This and that: Decorations

Showing posts with label Decorations. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Repurposed Christmas Tree Ornaments

Have you ever kept something when it was empty thinking that this would be perfect to make something out of. I have done that with Bath & Body Wallflower fragrance bulbs. They look like little tree lights and I when I was using them all the time (we don't have a Bath & Body here anymore) I saved everyone of them. A while back I found my stash and threw a lot of them away as I never used them, keeping only 6. This week as I was thinking of what to make as ornaments ~ I had an uh huh moment.

This moment came when I was going through some of my craft supplies and came across some rub-on that I had from Plaid and Christmas Washi Tape. And that is how this project came together.

Materials:
Used Bath and Body Wallflower fragrance bulbs (other bulbs might work too)
Rub-on transfer (I used Plaid rub on transfers)
Washi Tape
Pliers
Heavy Thread to make holder and hot glue ( I had some leftover from balls that I used in a wreath)

Directions:
Unscrew the lid from the fragrance bulbs. Using pliers pull out wick and plastic piece that holds the wick in place. Screw back the lid on.
Making sure the outside of bulb is clean and dry, place rub-on transfer onto the surface of bulb and using stick provide rub the transfer on. If needed, you may have to rub some of the transfer and then pull it off to be able to rub the rest around the round surfaces. I also made sure my rub on was on the opposite side of the raised words of the fragrance bulbs.
Using washi tape, tape the edges of the lid. (I just did the outside of the edges).
Make loop with thread and tie a knot at the end. Glue the knotted end to the top of the lid of the bulb using hot glue and let dry.

Finished Ornaments

The only problem I had was with the Merry Christmas rub-on as it didn't want to transfer properly. Still looks ok and I might use a fine tip marker to fill in any of the letters that didn't all transfer. I really wish that I would have saved all the fragrance bulbs that I had as I love these ornaments.

LINKED TO: Nap-Time Creation

Saturday, December 7, 2013

Crocheted Christmas Mitts Ornaments

This fall and winter I have been having so much fun making more ornaments. I used to do this every Christmas and I would give my nieces and nephews homemade ornaments every year. Well for about the last 10 years I haven't done so much.

I decided to pick up my crochet hook and do a few ornaments with them. I found this pattern for mitts and thought they would be perfect. My biggest problem was reading the instructions. I am not so good at that but I do think they turned out looking alright.

After making many different ornaments I decided that this one was the one I was sending to my partner for the Ornament Swap 2013, hosted by Tutus and Tea Parties, Robyn's View and Baby Bump and Beyond. I had so much fun last year, that I joined up again for this year. I know that my partner received her ornament as she sent me an email. So, that means that I can write about what I made.

Crocheted Christmas Mitt Ornaments

Materials:
Yarn
Crochet Hook
Pattern for Mitts
Burlap
Button
Fabric Fusion Sheet
String

Instructions:
Crochet your mitt using this pattern.
Apply Fabric Fusion Sheet to back of burlap with iron. This is used to give the burlap some stability and to prevent unraveling. The first mitt I cut out my pattern first and then ironed the fabric fusion sheet to back - BAD idea. It didn't work as good. Works better to do this step first.
Cut out patterns - I used hearts and stars, but you can use whatever you would like.
Find buttons that match or even just the colours you like.
Thread your button and burlap shape to the mitt and tie ends.

That's it, your done. Depending on your expertise in crocheting will depend on how long each ornament takes. It took me about an hour or two to do one mitt. These ornaments would be perfect to put small gifts, candies or money in, use as gift toppers or you could also use them on your table to hold your cutlery.

to use on your table for your cutlery

Tuck small gifts or money inside

Here are some of the other ornaments that I have made this year.... Hot Chocolate Ornaments, and Sheet Music Ornaments .

Links: Craft Frenzy Friday Link Party, Create it or Bake it, In and Out of the Kitchen

Monday, November 11, 2013

Sheet Music Ornaments

Christmas is coming and it is time to start making some tree ornaments. Do you make your own ornaments? I used to make an ornament for each of my nieces and nephews but have not made any for many years. I love Sheet Music Ornaments and last year I made a couple of them.....