I love pretty garlands and buntings! They are a great way to decorate for a party or spruce up your home with a little seasonal magic. I've gathered up my top ten favorite ways to make garlands in this post… enjoy!
Here are a few details about these pretty garlands… 1. Tied Fabric Strips. This is as simple as cutting long strips of scrap fabric and knotting them on a piece of yarn or twine. Try mixing interesting patterns or building a pretty seasonal color palette. 2. Paper Flags. I love picking out colored cardstock in special color stories. For this garland, simply cut flags (triangles) and punch two holes to string them up! 3. Yarn Pom Poms. I love pom poms and they make a very sweet garland. Learn to make one below. 4. Scrap Fabric Bows. Tie simple bows to yarn or twine to create this special garland. I love this garland with cute mixed patterned fabrics. 5. Vintage Wallpaper Flags. Cut flags from a vintage wallpaper. Mix two patterns for an even prettier effect! 6. Folded Doilies. This is simple, just fold doilies and use glue dots to fasten then together for a bunting. We spray painted these paper doilies before using them. This is an easy way to make them work for any color scheme. 7. Paper Hearts. This garland is essentially the same as the paper flags, with a sweet shape! This garland is perfect for a wedding, anniversary or valentine party! 8. Tissue Pom Poms. These are so pretty, fluffy and easy to make. See how-to below. 9. Paper Half Circles. These are super pretty, clean and simple. This garland is perfect for most any occasion, including a boy birthday. Just choose a color story that's perfect for your party. We used staples to attach them to the string! 10. Fabric Tassels. Tassels of all types are such a big trend this year. We made these pretty cotton fabric tassels. I've made them in the past with tissue and raw silk, as well! ♥
Follow this simple photo tutorial to make a pretty yarn pom pom. We used this Pom Pom Maker by Clover.
To make a mini paper pom pom, or flower, follow this simple photo tutorial. It's really easy and this is the best method we've found for making mini pom poms with tissue paper. Note- about 10 layers of tissue are used here.
I hope you've gathered a few fun ideas for your next party or celebration! These simple garlands can be customized with seasonal colors and cute personal details, like words and family photos. xo. elsie
104 Comments
oh goodness gracious. cuteness abounds. definitely making some of these today!
xoxo Lizzy
http://www.lizzypancakes.blogspot.com
Oh these are so sweet! Every single style of garland is so pretty. You just can’t go wrong with them, can you? Thanks for not only one, but ten different ways of making them. May try a couple tonight, will probably start with the folded dollies 🙂
Aoife x
http://aoife-blake.com
These are all so cute!
I have to try the ones with the bows and the hearts, maybe even a combination of both of them.
I love your creativity and that you’re sharing all your lovely ideas!
http://blog.kathastrophal.de
elsie and team i may be in love with you all. this week im going to make my house look like fairy land. <3
anastasia
Everything looks lovely! Gotta try out some of those ideas soon 🙂
xoxo
http://www.everyday-treats.blogspot.com
Nice garlands!
Oh my goodness did you do all of those yourself? You have been having a busy weekend. I remember making pom poms at school… I think we wound wool around cut out carboard from cereal cartons! Happy days.
those are so cute! the first two are my favourites…
Georgia
http://swonderfulgd.blogspot.com
my honest answer, yes kinsey and i made all of these ourselves. 🙂
thanks for the kind words! i’m so happy you guys are going to make some too!
XO. elsie
These would be super cute on a christmas tree or above a fire place. I started making the pom pom one this morning. Thanks for the tutorial 🙂
I will definitly make one of the bow garlands for my upcoming birthday in december, thanks alot! Loving the little tutorials 🙂 xx Min
thatsmin-e.blogspot.com
love these ideas. i think my favorite idea is the bows. 🙂
God, this is just so great! I love garlands and they are so necessary at parties 🙂
http://fromheretofashion.blogspot.com/
Thanks for the awesome ideas 🙂
Saw your DIY dress up e-course in Mollie Makes today! Yay!! Conrats!!
This is so cute and fun!
Elsie, you really are the greatest: I didn’t know how to decorate my apartment for our family housewarming and now I do! This is going to be SO much fun!!!
Thank you so much!
How adorable! I wanted to pick a fav but it was impossible (the bows are classic but look at all the others!)
Kate
http://www.thrillofthechaise.com
I think a trip to the craft store is in my future! How adorable!
I love these!!!! I am so going to be making some of these for the house, and my girls rooms!! Too cute! Thanks Elsie 🙂
http://www.sewfulloflove.blogspot.com
I love ur blog! Everything here is so cute 🙂 I like very much make my own things as well, I will come around here…
they’re so cute!
So cute! You must have been busy making these!
Oh my god! This is just great! Thank you for this super tutorial! Great way to put smashin colors in the house with what we can find in the “project bin”!
