Constitutionally Modern DIY

I hate buying veggies that are sold on styrofoam, but in my hood that’s the only way to buy brussels sprouts.  Good news: styrofoam can be cut into lightweight tree ornaments (of all types, mine just happen to be gift boxes).  Patterned washi-tape is the ultimate quick coverall!  

You need:

• Washi tape (2 kinds)
• Styrofoam refuse (cut into squares)
• Sharpie 
• Foam brush or paint brush
• White paper
• Pencil
• Something to hang your creation with, could be:  wire (requires small pin/nail) or thread/string (requires needle)
• Scissors
• Mod Podge or glue
• Square post-it notes (optional)

Want to see the steps? 

Costs = <$8: 

• Washi tape = $7.30 for a set of 2
• Everything else = free or already available around the house

How to:

• Post-its make a quick & easy square tracer.  Sharpie shows up well on black styrofoam.  Trace and cut.

• Trace the square on white paper too.

• Use a brush of some sort to apply glue.  Glue white squares onto styrofoam squares.

• Start from one end and start adding Washi tape.  Align the design as best you can — ending it is the only part that requires a bit of testing & cutting.

• Add a contrasting Washi tape in the shape of what you would see on a present.

• Poke a hole for your hanging device.  I used a large pin.  I added a thin layer of Mod Podge over the tape but I think this step was probably completely unnecessary.  Only time and a controlled experiment would tell if this is worth it.  Too soon.

• Add wire or string.

• Time for the bow.  Fold over between 1.5”-2” as evenly as possible.  

• Loop that around.

• Then attach at the cross.  Cut notches in the end to make it perty.

• Use some glue or mod podge to get your bow to lie a bit flatter (see how it protrudes a bit here…)

• Hang.