How to Make a Paper Chain Tradition

OK, I admit it. I used to love to make the paper chain at school because I loved to eat the paste! Although I've lost my palate for paste since then, I still love making the paper chains. This craft is ready to go wide as a year 'round tradition. Here's what I have in mind.

Things You'll Need

• Construction and other papers
• Ribbon scraps
• Decorating and craft supplies
• Family and friends

Instructions

1. Start local, like in your house with your craft box. Collect supplies such as ribbon, buttons, stickers, rubber stamp/ink pad, feathers, patches, beads, sequins, scrapbook pages and wallpaper.

2. Keep the supplies handy, and make it a tradition to ask house or party guests to make and sign a chain link. Think wall paper scraps customized with beads and buttons and ribbon from the last holiday season monogrammed with sequin initials.

3. Whenever the mood hits you and your family, break out the box and make some custom links for the chain. They can be themed around family activities and accomplishments like an A+ math test, a wedding invitation, a piece of the dog's old toy and a photo of the summer vegetable garden. Think of it as your family's creative outlet and storytelling artwork.

4. Create the chain throughout the year with the links made by your family and guests. Staple and glue the links together, then display it during the holiday season on a Christmas tree, as a garland down a staircase, or over the fireplace. Let your artist's eye decide where to showcase your chain of love!

Tips & Warnings

• If you want the links to have a certain look, then only use supplies that follow that theme. For example, use only black and white with red accents if that's the color scheme you are into. Use white, silver and turquoise if that is your holiday color scheme. You can even vary it from year to year.

• Repeat guests may try to edit their work and remove a previous link in favor of their current link. Don't let them. Diversity adds character-and it's not about perfection.