How To Make Beautiful Accordion Medallions

Beautiful accordion medallions are a snap to make. I discovered this trick a few years back, but it's time to share it again. This time I have found a nifty tool that simplifies the process, Rinea's Stars N More Templates. This banner spells out SPRING with pleated paper to frame each letter as well as birds and feathers to give it wings. Rinea's Pastel Foiled Paper Variety Pack in Spring colors was perfect for this project. 

Directions:

Step 1:Cut a 5” circle. Cut a 1.75” circle from the center, set this aside for final step.

Step 2: Fold circle in half, lining up outer and inner edges. This will mark the center line and give you a guide for the following folds.

Step 3: Place #6 Template on circle, lining up existing creases.

Step 4: Score remaining six lines. Fold circle at each of these score marks.

Step 5:Fold circle in half at one set of score marks. This will give you a half circle with four creased sections. Fold one section in half to create a crease for the next set of sections.

Step 6:Place #6 Template on circle, over new crease. Score remaining 7 lines. Fold circle at each score mark. 

Step 7:Refold sections so that every other crease is up.
The finished medallion has 16 creases. The banner medallions have 32 creases.

Step 8:Repeat steps 5 and 6 until your medallion has the desired number of creases.  

Step 9:Spread glue on reserved center circle. Best Glue Ever from ScraPerfect holds the foiled papers together. Spread evenly and allow to partially dry.

  Step 10:Place accordion fold medallion on center circle. Hold in place till secure. Leave to dry completely.

The birds and feathers are die cut from the Spring variety pack. Embossing the birds gives them an additional spark of originality. I added different feather lengths to the banner pieces, but kept with the pastel color theme.

Supplies:
Paper:Bo Bunny
Foiled Paper and Template:Rinea
Ink:Close To My Heart
Bird Dies:Momenta
Feather Dies:X-cut
Alpha:We R Memory Keepers Punch Board

Scrap On

~charity~

How To Make Stunning Garlands for a Beautiful Mirror

Why not learn how to make stunning garlands of foiled paper to turn a basic wall hanging into a beautiful mirror? As a lover of vintage items with a weakness for trash to treasure, I am always looking for ways to spiff up my latest find. With my very first post for Rinea I decided this mirror had waited long enough for her chance to shine. 

~ Diva Mirror ~

 Because the mirror is in a dark corner it is used to add light rather than reflect a face. The garland draped over the front doesn't frustrate anyone's view. Having been constructed of foiled paper, this garland also helps with my light issues. It just keeps on giving! 

 The first garland is made in two pieces then joined at the back of mirror. It loops through the center of the carving and around the ends. It is constructed of Foiled Paper Beads. Each bead is a punched shape that is curved curved and then strung on coat thread. I knotted the thread at one inch intervals, stringing beads and knotting again.   

  The medallions I cut in half folded into cones. For the hearts I overlapped the rounded portions toward the center. Both are made from Blush Glossy Foiled Paper. To hold them together I took one stitch at the seam in the back as I strung them.

The circles and flowers I placed on a foam pad and pressed at the center with a marker or paint brush end. My pressing foam is an old mouse pad flipped over. The circles are Silver/gold Glossy Foil and the flowers are Copper Glossy Foil.

My second garland says Diva and is draped around the central carving on the frame. The letters were created with Rinea Sapphire Glossy Paper from the Jewels Variety Pack and were cut with a punch board.

 To strengthen the letters for stringing I added scrap cardstock to the back. The front of the letters I decorated with flowers and circles left over from the first garland.

  One drop of the Best Glue Ever from ScraPerfect is all it takes to hold the foiled paper together.

I also added drops of opalescent puff paint around the flowers and at the centers. 

  The third garland is a Moon Phase Strand. I punched 6 circles from the Rinea Silver /gold Glossy Paper and 9 circles from black cardstock. The garland is constructed in two pieces and joined at the front of the mirror. The full moon phase hangs from the joining.

I punched a circle from scrap cardstock and used the negative to trace the crescent onto two of the circles. I carefully cut off the crescent and had both the gibbous and crescent phases from one circle.

 The new moon is represented with a rim of foiled paper. I used a 1.25" punch and cut a 1" circle from the center. The moon phases and black circles are joined with tiny dots of the Best Glue Ever. It takes very little to attach them. 

Getting a clear photo of a mirror takes a couple tricks.

1) Polish the mirror with the Perfect Cleaning Cloth just before taking pictures.
2) Lay the mirror on its back so that it reflects a white ceiling or the sky.

Supplies:

Foiled Paper:Rinea

Cleaning Cloth and Glue:ScraPerfect

Thread:Coats and Clark

Letter Punch Board:WeRMrk

Punches:CTMH, Martha Stewart,

Uchida, and EK Success, 

Model:Noir The Black Cat

 Scrap On!

~charity~