Creating Honeycomb Wedding Bells: A Step-By-Step Guide

Tissue paper honeycomb wedding bells are a popular choice for wedding decorations, but they can be expensive and limited in colour. Luckily, they can be made at home with tissue paper, card stock, glue, and a little bit of know-how. This is a great way to add a personal touch to your wedding, and it's a fun art project for kids too. In this guide, we'll show you how to make your own honeycomb wedding bells in just a few simple steps.

Draw and cut out a bell shape from cardstock

To make your own wedding bells from honeycomb, you'll need tissue paper, a glue stick, and some cardstock. You can also add ribbon if you want to hang your bells.

To begin, take your cardstock and draw a large, symmetrical bell shape. Don't forget to include the clapper at the bottom. You can make the bell as big or as small as you like, depending on how large you want your finished decoration to be. Fold the cardstock in half and cut out the bell shape. You should now have a bell-shaped piece of cardstock with a crease down the middle.

Punch a hole in the top corner of the bell. This will be used to hang the bell later. Open up the bell and cut along the crease so that you are left with two identical halves. These will form the top and bottom of your finished bell.

Now, place the two cardstock halves to one side and take your tissue paper. Stack the tissue paper and place the two cardstock bell shapes on top. Trace the outline of the bell onto the tissue paper and cut out the shape. You should now have two identical tissue paper bell shapes and two identical cardstock bell shapes.

In the next step, you will begin to assemble the bell.

Stack and cut tissue paper to size

To make your own tissue paper wedding bells, you'll need tissue paper, cardstock, a glue stick, scissors, and a ruler. You can also use a hole punch and ribbon if you want to hang your bells.

Start by stacking your tissue paper together. You'll need 18 to 20 sheets of tissue paper for each bell, depending on how full you want your bell to be. The tissue paper is what creates the honeycomb effect, so the more layers you use, the more dimensional your bell will be.

Next, you'll create a template for your bell shape. Draw a symmetrical bell on a piece of cardstock, complete with a clapper at the bottom. If you're not confident in your drawing skills, you can fold the cardstock in half and draw half of a bell shape, making sure the halfway line is against the folded edge of the paper. This will create a symmetrical design when you cut it out. Cut out your bell template and use it to trace the shape onto your stacked tissue paper. Cut out the bell shape from all the layers of tissue paper at the same time, making sure to hold the paper securely as you cut to prevent sliding.

Now you'll prepare your cardstock template for gluing. Cut the cardstock bell in half along the crease so that you have two identical halves. On each half, apply a line of glue around all the edges, leaving the center line unglued. You'll also add drops of glue every 2 inches along the edges of the tissue paper bell shape. Make sure to change the placement of the glue drops with each layer to create the honeycomb effect.

It's now time to assemble your bell! Place one layer of the bell-shaped tissue paper onto one of the cardstock halves, lining it up and pressing it down to adhere to the glue. Add another layer of tissue paper and press it down onto the glue dots. Continue adding layers of tissue paper, alternating the glue dot configuration with each layer. You'll do this until all the paper is glued together, except for the final layer of tissue paper.

Finally, cut the last bell-shaped tissue paper layer in half, creating two "boot" shapes. Place one of these boot shapes onto one half of the bell, matching it up with one of the cardstock boots. This will create the inside of your bell. Use your ruler to help you fold the entire stack of paper in half, creating a clean crease. Remove the ruler and press the two sides of the bell together firmly. You should now have a boot-shaped stack with cardstock on both the top and bottom. Open up the bell and bring the cardstock pieces together, securing them with paper clips. If desired, thread a ribbon through the hole in the cardstock to hang your bell.

And that's it! You now have a beautiful, handmade tissue paper honeycomb wedding bell. Repeat the process to create a whole set of bells for your wedding decor or as a fun art project.

Glue tissue paper to cardstock

To glue tissue paper to cardstock for your wedding bells, you will need to select an appropriate adhesive. The glue must be compatible with the delicate nature of the tissue paper, ensuring a bond that is both invisible and reliable. Several lightweight paper glue options are available that are specifically formulated for thin and fragile paper. These glues tend to be less viscous, preventing the paper from becoming soggy and tearing.

Before you begin gluing, set up a clean and organised workspace. Ensure your surface is flat, dry, and free of debris that could stick to the tissue paper. Gather all your materials and tools, including the glue, tissue paper, cardstock, brushes or other application tools, and any embellishments you wish to add.

Now, follow these steps:

• Layout and design: Plan your design and lay out the pieces of tissue paper. Consider the composition and how the colours will interact when layered.
• Applying adhesive: Apply a thin layer of adhesive using a brush or another tool. Work from the centre outwards to prevent excess glue from seeping out.
• Gentle pressing and adhesion: Carefully place the cardstock on top of the tissue paper and gently press down to adhere, being careful not to tear or wrinkle the tissue paper.
• Drying and setting: Allow the glue to dry completely. This may take some time, depending on the glue and the thickness of the layers.

For a flawless finish, ensure that the glue is spread evenly and remove any air bubbles before the adhesive sets. This will create a seamless bond between the tissue paper and cardstock.

Fold and crease the bell

To fold and crease the bell, first, cut the cardstock bell in half down the middle. Then, apply a line of glue around all the edges of both pieces, leaving the centre line you just cut unglued. Now, place a ruler in the middle of the bell and fold the bell together along the ruler so that the two cardstock halves rest on the top and bottom of the bell. Crease the sides of the bell, slowly removing the ruler as you fold. When the bell is folded over completely and the left side lines up with the right side, press firmly. You should now have a boot-shaped stack with cardstock on both the top and bottom.

To create a three-dimensional bell, open the bell and bring the two cardstock pieces together. Secure the cardstock edges with paper clips. To hang the bell, put a ribbon through the hole in the cardstock.

Decorate with coloured hairspray

Decorating with coloured hairspray is a fun and easy way to create unique wedding bells for your big day. Here are some tips to achieve the best results:

Firstly, source your materials. You will need coloured hairspray, which can be found at most party stores. Keep in mind that you won't get a lot of mileage out of one can of hairspray, so buy in bulk if you have many bells to decorate. You will also need your paper bells – make your own using cardstock and tissue paper, or purchase pre-made ones. If making your own, try to use thin, fragile tissue paper for the best results.

Now, it's time to get spraying! Hold the hairspray about 6-8 inches away from the bell and begin spraying in light, even strokes. You may need to experiment with different colours to find the perfect shade for your wedding. Try to avoid using too much hairspray in one go, as it can saturate the tissue paper. Instead, layer the colour gradually until you achieve the desired effect.

When spraying, pay attention to the direction of the wind, if you're spraying outdoors, and be mindful of any surrounding objects or surfaces that you don't want to get sprayed. It's a good idea to lay down some newspaper or a drop sheet to protect the area.

If you want to create an ombre effect, as mentioned in the Practical Wedding article, try using different colours of hairspray together. You can also mix pre-coloured honeycomb bells with the ones you've sprayed yourself for a beautiful, varied display.

Finally, allow the hairspray to dry completely before handling the bells too much. This will help prevent any smudging or transfer of colour onto your hands or clothing.

Frequently asked questions