Handmade Ornaments - Day 4

BUTTON SNOWMEN

From Urban Paisley

Today's Inspiration:

Where I got the idea from:


http://urbanpaisley.blogspot.com/2008_12_01_archive.html




I am not really happy with the way mine turned out, but on my big 7.5' chrstmas tree I am sure nobody will notice.


I didnt have any 4-hole buttons so I used 2 hole.  On one I tried to make the eyes show up better by gluing on some seed beads, but one ended up sideways and it was already hot glued down before I noticed it.

Handmade Ornament - Day 3

LITTLE DENIM TREE
from One Crafty Mamma

My Pinterest Board for my 30-days project  http://pinterest.com/craftallthings/30-days-of-handmade-ornaments/
Inspiration Piece:

Idea From:   http://melissagoodsell.typepad.com/day_to_day/2007/11/day-2---christm.html




My interpretation.   I liked the denim and red look, so I went with it.  I changed the ribbon at the top to be thinner so it would go around the branch and be less noticable, and I added a red bow.

 

 

I really want to make more of these, but after cleaning up last night I was too tired to do more than one, but I have a massive amount of denim to use from the slipcover from our oversized chair that broke.

I added this to these link parties:

Handmade Ornament - Day 2

MELTED SNOWMAN HEADS
From Holiday Kids Crafts

My pinterest board:  http://pinterest.com/craftallthings/30-days-of-handmade-ornaments/


Today I decided to try something simple, and it was so easy:




Here is my inspiration piece:

I found the link from pinterest, and the original idea is here

http://www.holiday-kids-crafts.com/snowman-crafts-meltedsnowmanornament.html

I ended up making 5 of these.  My hot glue must be super clear, because the ispiration ornament looks more opaque than mine, but I still love them.


I failed to take in progress pictures, but I really plan on making more of these for my daughter to give out to her friends, so I'll take some then.


I learned a few things. 

• You don't get a very large snowman if you use the mini glue sticks.  All mine are about the size of a quarter
• You really cant add more hot glue after the first bit you blob gets hard, they just don't blend together well.
• You cant use a heat embossing tool to re-heat the glue once you put the pipe cleaner nose in, because the nose will melt down to the wire.
• Make sure you have the beads for your eyes and nose ready to go before you blob out the hot glue.
• A straight pin works good for putting the beads on, but dont get too close or you get stuck and create glue strings.
• If you want the melted look move the glue gun around while squeezing or else you get a pretty round snowman head.

Here are all 6 of my little snowman buddies on my tree:

Here is a good closeup

Handmade Ornaments - Day 1

Peppermint Yo-Yo
From Polka dot Pineapple

I found this on Pinterest, where I found all the ideas for this 30 day project.

Here is a link to my board with all the ideas I chose http://pinterest.com/craftallthings/30-days-of-handmade-ornaments/


It was originally posted back in 2009 at http://mousechirpy-polkadotpineapple.blogspot.com/2009/09/merry-yo-yo-christmas.html


I bought plain quilting cotton to make mine out of.  The selection at Hancock Fabrics near me is so BLAH, unless I want to use fleece, then I have 15 million choices.


Here is a picture of my first cut out pieces

Here they all are ready for sewing

I failed to take in progress sewing pictures, so here is the final ornament on my little display tree:

And a close up

I decided against the holly leaves, but as soon as I find the jingle bells I have, I will sew it on in the middle of the bow.

30 Days Of Handmade Ornaments starts today!

I will be making at least one handmade ornament each day this month.

I have a plan of attack.  I have written out all the materials I need to buy which is not very much thanks to my every expanding room of craft supplies.

Here are Pics of the ornaments I am working on for Days 1 to 7

I've been working on my embroidery

I was getting pretty tired of doing nothing more than back stitch and satin stitches, so I set out to learn some new stuff.

I would like to thank Sarah at http://www.embroidery.rocksea.org/ for her amazingly easy to follow tutorials!

Here is my "sampler"

Here are closeups and explanations of what my attempts were supposed to be:


This is a cluster of bullion stitches, with a stem stitch and two detatched chains (aka Lazy Daisy Stitches) for leaves.  I am thrilled with how this one turned out!

This one is 6 bullion stitches for petals and french knots as the flower's center.  The stem is done as a scroll stitch.

This one has 3 detached chain/lazy daisy stitches and three pistil (or long french knot) stitches.

Here we have a long fly stitch with three french knots at the bottom, topped with some back stitches topped with clusters of french knots for flowers.

This is a lazy lotus, which has three detached chain stitches worked upside down with two french knots in between with three small stitches at the base.

Simple flower done with lazy daisy stiches very loose and lopsided with one french knot in the center:

I am fairly proud of this flower, its very tightly stitched lazy daisys with a large cluster of french knots in the center

This final one is supposed to be a raised chain stitch, but it was a total utter failure:

This stitch should look like this (done by Sarah Whittle)

:

My project for the weekend of Labor Day 2011

I will attempt to sew something like this for myself and my daughter to use when we embroider.