And the winner is......

I had my hubby draw a name from all the entries, and the winner is:

Carol Banks!

Congratulations!  You win these 12 ornaments that were featured here over the last few weeks.  Please email me with your address so I can get them out to you right away!  

Thanks everyone for participating and helping me spread the word. 

Snowmen

I love snowmen. We were doing some Christmas crafting with my niece Julia yesterday and came up with these.  We used some clear bulbs and filled them with glitter.  We only had 2 clear bulbs and decided to look at what other bulbs we had that we could use. I found these silver bulbs and one with chunky glitter that I thought would look cute made into snowmen. 

We glittered some styrofoam balls and got glued them to the tops of the ornaments.  Straight pins were used for the eyes and smile.  The end of a kebab skewer was painted orange for the nose.  I made hats, headpieces and scarves with fabric scraps and jewelry.

I love how their personality seems to come out as you decorate them.  The last one was made by my daughter Kayleigh. 

Enter to win 12 of these ornaments by sharing on any social media website and leaving a comment on one of the ornament posts.  I am extending the date to Friday December 27th.  I will announce the winner on the 28th. 

I would like to take this time to thank you for visiting my blog and for the feedback you have given me on my crafts.  I enjoy creating things for people, and sharing ideas on how to make cool handcrafted gifts. 

During this holiday time, I have had some challenges and difficulties with the use of one functional arm.  I am thankful for my family and their support.  My daughter Kayleigh, who has been my left and spare arm for the last month.  I could not have done half of the things I needed to without her willingness to help.  

We had a lovely Christmas filled with laughter.  My daughters grandparents survived a fall and heart attack, my dad is recovering from a torn hamstring, my moms dog was hit by a car 2 days ago at our family holiday dinner. In spite of all the difficulties and potentially tragic events, we are all still here to celebrate the miracle of Christmas together.  Thankfully we are all ok, we have our health, and survived it all to tell the tales and laugh about it in the end. 

I hope your Christmas was memorable, and that you are home now enjoying the evening together with those you love.  Merry Christmas everyone.

Many blessings to you all.

Tinsel wrapped heart

I had a bunch of this spring tinsel that looks like a mini slinky.  I stretched it out and wrapped it randomly all over this heart and glued on my standard glitter tulle and vintage earring focal. 

They are simple to do and look so pretty. If you don't have a heart ornament, You could create a heart or star out of heavy wire like a coat hanger.  You can use a sparkly thread instead of tinsel if you aren't able to find it.

Remember to enter the drawing for 12 of these ornaments by sharing the page on any social networking site and leaving a comment on this or any if the ornament posts,  all people who post a comment will be entered to win. 

Thanks for looking, and have a beautiful Christmas filled with the love of family and friends.

Many blessings

Karan

glitter stars

These glitter stars are still among the top favorites of all ornaments I have made for the holidays.  A simple plastic star coated with german glass glitter and some kind of focal glued into the center.  I  have used vintage earrings, Buttons, rhinestones and flowers.  Jazz them up with a tulle circle under the focal first.  We all love how much they shine on the tree. I featured them last year on my blog and they still get a lot of pins on Pinterest. 

They have tarnished over the past year and look even more vintage now. 

I am a freak for glass glitter.  I buy tons of ornaments on clearance after Christmas and cover them with glitter. They look so gorgeous once you glitter them up.  Take a look at all those scraggly ornaments in the clearance bin and think about how you could rework them for a fresh new holiday style next year. 

Snowflake options

I have always loved snowflakes. I think the ornament snowflakes tend to be plain in the middle and beg for some type of ornamentation. I am planning a blue tree next year, so I made this blue snowflake by using the selvedge edge of the fabric because it has such a cool metallic fringe look to it.  I made a circle by taking a strip, making a running stitch and gathering it in the middle.  Then make another circle with silver tulle or lace, glue  them together and top with a vintage earring. 

This little cutie is a fan folded sheet music circle with a gathered crepe paper ribbon topped with a velvet ribbon over the stitches.  Glue the image down on the streamer, add a mini banner with a holiday message.  This snowflake was made by Cindy Wood. 

