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. 

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.

mini tree in a thimble

This is the original ornament made by my friend Cindy Wood.

I don't know how she made hers, but here is how I made mine. 

Paint thimble desired color, cover with decorative paper,  Paint white paint on the tree and glitter with fine rainbow glitter. Let everything dry completely. Cut out ephemera head and glue to top of tree.  Create wire circle, wire around base of tree.  Glue tree into pot, tie decorative bow. 

These are tiny but so adorable. Everyone just loves them. Use a photo of a loved one for a more personal touch.

Remember to share this page and post a comment here to be entered to win the drawing for 12 of the ornaments featured this season.

Seashell ornaments

I do these every year in some variation or another. Seashells, coated with white glue and glittered with ultra fine glitter. This year I made circles from glitter tulle and added broken pieces of vintage jewelry and a silk scrap bow. These are simple and so addictive to make, I have done dried babies breath and rosebuds, ribbon roses, paper rosettes. What you choose to embellish it with will change the look

Enter to win 12 of these ornaments by sharing on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Pinterest, and posting the link here in the comments section.

matchbox ornaments

Today we  talking matchboxes.  I love these adorable little ornaments made for a dual purpose of gift box and ornament. They are fun to decorate and can be very addictive. 

Since I make several different kinds of matchboxes, I will make today's about fabric and jewelry covered matchbox ornaments. 

First, you need to take them apart and open the covers.  Cut a piece of fabric slightly larger than the cover.  Apply Mod Podge to cover then press the fabric down onto the glue. Lay under something heavy to insure a good bond of paper and fabric. Let dry completely. 

Fold fabric covered paper on crease lines, and hot glue back together. Make sure you are gluing the seam so it faces back toward the back. 

Cut a strip of complimentary fabric, lace or tulle and make a running stitch down the side. Pull it together to make a circle, embellish with a piece of jewelry, and glue to the top.  I like to use old lace and silk scraps to tie bows and other embellishments.

I buy a bunch of ornaments like this and pop the tops off to use for the hangers. These are handy for many different types of ornaments you can make.  Keep an eye out for these at the dollar store.

You can paint the insides of the boxes to match your fabric if you plan on placing something inside.  Another option is to wrap a trim around it completely if you don't plan on opening it. 

Remember to share this on line to be entered into the drawing for 12 of the ornaments featured over the next several weeks.  Post a comment here with a link back to where you shared it to be entered in the drawing. Every time you post it, you get another entry into the drawing.  Pass the word and increase your chances to win!

Cone ornaments

I love cones.  I have a trick for you that you will love!

These cones were made with paper birthday party hats I bought at the dollar store. 

Deconstruct them, use Mod Podge to cover them with gift wrap, tissue, sheet music or patterned paper.  Mod Podge works best with paper because it doesn't cause the paper to wrinkle.  

Sometimes I trim the cones to make them smaller or slimmer.  The actual size of the party hat is great if you want to fill it with treats.

Make a focal to glue on the front. This one was a dollar store snowflake covered with German glass glitter. A strip of crepe paper folded and gathered with a running stitch into a circle with a double ruffle. A Christmas image cut into a circle and glued on with hot glue. 

Crepe paper ruffles glued to the top edge inside, and a double band of vintage tinsel around the top edge. Finish off with a purchased tassel on the bottom, poked through with an awl, and embellished with more tinsel at the end.

Enter to win by posting a comment here after sharing on a social networking site.

Paper Ornaments

First up is the die cut paper snowflake. Using a Sizzix machine and the Brenda Walton snowflake dies, I created 3 fan folded ornaments. I stacked them one on top of another and hot glued it all down. I like the sheet music for this project, but they would be lovely with any decorative paper, even gift wrap. I am thinking Mylar, or a pretty pearlized paper would be really beautiful.

I use these circles a lot in my ornaments. You will see them as a focal point or embellishment.  Ribbon, lace, tulle or crepe paper can be layered between the circles for added depth.  if it can be folded or gathered, I will use it somehow. 

Remember to enter a drawing for these ornaments.  A winner will be chosen on December 26th.  To enter please share this page on a social networking site and leave a comment here of where you shared it.  Link back here if you will.  You need to leave a comment on an ornament post to be entered.  I will be pulling the names from the posts.  Don't comment on FB or other social networking site, comment here to enter.