Weddingbee Blog

Remember the fabric garland I was making for our cookie table?

To refresh your memory, this is the photo that was the full inspiration behind my garland:

Image via The Sweetest Occasion / Design by SHEPAPERIE + Design Boutique / Photo by Jeanna Hayes

My version of the garland is coming together very, very nicely. I bought fabric in a variety of coordinating colors and patterns, and if you stick to the stuff that’s on sale or in the bargain area then this makes for a very cheap and very chic DIY project. Just be careful you don’t accidentally pick out any $20-a-yard fabrics like I did…

With the help of a rotary blade, self-healing mat, and my grandpa and mom, we had the fabric cut into 36″ strips (they’ll be doubled over when tied) that were either 1″ or 1.5″ wide in no time.

Image via About.com

I wanted to leave the edges unhemmed for a softer look, and I wasn’t as concerned with having the widths be 100% perfect, so between the three of us we created an assembly line and finished the cutting job within 30 minutes.

That was the hardest part, and even that wasn’t very hard (except for a few mathematical calculations so we could utilize close to the full amount of fabric). I found some natural-looking alternatives to your typical thick, twisted rope at our local fabric store, so I bought 11 feet to hang over our six-foot cookie table.

I thought the assembly part would take some time, but after setting up in front of the TV I was surprised to find the garland finished within one day. It honestly only took two or three episodes of Xena: Warrior Princess. (I love you, Lucy!)

The best thing about this project is that the strips are simply tied on, so it’s very easy to move, remove, and add strips.

Personal photo

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My kitty, Zoey, wanted to help me with the garland. Like most felines, her idea of “helping” is to lie on whatever you’re actively working on.

Personal photo

I’m still debating whether I want to keep the pink strips in. I’ll have to set it up with the plates and platters we have to see if the pink becomes an eyesore. And because I don’t have access to those plates right now, I Photoshop’ed the garland into our mock-up photo to get an idea. Kinda neat, huh?

Personal photo

I even have enough fabric left over to make a second one to hang above our punch table. Now I just have to make a nice sign to hang in the center of the garlands. I haven’t decided what I want it to say yet, but I was thinking something along the lines of “Love, Sweet, Love.” Any ideas?

Did any of your DIY projects turn out to be easier than expected?