One of the biggest wedding budget-savers is to do some of the decorations yourself. Here is a very simple and versatile paper flower garland you can make that looks great without breaking the bank. And because you choose the colors, length and look of this garland, it is perfect for all types of gatherings such as receptions and bridal showers.

You will need:

Colored paper, card stock (any type of paper that is bendable)
Flower punch
Hole punch
Ribbon
Scissors

You can find all of these materials at your local crafts store. For this particular project I used 1 sheet of vellum, and a flower punch I had on hand.

Each 8.5" x 11" size sheet can more or less fit about 20 flowers. Punch a row of flowers along a side, then just use scissors to remove the punched portion.

Once you have enough flowers punched out, punch a hole in the center of the flowers.

Thread a ribbon into the centers of the flowers and keep it in groups of two.

Once you've threaded all your paper flowers through the ribbon, you can determine the length and look of your garland.

Fold each paper flower in half. This will give it dimension.

Once you've folded all the paper flowers, you can spread out each cluster as you like.

By pushing all the clusters close, you can create a lei effect!

The great thing about this project is that it's really fool-proof and inexpensive. It softens up a space instantly without costing a lot. And since it's paper and ribbon, it's definitely a lot more environmentally friendly than using cut flowers.

By Lisa
-Pretty Stationery for Beautiful Souls
http://www.lisafudesignstudio.com