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. 

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

Sabbatical and Holiday ornament giveaway

I am having surgery tomorrow and will be out of commission for a while. This is my 3rd rotator cuff surgery, and I have been waiting on this one for 4 years. I will be in a sling for several months, and unable to do much crafting. 

I have been preparing some fun holiday ideas for you in advance. Starting the day after Thanksgiving, I will be posting one Christmas ornament or decor item a day until Christmas. Check back often to see some incredible ornaments made by my friends and myself over the past several holidays. I know by my Pinterest following that you all like the handmade christmas stuff, and I promise you will not be disappointed.  They are all so lovely,   made with an eye for detail.  They are unique and many are created from recycled and reused items we normally throw away,  they will quickly become favorites on Pinterest.  If you follow me and help spread the word on social media, I will enter your name into a drawing on Christmas for a prize of 12 ornaments featured on my blog. 

Simply post a comment here with a link back to your blog,  Facebook, Twitter or Instagram post to be entered.  Super simple, awesome prize. 

Looking forward to a fun, slingin' holiday season,