How to Make Handheld Wedding Streamers

Handheld wedding streamers are alternatives to the tradition of throwing rice or birdseed at the bride and groom as they leave the wedding ceremony. Wedding streamers are much easier to clean up, as the streamers stay attached to the handheld container. However, ordering them is expensive, so you may want to make them. They're inexpensive to create and fairly simple.

Find shallow plastic cups or bowls that are about the size of an average adult-sized palm of the hand. Make sure they have a flat top without any unusual curves or edges.

Get some craft pipe cleaners in whatever color you like. Cut a 6-inch long piece. Fold each end of the pipe cleaner down 1 inch. Place the folded edges on the back of the plastic cup or bowl. Use electrical tape to secure the pipe cleaner so you are left with a plastic bowl with a handle that you can place a couple of fingers through.

Purchase some mylar streamers. Cut these into extremely thin strips that are 5 to 10 feet long. Cut 15 to 20 of these for each plastic cup (enough to fill the cup entirely when rolled up). Gather all the ends together. Place a glob of rubber cement on the inside of the cup directly in the center, unless there's a hole in the bottom of your cup.

Twist all the ends of one side of the the mylar streamers together and press the ends into the rubber cement. Hold down until they are stuck on securely. If there's a hole in your plastic cup, poke the ends through the hole, tie in a knot and then glue the ends to the outside edges of the hole. Take each strand and twirl it into an individual roll so you have 15 to 20 little mylar streamer rolls inside the plastic bowl/cup. Because these are very small, you may find that using a toothpick or something else small will help in the rolling process. When the lid is popped off, the streamers will pop out but remain attached on one end to the cup, thus making it an easy cleanup while still creating the stunning effect of streamers shooting out at the couple.

Take another plastic cup or bowl and trace the outline on a thin piece of cardboard. Cut this out and carefully stick it into the cup. It should sit right at the top of the container without falling in. Take one small piece of tape and tape one edge of the thin cardboard down. You now have a handheld streamer that is ready to burst open whenever you toss your arm out in the air.