Mini portraits

I found these metal portraits at an estate sale.  They are from Italy, and came glued to a velvet backing inside an ornate gilt frame.  They are reproductions of Italian masters work. 

I wanted something gold and pretty to surround it with.  I had this gold tulle I removed from the ballerina doll, and thought it would be perfect to accentuate the portrait. 

I glued it to the back and love the look of it.  You could get a similar look by downloading some portraits from the internet and putting them in those cute ornate little mini frames. 

Yo-yo cockorde

Cockordes were very popular around the turn of the century up to the 1930s.  Usually used on a hat or dress, they were made from ribbon and lace and jewelry.  

I made this one with a pleated trim, gathered it up on a running stitch into a circle.  Then I made a tulle circle with an iridescent tulle and glued it on top of the pleated circle.  Next I made a yo-yo out of an iridescent brocade and glued that down.  I cut a picture out, trimmed it out with a gold lace doily, then glittered the edge of the picture.  I finished it off with a blue silk scrap bow.

This would make a great tree topper attached to a spire, a package topper or regular ornament. The look really changes depending on what kind of ribbon or lace you use. 

Corrugated Christmas trees

I saw these little corrugated Christmas trees at the Alameda flea.  Super simple, easy to make.  Just cut strips of paper and curl the ends.  Stack the curls on top of each other in four rows directly across from each other. Fill in the four other sides by tucking in between the other rows.  Make a round spiral for the top and you are done. 

I don't usually do rustic ornaments, but these were too cute to pass up. I thought about taking pink 2 sided card stock and running it through the old paper crimper I have to make a pink corrugated tree.  I think a little irridescent glitter on them would be really great. 

Paper and lace wrapped heart

I bought these hearts on clearance after valentines day. I thought they would make really cool Christmas ornaments. I wrapped old book pages around one, and then wrapped it in lace.  I cut 3 spirals and curled them into roses.  I glued a silver leaf down, then the silver thread hanger, then the roses.

I have more ornaments with these hearts coming up later this month. 

Snowman goodie stacker

I love to decorate containers for all the homemade candy we make during the holidays. I purchased this at a garage sale, because I wanted to make more of them for gifts. 

It is 2 paper mâché boxes stacked together and glued. Make the hat with a sleeve of a sweater tied with ribbon or yarn and the turned right side out and glued to the lid.  The nose is a felt cone, the scarf another sweater scrap, the arms 2 felt tubes topped with sweater scrap cuffs and little felt mittens. 

You could cover them with felt instead of painting and I think it would be adorable. 

Box sign

I found this sign for $5 at a garage sale.  It was red and green.  I painted it and glittered the letters with German glass glitter.  I thought about it a little bit and realized I could do the same thing with jewelry boxes and foam core letters.  I haven't done it yet, but here are the instructions on how I would do it. 

Paint your boxes the desired colors.  Cut out your letters from foam core.  Glitter letters and glue to box top.  Stagger boxes in an aesthetic way and hot glue together on the sides.  I would use the tops only, but you could do the whole box if you wanted more stability.  I would use the tops and then run a long piece of foam core behind and glue the boxes to them. 

You could make any word you want, customize the colors,  I love the look of it and plan on using it as a centerpiece on my mantel. 

Folded ribbon cocorde

I bought this ribbon ornament at the Alameda flea earlier this month. I wanted to try to replicate it. I found this lively ribbon at gilding the lily and thought it would make a really beautiful ornament.

First, you need to cut 8 lengths of ribbon at an angle. Run a bead of glue down one side of the ribbon and fold the other side over to match up on the point of the ribbon.  Create the 8 points and then glue th together in a circular pattern. Glue a piece of jewelry in the center, or a photo, or a tulle circle with a button. 

These can also double as a package bow for a special wrapped gift. 

Dollar tree snowflakes

I love snowflakes on my tree. They add a great balance and visual interest to the tree.  I was looking at these dollar store snowflakes the other day.  Since they come in various sizes, they are perfect for stacking and layering.

