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Make a Photo-Strip Garland

comments (6) October 20th, 2008     

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Jen_W Jennifer Worick, contributor
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Just drape your garland on your tree, using the book rings to hook it on branches.
A pile of your favorite photo strips can be transformed into an unusual tree garland or banner.
Using double-stick tape, affix two photo frames together to create a double-sided garland.
Just drape your garland on your tree, using the book rings to hook it on branches.

Just drape your garland on your tree, using the book rings to hook it on branches.

Photo: Jennifer Worick
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I have a thing for photo booths. Photo strips litter my apartment: They are plastered on my fridge, tucked in books, framed on the wall. I admit that I’m a photostripaholic, and I’m okay with that. But I got to thinking that a great way to display and repurpose them would be to create a festive garland that can be draped from the window frame during parties or wrapped around a tree during the holidays.

What you’ll need:

  • 15 photo strips for an approximately 5-1/2-foot garland
  • Scissors
  • Double-stick tape
  • Laminating machine and two laminating sleeves (they look like clear plastic sheet protectors)
  • Paper hole punch
  • Thirty 1-inch hinged book rings (which I got at my friendly neighborhood office-supply store)

 A pile of your favorite photo strips can be transformed into an unusual tree garland or banner.

Step 1: Cut out the individual frames from the photo strips. Put aside any incriminating shots. Now using a small piece of double-stick tape, tape the backs of two frames together so that you have images on either side of your piece. If you don’t have a lot of photos, just work with a one-sided garland and skip taping the photos.


 Using double-stick tape, affix two photo frames together to create a double-sided garland.

Step 2: Carefully place your photo squares in a plastic sleeve, making sure there is a small amount of space around each one. They should not be touching. Carefully feed each sleeve through the laminating machine. I laminate at Kinko's; they charge you by the sleeve so I try to get as many photos in the sleeve as possible.


 Gang as many photo frames as you can into a laminating sleeve, leaving a bit of space around each one.

 


 The laminated sheet. Just start cutting out your photos, leaving a thin border of plastic around each.

Step 3: Cut out each photo, leaving a small edge of clear lamination around each one. Using a normal paper punch, punch a hole on the left and right sides of each photo.


 Just pry apart a book ring and slip two photo frames onto it. Before long, you'll have a lot of "links" on your garland.

Step 4: Open a hinged book ring, and slip two photo squares on it, making sure they are both right-side up (this will mean that you slip the book ring through the right hole of the first square and the left hole of the second). Close the book ring. Open a new book ring, and slip it through the right hole of the second square on the first book ring. Add a new photo square to this book ring, this time slipping the ring through the left hole of the square and closing. Continue in this manner, until all of your photo squares are secured on your garland. Add book rings to the outer squares; this will allow you to hang the garland from nails if you so choose.


 I'm going to hang my photo garland from my window frame year-round. I'm sort of obsessed with it and can't wait to add to it.

 


 Just drape your garland on your tree, using the book rings to hook it on branches.

Note: You can scan your strips if you are loathe to cut them up. Just print out the scanned strips, cut out the individual frames, and laminate as if they were the real photos. The beauty of this is that you can then repeat images if you don’t have a surplus of photo strips.

Tip: Take just one of these photo frames and one book ring and you’ve got a nice napkin ring. Consider setting the table by placing a laminated photo of each guest attached to a book ring at each place setting.

In the future, you can find me at my website or blogs, Things I Want to Punch in the Face and Prairie Tales. My new book, Backcountry Betty: Crafting with Style, is in stores now.

posted in: seasonal, garland, photo strip
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Comments (6)

nicolea75 writes: As one who loves photos I think this is the perfect idea! I especially love the fact that you don't have to limit it to garland for a Christmas tree. (Although how cute would it look on a small tabletop tree?!) Thank you for such inspiring ideas, Jennifer. When I grow up I want to be you! :)
Posted: 8:27 am on December 4th
ohsohappytogether writes: That's a great idea
Posted: 11:50 am on November 9th
anhomemade writes: Great Idea! Even to make bracelets.
Posted: 1:45 pm on October 29th
MichaelaMurphy writes: I can't wait to decorate our tree this year with photos! We just took some amazing pics at Maker Faire Austin. Thanks for such a terrific project.
Posted: 4:36 pm on October 21st
Jen_W writes: I love Office Max ALMOST as much as I love the drugstore. I can spend hours in there.
Posted: 1:06 pm on October 21st
Sister_Diane writes: What a cute idea! I'm reading a book right now that features these cute 1" x 1" collages - they'd be great in this garland treatment, too! Plus, I love any craft that involves office supplies.
Posted: 11:38 am on October 21st
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