It’s always fun to give a gift someone will treasure. But we often forget the greatest treasure is not just the gift but the giver. Set the stage to create cherished treasures and simply elegant gifts. Make your presentation unique to you and the recipient.  After all a gift is an expression of your heart to them.  So the little personal touches make all the difference.

A quick and easy extra touch can include making a Tussie Mussie (cone) and filling with dried or silk flowers. In this instance I draped a handmade soldered glass pendant on a silver tone ball chain through the Tussie Mussie before adding the flowers. It’s easy to remove since the bottom is open and the piece can be pulled right out.

Now, traditionally the Tussie Mussie was made of metal and was filled with a tiny bouquet of flowers and ribbons. But we’re making our’s out of paper.

Step one: gather your supplies

• a round cake decoration doily or “papier/paper doily”
• a piece of white cardstock papier/paper
• a pencil
• a pair of scissors
• glue
• a round object that fits inside the circumference of the doily

Step Two- Trace the outline of the round object, we’re using a small dessert bowl, on a white sheet of cardstock papier/paper. Then cut out the circle

Step Three- Glue the circle to the paper doily back side. You can determine which side is the back by noticing the embossed pattern. The embossing raises a small portion or lines of the paper to form an image. On one side of the doily it will pop out. On the opposite side it will sink in. Attach the cardstock circle to the side where the embossing sinks in-the back side.

Step Four- Roll the paper doily into a cone so that the embossed pattern sticks out and the circle cut from the white cardstock is in the interior of the cone/funnel shape. Glue down the overlapped edge

Step Five- fill with goodies

Alternatives…

1. If there are no paper doilies available try using a piece of vintage or patterned/scrapbook paper cut with decorative scissors into a circle. Use the same roll forming technique to create the funnel shape.
2. If you’d like to make a metal Tussie Mussie use a thin sheet of copper or brass. Using tin snips or really tough scissors (Cutco makes a great pair) carefully cut the circle and form into the cone. Use rivets or epoxy glue to bind the overlap edge.
3. Soak a fabric doily into watered-down white glue. From a piece of cardstock or thin chipboard cut a circle the same size as the fabric doily and form the funnel shape. Then place the fabric doily over the paper cone rolling it just like you would the paper doily. Let the fabric dry. It will harden into the cone shape and will be ready for it’s bouquet.