CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS
TO MAKE
2008
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Instant Ornaments
Every year my mother, sister, niece 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.
Golden Star
This is one of my all-time favorite handmade ornaments. My mother crocheted this star from a stretchy
metallic cord. I can’t give you the instructions, but if you’re a crochet-er, you can see how to do it
from the photo. The structure of the star is cabone rings. Metal macrame rings would work too. You need
a largeish one for the center, 5 medium ones for the star points, and 10 smaller ones that circle the
center. Basically, you single crochet around the main ring until it’s covered, then continue single
crocheting around the perimeter for a couple rows. Crochet around all the remaining rings, then attach
them together by crocheting or by simple sewing. With the same cord, sew 6 gold beads to the star tips
and to the center. A search online might find you the actual instructions, but the graphicness and
elegance of it makes it worth experimenting. This star measures about 6” wide, including the beads.
Paper Butterfly
Use heavy paper or glue 2 sheets together. Cut an hourglass shape and pleat fold it as in the picture. Pinch it tight in the
center. Wrap a 5” piece of chenille stem (pipe cleaner) around the center and twist to secure. Curl the ends of the pipe cleaner.
I used a gold pipe cleaner, but use the color of your choice. Experiment with different widths and lengths of paper to get different
sizes and shapes of butterflies.
Flag Swag
In Sweden, it’s traditional to decorate the tree with strings of the country’s flags as a garland. To make this, get some blue paper
(origami supplies or craft store) and cut it about 5” x 1.25” per flag. Cut ¼” strips from yellow paper. Using a glue stick, attach
the yellow paper to form a cross on both halves of the blue strip. Fold the flag in half (looks finished on both sides) over a thread,
glue inner flag sides together. In the photo, there are flags every couple inches. Naturally, you can make flags from any country or
state. Show your patriotic pride!
Fleecy Cat and Mouse
Cut 1 8” circle of fleece, any cat color for the cat’s body; a 3.5” circle for the mouse; a 4” circle for the cat’s head; cut a tapered
rectangle for the cat’s tail, about 3” x 1.5”. Sew a running stitch around the edges of all 3 circles. Put in some stuffing, then pull
the circles tight and tie off. Cut 2 cat ears from felt, hot-glue glue on pink felt for “inside” of ears, then glue ears to top of cat’s
head. Embroider eyes, eyebrows and whiskers onto cat’s face, then hot-glue head to body. Glue a red bow to “neck”. Sew the tail, turn
inside out and glue to base of body. Cut a felt teardrop shape for the mouse’s face and 2 smaller teardrops for his ears. Glue a black
bead in place for his eye (or embroider a French knot); glue a red bow to his “neck”, then glue a 3” length of rattail cord (or 6 strands
embroidery thread) to mouse’s body for a tail. Experiment with the placement of the mouse- you may want it to cover the place where you
attached the cat’s tail. Hot glue the mouse to the cat, attach a gold thread for a hanger, and you’re done.
Sea Shell Angel
Use 2 sea shells that match in size like the photo, lay one aside. Choose one shell to be the back of the angel, with the narrow side
up, and the curved side away from you, like a bowl. Hot glue or tacky glue 2 white leaves (the wedding department in craft stores) for
the wings as in the picture. Hot glue a thread or small wire hanger in place, then glue on the front shell. Glue the edge of a button
to the shell “neck” for the head. To the back of the head, glue a loop of gold cord for the halo. Write your name and date on the back
shell of the angel. You could substitute feathers for the white leaves.
Gift Basket
One year my daughter had a gift basket business, and that Christmas she made these tiny versions to be an ornament. Buy a tiny basket
from the craft store (hers is 2.5” wide and 3” tall). Fill it with fine shreds of paper as a filler. On top lay miniature items (this
one has a mini wheel barrow and fruit and veggies). Optionally, you may want to hot glue these to anchor them in place. Cut a square
of clear, printed cellophane about 11” x 11”. Put the basket in the center and draw the 4 corners above the basket handle. Tuck in all
edges and secure with a curly-ribbon bow (see picture). Trim the excess cellophane on top until it looks good. Attach a hanging loop to
the back of the ribbon. This little ornament would make a cute party favor for a baby or wedding shower, or it could represent an
Easter basket.
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Instant Ornaments
Copyright 2008. All Rights Reserved. Updated 1/4/2008.
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