~How to make a paper wig~

While browsing Martha Stewart’s website this morning I came across this tutorial.  This is such a great alternative to buying an expensive wig that you may only wear once or twice for Halloween, plus it is eco-friendly!  

If you don’t like the “newspaper print” look you could always spray paint or spray glitter the paper.  Here are the directions to make this unique costume accessory:

Tools and Materials
Plastic grocery bag
Scissors
Round object to use as a head form (we used a cabbage)
Masking tape
Newspaper, thin colored paper, or curling ribbon for "hair"
Double-sided tape
Paper Wigs How-To

1. Cut down a plastic grocery bag to create a single sheet of plastic. Place plastic sheet over cabbage.

2. Apply strips of masking tape to plastic, overlapping each slightly, until you have formed the shape of a skull cap. Add two to three more layers of masking tape to create a firm wig base.

3. Remove cap from cabbage, and trim excess plastic around cap. To add extra support, place a few strips of masking tape around the edge and inside the skull cap.

4. Place cap back on the cabbage and begin styling the wig. Cut colored paper or newspaper to 1/2-inch strips, or cut lengths of curling ribbon to create hair. Curl "hair" by carefully dragging across the closed blade of a pair of scissors.

5. Add 4- to 6-inch strips of double-sided tape to the bottom rim of the cap, and begin adding hair. Continue adding more tape and "hair" strips until you reach the crown of the cap and the wig is full.

*Tutorial courtesy of MarthaStewart.com – for the original tutorial click HERE*

~How To Make Festive Drink Umbrellas~

I came across these origami drink umbrellas on Martha Stewart’s website.  These umbrellas are the perfect addition for your next BBQ and would be easy and fun for kids and adults to create.  All you need are a few simple materials:

* Origami paper (or any type of paper will work)

* Glue stick or double sided tape

* Scissors

* Wooden skewer

Here are the directions from MarthaStewart.com:

A soup can makes a handy template for origami-paper umbrella tops. Cut paper with pinking shears or scallop scissors for a decorative edge. From each circle, remove a pie-slice shape measuring about 1/8 of the circumference. Fashion into a cone, slightly overlapping straight ends; use a glue stick or double-sided tape to secure. Dab white craft glue inside nose of cone, and pierce tip with a wooden skewer (snip skewer for a custom fit); allow to dry.

Read more at Marthastewart.com: Festive Drink Umbrellas: Umbrella How-To - Martha Stewart Crafts

Silver Laurel Paper Garland Cake Decoration How-To

Looking for a unique way to decorate a cake?  Check out this paper garland how-to from Martha Stewart.  The photo is off a wedding cake but you can do this for any cake you make.

1. Fold a strip of metallic paper in half, then use craft scissors to cut out 3/4-inch-long half ovals from the crease to create the leaves.

2. Glue them, fold side up, to 4-inch-long pieces of metallic ribbon, leaving a 1 1/2-inch-long "stem."

3. Wrap a short length of ribbon around the end of the bottom leaf, and secure with a dot of glue.

4. Pin to cake.

Read more at Marthastewartweddings.com: Silver Laurel Garland Cake Decoration How-To

How to Make Paper Pinwheels

Colorful pinwheels, made out of coordinating sheets of origami or lightweight paper, stand tall against a blue summer sky, poised to whirl at the slightest suggestion of wind.

Cut a thin dowel or skewer to desired length (clip pointed end from skewer); paint and let dry. Choose two coordinating sheets of origami or lightweight paper. Cut a square from each the size you'd like your pinwheel to be (ours range from 3 to 6 inches). Use spray mount to glue squares together. Fold in half, diagonally, and in half again, then unfold. Cut along each crease two-thirds of way to square's center, dividing each corner into two points. Bring every other point to center so points overlap. Hold in place, poke a pushpin through center, and, keeping points in place, remove pushpin. Insert a map pin into hole formed (the pushpin hole is slightly larger than circumference of the map pin, enabling the pinwheel to spin). Thread a small bead onto pin behind the wheel, and poke pin into dowel 1/2 inch from top. To prevent wood from splitting, soak the dowel tip in water before inserting map pin.

Courtesy of Martha Stewart

Paper Pie Box–DIY

Courtesy of Martha Stewart:

With a printable template, card stock, and a few simple steps, you can create your own paper pie boxes.

Tools and Materials:

• Pie Box template
• Scoring board with bone folder
• 12-by-12-inch craft stock
• 12-by-12-inch cutting mat
• 14-by-3-inch ruler
• Craft knife or scissors
• Double-sided tape 
• Optional: Edge or Deep Edge punch

1. For bottom piece, print template at 100 percent. Lay template anywhere on a 12-by-12-inch piece of craft stock; tape in place to secure. 

2. Place template and craft stock between the scoring board and ruler. Square the top of the ruler with the top guide on the scoring board, making sure the long edge of the ruler is lined up next to a groove. Shift the template until one of the dotted lines matches up to the side of the ruler. Use the bone folder to score paper along the dotted line. Repeat for all dotted lines. 

3. Using a craft ruler and a craft knife or scissors, cut along the solid line.

4. Fold along scored lines. 

5. Secure tabs with double-sided tape. For lid, print out template and enlarge to 120 percent using a photocopier. Repeat steps 1, 2, and 3. After step 3, trim 1/2 inch from the bottom edge of all three side flaps. Repeat steps 4 and 5.

Tip: After the template has been cut and before the tabs are secured, use one of our edge punches or deep edge punches to add a decorative border. 

Read more at Marthastewart.com: Paper Pie Box - Martha Stewart Crafts