Rolled Magazine Paper Ornaments

Everyone here has been so patient as I trundle upstairs each night to "make my ornament." But it's been particularly nice to have my mom visiting and she has become indispensable as a photography, paper rolling assistant. However, we're counting the days down to the 24th - my last ornament for the year. And then, I'll take a long winters nap and maybe it will snow!

Materials:
Magazine pages
Glue stick
Cookie cutters
Ruler
Scissors
Wax paper
White glue
Glitter
Brush

Rip pages from a magazine-I've done this project with newsprint and it's very dirty so stay with colorful (but not messy) magazines.

Cut a page in half horizontally (do a better job than I did here).

The reason to cut and glue it together is that the grain of the paper makes it easier or harder to roll the paper with or without crimping.

Cut sections 2" to 4" strips depending on how tall you are making your ornament. 

1) Fold the strip in half.

2) Fold one side into the half fold line.

3) Fold the other side into the half fold line.

4) Fold and glue the two halves together.

By doing it this way - you don't see any single edges.

Tuck a rolled strip into the edges of the cookie cutter and use glue stick to close the shape. keep it in the cookie cutter while the other rolls are made and added.

To make the rolls, start at one end of a strip and make a tiny fold and then a second fold and then roll the strip. Add a second strip for a larger roll.

Add the rolls into the cookie cutter until it is filled.
Push the rolls down so they're flush with the table surface (that will be the "front").

On a piece of wax paper add a dab of white glue into between the rolls and along the outer strip of paper.
Add a little glue to the front and sprinkle some glitter (over the wax paper).

Allow the glue to dry completely before removing the ornament from the cookie cutter and adding a string to hang.

Milk Jug Snow Star Ornaments

A long time ago I worked for a wonderful art director who made a stunning skirt from milk jug panels cut into circles. Ever since then I've looked at milk jugs differently. Today's ornament was inspired in part by that distant memory and a chance encounter with a really cool clock while shopping for Christmas presents and I was inspired to make these snow stars.

Materials:
Template (Click on link)
Empty clean plastic milk jug
Push Pin
Adhesive jewels
Thin marker
Scissors



Optional: nail polish remover to remove marker lines if necessary

Print and cut the template out.
Cut the top section off the jug.
Cut the handle off the jug.

Cut the 4 panels off the container.
Dry the panels if they're wet.

Trace around the template onto a panel with a fine point marker.

Cut the snow stars out with scissors.
Clean the marker off with water and paper towels (or if it's more stubborn use nail polish remover).

Use a push pin to make a hole in one of the snow star's arms.

Decorate with jewels and hang your beautiful creation!

Glitter Letter Ornaments

It's the 3rd of  December and for today's easy ornament we're using the plastic magnetic letters that have been floating around the house for years. Somehow, they never were completely thrown away and have been holding up pictures and recipes on the refrigerator and hanging out in the drawer with the batteries.

Materials:

Plastic (magnetic) letters

Mod Podge

Glitter(I prefer fine glitter)

1/2" screw eyes (or larger)

String

Small paper plates to catch the glitter

Make a hole with a  push pin.
Then either:

1. Enlarge the hole with screw eye (it's easier to grab and turn) or 

2. Add a small screw eye as a hanger.

Either way, the screw eye makes a great holder so you can cover the letter with Mod Podge and then add (i.e. pour) the glitter.

Allow to dry completely, then unscrew the big eye screw and thread a knotted loop through the hole to hang or leave the small screw eye in and add a hanger.

Maybe spell something on the tree? Merry Christmas! Or the kids names or initials? Or turn them into a garland message-Happy New Year!

Recycled Cardboard Coffee Cup Sleeve Ornaments

...otherwise known as cardboard beads, these simple ornaments are made from recycled cardboard coffee sleeves from Starbucks (or Panera- they have a lovely texture too). This is day 2 of my Christmas Ornament challenge for myself.

Materials:

• Cardboard coffee cup sleeves
• Hot glue
• Paint
• Glitter Mod Podge or white glue
• String

1. Open the cardboard sleeve and trim it into a triangle shape. You can use pinking shears to give it fancy edges.
2. Place the textured surface face down on the table.
3. Use a dab of hot glue to add a knotted loop of string to the wide inside surface of the cardboard triangle.
4. Start at the wide end and roll the triangle toward the point.
5. Add a dab of hot glue to the end to hold the end in place.
6. Paint the ornament any way you like- or/and use Mod Podge or white glue to add glitter. 

Experiment cutting the triangle in different ways- wavy edges or add extra cardboard pieces.

Christmas String Ornaments

These string disks are one of my favorite projects I made for work for Christmas this year. They may even use things you already have around the house (because everyone has adhesive jewels- right?) They're fast and easy to make and are a great idea for an ornament exchange.

These pictures were taken in July-my camera is broken! It's been acting wonky since Halloween and now the lens is down for the count.
Very sad. I have some projects planned but will have to wait to post until a fix is found.

Materials:

• Bakers twine
• Light weight cardboard (from a white gift box or a thick paper plate)
• Adhesive Gems (or sequins or pom poms plus glue-use what you have)
• Pinking scissors
• Optional: Glitter paper/ tacky glue

Trace around a can or lid on the cardboard then cut out the disks.
Trim each disk with pinking scissors.
Tie one end of a length of bakers twine around the middle of the disk with the knot on the "back".
Wrap the twine around the disk, moving from one notch on the top and then to the bottom until the disk is completely filled.
Tie and knot the twine off at the back.
Add an adhesive gem to the front center (and the back if you like) of the disk.
Determine which edge looks best at the top and thread a short length of twine through the string in the notch and tie the ends together to make a loop.

You could also add to the "back side" with a slightly larger disk cut from glitter paper.

Glitter paper doesn't stick well to things - double sided tapes and glue dots haven't worked for me. So far- tacky glue is the only thing that has done the job.