Love your blog and your e-course!
These garlands are all so cute Elsie! I especially love the bow garland of course. I am thinking of making one with sparkly fabrics… completely on trend and nice for the upcoming holidays 🙂
Sparkles And Flare
Oh I really really love these! I’ll have to make some for Halloween/Bonfire Night!
Love this to pieces!
OMG…how super cute!!! GREAT tutorial:)
Win a FAB frock from Shabby Apple!!
Have been looking for cute garland ideas! So adorable!
and now the hard decision, which one of these pretties i’m going to try first 🙂 i want all
Perfect timing with this post, Elsie! Literally an hour ago I was thinking about making some garlands for Halloween but was feeling uninspired. You have moved me to do it!
so cute.. 🙂 wanna try… 🙂 http://lovesimplegreen.blogspot.com/
I’ve been eyeballing that pom pom maker…next Michaels coupon it will be mine! I wonder if anyone ever pays full price for anything there?
Thanks for the fun ideas 🙂 A combo of these will look great on our patio. Paper hearts and stars maybe!
This is great! Thanks for sharing these ideas 🙂 I’m definitely going to Pin this!!
I remember modcloth posted a really cute video a while back about making pom poms using the cardboard cutout method (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6RmuUEkFSo)
I didn’t even know that there was a device to use! That’s rad.
Cute garlands, Elsie.
xo,Beca
This is cute! You’ve given me some ideas on ways to make holiday garlands this year.
i used doily garland at my wedding. so pretty!
always great ideas!
-grace
http://herumbrella.com
This was a great post! I will definitely be using these tips for upcoming parties.
I adore each and every one of these! How absolutely adorable. I think the bows are my favorite.
I love the tissue pom poms! But I am obsessed with pom poms at the moment!
The entire illustrations you’ve made, the simple blog navigation
oh my gosh, i loooove garlands of all kinds!
Thanks for the cute post – you always make me wanna drop everything and create something cute! I’ll make a garland for my dorm next weekend 🙂
Those are Super cute!
http://fashionablyspeakn.blogspot.com/2011/10/5-favorite-things.html
Ah thanx! Such a perfect inspiration for me right now! Planning our wedding =)
I just love your blog.
I’d like to try a garland idea with paper cranes … Now I’ve just got to learn how to fold them, right?
/Ladaisi Blog
you’re a magician, respect!
love your ideas!
xxx
G.
p.s.
I’ve tried to copy and paste one of your icon on the sidebar of my blog but it doesn’t work. 🙁
As usual Elsie, you completely inspire me!
what you share are always very nice and lovable:) i love your posts very much
http://peekatmytrifles.blogspot.com/
Defo guna try out the half circle ones 🙂
everyone needs garlands in their life!
I love the bow idea, for somewhere around my little girl’s crib. Due in February and she’ll be in our room probably, but what a cute idea!
love this! I love how they look combined too, I would want to make all kinds of garlands for an event! /b
brittansalisbury.wordpress.com
really love your ideas+works, so lovable!
U are a very good artist!
Wow Elsie… You read my mind!!! I have been thinking about making some bunting for a while now.
I’ll definitey be giving some of these a try.
Much Love
Anie
http://www.thelifeofanie.blogspot.com
Ahhh, I’m in love with these garlands! And they’re right on time for three reasons – 1)I’m looking for cute diy ideas for my upcoming wedding festivities, 2)the holidays, hello!! and 3)i want something fun and decorative for my upstairs loft space. I think I found it. Great post! xo
http://www.theprettydish.com
eep! Love this! I’ve really been wanting to brighten up my dorm room lately and I think some garland will really help give it a face lift! Thanks for all the wonderful suggestions! <3
I’m definitely trying one of those!
I LOVE the bow garland idea, I think I’ll make a long string of it for my entryway. Lovely blog!
Thank you so much for your tutorials. You are so generous with your time! It is much, much, much appreciated.
Adorable ideas! ALL OF THEM!
These are so pretty ♥ I love the first one!
I absolutely adore this tutorial! I have a crazy obsession with garland and would love to be able to string it everywhere. Maybe if the bf decides we can host a halloween party this weekend, I can make some crazy cute garland for the festivities! 🙂
I need to show this posting to my mom.. It brought back soo many memories, My mom used to make pom pom for our night time slippers. She used to have cardboard pattern while creating the pom poms.
I wanted to create a garland for my flea market booth.. Maybe scrap of fabric would be a great idea.
