Have you noticed Christmas items already popping up in stores? Although it is still a bit early, I like being able to use some of the items in non-Christmas ways, like this paper flower garland made from small white Christmas lights! This garland is very multi-purpose: you can make it for a party, home decor, or decorate your tree with it.

Supplies: Cardstock, crepe paper, pencil, scissors, hole punch, hot glue gun, Christmas lights

Step 1: On the card stock, draw rough circles about 1 1/2″ in diameter. Cut them out – you need one for each flower.
Step 2: Hole punch the center of the circle.
Step 3: Use the scissors to fringe the edges of the circle.
Step 4: Use your finger to curl the fringed edges upward and inward.
Step 5: Cut a strip of crepe paper about 1″ wide and 5″ long. Fringe one edge.
Step 6: Cut out five crepe paper petals per flower, about 1 1/2″ long.
Step 7: Stretch and curl each petal, twisting the base to curl the petal even more.
Step 8: Use a hot glue gun to attach the fringed crepe paper onto the back of the fringed circle, right along the edge of the hole punch. Trim off any excess length of the crepe.
Step 9: Hot glue the petals onto the fringed crepe, keeping the base of the petals close to the hole punch. Do your best to distribute the petals evenly around the hole.
Step 10: The finished flower will look like this. For the garland pictured, I did these flowers in two different color-ways.
Step 11: Slide the flower onto the light bulb. Mine fit quite snugly, but you could apply a tiny dot of glue to secure if you feel it is necessary.