table, and walls.
Candle Luminaries
by Kristen Magee
These pretty paper luminaries are a very easy and inexpensive way to add a little pizzazz to your table for a special occasion or just because. Make a few to complement other decorative accessories, or make many and group them together to create a glowing tablescape.
SUPPLIES AND TOOLS
Small glass or cylinder vase
Copy paper white
Pencil
Measuring tape
Ruler
Scissors
Decorative edge scissors (scalloped and clouds) and/or pinking shears
Hole punches a variety of sizes
Tape runner or double-sided tape
Tealight candle or battery operated tealight
Paper trimmer optional
Kristen Magee
A freelance designer who loves to craft and cook in her spare time, Kristen shares her love of paper as the editor of Paper Crave papercrave.com and documents her craft and kitchen exploits at Domestifluff domestifluff.com
Why Paper?
I love working with paper because it’s such a versatile and accessible medium. There’s nothing more relaxing to me after a long day in front of the computer than sitting down with a few sheets of paper to fold, score, and cut to my heart’s content.
HOW TO MAKE THE CANDLE LUMINARIES
STEP 1 Measure the circumference and height of the container with a measuring tape. Add approximately ½ inch (13 mm) to the circumference so there will be enough paper to overlap when it is wrapped around the container.
STEP 2 Use a pencil to mark the length and width on a piece of copy paper. Draw corresponding lines with the aid of a ruler. Use scissors or a paper trimmer to cut the paper.
STEP 3 Cut along one edge of the paper with decorative edge scissors or pinking shears. Be sure to stay as close to the edge as possible, using it as a cutting guide.
STEP 4 Pierce a hole with a small hole punch in the center of each scallop or pinked V. It may be helpful to dot the centers with a pencil before using the punch. This allows for more precise placement.
STEP 5 Use a larger punch to make a row of evenly spaced holes along the bottom edge of the paper.
STEP 6 Apply a strip of double-sided tape to one end of the paper. Wrap the paper snugly around the container, overlapping the ends. Try different papers—vellum, parchment, or tissue—for a variety of looks.
Phone Book Letter Holder
by Allison Patrick
At least once a year a stack of phone books arrives in my building lobby where they languish for a few weeks until someone bundles them up for the recycling pile. In this Internet age you might not need old fashioned phone books for looking up information, but they can be put to good use and help with organization at the same time, as this pretty mail sorter demonstrates. It’s the perfect accessory for a front hallway or desk. Not only is it eco-friendly to use an otherwise discarded material, but the project cost is low because the phone book is free. The petal design looks elegant even when not in use, and I love the bright pop of colorful ribbons that can be chosen to match the color scheme of any room. This project is not only fun and recycles wasted paper but is also functional and decorative. The finished letter holder measures 7 x 4 inches (18 x 10 cm). Because the phone book is divided in half and then cut into strip sections, quite a few letter holders can be made from just one phone book!
Allison Patrick
A recent graduate with a Master of Architecture degree from Columbia University, Allison Patrick began designing eco-friendly housewares and lights in 2010. Selling both in person and via Etsy shops, Zipper 8 Design and Zipper 8 Lighting, allows her to fund all those crazy and creative projects she wants to try, while following a more eclectic path professionally. Her recent work experience includes an internship in the exhibition design department at The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and teaching lower school science in New York City. Looking for a place to showcase the more random craft projects she undertakes, Allison started her blog, The 3 Rs: Reduce, Reuse, Redecorate. She features projects for the home that are based on unusual and eco-friendly materials, often bringing new life to otherwise overlooked items. Her work has been featured on numerous blogs and in magazines, as well as on the cover of Illuminate, Hannah Nunn's 2012 contemporary craft lighting book.
Website: zipper81ighting.com
Blog: the3rsblog.wordpress.com
Why Paper?
Paper is one of my favorite crafting materials. Whether bought new or reused from another source, paper is inexpensive and accessible. Even if I buy fine quality paper for an intended project, I can first practice on a much less expensive kind. Paper is also more versatile than almost any material. It can be a thin, flat sheet or with just a few creases, transformed into a complex, three-dimensional shape. Layer it to create texture or wrap it around something like a skin. And everyone has access to paper no matter where they are—grab a newspaper off the street or a sheet from a printer. The most amazing creations can be made with just a bit of imagination, allowing the mind of the artist to shine through.”
SUPPLIES AND TOOLS
Phone book Choose one with a fairly small width and length because a larger phone book may cause the loops to be floppy. The one used here measured 6.75 x 8.5 inches (17 x 22 cm) and was 1.75 inches (5 cm) thick.
Colorful ribbon 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) wide by approximately 60 inches (152 cm) long
Corrugated
