11.14.2010

Napkin Snowball Craft


Hey all!
So like I promised, here's the quick, simple, TOTALLY inexpensive, decorative dinner napkin snowball tutorial! from my Christmas Shelf Decorating post! :)




Okay... so the first thing you want to start off with, are white dinner napkins.
I used  the ones that measured about 7 inches square.
Open up 4 napkins, all the way, so it looks like the napkin on the right.
THEN... cut the 4 layers of napkins, into fourths... like the napkins on the lefts.

Okay... got that? :)
So now... you have these 4 squares, made up of 4 layers each.


Next... you're going to DOUBLE UP these... to make just TWO piles of napkins.
So... now you have TWO sets of napkin squares, made up of 8 layers each.

Next, you are going to just take some scissors and scallop the edges, like so.
It doesn't have to be perfect, but just more, rounded.

Now take each set of scalloped napkins... one at a time,
and accordion them, like this.



Then, to keep it together... wrap some wire around it, and twist it tight.
Floral wire works great for this :)


 Now take your second accordion folded napkin set, and twist it side by side, with your excess wire...



Like this...


So now they look like this!


After you get to this point, it's all pullin' and fluffin' from here :)
Hold onto the wire base... and just start pulling the layers of the napkins apart, and TOWARDS you.


You will see the ball form start to take place, as you get more and more layers pulled apart.
ALSO pull apart the actual napkin SKIN layers.
you know... those really THIN layers of the individual napkins.
This will help the "ball" look more full.



If you get big gaps, like this, below...
or want to force your napkin to have a bend, that it's not making naturally...


Just take the piece of napkin that you want to manipulate...
fold it, crease it... or bring the two pieces together...


Grab some double sided tape...



and place a small strip, on one side of the napkin... and pinch softly.
This will help your napkin STAY fluffed the way you want it too.


I also used the scotch double sided tape to keep my "snowballs" from falling off their candlesticks, because they are really light.
Just place a few strips to the base of each candle stick, and then lightly set the napkin ball on top.

Things to keep in mind:
* This project IS made from napkins... so the layers will be delicate.
Try not to pull them too hard, when separating the layers.  They WILL rip.
* The size of the "ball" will depend on how large your initial square is, to start.
you can also do smaller versions of these :)
Like shown here.
* If you feel that your napkin ball isn't "fluffy" enough... try adding more napkin layers, at the beginning.
Some napkins have more "internal layers" then others.
* Double stick tape is your friend, for this project. lol. I used most of my double stick tape at the base of the layers... to keep them sticking together.

These are a really fun way to add some "fancy and fluff" to your Christmas decor, for only a few bucks! :)



You can try some out on this fun idea, or use it for any OTHER crafts you have going on, during this crafty holiday season!

193 comments:

  1. Yay! Who doesn't need more tape during the holidays!

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  2. Love these fabulous napkin snowballs. Can't wait to make these. Thanks. :0)

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  3. Love these! I love when you make something B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L for cheap!

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  4. I love this craft! They look beautiful and elegant. I can't wait to make some. Thank you!

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  5. Love your christmas decorations!

    emilou84037@yahoo.com

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  6. With all the holiday gift wrapping and card making, I'm going to need alot of DS tape! I would love to win some!

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  7. Darling!(as always!)and huzzah for scotch tape! I think its the best!...and I'm totally a tape snob.

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  8. Double stick tape! A crafters best friend! Thanks for sharing such an easy, elegant craft idea.

    cougarblue99@aol.com

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  9. So stinkin' cute! Cheap too! Just how I like it! thanks!

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  10. Great ideas! Thanks for sharing all your cute stuff! Wish I had a creative neighbor like you!

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  11. I love these!

    bmwimberley@gmail.com
    bmwimberleylife.blogspot.com

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  12. LOVE these! I write a wedding blog and I'm posting a bunch of winter wedding ideas right now. Would you mind if I featured this? Thanks a bunch!

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  13. So very cute and easy. Scotch Double Stick tape and I have been besties for years now. I'd be happy to make room in my home for another roll!

