Rope Wrapped Decorative Letter Tutorial

Wrapping decorative letters with jute rope gives them a natural texture that you just can't achieve with yarn or paint.  These rope wrapped decorative letters can be used to personalize wreaths, walls or bookcases. The jute rope product we use in this tutorial is coated so it is less likely to fray and can withstand use on an outdoor wreath. This is the second post in our series of creative ways to accent plain decorative letters. To see more creative ideas, click here. 

Wrapping decorative letters is easy and you can use almost any kind of string, ribbon, or rope.  You can make them solid colors, striped, or hombre. The options are endless. We chose to make our striped to add two punches of color. What will you create?

Supplies

• Decorative Letter "S"
• (Other letters available here)
• Jute Rope: we used Orange and Apple Green
• Hot Glue Glue Gun and Glue Sticks or Liquid Craft Glue
• Scissors

Cost/Time

This decorative letter craft project cost only $7!  It took about 30 minutes to complete.

Step 1- Glue on String

Glue a layer of string around the outside of the letter, this will help hide areas that you may miss when wrapping.

Step 2- Glue and Wrap

Glue your string onto the backside of the letter.  This will keep the front neater and more uniform.  Wrap around the letter, keeping the rope tight, adding some glue every few inches to keep the string or rope secure.

Step 3- Changing Colors

Trim the first color rope from the roll, and glue down the next color.  Wrap the same way you did the first color, gluing every few inches on the backside of the letter.

Step 4- Keep Wrapping

Just keep wrapping!  Keep the rope as taught as possible without moving it from the glue.

The finished Letter "S"!  We really like the texture of the Jute rope and the bright, whimsical stripes!

The rustic quality of jute lends itself to many different decor styles.

Happy Crafting!

Decorating Wooden Letters with Sheet Moss: A Creative Idea

Personalize a wreath with your monogram. Create words to express a special message. Show support for your favorite sports team. Decorative wooden letters can be used for many different projects.  The basic wooden form gives you a blank slate to create lots of different looks. Over the next few posts we will highlight lots of creative ideas for customizing decorative wooden letters and numbers.

In the tutorial featured here, we show you have to easily cover a wooden letter "M"  with fresh green sheet moss for a natural spring look.

SUPPLIES

• Decorative wooden letter- M  (other letters available here)
• 20" Green Sheet Moss on a roll
• Hot Glue Gun and Glue
• Scissors
• Permanent Marker

COST/TIME

The cost of the supplies for a moss letter is under $17. There will be lots of sheet moss product left over for additional projects or more letters (3/4 of the roll of sheet moss).  Covering the decorative letter with sheet moss takes less than 15 minutes.

Step 1- Unroll the Moss

Unroll the moss on a flat surface, wrong side facing up.  It sheds, so using it on a surface covered with newspaper will make cleanup easier. 

       

Step 2- Make an Outline
Flip the letter so that it is face down on the back of the moss, (the back should be facing you, the font of the letter above is similar to "New Standard", there is a diagram available here to tell which side is the front).  Use a permanent marker to make an outline of the letter.

Step 3- Cut out the Outline
Cutting the moss is easily done with scissors because the back of the moss is flat.

Step 4- Gluing

Using a glue gun or spray adhesive, apply glue to the front of the letter, and carefully lay the moss onto the surface.  Press down only when you have the exact placement correct.

The finished Moss Letter in under 15 minutes of craft time!

We love the look of the decorative moss letter "M" on a textured burlap spring wreath. You can find the wreath tutorial in this post.

What would you decorate with this mossy letter?

Paper Fan Crawfish Boil Centerpiece: Tutorial

This easy and inexpensive DIY centerpiece is a great way to add some Cajun flair to your next crawfish boil, crab or lobster bake seafood party! We show you how to make several different centerpiece bases in this easy tutorial filled with decorating tips and ideas. See our previous tutorial (HERE) on making paper fans to create a variety of decorative rosettes for each base.

Materials:

• 1 roll red foil paper
• scissors
• clear tape
• stapler
• 1-2 packs of crawfish print newspaper to make fans as well as to cover your table
• hot glue or skillet glue
• 4-6 balloon sticks-  large (you can cut down to various lengths)
  OR small assorted lengths of wooden dowels, wooden skewer sticks, or similar
• a couple of yards of metallic red deco flex tubing
• 1 package Spanish moss + a tall, clear vase
  OR a dry Floral Foam brick and small weight (bag of sand)  + 1 pack red mylar tissue
• 1 package 5-inch plastic crawfish

All of these materials are available at MardiGrasOutlet.com.  Each centerpiece only costs about $10 each to make, and you can make 5 or 6 centerpieces with the materials listed above. To learn how to create the crawfish and red foil paper fans used in this tutorial, please see our DIY Crawfish Fans post.  You will need materials 1-5 for making the fans.

