DIY Jellyfish Party Decoration Craft Tutorial

I have been known to make overly complicated decorations for parties. But sometimes, it is the easy decorations that are the most striking. As is the case with these hanging jellyfish decorations from my daughter’s The Little Mermaid Party (also to be used for my daughter’s Octonauts party later this month).

So pretty, right? And really, so very simple. (And cheap too!)

Materials:

• Disposable bowls**
• Plastic tablecloth
• Monofilament thread
• Scrapbook paper (optional)

**I used plastic disposable bowls that I found at Party City because they were the right color (purple bowls, ocean blue tablecloths). I also found them very easy to work with, and they hold their shape so I recommend plastic bowls. But if you find the perfect paper bowls, they would work too. 

Creating the Body

I used glitter scrapbook paper as an accent throughout my party, so I had plenty of scraps. Using my one-inch circle punch, I punched out an assortment of little circles. Then my daughter used Glue Dots to cover the outside of the bowls with glittery circles. 

Creating the Tentacles

Leaving your tablecloth mostly folded, cut three inch-strips. (I think I unfolded the table-cloth once.) BTW plastic tablecloth is surprisingly simple to cut through several layers at a time if you have never done so.)

Once you have strips, all you have to do is pinch and pull the strips working from the center out in order to create the rippling effect.

Warning, if you pull too thin it will rip. 

Continue pinching and pulling down the length of your strips until you have a pile of rippled strips.

I used four tentacles for each jelly. Once you have your strips ready, fold two strips in half — but not evenly, you want the tentacles to be all various lengths. At the point where you plan to fold the strips, staples the strips together. 

Then take a push pin and poke a whole through the middle of your plastic bowl. Cut a length of monofilament to hang your jelly, and tie a big fat knot in one end. Poke that through the tentacles at the point where you stapled them together, then feed the monofilament through the bowl from the bottom. This attaches the tentacles loosely to the bottom, but that’s all you need to hold it for hanging.

Hang your jellyfish at various heights to create an under the ocean feeling. 

Having a The Little Mermaid party? Get more inspiration from my other party posts:

• The Little Mermaid Party
• Mermaid Tails Tutorial
• Mermaid Party Printables