Floral ulas are a gorgeous craft you can make yourself.
Lei is a Hawaiian word for a wreath hung around the neck. In Samoa, these wreaths are called "ulas" and were traditionally strung with whale teeth and seeds. Modern ulas or leis are made with seeds, flowers, artificial whale teeth, coconut halves and even folded paper money. Modern Samoan ulas borrow heavily from Hawaiian leis. Making an ula is a moderately simple task that can bring you joy and can allow you to make beautiful gifts for friends and family.
Instructions
Flower Ulas (Leis)
1. String about 45 inches of dental floss on the sewing needle.
2. Insert the needle from the front of the flower to the back of the flower, through the center of the flower.
3. Repeat this process until you have approximately 36 inches of flowers on the dental floss.
4. Tie the ends of the floss together.
Seed Ulas (Leis)
5. Drill small holes in the center of your seeds and whale teeth, if you are using teeth.
6. String 45 inches of floss onto the end of your sewing needle.
7. String the seeds and teeth on the floss by pushing the needle through the hole you drilled in them.
8. Continue stringing the seeds until you get 36 inches of seeds. Tie the ends of the floss together.
Money Leis
9. Get fresh bills from the bank, as crumpled or wrinkled bills will not work as well.
10. Fold each bill accordion style.
11. Take a 45-inch piece of string and tie the first bill to the string around the middle. Continue tying each bill to the string until you have 36 inches of bills on the string.
12. Tie the ends of the string together.
Tags: whale teeth, bill string, dental floss, each bill, ends floss