Step 1: Mounting the Paper Fans

Glue a plastic stick or wooden dowel against the back of each paper fan between the folds by dipping the stick into some skillet glue and placing the stick as close to the center as possible so that it will fully support the weight of the fan.  You could also use a hot glue gun to attach the sticks.

After you have attached sticks to all of your fans, lay them out on a table and arrange them at various heights to determine how you would like the final arrangement to look. You can trim off any excess length from the sticks or just push some fans farther into your centerpiece to maintain variety.

Step 2: Creating a Base

Below we demonstrate two different bases you can choose from for your centerpiece. To create a red crinkle base, cut off a small square of a dry floral foam brick. Cut 1 sheet of Red Mylar Tissue in half, and lay them at an angle to one another with the foam brick on top (see diagram below.) Insert a small bag of sand or other weight beneath the foam brick to protect the arrangement from tipping over easily.
Lift up the mylar tissue sheeting and bunch it over the top of the floral foam. Cut a short piece of metallic red deco flex tubing and tie it around the tissue to secure. This is the centerpiece base.

Make a bow with deco flex tubing (see diagram above). First, form a loop and hold it in one hand. Form a second loop, and keep going back and forth until there are 10 loops total. While still holding the loops in one hand, use the ribbon that holds the tissue sheeting together to secure the bow to the centerpiece base. Pull out and fluff the loops.

Alternative Step 2:

To add variety to your decorating scheme, you can also use a tall, clear glass vase along with some Spanish moss and metallic red deco flex tubing to create a base for your centerpiece. The vase shown is 7" x 4".

Just pack the vase with the Spanish moss and tie a deco flex bow as described above.  You could also insert some plastic crawfish into the vase for added color.

Attach the bow to the vase using another piece of the deco flex tubing, knotting it at the back.  If your centerpiece will be viewed from multiple angles, feel free to create a bow for each side!

 

Step 3: Arranging the Fans

Once you have created the base of your choice, begin placing your fans on sticks down into the base. Vary the height of your fans by pushing them father into the base or by trimming the sticks to different heights.

Continue to arrange to your heart's content! Depending on how you choose to display your centerpiece, you may want to have all of the fans facing one direction, or you may want to consider the arrangement from multiple angles.

 

Step 4: Crawfish Table Covering

You can create a decorative resting mat for your centerpiece using crawfish print newspaper, Spanish moss and 5-inch plastic crawfish.  You may even want to cover your entire table with this decorative crawfish paper to add style while protecting the surface from those succulent mud bugs!

Mardi Gras Table Decorations-3 Simple Napkin Ring Ideas

Let the good times roll at your next seated dinner with a festive Mardi Gras carnival theme. Creating a Mardi Gras tablescape is easy. Start with the traditional Mardi Gras colors of purple, green and gold. Add in inexpensive Mardi Gras beads and masks. Here are a few ideas for easy Mardi Gras inspired napkin rings and table decorations for fun Mardi Gras ambiance. 

Comedy and Tragedy Mask Napkin Ring

Over sized metallic comedy and tragedy mask confetti and feathers transforms into simple Mardi Gras napkin rings.

Supplies:

Comedy/Tragedy Mask confetti
Purple Mylar sheets
Craft feathers

Fold the napkin in half. Roll the napkin into a cylinder. You can roll the cutlery up in the napkin as well. This works very well for a buffet style dinner so guests have less to carry.

The purple mylar comes in large (tissue paper sized) sheets. Cut the purple mylar sheet into small strips and wrap around the napkin. Use glue or tape to secure. Add three craft feathers in the traditional Mardi Gras colors of purple, green and gold.

Lastly glue on each piece of comedy and a tragedy mask confetti. Your fun Mardi Gras mask napkin ring is complete.

Metallic Wire Crown Napkin Ring

Metallic gold craft wire transforms into dainty crown napkin rings.

Click HERE to see our tutorial blog on creating these tiny whimsical wire crowns out of aluminum craft wire. 

Simple green paper plates and green paper napkins rolled up look refined with the regal crown napkin ring.

Mardi Gras Beads Napkin Ring

The simplest way to add Mardi Gras bling to your table and create an easy napkin ring is to use Mardi Gras beads. Shown here with our custom Mardi Gras bead charger. Click here for the charger tutorial.

Paper purple napkins are rolled and wrapped in metallic purple, green and gold Mardi Gras beads for a simple, but festive place setting. The gold mask not only looks nice on the plate, but also is a great party favor.

DECORATING THE TABLE

Repeat the same details (Mardi Gras beads, confetti and mask) along the center of the table.

