Paper Globes

I'm getting there.  I can just about make out the light.  Getting caught up on things can be so dangerous though;  that's when the To Do List gets frisky and starts to breed.

I spent the earlier part of the week going over fabric strike-offs, color-bossing every nuance.  The next collection is looking pretty crazy fantastic and I'm excited to push it one more step toward the finish line. There are a couple of pieces that I'm going to have to design some clothes around.  That's just it.  Can't stand it.  A fitted little cocktail jacket out of one and a flared 50s dress from another. Something to do during the wait, I guess -- draft patterns & do stomach crunches (50s dress requirement).

I've uploaded a new pattern to my sidebar called "Paper Globes."  This is one of several projects I put together for the upcoming Home Companion feature (April/May 08).  The shoot was last May.  See, everything I do takes a year these days. These are super easy and fun.

And you don't have to make a topiary.  They make great ornaments too.  In fact, this design stems from an old-fashioned tradition of creating paper kissing balls from the year's Christmas card intake.  The ones I've seen were pretty hokey though, with too many illustration styles garbled together. It's high time we modern folk take the concept further and explore other styles & uses.

Wouldn't these be great for a baby shower or a wedding?  Or strung along a garland?  (Speaking of, have you seen the Ga-Ga for Garlands photo group lately?  Amazing.)  I'd love to see some of these paper globes made from vintage children's book pages.  Or as luminaries.

I put together a few Valentine's ornaments using this pattern last week to help me get Christmas out of my system.  They're pretty fun.  Really fun, in fact.  I'll snap some photos for my next post.

Feel free to shrink or enlarge the pattern as you please.  These paper globes can be made any size you like.  You just need 20 little circles, each with a perfect isosceles equilateral triangle scored in their middles. The main trick is in assembly.  It's easier than it looks though. Download the pattern and instructions to see how it all comes together.

Try spelling isosceles from memory.  Eek.  Which reminds me... Elijah tore his way through the school spelling bee this week and has been invited to compete at the district level.  He probably hasn't heard enough "atta-boys" though, as I've been trying to warn him that the kids who win the National Spelling Bee have crazy, mean parents who make them study dictionaries all day long.  Even nice coaches with jump ropes are still probably crazy.  Oh, what do you do? 

And a big Happy Birthday to my surprise speller too.  Elijah turned 11 earlier this week.  Birthday sleepover bash tomorrow night -- all Spiderman and big-screen-projected, multi-player video games, all night long!  And junk food. 

Comments

[Puggle]

Are you sure it isn't an equilateral triangle? It could just be that I need to brush up on my geometry ...

[melissa@yummygoods]

Hi Heather!
Looking forward to reading the article! And seeing your new line. Love the topiaries.

[AnnieB]

ditch the stomach crunches woman - it's pilates you need as the fifties dress solution

[Helen]

Happy Birthday to your boy! Those topiary decorations look so cute - we used to make decorations out of old Christmas cards just like that, only with the edges pinked. I never knew they were called kissing balls though.

[Tracey]

My daughter's 4th grade class made those balls this Christmas out of wrapping paper. They are so easy and cute. My daughter came home and made several more. Hmmm....wonder if her teacher is a fan of yours?

[Sara]

I think I'll make some V Day decorations out of your tutorial. They look nice and simple. I wanted to do a little decorating for V Day but not go overboard.

[Ginger]

Thanks for the great pattern. This are delightful... I am feeling the need to run out and buy cute papers as we speak! Hope you don't mind, but I will be posting a link on my blog. These are too cute and too easy to not be shared! Thanks for all the great inspiration!

[Niki Nicole]

I love the topiary! The colors are amazing. But how did you use your fabric patterns? Because you designed it on your computer (at least that is how I assume it is done) were you able to print it out. And if that is the case do you think heavy stabeliser ironed to the back would work. Oooo...for get the glue and sew it! Fuzzy, frayed, puffy balls would be awesome. Thanks for inspiration!

[Natalie]

I used to make these greeting card ornaments as a young girl. Thank you for the fresh take on an old favorite... I can't wait to try them again.

[Audrey]

Nothing like early morning inspiration! Thanks so much Heather :) From a friend of a friend.

[Mrs. B.]

Those topiaries are DELICIOUS! I'm going to have to find a spare second and make a few (hundred). So so cute. Thank you!

[Angela]

Love the balls -- but more importantly, happy birthday to your little man. I'm super impressed with anyone who can spell well because, well, I can't. Have fun with the Spiderman themed video game bash!

[Diana]

First, happy birthday to the younger man in your life. Wow - 11. Secondly, these topiary balls are too darn cute! I must, MUST try them. Thanks, as always, for fantastic idea. I think they'll make a great addition to my DD's upcoming birthday. (5 is looming & I can barely take it. I am SO not ready for 11!) And third, I can't WAIT to see the new line. I'm already designing things in my head around it & it's not even released yet. LOL!

[Mrsfish/Pink Portuguese Roses]

Those are so cool! I was looking for something like that to make for Christmas. Well, I guess I have something for this next year...LOL! Home Companion...that's impressive. Kudos to you! I'll have to pick one up when it comes out.

[Sandi Henderson]

Hey Miss Heather-Can't wait to see the new line, I just tucked my strike off's away too. Ah the lure of a cleaner plate for a bit.

Sandi

[Sarah]

Soooo cute! I'm wondering how I can adapt these into "snowballs" for my daughter's first birthday party tomorrow. We're doing a snow bunny theme. White paper would be kind of boring though, no?

[A]

you could stamp the white paper with blue or silver lace. either use a rubber stamp or lay a paper doily down and dab the whole inkpad over it. i think that would look quite delicate and snowflake like!

