a dainty diy

Compliments of Shana Ecker, check out this fabulous DIY project. Keeping in her mantra: "As a craft stylist, my favorite materials to work with are ones that are a. unexpected and b. free!" Ecker shows us step-by-step how make these lovely flower bud napkin rings (out of toilet paper rolls!!!!)

1.) First, save up about a half dozen discarded tubes. Trust me, it won't take too long!

2.) Cut one tube in half and put these pieces aside. These will serve as your "rings" to embellish.

3.) To create variation, I layered small and slightly larger rosettes. For consistency, I marked one of my rolls at three-quarter inch increments and another at one and a half inches.

4.) Next I cut the cardboard rolls at these increments, and got ready to turn these cardboard slivers into tiny blossoms.

5.) To make each bud, I cut into the cardboard at an angle and steadily cut the long way, making one continuous coil. I started a little thicker and slightly tapered off at the end.

6.) Next, I tightly coiled the strand to create the little bud.

7.) Then I secured the completed bud to the napkin ring using a bit of hot glue.

8.) To achieve the layered look I was after, I continued to add and overlap the different size buds, completing covering the ring.

9.) For a finished look, I chose to spray paint my set a cool grey.

10.)  ENJOY!!