Area 49

Interested in throwing a Regency-Themed party? We've got you covered! Below are tutorials for decorations that the English Learning Community made for their annual themed literary event on October 23, 2025.

Supplies:

• 12x12 scrapbooking paper. We used:
  • Vintage - pink
  • Vintage - pink & brown
  • Vintage - pink & green
• Bamboo sticks
• Embroidery floss
• Glue
• Tiny hair bands
• Drill and bit for holes in sticks (We have this in the Makerspace!)

Tutorial

We a version of the DIY Folding Paper Fans Tutorial from "Dream a Little Bigger with Allison Murray." Come back to see photos of how they turned out after the event!

Supplies

• Black cardstock
• Black paint
• Glue sticks
• Book page
• Scissors or Xacto knife with cutting mat

Tutorial

1. Find a picture online or take a photo and use a free silhouette converter, such as LightX or Fotor.
2. Print out the image and place it over a piece of black cardstock.
3. Using a blunt tool (like a closed ballpoint pen), trace the image and press lightly, so the pressure will go through to the cardstock.
4. Cut the image using scissors or an Xacto knife with a self-healing cutting mat.
5. Use a glue stick to glue the silhouette to a book page of your choice.

Original image from JaneAusten.co.uk & converted image using LightX

Quick Notes

• Any silhouette will look best with more dimension on the outskirts of the subject. Opt for a profile view of the subject or an otherwise distinctive front-facing outline.
• The above tutorial is only one option, but there are many others. You can choose to draw your silhouette freehand or even paint it onto the book page.

Supplies

• Book pages
• scissors
• floral tape
• scrapbooking or colorful paper

Tutorials

We used the DIY Book Flowers tutorial from Cooking A La Mel and a version of the How to Make a Flower Vase at Home by Planterior.