 2

Weave the aluminum wire in and out of the ribbon about 1inch apart just below the top edge of the burlap. This is similar to how you gather or pleat fabric with thread.

Gather ribbon into the wire tie and attach to the form

Step 3

Push to fabric together into the center of the piece of wire. Tightly twist the wire ends together, this will cause the burlap to bunch, creating a pleated effect. We start with the tomato cage wrapped in white lights. To see our previous tutorial for how to wrap the lights on the cage, click HERE. With the light wrapped tomato cage set upside down, begin to layer on the burlap ribbon. Start about 9" up on the cage so the burlap ribbon brushes the ground. Use the wire tie to attach the ribbon onto the form around first ring.  

Continue this process around the tomato cage

Step 4

Move down the roll of ribbon about 6-8 inches and repeat Step 1. Weave in and out another piece of craft wire that will become a tie for the ribbon. Continue around the first level of the cage, attaching the gathered ribbon. 

At the end of the first layer, trim burlap ribbon.

Step 5

Once you have reached the beginning of your first tier, allow for a few inches of overlap and trim the burlap. Add this cut edge back into your first tie for finished look

Continue process on the next layer- about 8" up the wire form.

Step 6

Begin the second tier about 8" up on the tomato cage, just enough length to hide the top wires of the previous layer. Repeat steps 1-5 for this layer.
 
Note: With the size tomato cage we used this layer fell at next ring. This may or may not be the case for you, depending on the size of the tomato cage you use. Tomato cages vary widely with height and width.


Keep ruffling burlap ribbon and filling in the tomato cage form.

Step 7

Continue moving upwards on the tomato cage filling in layers. 

Top of the tomato cage shows after the last layer of burlap.
Once you've reached the top of the tomato cage you'll need to add a final layer of burlap to cover the remaining wire legs of the tomato cage.
Wrap the remaining top with gathered burlap to finish it off.

Step 8

Cut a piece of the burlap ribbon about 12 inches wide.  Bunching from each side, gather the burlap in your hands. Hold it at the center, and wrap it around the top of the tree.  It should look gathered to match the other layers of burlap. Tie this piece onto the top of the form as shown with the aluminum craft wire or matching rope.

Our finished ruffled burlap Christmas Tree
The finished tree! 

Add a cute red and white striped bow for a whimsical color pop!
Precious burlap tree with a basic red and white striped ribbon bow added to the top.

Sparkly candy striped balls and a striped bow on our ruffled burlap Christmas tree.

 Red and white peppermint glitter balls from a Christmas floral spray make the burlap tree even more fun and festive.

Our ruffled burlap Christmas tree lit up with white twinkle lights.

With or without lights, this Burlap Christmas Tree is adorable!  


Happy Holidays!

Holiday Deco Mesh Facebook Photo Contest

Poly Deco Mesh, Craft, Holiday, Photo Contest, Christmas, Decorations
What would you do with $300 worth of free craft supplies?
Enter our facebook holiday deco mesh photo contest for a chance to find out.

We're giving away FREE product! Are you decorating for the holidays with Deco Mesh? If so, share your wonderful wreaths, sensational swags,  gorgeous garland, and creative Christmas tree Deco Mesh creations on our Facebook page! Post a photo of your Holiday Deco Mesh decor on the Mardi Gras Outlet Facebook page.  The top three photos with the most "likes" win a Mardi Gras Outlet store credit for $300, $200, and $100, respectively. 

Please post only one photo per person. Entries must be in by December 14th. Voting tabulated at noon on Saturday, December 15th.  Click HERE for more details and to "like" your favorite deco mesh holiday photos on our facebook page.

Good Luck and Happy Holiday crafting!