With little more than an empty oatmeal container and colored paper, you can create a festive decoration that's perfect for Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, or any patriotic occasion. For younger children, it also provides a science lesson, illustrating the wind's direction and how quickly it can change.
Making a Paper Wind Streamer
Empty oatmeal container, or similar cylindrical container
Blue kraft paper
White kraft paper
Star-shaped paper punch
Craft glue
Double-sided tape
Waxed twine
Red-and-white grosgrain ribbon
Red ribbon
White ribbon
Fine paper punch
1. Remove the bottom of the container. Measure and cut the blue kraft paper to fit inside and outside the container. The paper should come right up to the top and bottom lip of the container. Lay the double-sided tape to the three edges of the paper on the wrong side, and affix it to the container's interior.
2. Using the star-shaped paper punch, create stars from the white kraft paper, and glue them onto the second piece of blue paper. Lay the double-sided tape to the three edges of the paper on the opposite side, and affix to the container's exterior. With the fine paper punch, punch four holes at the north, south, east, and west points of the container's top. Thread a piece of waxed twine through one hole and its opposite hole, and tie in place. Repeat for remaining holes.
3. Cut lengths of the red and white ribbon to create streamers, and glue them at the bottom edge of the container. Lay double-sided tape all the way around the top and bottom edges of the container, and adhere the red-and-white grosgrain ribbon.
Paper
Kate's Paperie
Super cute! For a budget conscious party- we made these, only we substituted crepe paper streamers instead of ribbon. I cannot wait to hang them up on Monday for our rib-cook off 4th of July party!
OH THIS IS SOOOOO CUTE AND FUN TO MAKE!!!! SMALL ONES MADE FROM CRYSTAL LIGHT CONTAINERS AND WYLERS ARE REALLY STURDY!!! FUN!! FUN!! THANKS MARTHA!!
What a great school project for the kids. I'm sure you could change it to s snowman or santa or even a pumpkin. Go Martha!!!
When did Crafters become so negative?
Every time I read the comments on some craft site, there is always at least one person who has nothing to add except criticism.
It's too late to make it this year...so what!!
Now you have a whole year to work on it.
Probably will be a lot better because you have more time to plan and consider alternatives.
I use painters canvas drop cloths for mine, paint with exterior paint, and use grommets to attach streamers and cylinder. I use a metal hose clamp glued (with weather-proof glue, not hot glue) inside at the top for stability. I've made several of these for different seasons and also made a bunch for end of the year teacher gifts once. I've used mine about 4 years now. They are very heavy duty.
Why are the instructions for "paper." I'd like to have it be weather proofeed.
When I make wind socks, I use parachute nylon from the fabric store. I sew rather than use glue, and leave "theme" ones up for the month. Then when I'm through using it, I hang it in the garage for the next year. I've made them for Valentines Day, Mardi Gras, Easter, 4th of July, Halloween, Christmas. Lots of fun to make and can be used for several years.
Try this with FABRIC ! ! !
Thanks for mentioning about having these great ideas ahead of time. It helps make the occasion festive and less stressful making them on the fly. SD Tait
I am in agreement about posting these great holiday ideas early. I live in a small community where supplies are limited, but can get them sent to me in the mail/courier, but need extra time. Receiving these ideas on 'the day of', is usually too late for me to make them.
for a really sturdy cylinder you could use cement tubes and have the lumber yard cut them for you. Ours will cut for free
Insead of ribbon, use plastic tablecloth. It is waterproof and can last a long time.
Nice idea..tu...however think these holiday ideas should be shown 1 week before holiday (perhpas put in our "save" place for 4th of July and Labor Day!!) so we can gear up.. I agree with the .previous day comment from someone else.on this aspect of timliness..
I think it would be cute to use fabric to cover, but before that cut out "windows" then put a small string of lights inside to illuminate... you could use them again if you decide to invest in the ribbon, just make sure to pack it away carefully. You can also use poster board to make the cylinder or the plastic embroidery stuff -- then it's waterproof.
For a one-time party, use crepe paper streamers instead of ribbon. For thinner streamers, cut the roll in half lengthwise before unfurling it.
Or buy the really cheap 'curling' or other ribbon sold in large quantities at discount craft stores. If you need to add some weight to it, tie beads to the loose ends.
For longer, just keep it out of the rain!
I have done this project many times with children, using blue construction paper rolled into a cylindor and crepe paper streamers...they aren't as sturdy, but the effect is similar and less expensive...although I love the look and feel of ribbon. A wonderful Patriotic project.
How much ribbon? From the picture it looks like the streamers are about 3 oatmeal boxes long (27" ?) and there looks to be about 12 -14 streamers of EACH color - red and white. I'll let you do the math :0 )
and add them and the ribbon streamers to the fabric before slipping it over the pop bottle cylinder. Would weather that way
I think recycling a 2-litre pop bottle and using a fabric sleeve to cover it would be good. You could cut the stars out of felt
I would use fabric instead of paper to cover the box. Ribbon is expensive, especially as much as you would need for these. I would want to use over and over. Anyway, to be green, we should use things over. We also get rain a little too often to use paper.
I agree, love the idea, but too late for Memorial Day.
But, we still have the 4th of July and Labor Day to think on.
I just find this a little late to start buying and emptying oatmeal boxes. Crafts for Holidays should be scheduled at least a couple of weeks in advance, don't you think? They would really have made my front yard an eye-catcher if I had the info before hand. Great Idea.
How about using some kind of fabric instead of the paper. Then you could use them over and over!!!!
That would be adorable! Attach a set of patio lights and you can enjoy them day and night.
To make them waterproof you could cut plastic bottles (pop bottles, shampoo bottles...) as the container.
WOW! These are really beautiful! I think if I spent that much $ on purchasing the ribbon, I would try to laminate the paper for the top so it would stay clean and could be used for more than 1 year. I wonder if some of the less expensive craft ribbons would work....they might not have the weight needed to make it hang nicely. This is really pretty!
Any idea how much ribbon is required?
You could make mini ones from paper towel or toilet tissue tubes.
You could make mini ones from paper towel or toilet tissue tubes.