Ornaments2003

CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS
TO MAKE
2003

1999 | 2000 | 2001
2002 | 2003 | 2004
2005 | 2006 | 2007| 2008
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.

Feather Felt Bird
To make this graceful bird, cut a pleasing bird shape from 2 layers of felt. On one of the shapes, glue down an assortment of tail and comb feathers, plus 2 toothpicks for legs. Then spread glue on the same wrong side and place the other bird shape on top and finger-press. Let glue dry. Add a googly eye or a dark bead for the eye. Using the tip of a needle, find the place on the bird's back where the hanger should go, where the shape would be balanced and hang evenly, then attach. Of course, you could glue feathers on to the bird's entire body or dress it up with beads. Otherwise, that's it.

Nativity Scripture Scroll
This 2 1/2" x 4" ornament is a Scripture Scroll that my daughter Christine made. Yours can be any size you like. On your computer, type out a Bible verse taken from the Christmas story found in Luke or Matthew. She chose Mt. 1:23. She found a small dingbat emblem of an angel and typed that at the top, followed by the verse, putting the reference at the bottom. Next, she printed it on a marbled paper that has the look of parchment, and tore it out of the sheet of paper, leaving large margins. Then Christine took 2 thin straight sticks and trimmed them of any bumps. She glued the paper to the sticks, top and bottom then let them dry. Then she rolled up the slack of paper, top and bottom, to create the rolled scroll look and glued the rolls in place. After the glue dried she poked a wire ornament hanger in the top edge. Using a pair of kitchen tongs she carefully held the paper next to a candle flame just briefly enough to darken the sides of the scroll. Finally, spray paper with clear sealer or hairspray so your ink won't run. That's it! You could also put any other message on the paper, of course.

Joy Magnet
This ornament can be a fridge magnet or a hanging ornament for the tree, as can most ornaments. Needlepoint a tiny, quick design. Wrap a scrap of batting over a disk of cardboard, place needlepoint over the whole thing. Tape or glue it in place. Take a piece of eyelet and gather it with a running stitch along the top edge. Join ends, knot off. Place the needlepoint disk over the eyelet, hot glue them together. Add a hanger or magnet. That's all.

Paper Pieced Angel
I created this paper pieced angel using the quiltmaking software EQ5. It prints out the actual pattern. You could use any pattern from online and book/magazine resources. Make the basic ornament, (don't stuff it) then sew glass beads at the edges of the wings, on top of the halo, and at bottom of robe. Use a light touch and paint on glitter glaze. I used clear (with holographic glitter) on the wings and gold as an 'aura' in the halo area. Add a thread hanger and write your name and year on the back.

Beeswax Angel
Here is a super-easy ornament. Pour melted beeswax (or other colored wax) into flat candle or candy mold. Drape 2 ends of cord, yard, thread, etc into the top of the ornament for a hanger. Let it cool completely before lifting ornament from mold. Try adding candle fragrance to the wax as it's melting for a wonderful odor near the tree.

Nativity Cave Ornament
Get a small box with a lid (mine's about 2" x 2" x 1.5"). Using an exacto knife cut a circle or other shape opening into the lid, then set it aside. Decide which box side will be the top. Use a big needle or safety pin to poke a hole in the center for a hanger. Thread a piece of string, yarn, etc onto a fat needle and force it through the hole from the inside out the top, then back inside again. Tie a big enough knot that it will hold as the hanger. I put a drop of tacky glue on the knot in the inside top. Paint the inside with a night sky and simple landscaping. Mine has part of a 'wood structure'. I also painted the inside of the lid white so more light could reflect into the interior. Get one of those itty bitty nativity sets from the craft store for about $1.00. Trim ridges off with the exacto knife until they can stand on their own. Use tacky glue (I don't recommend hot glue for this- parts are too small) and place figures on the 'ground' starting at the back. Since there wasn't room, I didn't use the whole set, just Joseph, Mary, Jesus, a Wiseman, a Shepherd and a lamb or two. Run a bead of glue around the edge of the box where it will touch the lid, then put the lid on. Once the glue is completely dry, use paints or markers (or stickers, etc) to paint rocks or other scenery, and add your name and year. Run a thin bead of glue around the edges of the opening and sprinkle with very fine glitter (I used irridescent clear). Then glue on the angel that came with the Nativity set. That's it! I also made one with a snowy tree and two tiny reindeer in a snow scene, and another one with a snowy farm scene. You could also do birds in a nest, baby with bottle in crib, yada, yada, yada.