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  14. You make it look so easy and who knew....Napkins? could create such a beautiful thing!

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  15. This will definately be a mom's play date craft. Love the creative ideas you come up with!

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  16. This will definately be a mom's play date craft. Love the ideas you come up with!

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  17. From the picture the flowers look like generous gorgeous white candles. I was fooled until I read the blog. Thanks for sharing this neat idea.

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  18. They are adorable! What a fun craft, and inexpensive too.

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  19. WOW! So cool! Great tutorial! LOVE your Point of Prez! The white is just gorgeous!
    Sharing on my fb fan page!
    Genevieve =)
    www.celebrate2da.com

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  20. Really cute and from the picture I never would have guessed those were napkins! Great idea!

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  21. These are fabulous, but the whole room all together is sooo gorgeous I can hardly stand it. I decorate very primitive country but girl you have me re-thinking my decision. Wow I wonder how impressed my husband would be if I told him we had to re-do our entire house?

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  22. cute idea! Thanks for sharing!

    jessicadavey78@gmail.com

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  23. Woohoo! I was just making origami stars last night and had trouble getting them to sit at the proper angle on my shelf...double stick tape would have been perfect!

    Beautiful napkin balls!

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  24. As usual, you turn something bland into something amazing. Love the whole display. I am featuring this and your branches at somedaycrafts.blogspot.com

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  25. I love these....think I'll make some and hang from the ceiling of our bar area! I have a love/hate relationship with double-side tape....I love using it, but HATE it when it is used to wrap MY Christmas gifts...do you know how hard it is to sneak a peek at your gift when it is sealed with double-side tape??? I do!

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  26. I might have to make some little napkin balls for tree ornaments. I will so be using this tutorial.

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  27. K I love this idea! I am going to do this to help add to my decor.

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  28. Love it! You are so creative. Thanks for sharing your creativity!!!

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  29. Those are very cute!

    trishaw09@live.com

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  30. Very Cute! Who doesn't need some free tape! Thank you for the cute idea's!

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  31. Well aren't those just the cutest! Thanks for sharing :)

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  32. Seriously, it may sound silly, but this giveaway is awesome. I use double stick tape up like crazy this time of year.

    Those snowballs are so fun...way better than the kind the boys like throwing around at me outside in about 6-8 weeks!

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  33. Those are gorgeous! However, the word "delicate" was mentioned so many times, that I won't be trying these at home this year! *lol*

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  34. So easy - but such dramatic impact! Love it! Thanks for the giveaway!

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  35. Oooh I love those! Thanks for the tutorial!

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  36. Those are so cute, I am going to try making some!

    sims.whitney@gmail.com

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  37. I love ideas like this! So simple yet so stylish! Thanks for sharing!

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  38. You have the best idea. So simple and inexpensive. Love it!!

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  39. Great simple project!
    - Danielle
    other-option AT hotmail DOT com

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  40. I love your Christmas decor! The colors are great!
    jenlea2000 at hotmail dot com

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  41. These are so darn cute! Thanks for posting the tutorial, I definitely want to make some of these. I'm thinking that really big ones would look cool hanging from the ceiling.

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  42. Love these....really adds to your Christmas decorating!

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  43. Love this idea! I'm going to try it!

    crystalbroderick@gmail.com

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  44. Adorable! I have an awkward space in my kitchen about the same size as where your shelves are after much thought (hutch, cabinets, pantry?) decided to do some shelving like yours. I live in a small town home and I don't have a lot of space for holiday decoration, but I love the way you switch upyourshelves during theyear.thanks for all the amazing photos from your home. They are truly an inspiration!

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  45. awesome and easy idea! Thanks :) gatta love free scotch tape as well :)

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  46. I absolutely L.O.V.E this craft!! So simple yet beautiful!

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  47. I can't wait to make these! They are beautiful.

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  48. Love it! I used tissue paper to make some of these for my sons bday and never even thought of using napkins! So clever and adorable...as always from you!!!!

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  49. Love it! I will definitely be making these.
    motuyet@comcast.net

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  50. Very creative! Love it!!! Been following your blog for some time now!

