Make your own leis for an entertaining craft project.
Leis, which are part of the Hawaiian cultural tradition, make an active craft project that you can customize to work with a variety of materials and skill levels. Whether you are holding a luau themed party or making dress-up props for children, handmade leis can add a whimsical, personal touch.
Fresh Flowers
If you are throwing a party for adults or if you want a more fresh, expensive look, use fresh flowers. Start with flowers that have a thick, sturdy base so that they will hold up under pressure, like orchids or carnations. Remove the stems carefully, leaving the bloom as intact as possible. Buy heavy white thread and the longest needle you can find; look for one that does not have a wide opening that will ruin the flowers. Thread the needle and run it through the center of the flower and out of the bottom of the stem base and into the center of the next flower. Pull the second flower along the string so that it nests in the first flower. Repeat with the rest of the flowers and tie the ends of the string together to complete the lei.
Tissue Paper
When you want to make an inexpensive lei that looks lush and full, use tissue paper. Stack sheets of tissue paper or crepe paper together and trace flower patterns on the top sheet. Cut the entire stack at once to save time; you can also fold the sheet in half for a more efficient process. Separate the cut flowers into stacks of about 10 layers and thread a needle through the center of one. Add a small, painted pasta piece in between stacks to space them out. Bend the individual petals and crinkle the paper slightly to add texture, hide the pasta and make the lei fuller.
Fabric Flowers
A fabric flower lei can serve as a party keepsake or a party favor, and will last for further use. Make individual flowers by cutting various flower shapes out of different fabrics and using a couple of small stitches to hold the centers together. Use different textures, colors and patterns for an eclectic look. Thread the flowers on a string, placing beads between to act as spacers. By using tiny flowers, you can make a lei that doubles as a necklace; you can also customize the colors and textures to match your event theme.
Kids' Lei
For a lei craft project for kids, make sturdy leis. Buy plastic drinking straws in a variety of colors and cut them into small sections about 1 or 2 inches in length. Trace the shapes of flowers on multicolored construction paper, making different shapes for variety. Measure strips of yarn for each child and cut them to the correct length. Thread the yarn through a plastic needle or a large, dull needle and run it through the center of a flower, into a straw section, and through another flower. Have your kids personalize their flowers with glitter, crayons or paint.
Tags: craft project, needle through, needle through center, through center, center flower