How about making garland out of stringed spools of thread or just painted. You could probably get members to save their empty spools for you. Or a garland made from selvages. I have made an ornament from a $1 sewing kit, glueing the tiny spools of thread into a tree shape and then glueing the scizzors in top, and decorating with the needle threader and thimble. it was very cute. Good luck. :D