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  51. Thanks for the tutorial! Now we need to know where you got the cute candlesticks!

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  52. Tape, especially double-sided is THE BEST invention ever!

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  53. Awesome. I'm always needing double sided tape!!

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  54. It's amazing how you can take something so simple and what one wouldn't consider necessarily pretty and turn it into something beautiful and pleasing to the eye.

    autum22(at)gmail(dot)com

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  55. So excited to do these over Thanksgiving with my sisters.

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  56. Double-sided tape is a must have in every crafty home! Great decor tip; I can now have snow in Florida for Christmas.

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  57. Wow that's an amazing giveaway! Love the snowballs :)

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  58. I did the same thing using tissue paper. This is also pretty much the same process to create the Martha type pompom balls, except you round your edges after you accordian fold the paper.

    http://ourhumbleabowed.wordpress.com/

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  59. I'm always wishing I had some of this on hand...maybe I'll win!

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  60. Love it! Now I want to take down my Thanksgiving and put up Christmas!!

    bretinsley@hotmail.com

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  61. Beautiful! Thank you for sharing this!

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  62. Super cute. They remind me of the tissue paper pom poms. Great idea to use napkins.

    adertien at comcast.net

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  63. What a great idea, I would have never thought of doing this. I love your Christmas decor it looks amazing!
    hhhilarious(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  64. I love these! I think will make the perfect addition to some of the christmas decor ive been working on!

    Double sided tape is really a lifesaver some times isnt it? I love it!

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  65. Soooooo pretty! I am going to try this for sure!

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  66. What a cute idea. Thanks for sharing!

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  67. What a cute and easy idea! Thanks for sharing!

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  68. What an easy project that anyone can do!!! Even the kiddos:D and think of all the spin off craft ideas you could with this one idea! You are amazing :D

    Oh how I could use some more Scotch two sided tape. Love the stuff!

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  69. I love double sided tape. I buy this in bulk at Sam's becuase I use it so much. It's my best friend when making handmade cards. Thanks for the tutorial on the napkins.

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  70. LOVE this! I have made these out of tissue paper, but never out of napkins...they will look great with my silver and white "nativity" set up! Thanks!!!

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  71. That was a great post. Your holiday colors are perfect. Thanks

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  72. I Luv double stick tape. I ran out of tape Christmas Eve last yr. I busted out my craft box & used my double stick tape to wrap last minute gifts. The packages looked AMAZING!! The snowballs look very cute. it might be a nice craft for my 6yr old to help w/ during turkey break.

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  73. What an awesome way to decorate! I love this and I can't wait to make my own! Now I just need some double sided scotch tape. Thanks for the idea!

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  74. love love love ur christmas display!

    ranaebroadhead@gmail.com

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  75. Thanks for the tips I recently made large ones out of tissue paper and have been having trouble getting them to stay fluffed the way I would like them too. Tape is a great idea.

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  76. Awesome! That stuff could always come in handy.

    blakeandbrit.blogspot.com

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  77. this is a really cute idea. I think I'm gonna try it!

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  78. Awesome tutorial, cant waut to make these myself!

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  79. I am going to be a snowball makin' machine...thanks for the tutorial and giveaway!

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  80. Great project -- I like the Christmas tree vinyl too-- so cute -- Would love some double stict tape. Thanks,

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  81. cute idea. it seems like one I can get the kids involved in.

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  82. Such a cute idea. I love double side tape. Thanks!

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  83. These would be a great craft to do with my son. So fun! Thank you.

    jlm4e (at) Hotmail (dot) com

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  84. Such a cute idea. Thanks for the giveaway!
    dmarlatt78@yahoo.com

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  85. Wow! Those are A-Stinking-Dorable!

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  86. So cute! I'm glad these are so simple. Definitely gonna try them this season. and I love how you're giving away double sided tape... you're so cute!

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  87. Thanks for the idea, I'll definately be trying this one out!

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  88. I LOVE these! I'm thinking I might make a bunch and hang them from my dining room light.

