Woven Newspaper Tubes Heart

During these times I've been a bit reluctant to venture out, so as a result, I had to look long and hard around the house to come up with something to make for this month's 'Do It Over Designers' challenge. In case you've forgotten, 'Do It Over Designers is a group of talented bloggers who love to recycle/upcycle/DIY, hosted by Anne @The Apple Street Cottage. 

It's all about taking something old and/or unused and 'doing it over' into something new. Anything from fabric, old dishes, and decor to dressers and hutches. Items found in closets, barns, garages, yard sales, thrift stores, you name it! Sounds like fun, doesn't it!

Well, I didn't have to look too hard! It was right in front of me! Newspaper! 

I've been subscribing to a newspaper since I was out on my own. My dad got me into reading the paper each day when I was growing up. Now I can't do without my daily routine! So why not put them to good use after reading, by recycling or repurposing into something fun and crafty! There are tons of things you can create with newspaper - just look on Pinterest! As a crafter, newspaper is a great source for recycling and making something unique and creative! 

Since Valentine's Day is just around the corner and love is in the air, I want to show how to make an adorable woven newspaper tubes heart.

Materials:

• Newspaper
• Skewer stick
• Quick grab and dry glue
• Parchment paper
• Painter's tape
• Acrylic paints/brush
• Heart template/cardboard
• Heavy duty scissors

Let's begin with making the newspaper tubes - you will need to roll about thirty tubes to make the heart. 

1.  Fold a newspaper section in half and fold again so you have four sections.
2.  Cut out the four folded sections and open length-wise.
3.  Take a thin skewer stick and place on the corner edge of paper at an angle, as pictured.
4.  Place the end tip of the paper over the skewer and start rolling the paper with fingers pressed down on the table first.  Once you've started rolling the paper, lift up the tube so your left fingers are controlling the roll while your right hand is rolling the stick and tightening the tube.
5.  Just before finishing the roll, add glue to the corner end tip and continue rolling until reaching the end to seal. 

Then place the tubes about 1/2 inch apart on parchment paper and tape down the top ends.  You will need two sets of newspaper tubes - about twenty for the purple color and about half that amount for the white tubes. You can make one in whatever colors you like!

Begin painting the tubes, first one side and let dry. 

Turn the tubes over and paint the opposite side and let dry. You may need a couple of coats to cover the print for each side. Repeat for the white tubes.

While the tubes are drying, copy and paste a free heart template or make your own by folding paper in half and drawing a half heart shape along the folded edge of the paper and cut out the heart.  

With the purple tubes still taped down, begin weaving with the white tubes, over and under each purple tube, using your fingers to move the weaving white tubes closer together.

As you add more weaving tubes, it will be easier to pick up every other purple tube and use your hand to hold the tubes up, in order to add the white weaving tubes. Doing it that way made it really quick to weave.

When the desired size of the weave is reached for the heart template .  .  .

add glue to the back of the heart and .  .  .

apply to the woven newspaper tubes, lining up the white tubes symmetrically with the heart shape - 

Once dry, carefully cut out the heart shape weave. You may need to glue down a few stray tubes, but it should look perfect to use as a decorative piece. Sorry, I thought I had taken a picture of the front just after cutting it out. I guess I was too excited to see it finished and forgot to.

I decided to add the woven heart to a frame that .  .  .

I had decoupage previously with napkins, similar in color.

I love how the woven newspaper heart looks in the frame.

Just perfect with my decor!

Be sure to check out all the 'Do It Over Designers' listed below to see their lovely "do overs" too!  

The Apple Street Cottage

Birdz of a Feather

Chas’ Crazy Creations

Cloches & Lavender

Doodle Buddies

Little Vintage Cottage

Modern on Monticello

Pandora’s Box

Purple Hues & Me

Unique Creations by Anita