Christmas ornaments anyone?

[hollyrh]

Anyone have any ideas for Christmas ornaments using photos and/or digital scrapbooking supplies?
Here are some I made this week for my mom (pictures she took of my son and his cousins for their first Christmases) using the clear glass ornaments. I printed my pictures on photo paper, glued them onto patterned paper onto which I had printed "Parker's First Christmas" etc. and cut them out. I put some ribbon in the ornament, then rolled up the picture and put it in and used tweezers to unroll/position it. I also threaded some transparent thread from my quilting supplies through the tip of the picture and then tied that to the cap on the ornament to ensure that the picture wouldn't slide around or flip over (though I'm not sure that's really necessary if the size of the picture is such that it pretty much fills the glass). I know you can do this by cutting circle shapes as well that fill the whole ornament, but I wanted the rectangular shape. I hot-glued the bows on the caps.
I also tried an idea I saw in a magazine that involved printing pictures on inkjet water-slide decal paper, but it was a disaster. The decals got all wrinkled and were impossible to smooth onto a round ornament. Figures, I had been saving that article for years waiting for the right pictures to try it and it was awful.
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e223/hollyrh/ornaments.jpg

[jennamelia]

You just MADE MY DAY with this idea... I love it soooo much.I'm so doing it. THANKS SO MUCH

[StaceyD]

Think I am going to have to give this a try too!

[sinead]

Holly, they are so cute!

[AndreaBurns]

WOW! Awesome! Saving this for future reference!!

where did you find the clear ornaments?

[Deena]

Those are adorable!!

Andrea, ive seen the clear ornaments in the craft area at wal-mart before, so i would assume that you can find them at pretty much any Craft store, or check wal-mart's craft area :)

[Valgal]

Holly! These are fantastic! Thanks SO much for sharing, I will definately make some of these.

Andrea, you'll find loads of empty ornaments at your craft store.

[ccouch]

These are SO great!! Thanks for sharing your handiwork w/ us!

Traci Sims had some super-cool ornaments that she had made. Is that okay for me to post that pic here?? Traci makes some of the coolest stuff and is SO inspiring!

http://static.flickr.com/104/264074394_4bd3e5cbbd_o.jpg

[hollyrh]

I got the ornaments at Michael's... they were even on sale for something like $2.50 for a package of six...

[nbeaudreau]

Those are adorable, Holly!

[InLoveWithDOTS]

Those are awesome!

[jpysgrl]

Those are really cool ornaments! TFS!

[chloe]

Really cute! Definitely a great idea, TFS!

[RachelS]

what a cool idea!

[scrapsandsass]

Oh how neat! What a great idea!!

[AndreaBurns]

Holly~ could you tell me what size you printed those photos to fit inside? I LOVE this idea and will be heading out to buy supplies soon. Here's an idea... but its not technically Digi....

The pics should be self explanatory, LOL!

[jennamelia]

Oh- I just LOVE those little handprints! I'm going to give that a try.

[MarshaZepeda]

Holly~ could you tell me what size you printed those photos to fit inside? I LOVE this idea and will be heading out to buy supplies soon. Here's an idea... but its not technically Digi....

The pics should be self explanatory, LOL!
That is soooooooooo adorable!!! Omgosh! My kids would LOVE doing that lil project, lol!

And Holly - AWESOME idea! Your mom's gonna love em!

[pbumbaca]

WOW! Those are fantastic! I am planning on making the acrylic painted ornaments with some "bling" snowflakes on the outside and some matching rolled paper ornaments but just love your idea!

[KimberlyGiarrusso]

ooo andrea, those are adorable~!

[cherpea]

The photos inside are fantastic! and the decorations are just amazing!

Note to self hunt down some clear plastic ball decorations, not quite as easy I think with no walmart in NZ!

[meems]

oh those ornaments are adorable!

[AndreaBurns]

There's another cute Ornament Idea here (http://www.digishoptalk.com/boards/showthread.php?t=22766)!

[Rynonut Mom]

I bought these porcelian ornaments (they are like these (http://www.michaels.com/art/online/projectsheet?pid=25261b)) from Michael's for this year to do. I'm going to mod podge the photo on the front and then do the year on the back! I've done the glass ornaments for the past 2 years although I did my photos round. I really like the rectangular ones though!!!
And Andrea - I LOVE the snowman fingers!!!! Maybe I'll do those too! (those would make cute teacher's gifts too!