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  89. These look so beautiful and are inexpensive to make, great idea! Thanks for sharing!

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  90. Adorable!! I love the idea...AND your candle sticks!!! Where did you get them?
    ps...I'm in the middle of a pantry remodel thanks to your amazing ideas and gorgeous pantry! Thanks for the tips!
    darciday@hotmail.com

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  91. Pretty sure I use double stick tape for everything. Love it.And love these super-cute snowballs!

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  92. Amazing idea! I love how elegant it looks.
    Vaylene
    vaylene@yahoo.com

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  93. Easy-peasy, simple & cute -- can't go wrong on this one!
    CAS

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  94. I love them! So cute and cheap =)

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  95. This is awesome!!! I am going to have to make some for around my house :)

    Thank you for the chance to win the Scotch tape. I use that stuff for EVERYTHING around my house, lol.

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  96. I love your blog and I love tape !!

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  97. These are lovely! Thanks for all the fun!

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  98. Love love love! double sided tape!
    *kelly
    kelly-tillotson@hotmail.com

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  99. will you be posting while you are away on vacation during Christmas? I am not sure I can go an entire week without some fun post from you!!!!

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  100. how neat! I love your post and your blog! I am a new follower!

    xo

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  101. Your christmas decor is breath taking! Like seriously PERFECT! I love it!!

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  102. First: I love the snowball craft! It looks like a giant magnolia! Second: Your Christmas display is so elegant. I love it! I have already started on mine too. Before I'm done it's going to look like Christmas exploded at my house. Third: Double sided tape is my best friend. I use it for everything. I'm not sure I could function like a normal human being without the stuff. True.

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  103. your decor is always so pretty! Seriously, when I finish my home remodeling could you come over and tell me what to do to make it look good! I'm a construction hardware store kind of gal, the pretty stuff? Not so much!

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  104. Shelley, I have to say, these inexpensive, yet super cute crafts are my absolute favorites! It shows just how ingenious & resourceful you are. Nicely done. I just ran out of double sided sticky tape, so this contest is just in time :)

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  105. Ok... so I am loving the soft texture next to the rough, old window decoration... and the green, blue, & silver colors are fab!

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  106. love tape! tape fixes everything!

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  107. love this Shelley! i think it would be a great craft to do with my kids too.

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  108. I think we need to trade houses. I could live in your cute decorated house for a while, and in the meantime, you could decorate my house all purdy! Then we could trade back after you get sick of my kids, (which won't be too long!)
    P.S. I'd love to win the tape!

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  109. As soon as Thanksgiving has officially come and gone I'm totally going to make some of these napkin balls for some vases on my mantle. I think I'll make them red, or white, or red...who knows! I can't wait to get busy with this project! Thanks for sharing it!

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  110. Thanks for posting this! I love using this for holiday decor- hadn't thought of that!

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  111. Your Christmas decor looks friggin fantastic!! You sure have some talent! :]

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  112. These are so beautiful! I can't believe they are made out of napkins.

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  113. These are awesome, I love them! Thanks for sharing, I think I'm going to make some!

    sarah8914 at gmail dot com

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  114. cute and so creative! and who couldn't use some double sided tape. i used to use it to hem my suit pants in a pinch back when i was working.

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  115. Fabulous project and yay for free tape!!!!

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  116. Who knew paper napkins and tape could look so elegant? That looks fab!

    New follower, saw you on Someday Crafts..

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  117. These are lovely. And my favorite kind of decoration, beautiful and disposable!

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  118. Very cute! I've used this method to make flowers with two different colors of napkins (yellow in the middle usually) but I haven't seen it done this way. It looks great. I wouldn't have thought of that way to put the two together.

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  119. Such a cute and easy idea! I think I might try doing this with my students!

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  120. Cute!
    Is your master bedroom finished yet? I can't wait to see it!!

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  121. Your Christmas decorations are absolutely beautiful. I don't know how I have missed your blog but am so happy to have found you. Thanks for the chance to win!!

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  122. love the craft. def making them this weekend...thank you for the step by step!

    oh, no...

    all i need is some double sided tape :)

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  123. This is beautiful!!!!

