Autumn Decorated Bracket Easel Tag

Large display “card” medallion with bracket-shaped 

edges is the base for creating this embellished seasonal 

or celebration decor.  Interior medallion shape was used 

as a tracing template to feature burlap for textural element.

 Loopy Bow and Button Flourish decorate top center; 

Vine Swirls Four Set act as base flourishes; 

Autumn Blessings Leaf Plaque takes center stage. 

Other "found" embellishments provide interest and fun.

Measures approx. 5.3” wide x 8” tall.

(This post is intended solely as inspiration.

No tutorial steps or instructions will be provided.

Please study this sample project then decide

how to create your own masterpiece.)

Autumn Character Tags

Autumn Character gift tags (with optional base

that can also hold a "plastic" gift card inside) in this series include

Scarecrow, Pumpkin Jack and Crow.

Each features layered shapes onto tag base with top center

.2” diam. punch hole for ribbon loop. 

Each measures approx. 2.6” wide x 4.5” tall. 

PUMPKIN TAG ASSEMBLY: 
1. Identify and cut the shapes for the tag.
For this tutorial, the pumpkin is shown using
the plastic gift card-holding tag base.

2. Position the contrast show-thru under panel

behind the main pumpkin shape, so that the eyes,

nose and mouth are fully covered . . . 

. . . and glue to the backside of pumpkin panel.

3. Position and attach the center 'contour' pumpkin

upper and lower shapes, lining up edges that should

match, including the punch hole.

4. Position and attach the vine curl, then overlap

the leaf with punch hole openings aligned, pivot

to desired position, and glue in place.

5. Position and attach the pumpkin assembly

onto the tag base front, taking care to center

and also align the punch hole openings.

NOTE: if using the gift card holder base, 

make sure that the tabs ARE NOT glued down

to pumpkin.

6. Place the gift card on the backside of the tag base

between the tabs.

Attach a ribbon loop through the holes

to complete the gift tag.

CROW TAG ASSEMBLY: 

7. Identify and cut the shapes for the tag.

8. Position and attach the "eye whites" lozenge shape

behind the eye openings.

(NOTE: this image, below, shows the backside of

the crow head/body, with the white shape being attached.)

9. Position and attach the 'hat' upper tag shape onto

the tag base, taking care to align the punch hole openings,

with even offset margin around sides, then position 

and attach the black head/body assembly below it with 

diagonal edges abutted. 

10. Center and attach the hat brim onto the brim base,

and the center 'toes' onto three-toes bases.

11. Position and attach the brim assembly with

lower edge aligned with the lower angle edge of 'hat'.

Position and attach the beak triangle below the eyes,

and each toes assembly along the bottom as shown.

12. Position and attach the separate eye circles over

the cut-in pupils of the head.

13. Attach a ribbon loop through the hole

to complete the gift tag.

SCARECROW TAG ASSEMBLY: 

14. Identify and cut the shapes for the tag.

15. Reverse the head shape (face down), then position

and attach the contrast features shape over the cutouts.

16. Position and attach the 'hat' crown (black plaid)

over the tag base with hang hole openings aligned

and even offset margin around sides. Position and attach

the head assembly below it with diagonal edges abutted.

17. Position and attach the hat brim shape centered

onto the brim base shape.

18. Position and attach the brim assembly over the hat

shape lower angled edge. Position and attach the nose

triangle within the nose cut out shape. Position and attach

the hat patch where the side edges can align.

19. Attach a ribbon loop through the holes

to complete the gift tag.

Here is the completed tag.

Disc Pleated 3D Ornament

Select lighter weight card stock or heavier weight 

printed paper. Perforations define the pleating folds 

to complete the accordion fan-folds of this disc-shaped 

ornament for holiday or seasonal decor. 
OVERVIEW:

Bend, crease, then shape three panels; join end seams 

to create a tube. Fold the ends inward to form the disc profile, 

then use a tapestry blunt end needle to thread 

no. 5 perle cotton thread/yarn or soft twine through the tiny holes 

along each edge to gather pleats to achieve final size 

and shape; tie off and hide ends. 