Christmas Card Ball Ornaments
These pretty balls are beautiful and almost free. Use the bottom of a drinking glass (or other round thing that gives the desired size) as a pattern. Draw around it on a piece of cereal box cardboard. This is your template. Use it to draw a circle shape on the desired parts of old Christmas cards. Fold about 1/3 of the circle toward the center, picture side facing you, then repeat 2 more times. In effect, it's a triangle with 3 flanges. Do this to all the card circles. Use a glue stick or tacky glue to join all the flat sides until you have a ball, remembering to add a string hanger. Run a thin bead of glue over the exposed edges and 'dip' them in glitter. I found the photo for these ornaments on the Internet, but they're exactly like the ones I make.

Crystal Heart
Get a clear faceted or smooth plastic heart ornament. With the tiniest-possible tip, hot glue a piece of miniature trim, lace or ribbon around the outer edge of the heart, starting and stopping at the top center. Use 2 narrow ribbons and tie a bow. Glue this to the center top, along with a ribbon, cord or thread for a hanger. Add a tiny bell or berry at a strategic place to hide any glue showing. Glue a jewelry finding, jewel, or other embellishing doodad on the front.

Quilty Heart
Cut out a heart or other shape from a *ruined* quilt. Sew on a few beads, then use a contrasting embroidery floss to sew a blanket stitch or buttonhole stitch on the edges. Use a cord (or braid the embroidery floss) to add a hanger. Finally, dip or brush the whole thing with fabric stiffener. Let it dry flat on waxed paper. That's it!

Egg Tassel
This is an elegant but easy ornament my daughter made a few years ago. Stick a pin in both ends of a raw egg and blow out contents. Brush a thin layer of glue onto the egg and stick down cutouts of thin paper or decoupage images. Heidi used flowers and butterflies from gift wrap and tissue paper. Apply a thin glue-wash over the cutouts. Let it dry well. Glue a medium size wooden bead along with a loop of cord for hanging to the top of the egg. Let glue dry, then brush on more glue in a thin coat on the bead. Before the glue dries, wrap embroidery thread evenly around the bead. Hide the end and add a tiny bow or glue on a 'collar' of trim or lace. Make or buy a matching tassel to glue to the bottom.

Vintage Glitter Ball
This ornament isn't really vintage, but it has a look of those from the 40's and 50's if you use the right density of glitter. It's my favorite new ornament this year because it's fun. Simply apply double-sided tape in stripes or angles to clear glass balls, then roll in or sprinkle on glitter. Use a soft artist brush to gently remove excess glitter. Do one stripe at a time if you want them to be different colors. Add tiny 'jewels' for another effect. You can find the double-sided tape where scrapbooking supplies are sold. That's all there is to it!

Golden Spiral
Wire is a great medium! Thread plain gold beads onto 18 (or so) gauge wire that has a stopper loop at the bottom end. Put on way more that you think you'll need. Shape the size spiral you want then simply cut and loop the wire at the finishing end.

Moorish Jewel Ornaments
Cut out desired shapes from 2 layers of black felt. Glue them together to make them stiffer, plus add a hanger. Let glue dry. Double sided fusible (like Heat n Bond) works well too. Glue on acrylic 'jewels' with jewel glue. Let dry. Using fabric paints, puff paints or glitter-glue (my favorite) outline the jewels and add any other embellishments, including tassels where desired. Be sure to put your name and year on the back.

Liberty Bell
Buy or machine embroider a patriotic patch. Back it with felt and add a hanger. Sew on a gold bell. I made these for Christmas 2001 to commemorate September 11th.

1999 | 2000 | 2001
2002 | 2003 | 2004
2005 | 2006 | 2007
Instant Ornaments

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