2. Five Ways to Not Lose Your Mind During the Apocalypse

Number Two: Decorate for a party!

Because you aren't having one but your house could use some cheering up if you aren't able to leave it. Plus the coming spring (your birthday, easter, good health, whatever!) is totally worth celebrating.





















This is Corina's contribution to the decorating: 


You don't have to go out to buy anything to make awesome decorations. Here's how to make mexican style flower garlands like the yellow ones pictured.

You'll need:

scissors

straws (i bought a package of green ones on amazon but  you can use whatever color)

At least two colors of paper

a needle and any color of regular sewing thread

These are time consuming to make but can last many years if you treat them with care.

Step one:

Cut out the centers for the flowers. You can make them whatever size/colors you like. Accordion fold the paper so that you can cut out many at once. You  can trace a guide with pencil or just free hand.

Step two:

Cut out flower shapes. It works best if the flowers are pretty small. Mine are about the length of my thumb. Again you can use whatever colors you'd like. If you are struggling with the petal shape you can print a flower shape to use as a guide but if you can freehand them you should because variation in shape and amount of petals and slight variations in size make it look more real.

Step three:

Thread your needle by pulling a length of thread through the eye and bringing two ends together. You will want to make these in two or three foot lengths and join them later probably just so it's not too cumbersome. Tie a hefty knot.


Step four:  Cut the straws in about one inch chunks. For the first one put your needle into the straw and tie a knot just so you can be sure you wont lose any work off the end.

Step five: Arrange the paper. Center, flower, center and push the needle through.


Step six: Add another straw but putting the needle through the center. You only need to knot the end pieces so just go straight through.

Then repeat, repeat, repeat!
You can speed up the process by cutting all you paper and straws in having them laid out before beginning the threading.