If you’re anything like me, you’ve got your hands full and your calendar booked. There are things to do, and you’ve got the best intentions to rock your YW (or another) church calling, but being as organized as you’d like just isn’t in the cards sometimes. If that scenario sounds familiar, read on.

garland-roundup2014

1 – Fringe Garland via Ruffled// 2 – Anthropologie-inspired Garland via Birds Party // 3 – Doilies Garland via The Sweetest Occasion//

4 – Dixie Cup Garland via Hey Gorgeous Events // 5 – Paper Shapes Garland via Marvelous Mommy //

6 – Tissue Paper Flower Garland via You Are My Fave // 7 – Origami Bow Garland via PDX Pursuit via Tweety Atelier*

Buntings and garlands. Pinterest is bursting at the seams with them. I love these little beauties because they’re so on trend right now, but also because they can be used for so many different reasons. They’re versatile – dress up that YW bulletin board you’ve been meaning to work on, decorate the front door of one of your girl’s homes for their birthday, string them up with some twinkle lights and they’re full on decor for that upcoming Evening of Excellence you’re trying to get planned. They also go great over door frames, across the front of dessert tables or stages, and those rolling blackboards that can be found in any church building. Plus you can pair a few different types together and you’ve got a little bit more of a sophisticated feel. (The YW 2014 Theme Kit comes with pre-printed patterned pennants – just cut, paste and tie them in with one of these beauties in coordinating colors and you’ll have a look that’s all your own and downright fabulous).

Horizontal isn’t the only way to go with these. Use pins to tack them around a bulletin board for a border. Hang them vertically from the ceiling as a backdrop to your display or dessert table, or set up your own photo booth at your Evening in Excellence (use a white sheet or shower curtain as your backdrop) and hang them vertically in front of your backdrop to add interest.

If that weren’t enough, you’re probably familiar with the phrase “many hands make labors light”. It’s true. These garlands are the perfect project for you to work on with your Young Women. They learn a new skill or stretch their crafting muscles and it’s a great way to get them together and start an informal chat session. Plus, they feel a sense of ownership of the event or project because they helped prepare for it (and to be quite honest, you’re very likely training up a future set of YW leaders – way to build the Kingdom, by the way).

 

* None of these garland ideas, their tutorials, or the photos above are of my own creation. I’ve only pulled my favorites from the dozens of great ideas you can find online. Visit the links above for great step by step tutorials and a great big thank you to each of them for sharing their ideas online!