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pleated projects week: pleated medallions

    week-of-pleated-projects

    This week should be fun … five different projects all using the same folding techniques to create pleats. Each one is inexpensive {yay!}, easy to achieve {double yay!} and can be altered to make tons of different projects. At the end of the week we’ll do a link party where you can show off your pleated projects.

    Up first: how to make pleated medallions.

    various-medallions

    There are two ways to make these pretty medallions so I’ll show you both ways.

    For the first way, here’s what you need:

    supplies-for-accordion-medallion

    :: 8.5 x 11 cardstock
    :: scissors
    :: hot glue gun {not shown}
    :: coordinating paper {optional}

    cut-paper-into-three-equal-strips

    cut paper into three equal strips

    accordion-fold-for-medallion

    Begin by folding one strip up about a half inch. Turn over and fold equally. Flip over again and continue folding. Don’t worry about being perfect, just try to keep the folds mostly even.

    accordion-folds

    Once you’ve folded all three pieces, connect end to end using hot glue until you have one continuous accordion-folded strip. Then join the two ends to make a circle.

    join-all-strips-to-form-a-circle

    Now flatten the circle and squeeze in toward the center.

    squeeze-in-circle-and-hot-glue-center

    Secure with hot glue.

    green-accordion-medallion

    You can stop here, or embellish further with a coordinating circle in the center.

    add-center-circle-to-medallion

    Freehand {or not} a circle and hot glue to the center.

    green-medallion-with-center-circle

    Cute, right?

    To make a medallion another way, here’s what you’ll need:

    supplies-for-pink-medallion

    :: four equal pieces of paper {I used wrapping paper from paper source}
    :: scissors
    :: hot glue gun {not shown}
    :: coordinating paper {optional}

    accordion-fold-then-fold-in-half

    Stack all four sheets {it helps if the paper is not as thick as card stock} and accordion fold. Separate the four pieces. flatten one piece at a time and fold in half.

    glue-together-each-accordion-fold

    Glue ends of folds together to create one continuous accordion fan.

    put-two-medallion-halves-together

    polkadot-medallion

    Again, you can leave this as is, or embellish with a center circle.

    cut-out-glitter-circle-for-center-of-medallion

    polkadot-medallion-finished'

    By varying the size of paper as well as the size of folds, you can get large and small medallions.

    We hung a cluster from twine over Audrey’s bed for a colorful, whimsical touch.

    hanging-medallions-in-little-girl-room

    medallions-hanging-in-window

    Come back tomorrow for another great pleated project!

    25 thoughts on “pleated projects week: pleated medallions”

    1. I love these. I think they will make a great touch to a baby shower we are having for my SIL. Are you using double sided paper, or is the back side just white?

    2. Love! The patterned papers you used are beautiful! Would love to know where you got them. Love reading your blog by the way. Today’s post especially (4/25 He takes great delight in you). Wonderful! Thank you!!!
      Wendy

    3. Would you mind adding in as an update (or just a comment) how big the diameter is of the medallions of the two you did? Sounds tedious, but I’m trying to plan a space and am wondering if the top one is about a foot in diameter or 6″, etc. Love this :)

    4. How timely this “Thistlekeeping” is for my needs! I’d just been making notes about doing something with these medallions for our church bazaar and for me … and you send this! What fun … and oh how sweet they are in Audrey’s room! Absolutely LOVE the colors ~ so sophisticated, and yet sweet and young at the same time …

      So love your blog!

    5. I love these!! I made them once before, but like your way a lot better. And, I’ve been wanting to do something fun over my baby’s crib and THIS IS IT!! I never could have imagined to use these, but it’s perfect, and it will be easy and I can do it!!
      Thank you so, so, so much.

    6. I absolutely love these projects. They are perfect for a spring/ summer garden party or children’s soiree. I like the second example, especially the paper you chose, with four pieces because it offers extra pleats. Thanks for posting.

    7. I love these and made a whole bunch for my daughters first birthday. I displayed them on the wall above the food table and they made such a fun and bright statement!!!

    8. This project couldn’t have come at a better time… I’m having my daughters 8th bday party this weekend and these will definitely be included in the decor, thank u!

    9. I made medallions for our New Year’s Eve party with gold patterned wrapping paper! They looked amazing over the buffet table and a classy change from helium balloons! Yours are so pretty, I used the first method, but your second method looks more substantial, will try that next time!
      Thanks for sharing!

    10. I love these medallions! I’ve been wanting to make them for a long time–thanks for the instructions :) I’m looking forward to seeing what other pleated ideas you have!

    11. Oh, I haven’t made these in a long time but thanks for the reminder as I adore them! I am going to make some to hang from my dining room curtain rod just to cheer things up a bit. It is rainy and grey this week so it will be nice to have a little burst of colour!

    12. Ooo! I’m so excited about this! I’m thinking it’s time to update my burlap wreath with a few of these for spring…Can’t wait to link up later this week! Thanks (as always) for the great tutorials!

      1. I used baker’s twine taped to the back of the medallion and then taped to the ceiling with washi tape. It did not hold for long, fyi. I will probably rehang with push pins next time.

    13. I love, love, love your beautiful blog and look forward to enjoying it every day! I have a quick question that I wonder about every time I see someone hanging something from the ceiling: from what do you hang your medallions?

      1. I used bakers twine taped to the medallion and then taped them to the ceiling with washi tape. It looked cute until most of them fell down overnight. We’ll try again using push pins.

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