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22 Nov 2013

DIY: Modern Paper Tree Garlands

When I was young my mom made simple Christmas decorations for our house.  She told me that when she grew up in Finland they would always craft their own decorations.  I fondly remember these paper heart garlands/strings that my mom made and hung in the front windows of our house during Christmas.  When I came across these Christmas garlands they reminded me of the decorations my mom made and of one of my favourite Scandinavian patterns.  So I just had to make some too. :)  I really love the graphic look of them.  The black and white feels quite modern too.  

I'm pretty sure I'll tweak this as Christmas approaches and I get more of my decorating done.  One thing I will probably change is the yellow washi tape I hung the garlands with to something grey or white or black.  

I added a star string light to the mantel and my boys love it.  Little Pilot loves to point out Christmas lights whenever he sees them.  He refers to them both as "Cwisma lights" and "Joulu Valoja".  He's picking up more English words lately, but his pronunciation is still better in Finn. :)

I don't think you need much of a tutorial for these garlands.  I made a tree template that I used to cut my trees from black card stock.  I used regular black thread doubled up for the string and simply taped the trees on spacing them by eye.  Little Pilot helped with the taping.  He also had fun pretending to have horns (maybe a reindeer?) and once the trees were up on the wall he said they looked like rocket ship Christmas trees.  I just love him! :)

Here's what our fireplace wall is looking like at the moment.  They'll be more tweaks to come!

56 comments:

  1. That tree garland looks beautiful - perfect over your fireplace too!

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    1. Thanks! I really like how they look so graphic over the fireplace.

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  2. "rocket ship Christmas trees" ---awesome! Love these...so simple but so fun :)

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    1. I just love all the fun things my little guy says these days. He really sees the world in such a fun manner!

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  3. Love this! It reminds me of Fine Little Day. How I want, no NEED, one of their pillows!!

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    1. Me too! :) I am so tempted to order the blankets for my boys.

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  4. That looks so great. I love the high contrast and that you went over the mirror like that. It looks so fabulous :)

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    1. I was contemplating taking the mirror down, but I ended up liking how they looked draped over it.

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  5. I love this! So pretty and different and graphic!

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    1. Thanks Julia! I really like that it is so simple, but has a big impact.

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  6. So simple but so stylish! Love it! And your little one is precious!

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    1. Thanks so much Camilla. I love simple crafts that my little guy can be involved in. :)

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  7. Very much you! :) Looks extremely good!

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    1. Thanks Ina. I was happy that this was something that was my style and reminded me of a Christmas craft my mom did.

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  8. So amazing and so different! I just love, love, love it!!!

    :) Linda

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    1. Thanks so much Linda! It's definitely a little less traditional. :)

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  9. Very cool! I love that there not the traditional Christmas colors either. Makes it very modern.

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    1. I really like that it goes with the black and white in the rest of our space, but still has a Christmas feel to it.

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  10. I love the way this turned out. I like how the trees mimic an arrow pattern. Very simple. I really love that.

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    1. I guess they do look like arrows as well as rocket ships according my little guy! :)

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  11. Gorgeous!! I love the black. It's so modern and looks incredible with what's already in your room!

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    1. Thanks Amber! I like the black in our space too.

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  12. I love the garland. It's so whimsical and pretty!

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  13. oh i love these anu! they look so 'right' hanging there!
    p.s. lucy is just dying to put up christmas lights at our house! she has been asking for them for a week now... when i ask her how come, she says 'etta lapset tulee meille'... whatever that means ;) i think she just wants to make other kids happy with some lights on her own home ;)

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    1. We have a joulupukki helicopter that Little Pilot keeps asking for us to put up. :) Maybe Lucy remembers the kids that came trick or treating?

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  14. They look fantastic what a nice idea to hand made decorations each year. I dont mind the yellow tape it adds a bit of fun colour :) I dont usually get the Chrissy decos out until 1 December but looking at your pictures makes me want to start early this year!

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  15. Oh my goodness, I love this black and white combination. Lovely!

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  16. Love this, Nalle! So simple and yet it makes such a big statement! It's great that the kiddos can help with it too :)
    - Lora @ Craftivity Designs

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  17. I love making Christmas decorations to fit your decor. I'm so happy I found this for my monochromatic family room!

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  18. I LOVE this modern twist. So beautiful! I'd love if you'd link up to The DIY'ers. http://homecomingmn.blogspot.com/2013/11/the-diyers-39.html

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    1. Just wanted you to know, I loved this so much I'm featuring it on The DIY'ers today! http://homecomingmn.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-diyers-40.html

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  19. Hey Anu! It's Deonna from the Child at Heart blog! I love this post and would love for you to link up to the Merriest Blog Hop each Friday until Christmas and share your creations! Your home is so beautiful. This idea is so creative and makes a big statement. I would have to do this higher so my son wouldn't tear it all down :) Very pretty print next to the fireplace too! Did you do that?
    http://www.thechildatheartblog.com/2013/11/the-merriest-blog-hop-week-1.html

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    1. Thanks Deonna. I will stop by on Friday. Thanks for the invite! Both prints by the fireplace are DIYs. You can find them here: http://www.nalleshouse.com/2013/03/modern-art-for-living-room-part-2.html and here: http://www.nalleshouse.com/2013/02/modern-art-for-living-room-part-1.html

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  20. Anu... I'm ridiculously in love with this. Simple, clean, black and white... everything that I love.
    You MUST link this up at the Handmade Holiday Party! Hope to see you there :).
    http://www.homeyohmy.com/handmade-holiday-link-party/

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  21. I love this. It looks just perfect in your home!

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  22. Love! You and I both have the black and white mid-century thing going on. I'm planning on doing something really similar to a pillow. :) Sharing this on FB. Thanks for linking it up at Monday Funday!

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    1. Thanks so much for the FB share!

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  23. Super fabulous Anu- I love how crisp and clean and classic they look - pinning!!

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    1. Thanks so much for the pin Krista. :)

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  24. These are beautiful. I love them against your white fireplace.

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  25. These are lovely. I love them in black. Such a statement.

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  26. I just adore your style Anu :) So clean and beautiful! I wish I did that...I'm too crazy! I love this!!!!!! xo Kristin

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    1. Thanks so much Kristin! Love your style too. :)

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  27. I really, REALLY dig this! Never seen anything like it, and I applaud you for being so unique in a world filled with endless bloggers! I love it, and it caught my eye at the C.R.A.F.T. party--I had to stop by!

    I would love it if you stopped by our Facebook page, and said "hello!"
    https://www.facebook.com/OurMiniFamily

    Your fan,
    ~Cathy Mini
    ourminifamily.com

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  28. I absolutely love this! Who says Christmas has to be red and green?! So perfect.

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    1. Thanks so much Amy. I'm happy with how the black trees look against the white walls. :)

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  29. New here but so love your style, those trees look fabulous! Also pinning this.

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  30. Love your unique ideas ~ very clever and pretty! Your cute little helper is pretty adorable!

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  31. I love that this is uber non traditional. The graphic black and white is just lovely. SO inspiring!

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  32. Oh my gosh, I LOVE this! Three trees are just lovely. I think our black and white "Scandinavian amntels" would be good friends!

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  33. Ummmm I'm obsessed. That black tree garland is amazing!!!!

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