    New follower!

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  124. Darling, Shelley! I love your style.

    Okay...why aren't you doing a tree this year?

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  125. I am definitely going to try and make these. Very cute. Thanks for sharing your steps. Hope I win some tape. LOL

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  126. Tape will come in handy for these and wrappin presents soon!

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  127. This looks like a fun easy craft.

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  128. This is a great idea. I have never had double sided tape, I'm sure it is very useful.

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  129. You are amazing and so talented!! Thanks for the great idea.. I will try it:)

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  130. Seriously, I don't know what I did with myself before I discovered double stick tape. I *heart* it as much as anyone can love an inanimate object. :)

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  131. I'm going to make these! Now all I need is the tape!

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  132. Love this! My kids love making snowflakes, I think this year we will be making snowballs!

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  133. Once again, you have a darling idea! Can't wait to try it. Thanks for sharing it with us.
    http://happytobe-the6ofus.blogspot.com

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  134. I love love love this idea!!! I plan on making tons of them!!!

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  135. Hurrah for free tape! Love all the Christmas decorations. I've been using a similar color palette for my decor that past 2 years, thanks for more inspiration!

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  136. This is just beautiful. So elegant!

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  137. What a cute idea! Your home is beautifully decorated, and this adds another nice touch of white. Love the candlesticks too.

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  138. Very cute and easy! Thanks for sharing.

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  139. I am loving all the white!

    racheldowd07 at gmail dot com

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  140. I can always use more tape and what a great time for this giveaway!!!

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  141. How elegant they look! Thanks for sharing the tutorial

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  142. These are so dainty and clean (ha..get it..clean!). They would be a great addition on my mantle! ....p.s....I look at your blog just about every day and it makes me so excited to decorate our new home :)

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  143. Beautiful! I am so glad I am not the only gearing up for Christmas!

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  144. Beautiful - I'm so glad I'm not the only one gearing up for Christmas!

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  145. I think you might want to know a beautiful edition to this type of flower is to rim the edges with markers and mist them with water. It turns into a watercolor tipped flower and wrinkles the paper for a nice/natural look. You can also line the edges with water soluable marker and dip the paper into water and hang it dry before folding. It also works to dip the napkin in food colored water. Scrapbookers will most likely know about sprayable inks and patinas you buy at craft stores that look AMAZING. .Great HOW TO. Thank you.

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  146. I have always wanted to know how those cute snowballs are made! I can't wait to hang a bunch from our ceiling :)

    lncox0914@yahoo.com

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  147. Those are beautiful, thanks for sharing! I can definitely use double sided tape for my holiday projects.

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  148. Happy Day! I've always wanted to work with double sided tape but have been too cheap to actually purchase some. Now all I have to do is WIN!!!!

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  149. So so lovely. :)

    KForzese07@yahoo.com

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  150. Hey there! I just wanted to let you know that I'm going to featuring these amazing snowballs on my blog this weekend! Keep an eye out for the post Saturday morning! & Keep up the good work!

    Anestazia <3
    http://yourworkistodiscoveryourworld.blogspot.com/

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  151. What a cute idea !


    Kristen
    searchforgod@yahoo.com

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  152. I've never used double sided tape before - pretty weird, huh? I'm loving these flowers, so cute, easy and inexpensive...pick me!!

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  153. What a fun project! Thanks for sharing!

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  154. You have a zillion comments, but I also wanted to say what a great project! These are so cute and doable!! Thanks!

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  155. Very cute! They look great on the silver candle sticks!

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  156. Great idea and nice presentation. I am off to make these now --- oops, no double tape. Too bad, these are too cute to resist. Thank you.

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  157. Love this so much!! Thanks for posting. I'm featuring it on my blog this week. little-inspirations.blogspot.com

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  158. Omg! One of my favorite flowers. Thank you, for sharing your creativity.

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  159. Wow, just beautiful! I love the contrast of the white and silver. Awesome idea!

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  160. Just beautiful. I love everything about it! Thanks for sharing :)

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