For those who just! can’t! wait!: How to make a paper chain
Too many times I’m caught up in someone’s excitement and say “Ohmygosh! You need to make a paper chain!” only to get this shocking response, “What is a paper chain?”
Friends, how are you living without the
? Because of my unwavering love for you, paper crafting and anticipation in general, I present this tutorial “How To Make A Paper Chain”.
A paper chain is the sweet antidote to excitedly waiting for an event, a person, or a big day. You can make a paper chain for yourself or give it to someone as surprise. The longest paper chain we made was just over 100 links long, because someone was terribly excited about turning five. If you are ants-in-your-pants-excited about something you, too, need a paper chain.
Gather these items, pretty please:
Paper (any paper you have on hand will work)
Scissors or paper cutter
Tape or stapler
the beginning links on a large loop paper chain made of four coordinating patterned papers
Cut your paper into strips approximately 10- 11 inches long and 1 -2 inches wide. These will be the links to your paper chain. You need one strip for each day/hour/month you are counting.
Take the first paper strip, loop it into a circle and staple it securely closed. This is your first link. The remaining strips of paper are looped one through the next and stapled until your paper chain is the desired length. You can’t mess up on a paper chain – it’s all about the anticipation and excitement. So, don’t be too concerned about the lengths of the strips or how the paper looks, just make the chain and let the waiting game begin.
Ideas for fancifying your paper chain:
Double up strips of lovely paper , a thinner contrasting strip on top of another strip - I did this for my battle’s paper chain counting down the months until her army days end
Use themed paper for a specific holiday or event
Add notes to the inside of a few or more of the links, “I love you because you wake up smiling” or “Only 7 more days until baseball season starts” or “leaving for Brazil in 3 days, start packing your bags”
you are a dream come true, yes you are.
Write fortunes or quotes inside a few links, “Today you will surprise yourself”
Use color staples or tape
Add labels (you could print on these!), dot stickers, or other stickers to close the links.
Make a tiny paper chain with thin strips of paper
tiny paper chain made with vintage sheet music - for my Napa girls, anticipating our big concert night
Mix and match the link widths and lengths for an interesting texture
Upcycle your paper chain with magazine pages, newspapers, or paper bags
Add ribbon or tie trinkets to the links
Use decorative scissors to cut the long edges of a few strips