Christmas DIY {12 Days of Christmas}

Today is Day #3 of #12DaysOfBlogging with Amber and Erin.  Today's prompt is to talk about Christmas DIY Gifts.  I am all about DIY and Christmas and gifts.  Three of my favorite things all bundled up into one pretty little package. :)

I thought today I would share an idea of what you could make for someone you care about.  I completed this DIY this week and have it on display in my own home.  I originally meant to start it sooner so that I could make multiples and gift some out but I don't think my schedule will permit that this year.

Anyways!  Let's get to it.

Yarn Tassel Garland

I got the inspiration for this from Kaitlyn and I followed her instructions for the most part so if at any time my pictures or instructions do not help go check hers out here.

ONE:
Pick out the yarn that you like best.  I chose a darker green, a vibrant red and a nice cream/white to fit my holiday theme.  ::essentially you could do one for anything - I'm thinking about making one for every holiday/season::

TWO:
Decide on a book-like item that you will use to wrap the yarn with.  I chose my iPad because I didn't want my tassels to be too long.

THREE:
Wrap your yarn around the item you chose.  I chose to do 30 wraps - and yes, sometimes I lost count and went a little extra just for good measure.  However full or thin you want your tassels is fine, just be somewhat consistent so that they all look about the same size.

I am the worst blogging photographer ever.  Please don't judge

FOUR:
Cut a small piece of yarn from the same color that you are wrapping with and tie it on one end of your yarn loops.  Once you put this on with one tie carefully cut the opposite end of the yarn creating the actual tassel look.  Complete the tie at the top and cut the extra tails off.  ::I would wrap your top tie at least 3-4 times so that it doesn't come apart later::

FIVE:

Flip your tassel inside out hiding the small knot that you just created.  Take another piece of yarn - whichever size you'd like - and tie it around the top making a little bobble ::such technical words, I know::

SIX:
Complete as many tassels as you'd like in as many colors.  I chose to do 7 of each color giving me 21 tassels to hang.

SEVEN:
Take one color yarn and cut a long enough strand for you to hang all of your tassels on.  I chose the green yarn for mine and cut it after measuring out 4 arm-spans.  I estimate that this is about 10 feet.  Whatever size works for you is fine just as long as it is large enough to hold all of your tassels.

EIGHT:
I folded my strand in half - making it about 5 feet - and threaded a needle onto it.  I tied a large knot on the opposite end of the needle.  I then strung my tassels - through the bobble on the top - on in the pattern of Green, Red, White, Green, Red, White.  Once all tassels were threaded I cut the yarn at the base of the needle and knotted that end.

NINE:
Decide where you want your garland to be hung and do so.  With the extra yarn - and you should most likely have a lot extra depending on your space - loop it back to the original nail and slip-knot it.  ::By doing this you are not limiting yourself to moving it to a larger or smaller space down the road::

TEN:
Enjoy your wonderful DIY garland for many years to come.

This project was super simple and not very expensive.  I bought the yarn from JoAnn's and used a coupon so it came to a total of $9.  I only used about 1/3 of the yarn so I still have plenty left over for the next project I decide on.  Although it seems very time consuming, if you make the tassels while you watch some Christmas movies it goes by very fast :)

This is a simple DIY that anybody would be happy to receive as a gift this holiday season.