[Emily]

Oh these are adorable :) I always love your colors :) I wonder if I could rig up one of those fake flickering candles inside? I dunno if it would be bright enough. We'll see :) Thanks!!!

[Emily]

Oh these are adorable :) I always love your colors :) I wonder if I could rig up one of those fake flickering candles inside? I dunno if it would be bright enough. We'll see :) Thanks!!!

[Makayla]

I made a bunch of these for my Christmas tree this year. I used Christmas cards I had gathered from my mom's office and from my mother in law. This is a very cute variation.

[sarah]

So am I seeing freshcut paper?? I am LOVING the colors!!! oh I can't wait for spring!!! THanks for the link to your nail polish incident with Anna...what a great laugh!!!!

[donnadowney]

you amaze me!!!
wow!

[April C]

Those are gorgeous :) We used to make those as kids out of old Christmas cards :) I'm thinking those would be neat to make a garland for my daughter's third birthday and centre pieces.

[Lisa Cohen]

I absolutely love these!! They are beautiful! I want to go and make a whole bunch and stage an indoor spring to remind us of the season to come. It's so chilly where I am and this would completely brighten up my entire house. Hmmm... maybe this could be a weekend project... my 6 year old will probably want to make them as well. Thanks for the download for these.

[jill]

Hey! I remember making these in grade 5 out of Christmas cards. My mom kept mine for years . . . it had a camel on one side. I am so getting some pretty paper to make a few. Might even let my 3 year old help.

[Dorre]

I just made one of these topiaries and it made me soo happy!! I need to make like a hundred more so I can hang them from the ceiling in my sewing room. Thank You!!!

[Jan]

I love the topiarys Heather! I used to coach the spelling bee kids at school, these kids of ours are so brave!

[Cornelia Rose]

Oh really lovely! I like these colors. Spring is in the air!

Cornelia

[Cornelia Rose]

Oh, really lovely. I like these colors, Spring is in the air.

LG Cornelia

[Cornelia Rose]

Oh, really lovely. I like these colors, Spring is in the air.

LG Cornelia

[Cornelia Rose]

Oh, really lovely. I like these colors, Spring is in the air.

LG Cornelia

[Karen]

Hooray!!
I'm so excited to hear your new range is close to finished! I loved FreshCut but some patterns were hard to get here in Aus so will jumping onto OS sites this time around to order.

[sugar]

very beautiful.

[Missy]

love the topiaries!

[Erica]

I love these and want to make some right now! I can't seem to find the link to the pattern though? Am I looking in the wrong place?! HELP!

[SarahB]

I just found your site due to a link to these adorable paper globes and have already bookmarked you! So many yummy goodies and I'm so intrigued by your gorgeous fabric line! I've downloaded the pattern for those super cute booties too!

[juanita eres mi reina]

hellou my name is Juanita!

[Bo]

Congratulation with the Trash Ties! Looks cool! When can we see them i shops here in Norway? :-)

[Wendi Gratz]

Thanks so much for the great pattern! You said you'd love to see it made up with pages from vintage children's books - I almost did that. I used sample pages from a new book (due out Tuesday) illustrated by the super-awesome Dan Yaccarino. You can see a picture at http://gratzindustries.blogspot.com/2008/01/dan-yaccarino-globe.html

[chelsea]

cute cute papers. I saw this same idea last month from crafttutorials: http://crafttutorials.wordpress.com/

The two newest posts are cute cute and the bright snowflake papers are almost as cute as yours!

[Mellissa - wondermommy]

I love the topiaries! And, I definitely can't wait to see the new line!

[Andrekab]

Thank you for continuing gifts of gorgeousness.

Speaking of, a "heather bailey" Flickr search turned up these two cuties: http://www.flickr.com/photos/gamegirlphotoz/2193424585/

Don't know them, but thought you'd like the cute girl+puppy photo all the same.

[Lalla Lydia]

Those are so lovely. I think they would also make great housewarming gifts, or look nice all hanging from the ceiling in clusters, sort of like non-glittery discoballs (especially with your luminary idea!) They also look a lot like the Japanese origami form of kusudama. Like these pretty ones here:
http://www.geocities.com/mmukhopadhyay/origami/gallry2k.html

and here: http://paperunlimited.wordpress.com/2007/08/

I'll look forward to seeing your creations in the upcoming article!

[natalie]

hi, thanks for the pattern. i'm thinking garlands would be so cute! thanks for the idea!!

[June]

Congratulations to Elijah for his spelling bee success as well as his birthday.

Your card topiary is adorable. Thank you for sharing the idea and the pattern.

[Karin]

I remember making dodecahedrons in elementary school. We used the traditional greeting cards and they were a lot of fun to make!
I cannot wait to see what else you come up with. Does the mind ever rest?
Happy Borthday, Elijah!

[cindy k]

love the topiaries and the paper! thanks for the pattern. congratulations to your son on winning the spelling bee! i was a much better speller before spell check.

[Tamara]

Hi! from Spain!
Thanks for the pattern! lovely flowers, my nephews and niece loved it!
This saturday we are having a young women reunion and I'm using your headband pattern to teach the girls :)thanks for your great creativity!!
I'm always cheking your blog for something new :) thank you!

[lindsey]

i just made these for a shower last weekend! thank you, thank you, thank you! these were super easy and so fun! the directions were very clear. they turned out to be adorable, although i do wish i had some luscious velvet ribbon on hand like yours. i just posted on them a couple days ago - take a look!

[lindsey]

i just made these for a shower last weekend! thank you, thank you, thank you! these were super easy and so fun! the directions were very clear. they turned out to be adorable, although i do wish i had some luscious velvet ribbon on hand like yours. i just posted on them a couple days ago - take a look!