I love your bunting, well your whole blog actually…I will definitely be pinching this idea to decorate my birthday tea party in a few weeks…thanks x
Love this post! Thanks for the ideas Elsie!!! I used the doily idea and spray painted them with black stripes and made lil orange and yellow flags, the banner came out great for my halloween party tomorrow!!
love love love! thanks again
If you don’t have a pom pom maker, here’s a video that shows you how to make poms with just cardboard and scissors. I like to call them “poofs,” btw. Also, love all these garland varieties! I think I’ll go through my scrap yarn and see what I can do!
http://blog.modcloth.com/2011/05/05/how-to-make-flag-banners-candle-holders-and-poofs/
love these! wish i would have seen this post before purchasing a bunch just like these at urban.
http://www.dimplesandcharm.com
I am so in love with this. I have been saying all year that garland is so hot right now! I don’t know why, but I sure am glad. Thanks for the tutorials!
Jenna
callherhappy.com
so adorable!! i’m obsessed with your blog. always with the creative ideas! 🙂
love
kelly
http://www.paperdolltheory.com
Oooh! Thank you for this post! This will be so helpful for my graduation party! (I’m going for the DIY look. :D)
Wow, thanks so much for this post! 🙂
Those clover pompom makers are the biz! I’m making some pompom bunting for my market stall! I may have aimed a little high though, it’s taking me ages cos I want it so long! haha
renewvintage.blogspot.giveaway
I love these! (no.11: a combination of all of them! 🙂
I love this tutorial TOO MUCH!
I love this!!
OH my gosh, so pretty!!!
I could use them for my new room!
I’m obsessed with this look. The vintage wallpaper is so simple, too!
~Stop Me If You’ve Heard This One
Wonderful resource! I’m going to go all out with the garland for Christmas now.
I just had to stop by to let you know how much I adore these garlands. So cute & chic!
Oh how fun!!! i love the fabric scrap bow banner…adorable!!
Will definitely do that with my niece tomorrow afternoon!!!
hey so i feel a little silly asking this but how exactly do you make the tissue paper pom pom? mine looked like crap… boo 🙁
These are cute. I’ll be making some for the Christmas tree!
I make pom poms using 2 disks of cardboard (re-usable).
I’ve been loving garlands for a while now, I think they would be a great way to add a little extra flair to my room 🙂 I had been thinking about making ones with either tassels, pom-poms or flags but there are so many other great ideas in here!!! I think it’s time to put my DIY hat on and make a pretty garland 😀
i made the tissue pom poms for a party this weekend and they turned out so cute! thanks for sharing!!
How do you secure the pom poms onto the yarn for the garland?
So Pretty! Cant wait to make one of these!
Your blog is adorable! I love everything on it, I will for sure be a frequent visitor =)
http://thoughtsofstyle.blogspot.com/
Amazing! I’ll be putting some of these up this festive season! Such fab ideas.
http://www.eppsvilleproject.blogspot.com/
Can a person have too many garlands? I love that these are as simple as can be (or as complicated as I make them) but pack such a punch. Thanks for a great roundup.
Wonderful inspiration! I love the yarn pompoms! So sweet and easy to make. Thanks!
oh my! I just love pennant banners! I wanted my sis to have some at her recent wedding, but I found out that we have very differing tastes when it comes to decor *sigh* I had to back off on offering ideas, as it became a tad heated – guess I’m just going to have to renew my vows to my sweetie someday so I can do it the way I want to, lol.
My daughter, Idelle, had a fab idea for tissue paper flowers though, and luckily my sis went for that, so lots of yellow and fuschia tissue paper flowers were made. 🙂 AND I did get my way with my daughter Amelia’s headpiece (she was the flower girl.) She got to wear the woodland fairy-esque crown that I bought for her (without sis’s permission, yikes!) Anyhow, I’ve gotten off the subject – I do love your pennants and decor ideas; I may steal some if I ever get to plan a wedding again!
now that I’m looking back at your tissue paper pom poms, that’s pretty much the way we did the flowers!
hmm, I’m not sure any of my comments posted? I wonder if they were too long? lol (I became rather enthusiastic 😛 )
Oh my goodness did you do all of those yourself? You have been having a busy weekend. I remember making pom poms at school… I think we wound wool around cut out carboard from cereal cartons! Happy days.
Thank you, for this sweet inspiration!!!
Best wishes
Anne
Amazing! I am trying to add as much colour as I possibly can to our wedding and these are going to be so perfect! I had planned on doing pom-poms anyway, but the bows are just too cute! Love it!
Thanks for such a great blog! 😀
So cute!!! Love the Pom Pom maker!!
adorable. this is exactly what i’ve been looking for!
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Oh my gosh, these are adorable! I want to go pull out some supplies and start creating my own!
I’ve been thinking of how to make bunting for a while. This is so great. Your ideas are very creative. Thanks for sharing.
Very excited to try the tissue paper garland above my bed. I’ve been looking for some low cost, festive decorations!
This is so wonderful! I can’t wait to make the bow one sometime!