Blown Away

There’s something so festive & so (annoyingly) addictive about a good old-fashioned party blower, and I’m obsessed with these DIY creations that turn the style way way up.  Spotted in the newest issue of Utterly Engaged (chock-full of gorgeous images & ideas for the budget-savvy bride, by the way), these would add a touch of whimsy & dash of fun to even the most sophisticated soiree.  Here’s how to do it:

Materials:

• drinking straws, cut to 5″ long
• colored velum
• patterned paper
• tape
• pen

Cut velum down to 1″ x 5″ strips.  Use a glue stick to adhere the velum around the straw.

Cut decorative paper into 2″ x 9″ strips.  Fold lengthwise into thirds, folding sides in 1/2″.  Tape the center of the strip with clear tape.  Fold one end over and secure with tape.  Roll the strip around a pen to get a tight curl.  On the open end of the paper strip, insert the straw and fold corners over.  Secure with glue.

Photo: Bonnie Tsang.