Cover the cinch gather center hole with miniature layered 

poinsettia blossom (or other decoration of choice). 

Add wire, ribbon or cord loop through center top hand holes. 

Measures approx .875” thick x 3.875” diameter. 

ASSEMBLY: 1. Identify and cut the shapes:
2 lower side pleat panels
1 top center pleat panel (with holes)
1-2 sets of flower petals and leaf

2. Bend and crease each of the pleat panels,

beginning at the side tab end and bending tabs back

(mountain fold).

3. Continue along the vertical perforation lines to bend and
crease in alternating direction, valley, then mountain,
then valley and so forth, across the entire panel.

4. Slightly bend and crease along the diagonal
perf lines, first in one direction, and then going back
to crease along the opposite diagonal perf lines.
Also crease the one-unit wide diagonal perforations
on each end.

5. Prepare to pleat the panel (working from the non-tab

end as shown) to bend the side portions down and inward,

allowing the panel's "fan pleats" to be drawn together  . . .

. . . while encouraging the short center perforation within 
the center "diamond" lines to re-direct in a downward depression
- in opposite direction to the extended fan pleat line folding. 
Then gather and condense the fan pleats together 
one by one across . . .

. . . the width of the panel. Press and crease the stacked
perforation lines well, especially at the intersections
along the center diamonds.

The end profile of the pleated panel will have
the appearance of a tall tent as shown here.

6. Note that the top center panel has center punch holes
for eventual insertion of the hanging loop.

7. Open the pleat panels, prepare and join the side seams,

with the straight plain end edge of one panel overlapping

the tabs of the opposite end of adjacent panels, with

ends and intersections accurately aligned, then glue seam.

8. Form the flexible panel length into a ring to
align and complete the final side seam.

9. Cut a 36-40 inch length of no. 5 perle cotton yarn

or soft twine and thread one end through the finest

tapestry needle that will comfortably pass through

the pleat panel stitching holes.

10. Tie a "stop knot" onto one thread end, then . . .

. . . select a beginning spot away from the hang holes

and begin the down-up "stitching" through the pairs

of holes at the mountain folds . . .

. . . all along one edge of the joined panel . . .

. . . until the complete circuit has been made.

Trim, leaving a tail (cut at the halfway length of original

yarn length), and tie overhand knot between pleat fold.

Also tie a stop knot at the new end to keep the yarn

from coming loose.

11. Repeat this threading process on the other edge,

remove the needle, tie knot, and stop knot.

12. Cinch each threaded length up carefully to
the tightest possible, and complete the overhand knot,
turning it into a secure square or granny knot to hold cinching.

13. Trim stop knots off, thread the end through

the center opening in opposite directions (so knots and 

short tails are left inside the "tunnel"). Apply glue to help secure

the knots and tails inside the tunnel.

When glue is dry, trim the tails excess close to surface.

14. Thread length of the hanging loop of choice 
through the top punch holes and tie ends together
at desired hanging length.

15. Add curl to the petals if desired, then layer from

largest (bottom) to smallest on top with center punch holes

aligned. Pivot to offset the petals of each layer

as desired, then secure with a dab of glue at center.

Position the leaf whorl underneath, pivoting to
have the leaves exposed between other petals
as preferred, and secure with a dab of glue.

16. Position and attach a blossom unit onto the front

and back (if desired), centering over the cinch ring.

Add and glue in place a mini brad through center.

Ball 3D Ornament Large Diamond Accents

Select lighter weight card stock or heavier weight 

printed paper. Perforations define the pleats 

to complete the accordion diamonds and 

fan-fold ends of this pointed spherical ornament 

for holiday or seasonal decor - shown with two colorways.

Bend, crease, and shape three panels; join end seams, 

then use a tapestry blunt end needle to thread 

no. 5 perle cotton thread/yarn through the tiny holes 

to gather the ends. Insert prepared tassel or other “dangles” 

plus ribbon or cord loop before cinching up 

the top and bottom and tying off. 

Measures approx. 3.75” tall x 4.25” middle diameter 

when completed (separate from tassel and loop, etc.). 

Additional embellishments can include wooden 

or glass beads, metal bead end cups, etc. 