Start with the largest one first, put a dot of glue or glue gun the center and layer the next smaller size. Continue alternating the clear and white ones until you have 4 stacked up.  On the center, I had some giant bead caps I flattened, and then glued a cool button in the middle.  You don't have to put anything in the middle.  You could put a photo of your child or pet for a gift to a family member.  So lovely and I was able to make 12 for $8.  Ya can't beat that for a beautiful and cheap gift. They would look lovely on a package instead of a bow.  Tie it on with iridescent tulle for an elegant package. 

Shoe Ornaments

I made these shoes with a Sizzix die cut. I added a hanger and put them on my pink tree.  I love how they look as ornaments.  There is only a couple of things you can do with a paper shoe, so ornaments are perfect.  I love how you can customize them to go with your tree decor.  I wish I could fit into these, I would so rock them if I could.

Please enter the drawing to win 12 of these beautiful ornaments by sharing the page and posting a comment here on my blog.

Chandelier crystal angel

We all have some of these crystals laying around in the studio. I was looking at one today and thought it would make a sweet angel.

I took a half doiley, some Dresden wings, and some flower trim.  Fold the half doiley around the crystal to make the dress. . Glue the trim on the front, bend some wire into a large circle for halo,  glue to center of the back.  Glue the wings on the back over the wire to cover it.  There you go. 

I have tried to create simple but elegant ornaments that could be used as a class project in school, at a senior center or craft boutique or ornament exchange.  I am one to run to the studio and whip something up for my friends instead of buying something. I love to take a pile of stuff and challenge myself to make something with it. 

Hope you have been enjoying these posts.  I know they are being viewed by a lot of people, just wish I could get people to post comments and share. I want to give these away after Christmas, if anyone has any ideas on how to get people to participate, please let me know.

To enter the drawing, share the page on line and post a comment here on my blog.  Super easy.

Thanks!

Bird house matchbook

I love doing matchboxes with windows in them. I covered this one with a pretty pearlized paper, then cut the hole with the Sizzix.  I glittered the inside of the box, made a nest out of sheet music and glued the bird into the nest. Super simple, but so dang cute. I would like to make some elaborate ones, but it will have to wait until next year when I have more use if my hand and arm. This one will be in the giveaway. 

Share this page and link it back here by posting a comment to be entered into the drawing. 

Tree in a bottle

How sweet is this?  Another darling ornament made my my fabulously talented friend Cindy Wood.

The hand dyed tree, glued into a salt shaker.  You could use any kind of jar, shaker etc.  I have a bunch of little jelly jars I want to try this with.  Special thanks to Cindy for letting me use her artwork in this post.

Please enter the drawing to win 12 of the featured ornaments in these holiday posts by sharing the page and posting a comment here.

Cone Angels

 

Another darling vintage ornament made with a cone.  She is 2 1/2 inches tall and absolutely adorable. To replicate this little cutie, take a 1 inch bead and paint with a flesh tone.  Paint red circle for mouth, then paint on eyelashes and eyebrows.  Make a tinsel crown.  Use a piece of bump chenelle to create her arms.  Glue a candle or prayer book in her hands.  Make the cone for the body, insert the point into the hole in the bead and glue.  Glue wings on to the back, and a string into the top hole on her head.

You could always make a larger version with a bigger cone for a tree topper and sculpt the head with paperclay over a styrofoam ball.  I can think of dozens of ways to dress them up so cute.  Scrapbook papers or lovely tissue and crepe paper dresses.  Or make them vintage looking with vintage laces and ribbons and buttons.

Enter to win 12 of the ornaments featured on the holiday posts by sharing the page and posting a comment here on my blog.

Tart Tin cuties

Altered tart tins are really popular right now. I have these I bought for a buck at an estate sale. Let's see the ways we can use these creatively for ornaments. Coat them with German glass glitter, embellish them with an image, a piece of jewelry. Cut them apart and hammer them flat, embellish with tulle circles, paper fans, jewelry orTurn it into a base for a snowman or doll ornament.

 

This was made by my friend Cindy Wood. 

This was made by my friend Ada Pringle.

please enter the drawing for 12 of these ornaments by sharing the page and posting a comment here.