DIRECTIONS for the Table Decorations

• Cover the table with purple, green or gold table cloth. Here we used a purple faux dupioni tablecloth. 
• Lay a contrasting color runner down the center.
• Place something tall along the center. Pictured are a few Standing Glitter Grass Bundles  for height and drama.
• Scatter the extra large comedy and tragedy confetti, Mardi Gras Beads and feather masks around the table. The beads and masks are great party favors for guests to wear and take home.

Supply list for table decorations (Click on the product name to see the product supply source)

Standing Glitter Grass Bundle: 27"

3" Comedy and Tragedy Confetti

Gold Satin Mardi Gras Fleur de Lis Table Runner

Purple Faux Dupioni Tablecloth

Purple, Green and Gold Mardi Gras Beads

Mardi Gras Feather Masks

Mardi Gras Garland Tutorial: Deco Mesh Work Garland Form

Bigger is better when it comes to Mardi Gras decorations! Create elaborate one-of-a-kind decorative garland with a work garland form and deco mesh. In a few simple steps,you can create a designer Mardi Gras garland of your own.  We used the traditional colors of Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday)  which are purple, green, and gold, representing justice, faith, and power- respectively. This style deco mesh garland can be created in any color,  for any theme. The work garland comes in a large variety of colors and styles (click here for options) and there are hundreds of different styles and patterns of decorative mesh (click here for options).

What is a work garland form? A work garland form is the basic form used to make a decorative garland. The 9 foot long weather resistant wire base has 44 pre attached wire ties that you use to attach deco mesh, ribbon, ornaments and accessories onto the form.  These wire ties come in various finishes.   The standard tinsel ties resembles traditional wired faux garland. Use this version when you want the form color to show in your design. This is the version used in this tutorial. The new thin pencil tinsel ties are slim and easy to hide in the garland.  There is also a twig works wire form that resembles natural twining vine for a more natural look.

Where do you use a  decorative garland?  Decorate a mantle, down a staircase banister, over doorways, across a mirror or on a mailbox.  The work garland forms and deco mesh are both water resistant so they can used indoors or outdoors. No worries about sagging bows, rusted wires or molded ribbon when you use them to decorate outdoors!

Here is the tutorial for creating your own designer decorative Mardi Gras garland.

SUPPLIES:  To purchase these products from www.mardigrasoutlet.com, click on the individual product link below or click HERE to see a complete supply list.

• Work Garland: Metallic Gold
• 21" Poly Mesh Roll: Premium Mardi Gras Stripe
• 2.5" Poly Mesh Ribbon: Metallic Emerald Green
• Metallic Tinsel Roping: Gold

Optional Accessories

• 18" Purple Acanthus Leaf Spray
• Assorted Large Mardi Gras Ball Ornaments

COST/TIME

The cost of the basic garland is around $32.  There will be product left over  (apx 6ft of the 21" wide mesh and 12 ft of ribbon).  This 9 foot garland took under 45 minutes to make.

Fluff out your Work Garland so that all the ties are open.  Next, gather your mesh.  It is important to gather, not bunch, the deco mesh.  Bunching will cause your garland to look less voluminous, and more wrinkled.

 Place the mesh in between the first set of ties.

Twist the ties together to attach the mesh to the garland.  Leave the ties outward so that you can attach more layers to the same ties.

After you have attached the mesh to the first set of ties, gather the mesh, leaving about 9 inches for each poof.  It doesn't have to be exact, but if you pull the mesh out, skipping 1 tie, that's about the length you need to insert into each tinsel tie.  The photo above illustrates length.

Continue making poofs until you have reached the end of the garland.  There are 44 ties total, and you will go through almost an entire roll of mesh.

Trim the deco mesh once you have come the last tie, leaving about 6 inches on the end.

Add ribbon on top of the Deco Mesh by twisting it into the same tinsel ties.  You can make bows, loops, or simply attach the ribbon in with just a twist!

Add another layer for more color and dimension. Insert the gold Tinsel Roping into tinsel ties.  You can leave loops or make curls, any way you apply it, tinsel roping adds a great finishing touch!

The finished garland!  Now you can personalize your own by adding ornaments, floral sprays, mardi gras beads, or masks.  Below we have a few additional options.

Mardi Gras Garland with the purple Acanthus Leaf Spray, (available here, or in purple, green, or gold).

Mardi Gras Garland with Large Ornaments

These ornaments added the perfect sparkly touch!  The oversize Mardi Gras Balls are available here, and we also have a large selection of Mardi Gras ornaments available here.

Mardi Gras Garland with Ribbons

This glittery Harlequin Fleur de Lis Ribbon (available here)  added another layer of texture.  For more ribbon  styles, click here.

A perfect glittery garland for Carnival season! Happy Crafting!