Tissue Paper Flowers

What You Need

• Tissue paper in one or more colors
• Scissors
• Chenille stems or florist wire

Instructions

1. Stack eight pieces of unfolded tissue paper on top of one another, and cut them in half.
2. Take one stack of the tissue paper and fold one of the shorter edges down ½ to 1 inch from the edge. Make another fold the same size, but fold it back. Continue to make accordion-style folds until you’ve reached the other edge.
3. Use the scissors to round each end of the folded tissue paper. If you like, you can also cut a slit in the middle of each end.
4. Wrap a chenille stem or piece of floral wire around the center of the folded tissue paper, and twist to hold it together.
5. Very carefully, separate the layers of tissue from the ends to the center. Fluff as needed. Arrange some of your tissue paper flowers in a vase, glue them to a grapevine wreath, or use them to create a pretty centerpiece.

These easy-to-make spring decorations are great for welcoming the season without spending a lot of money. By creating your own décor, you can get your home all decked out for spring for less than you would pay for one or two ready-to-use items. So instead of going on a shopping spree, get creative!

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How to Choose Matching Colors for Your Quilt

A well-made quilt is a thing of beauty. When the colors are right and the sewing is done properly, the result is comparable to a work of fine art. This is one reason why handmade quilts make such wonderful gifts.

Those who have never quilted often assume that all it takes is sewing skill. And sewing skill is a very important factor. But equally important is the ability to choose the right colors. Quilters often choose two or more colors of fabric that look good together, only to find out that they do not match very well halfway through the project. Doing all of that work for nothing is enough to make one feel like giving up quilting forever, or to make only solid-colored quilts.

But matching up colors doesn’t have to be a stumbling block. You can use a color wheel to determine which colors go with each other. If you’re making a two-color quilt, it’s really simple: just choose one color, and look directly across from it on the color wheel to find its complementary color.

For three-color quilts, you’ll need to find the triad, which means you choose three colors that are evenly spaced from one another. The three primary colors, red, yellow and blue, form a triad. When using four colors, look for a tetrad, which is two complementary colors and two colors evenly spaced from one of the complementary colors.

Another way that some quilters match colors is by using those color strips you find where paint is sold. They contain several colors that all co-ordinate with one another. And best of all, you can grab the ones that interest you and take them along when shopping for fabric.

Choosing the Best Color for a Given Purpose

When selecting the colors for a quilt, it is important to consider where it will be used to ensure that it will not clash with its surroundings. If you’re using it in your home, pick a color from the walls, flooring or décor of the room where you intend to use it and go from there. If you’re making it for someone else, visit their home or ask them what colors they use in the room where it will be displayed.

If you’re making someone a quilt as a gift and want it to be a surprise, choosing a color can be trickier. Unless you can visit their home or ask someone else what colors they decorate with, you won’t know what colors will be surrounding it. In such a case, you could simply use the recipient’s favorite color. Light, neutral colors also work well in such a situation.

Choosing the right colors can make the difference between a beautiful quilt and one that ends up in the scrap heap. But there’s no need to guess at it. By choosing a good base color and using readily available tools to find co-ordinating colors, you can get it right each and every time.

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