Paper Ornaments

I have seen these paper ornaments in magazines and in shops and love the way they look.  Fairly simple to do, they make a large impact.  Simply roll a bunch of cones, glitter the insides, and then glue them into a circular pattern.  You could make these with gift wrap for a lovely package bow, or hang several of them on a tree for a uniform look.   One large one attached to a spire makes a lovely focal on a tree topper.

Please enter to win some of the ornaments featured in the holiday posts by sharing on line and posting a comment here on my blog.

Felt Mittens

 

I love these adorable little vintage embroidered mitten ornaments.  Found them at Alameda Antiques Market.  You could make any felt shape really, a tree, a wreath, a cross, a boot, and elf shoe, a candle. Do a basic blanket stitch around the edge in a contrasting color, and if you don't know how to embroider,cut out a little flower and leaf from felt freehand and glue it on.  You could sew buttons or pre-made flowers from the craft section at Michael's. 

Enter the drawing for 12 of the ornaments featured here in my holiday posts by sharing the page and posting a comment here on my blog.

Pipe Cleaner ballerina fairies

I love fairies and ballerinas. I bought this sweet ballerina ornament at a thrift store for a quarter. I knew right away I was going to redo her. The outfit she had was cute, but commercial cheesy. I removed all her clothes, leaving the crown and slippers. 

She is basically two muslin covered chenille stems with doll head and hands attached.  Her body is a paper towel wrapped around the two pipe cleaners, then covered with muslin. 

I had to glue the hands and head on to the pipe cleaners. I wrapped strips of silk scraps over each shoulder and glued them down in back at the waist. This covers the body with a silk shift, and gives you a place to work from. 

Gather up a 12 inch scrap of fabric or lace 11/2 to 2 inches wide.  I used a silk scrap, and create a tutu of the desired fullness.  Hot glue to waist.  Create another strip of a sheer fabric to go on top. Cover waist with decorative trim or scraps. 

Glue trim to neckline and embellish dress as desired. Glue rhinestones and trim to head for a crown. 

Cut 2 small hearts from fabric for slippers.  Place v of heart on top of dolls foot and fold in half around pipe cleaner foot.  Glue in half. Let dry and then trim off excess. 

Glitter a pair of pre-made wings from a craft store. Glue to back and add ribbon for hanging. 

Now you have a darling little vintage looking fairy.  

Don't forget to enter the drawing for these ornaments by sharing the page and posting a comment here.

Formica tile ornaments

I have a bunch of these I got from the dumpster diva. These are so versatile for ornament bases.   I will be doing other ornaments with them over the next weeks, but today is scrap day.

I got these fabric scraps at SCRAP in San Francisco a while back. I glued strips in complimentary colors to the Formica base.  I got these mat board cut outs from a friend and glued an image on it with Mod Podge.  Glue a tinsel like trim around the edge of the mat board oval or image, and glue to center. 

Measure around the edge af the Formica tile, multiply by 2 1/2 to get the length measurement.  Cut a strip of tulle 3 inches wide and the pre determined length, fold in half and gather with a running stitch.  Gather up and hot glue tulle ruffle around back edge of tile. Cit a 4 inch length of ribbon, make a loop and  glue to top back centered. Cut coordinating fabric or paper and cover back. 

Embellish edge with decorative trim and place flowers, bows and other embellishments to edge of image to finish off.

Enter to win 12 of these ornaments featured in the Ornament a Day giveaway.  Simply share this or any of the ornament posts on line somewhere and post a link to your share here in the comments.  Enter as many times as you want to increase your chances.  Winner will be announced on December 26th.

Candle clip ornaments

You can find these old candle clips at antique stores and flea markets. Cut a piece of dowel rod the size if the candle holder (where the candle goes) and glitter it. Set aside. Take an image of a child, print it out on card stock and create a dress, embellish with glitter and glue to the dowel.  Glue dowel into clip.  Clip on the tree.  These are great to use with photos if your children or grand kids. Love the look of them. 

These examples were made by my friend the fabulously talented Cindy Wood in a class she took with Cindy Gonzalez. 

Remember to enter the drawing for some of these adorable ornaments featured in the holiday posts by sharing the page and posting a comment here.