simple paper strip nest

how did we get to the end of MARCH already?!!

this last post for the month - though certainly not my last spring project - 

was a thought that occurred to me as i was working on my

new 'Sweet Sweater Nest' creations late last month (post linked below)...

this nest is made using the same basic method as the sweater nest,

but with a different material: paper strips.

i've chosen to use some of my 'painted paint chip paper' strips to make mine - 
remember back in 2020 when my theme was paint chip crafts ALLL year long??!

to fit your own style, this project could easily be done using vintage sheet music,

elegant gift wrapping paper, or even colorful comic pages.
it's a fun way to up-cycle any paper you have on hand!

continue reading for a great last-minute spring project
PLUS a tip for filling your Easter baskets easily! 

dwk

the nest is simply constructed of strips of paper,
wound around and glued into place.

this one is a bit large, but you can make them in any size you wish.

TUTORIAL

materials

paper - gift wrap, paint chip strips, comic pages, vintage sheet music, etc.

hot glue OR tacky glue if you're helping kids make this

scissors . a bowl to use as a form for the nest shape

i started by creating some of the 'paint chip paper' that i've used before (link below post)
in tones of green. i used three colors of green paint in the stripes on plain printer paper.

once dry, i cut the paper into thin strips - in two different directions to make it more interesting.
whatever paper you choose, cut it into strips that are at least 8" long, and @ 1/4" wide.

as with the Sweet Sweater Nests, an inverted bowl serves as a form to shape the nest.
i wrapped one long strip of paper around the bowl's opening
(at the bottom, since the bowl is upside down) and glued it together to hold it in place.
(note: don't glue the paper TO the bowl!!!)

i grabbed more strips and kept winding them around the bowl,
working up the sides, and gluing them to previous strips to keep them in place.
(it doesn't take much - a tiny drop of hot glue dries fast)

as i reached the top of the inverted bowl, i decided to create a 'bottom' for the nest:

i took the nest off of the bowl form,
then glued seven strips of paper together in a 'starburst' shape (seen on the left, above).
i flipped that starburst over and laid it on top of the inverted bowl - 
then slipped the paper nest back onto the bowl.

i used hot glue to adhere some of the ends of the starburst to the nest,
then took it all off of the bowl and glued a few more spots to hold it all together.
because i flipped the 'starburst' over, the green color now appears INSIDE the nest,
as well as on the exterior.

the paper i used is thin, not heavy weight - even so, it held its shape well.

after sitting the nest on an ironstone plate,
i filled it with bright green eyelash yarn 'grass' and added a green ceramic egg.

here's a tip for adding a heavy item to soft filler:
put something to support it UNDER the filler.
i placed a ceramic egg cup in the nest, covered it with the yarn,
then sat the egg into the egg cup. it sits up high and noticeable!

...and on that note, here's my tip for making Easter baskets prettier AND easier to clean up:

so how many of you have spent Easter Sunday afternoon or Monday
trying to vacuum up that plastic grass, or shredded paper grass?
i had four kids. there was a lot of it, and i ruined at least one vacuum.

here's a much better and more eco-friendly / reusable approach:
use fluffy yarn, faux fur, or even large pom poms as basket filler!

it makes cleanup a LOT easier - no clogged vacuums!

NOTE: not recommended for very young children who may eat the filler.
use a fuzzy faux fur blankie instead!

related content:

Sweet Sweater Nests

painted paint chip paper

paint chip crafts from 2020

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