CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS
TO MAKE
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Instant Ornaments
Every year my mother, sister and daughters and I make ornaments for each other, and now you can make them. Some of
these ideas have been around a long time, while others are our own originals. Use these as a springboard to come up
with your own creations... adapt them and make them unique. There are lots of ornament instructions for the years
1999 through 2007, so check them out. Just click on the thumbnail to see a larger picture.
Skating Rink Diorama
Here's a diorama ornament that I love. Take a metal ring (craft store in macrame supplies) about 3.5 inches across.
Wrap it with cord, yarn, string or thread to fully cover it. Metallic or other fancy thread or yarn would be cool. Tie a
knot and add a hanger loop. Secure ends with Fray Check or clear-drying glue. Slice a rounded end of a Styrofoam
ball which should be about the same diameter as the ring, like in the picture, fit it into place and glue it down with hot glue
or tacky glue. Onto the flat Styrofoam, glue a circle of aluminum foil. Dab some glue on the foil and sprinkle on silver or holographic
or white glitter. Glue on plastic trees at the back of the scene, and some little people. Any kind of winter scene
would be great: a tiny village scene, an indoor fireplace scene, a small barn and a couple animals, etc. You get the idea; think
'miniature'. Miniature people can be
purchased where model train supplies are sold. Around the outside edges of the circle attach some
sequins with small pins or glue until the outside is covered. You could also use glitter for this. Don't forget your label.
Old Time Wood Picture
These ornaments were popular in the 1950s and still look great if you like the older or shabby chic decorations. Lightly sand
a diagonally-sliced piece of wood. Mine is a slice from a pine tree branch. Drill a small hole near the top at the center to insert
a hanging loop. Cut a picture from a Christmas card, wrapping paper or magazine, etc, the older-looking the better. Carefully cut or
tear it to fit the shape of the wood, leaving a small margin all the way around. Use white glue to attach it to the front of the wood slice, making sure the glue
is spread clear to the edges. Press firmly and work out any air bubbles. Let dry, then coat the ornament with more clear glue, craft
varnish, gesso, etc. Dry thoroughly. To give it a more aged look stir a small amount of dark brown craft paint into the clear coating
before applying. Put your name and date on the back.
Birds in a Shell
Wash and dry a sea shell (mine is about 3" X 3.5"). Drill a small hole for a hanger. Glue on or paint a little picture on the
inside of the shell, then let it dry. Using a light touch, feather some metallic paint on the edges all around. Paint the back, then wipe
it off for an antiqued look. Thread a little cord or wire through the hole in the top. Initial and date
the ornament.
Sewing Kitty
Take a new spool of thread and glue a circle of paper or fabric to the top and bottom. Glue a piece of lace or eyelet and 1/16th
inch-wide ribbon around the top edge. Tie the ribbon in a bow to show at the front. Hot glue a thread or wire hanging loop at the
center top. Surround it with a glued-on plastic kitten (or other cute thing), a little jingle bell, a couple small buttons and a
bobbin with contrasting thread on it. Customize it to suit your own decor or theme.
Shimmering Tea Ball
Unscrew the top from a metal tea ball and start working in the bottom half. Using a fairly long, strong needle, string some beads
(I used silver and pearl beads.) in a specific pattern, ending with a special bead. Put the needle back up through all the beads, go
through a different hole, string the next line of beads, repeat. Keep going until the entire bottom half of the ball has a strand of
beads coming out each hole. Do the same for the top half. For added security, put a drop of Fray Check, clear nail polish or clear
glue on each hole from the inside. Carefully screw the halves together. In any open places with no holes, glue on small round, oval
or square mirrors. Add sequins where desired. Hang from the hook that is meant to hang the ball on the edge of your teacup. This
ornament is great with silver because it best matches the tea ball itself, and the mirrors.
Moravian, German, or Swedish Star
Some Swedish relatives sent some stars to us when I was a small child. They were apparently lost during a move and we sorely
missed them. Decades later I came across instructions to make them in a Martha Stewart Christmas decorating book. I think it was
called 'Martha Stewart Handmade Christmas' (pub. 1995?), and I'm sure the directions can be found on the Internet. Note that these pretty stars
are claimed to originate in different countries. The ones we had were pale pastels as if theyd been made of white paper dipped in
pink, blue or yellow wax. When I made the one above I used white paper and dipped it several times in plain wax. Glitter was
sprinkled on before the wax cooled too much. Many people have contacted me saying they had those ornaments when they were little,
too. My favorites are the pink and blue ones. Once you learn the paper folds, they're fun to make in all sizes.
Paper Ribbon Floral Ball
This ornament takes about 3 silk flowers, a few silk leaves and matching paper ribbon. Make a bow from the paper ribbon using
several loops. Fluff it out to check the size- you don’t want it to overwhelm the ball. Attach a wire to use for a hanger. Hot-glue
the bow to the top of the ball. Cut the stems off the silk flowers and leaves, leaving just an inch or two. Place them in a pleasing
arrangement, then glue each one in place. This is really beautiful in pastel colors.
Holly Sewing Machine
Using polymer clay (any kind that will harden in the air or oven), fashion a sewing machine by making a rectangle for the bottom,
a backwards upside down L shape, then a disk for the flywheel. Add a tiny skinny piece for the needle head, and a little spool for
the top. Slightly flatten a little ball to stick onto the back of the top of the machine. Attach it, then use a pin to create a hole
for a hanging loop. Bake it according to the clay package or do this: preheat the oven to about 275 degrees, then place the item on a baking
sheet. Gravity works against delicate or heavy parts, so you may need to rest the item on its back. Bake it for about 15 minutes. Take
it out and check for firmness. It should be almost completely hardened. A little give is okay. Let the sewing machine cool, then use a
black fine tip marker to draw on details. Mine has all kinds of bells and whistles, some that I have no idea what they do! Use another
color marker to color the spool of thread. Glue on some tiny wisps of greenery and a couple red beads to look like holly. Add your
hanging thread or wire, a label and you're done.
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2007
Instant Ornaments
Copyright 2008. All Rights Reserved. Updated 7/12/2008.
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