It's Snowing Paper Straws!

Happy December 5^th everyone!  Elizabeth here with today’s “Holiday Hooplah” submission.  

It’s a quick craft, so don’t let a twitchy mouse finger inadvertently scroll you right to the end  ... take some time to savor the simplicity and to be truly converted to the idea of “I can get this done in five minutes”.

What’s the history behind this craft you ask?  You didn’t ask?  Well, humor me ... I haven’t had much sleep the past few days and it’s getting harder to distinguish which voices are real and which are in my head. Anywho, the story begins like this ... one day I was passing one of the numerous holiday crafting displays at my local arts and crafts store when all of a sudden, four packages of bright red striped paper straws literally dove into my basket.  Seriously.  Like Greg- Louganis-platform-score-a-perfect-10 dove into my basket. Wow! Obviously they were meant to be with me ... and who am I to fight kismet?  Not me. I’m a lover, not a fighter.

So I took them home.

Where they sat. And sat. And sat some more. Impatiently waiting for a purpose.

Then one day it came to me!  Well ... not really ... I mean the idea showed up, but it wasn’t one of those instant flashes of genius.  It was more of a “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie” process ... which went something like this:  exterior house trim needs painting ... trip to the paint store  ...  free paint stirrers with purchase ... Pinterest projects using paint stirrers? ... awesome faux-pallet wall art ... possible Christmas décor DIY? ... Christmas is during the winter ... I hope it snows this winter ... snowflakes are so pretty ... snowflake paint stirrer project on Pinterest! ...  not enough stirrers but plenty of paper straws ... hmmm ...

And so, the Paper Straw Snowflake was born.

Here’s how to create your own Paper Straw Snowflake.

Step 1: Gather supplies.

Step 2: Gather tools.

Step 3: Measure and mark the center of six straws (I used straws of differing patterns and sizes for variation).

Step 4: Squish straw centers at pencil mark using needle nose pliers (if you don’t have pliers, just use your fingers). This squished area creates a flat spot in the straw making the snowflake less bulky at the center and easier to glue together.

  

Step 5: Glue pairs or straws together at flat centers to form crosses.

 

Step 6: Layer and glue the straw pairs together to form snowflake.

Step 7: Thread button with embroidery floss and glue to snowflake’s center. 

 

Step 8: Create a hanger using the paper piercer, large-eyed needle and baker’s twine.

 

 

Viola!  See, easy peasy ... just like I said.

I’m going to make a bunch more and use them to embellish plain brown gift bags (the receiver can then use the snowflake for another purpose ... it's a two-fer).  You could do the same ... or ... hang them on the front of your kitchen cabinets ... string them on ribbon for a banner effect ... dangle them from suction cup hooks stuck to windows ... or even hang them from your Christmas tree (hmmm, imagine that).  The possibilities are numerous.

 

Now ... if anyone has an idea of what to do with plastic Sonic straws, I’d love to hear it ... given my unquenchable Diet Coke with vanilla addiction, I’ve amassed quite the stockpile of those and it would be nice to find a re-purposeful use for them.

 New ones. Not used ones.

Just in case you were wondering.  : )

And even if you don’t have an idea ... leave a comment below ... you’ll be entered to win a box stuffed with goodies ... I think ... if not, I guess I’ll be stuffing and mailing a box full of goodies ... complete with a year supply of Sonic straws.  Lol.