ASSEMBLY: 1. Identify and cut the shapes:
3 pleat panels
optional half diamond accents, 12 sets per panel

2. Begin creasing process by bending back the side

tabs as "valley" folds. Then . . .

. . . continue to alternate across the panel with
"mountain" fold next . . .

. . .and so forth.

3. Bend along each diagonal line, beginning at
the short length perforation lines near ends . . .

. . . and creasing only along length of perf line
(do not extend across the lengthwise perforation lines) . . .

. . . and along each diagonal line across panel.

Be sure to pinch the crease at ends to define

the crease lines precisely.

4. Repeat to bend and crease along the opposite
diagonal lines.

5. Prepare to begin the pleating by bending the end

tabs into upward position, then . . .

. . . identify the center segment of each vertical
perforation line and pay attention to it . . .

. . . so that, as the sides are directed downward,
and inward, the line within the "diamond" will be . . .

. . . redirected in the opposite folding direction 
as shown. NOTE that it may need to be pushed
downward slightly to allow it to "pop" into desired position.

6. Continue to gather and stack the perforation lines
as shown, working along toward opposite end  . . .

. . . as more pleats are formed and condensed or
closed together.

NOTE: it may be necessary to assist with the bending
and pleating at the intersections.

When the entire panel is pleated and stacked,
it will have the appearance of a domed tent.

Apply fingertip pressure along the stacks of perforation
folds to lock them in and make sure creasing is complete.

Here is one panel allowed to expand.

7. Open the pleated panel into flattened position,

then position and attach the half diamond accent

into crease-defined spaces, first one half . . .

. . . and then the second half.

Make sure that the accent shapes DO NOT interfere

with the panels folding.

The model project uses contrasting half diamonds,

but other combinations are possible, including

having a "whole" diamond of one paper 

alternating with a "whole" diamond of another.

8. Position, align and attach along side seams,
overlapping the straight plain edge of one panel
overlapping the side tabs of the opposite panel.
NOTE that it is possible to join all side seams at
this point in assembly as is done for other styles in
this series.

9. Cut a 36-40 inch length of no. 5 perle cotton yarn

or equivalent soft twine onto the finest gauge tapestry needle

that will comfortably pass through the threading holes

of the panel. 

Tie an overhand knot onto the single end,

then pass the needle down-up through the first pairs of holes

that fall on each side of the first "mountain" fold.

Pull through until the thread stops at the end knot.

Continue threading the pleats onto the needle and yarn.
When threading is complete across one side,
trim a tail, add a knot to keep the yard from slipping back
through. 

Repeat for the other edge of panel.

10. Form the panel assembly into a tube to align

and join the final side seam.

11. If desired, a decorative array of tassel, beads,
bead caps, etc. can be prepared. One way to achieve
a small tassel for the ornament ball is to purchase a few
inches of home decoration "tassel trim" often available
through fabric or craft stores such as JoAnn or Hobby Lobby.
Here is how the "trim" is converted into a single tassel 
on strings.
A) separate by cutting halfway between the tassels

B) un-stitch (pull chain threads) that hold the loops
of yarns into the "tape" portions of the trim

C) straighten and gather the resulting yarns
so that the tassel "hangs" from these
(wet these and pull taut to dry straight)

12. Add beads to the tassel loose yarns end, if desired,

then tie ends to a loop of other twine, ribbon or cord.

(You will need to do some exploring about how long

to have the tassel end yarns and the loop so that

the tassel end bead will "snug" up against the bottom

of the pleated sphere, and the loop extend to desired

length above, with the knot falling inside the ball.)

13. Insert the loop/tassel array through the center

of the still-loose pleating, then . . .

. . . cinch the threading yarns tight (with a single
overhand knot to keep the yarn from tearing through
perforations or threading holes), then secure with
second overhand knot to complete the square knot
or granny knot (NOTE you may need an extra pair of
hand or a crafter's clip to achieve a tight-as-possible cinch).

14. Repeat the cinching at the top to complete

the spherical ornament. Apply glue to

securely attach the beads to the sphere and hide
the gathers circle opening, as desired.