Video:Paper Lei Necklace

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Transcript:Paper Lei Necklace

Aloha, I'm Rachel Edelman for About.com. Are you planning a luau-style party for your little ones? Well, no luau is complete without Hawaiian leis. Leis play a large part in Hawaiian tradition, and are a symbol of peace and friendship. They are a great way to welcome guests to your luau. Today I'm going to show you how to make Hawaiian leis using paper flowers.

Lei Making Supplies

Making paper leis can be a fun activity for children at a luau party. To make it easy for them, help prep the materials ahead of time.

To make the paper leis, you will need:

• Yarn (any color)
• Construction paper in a variety of colors
• 1 Package of colorful straws
• Child-safe scissors
• Hole puncher
• Markers
• Traceable flower pattern (optional)

Prepare Straws and Yarn

Before the party, cut each straw into a 1-inch piece and store in a zip-lock bag. These pieces will be used to separate each flower on the lei. You can also prepare the yarn. Measure two arms length and cut a piece for each guest. Remember you can always make it shorter later.

Make the Flowers

To make the flowers, you might choose to design your own flower patterns ahead of time by getting flower stencils or printed cut outs from the web. Trace the flowers onto the construction paper. Then, carefully cut out the design. You can do this yourself or leave it to your party guests. Make a variety of flower sizes and colors. You can also cut out some leaves for the flowers. At the party, encourage your guests to draw some flowers free hand as well. Finish off the flowers with individual designs using markers.

Punch a Hold in Flowers

Once the flowers have been cut, use the hole puncher to punch a hole in the center of each flower. You may need to slightly fold the paper to do this. For the leaves or lily-type flowers, punch a hole towards the middle or bottom. You'll see that the yarn can be threaded easily.

Thread the Lei

To make the leis, first thread a piece of straw on a large piece of yarn. Tie a knot at the end to make it secure. This will keep all the flowers on while you are threading.

Next, thread a leaf, and then a flower on the yarn. Follow with a piece of straw, and continue this pattern until you have a piece long enough for a necklace.

Wearing a Lei

The correct way to wear a lei is to have it draping over your shoulders so that it hangs in the front and back. Make sure to help your guests wear the lei the proper Hawaiian way. Now your luau is complete.

Thanks for watching. To learn more, visit us on the Web at About.com.