[AndreaBurns]

Ooh! LOOK HERE (http://www.woodcrafter.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=2370)!

YAY! Both round and flat! Now if Holly could get over and help us with sizes......

;)

[KimberlyGiarrusso]

Know what else I found about these clear bulbs...

TIP:

Instead of buying brand new ones, take old scratched balls (or new ones) and soak them in full strength bleach for several minutes. Rinse with warm sudsy water. Newer balls have a plastic like film on the outside that will slough right off. Bleach will remove the silver color inside the ball. You may need to use a Q-tip to get all the silver out. It's a lot cheaper than buying clear balls.

[KimberlyGiarrusso]

HEY....I DID IT!!!

The tip works soooooo goood! I am making my second batch now. My hands burn a litttle from the bleach, but all in the name of cheap, great crafts right???

[noralong]

Know what else I found about these clear bulbs...

TIP:

Instead of buying brand new ones, take old scratched balls (or new ones) and soak them in full strength bleach for several minutes. Rinse with warm sudsy water. Newer balls have a plastic like film on the outside that will slough right off. Bleach will remove the silver color inside the ball. You may need to use a Q-tip to get all the silver out. It's a lot cheaper than buying clear balls.\



You can do that with old out door christmast lights, too! We were low on scratch one year, and had a crazy mix of lights left over from other years. So, I washed them all, just like Kimberly wrote, and had a "new" set of clear lights!


The ornaments you gals are doing are soooooo cute! I love them!

[hollyrh]

Sorry! I'm at work today until 8 p.m. or so, but I will post the sizes tonight! I'd guess about 2 inches by 1.5 inches... but that's pretty useless unless I also know the size of the ornament... so I'll check when I get home!

[KimberlyGiarrusso]

the bulbs are sooooo cool, but Holly I need your help on the insides. It just doens't look right. I had the hardest time ever getting the photos in there....do you have any tips? It's pretty fun though!

[hollyrh]

Kimberly: I love that green and white ribbon with the black and white picture!

Of course, I didn't save the edited version of the pictures I used, but I do think they were about 1.75 inches by 1.5 inches... I also didn't save the box for the ornaments, but I measured one and the circumferance was 8.5 inches... if I just measure sort of the "front" of the ball, it's about 3.5 inches.

As for how I got them in:
1) Cut a length of ribbon (six inches maybe?) roll it up and pop it in the ornament. Shake or use tweezers to arrange it in the bottom of the ornament.
2) Print the pictures on photo paper. If you want the back to look pretty, too, you can glue them on colored paper. Let dry
3) Thread a needle with transparent thread (or probably any thread, it won't show) and poke a hole in the top of the picture, to give yourself something to tie to the top of the ornament to keep the picture upright
4) Roll the picture as tight as you can without creasing it and pop it in the ornament
5) Use tweezers to grasp the picture and bend it back in the opposite direction it wants to roll. I did this on both ends of the picture. It will still be curved, but not as much
6) once it's in place, poke the thread through the top of the cap and tie it.
7) decorate outside with ribbon.

I don't know if hanging them by a thread is really necessary. If your picture pretty much fills up the ball, it might stay standing up on its own.

[ccouch]

oooh....i just got back from hobby lobby where i picked up some super-cool glass ornaments to work with (50% off this week!!) The ones I bought are sqaure :) So stinkin' cute!! Will post pics when I get these all done. Thanks so much for the inspiration, Holly!

[ajoyfulheart]

I don't have any idea, other than decoupaging stuff...I just have to say that I LOVE your ornaments!! How sweet is that?!! GREAT job ;)

[jessie97]

Those are soo cute. TFS.

[d2vasquez]

Oh my gosh I bought some clear ornaments years ago at an after Christmas sale.....I love this idea Holly - thank you I will try these this weekend. :)

[KimberlyGiarrusso]

Ohhh....I got it then, I think I pretty much did all those steps. I also did the thread thing. I used white, and no, you can't see it. I started with a photo too big, then too small. I think I still need to go a little smaller then I have now. This is a fun craft and a great gift for the family. Thanks soooo much for showing us!

[AndreaBurns]

Awww! We did these yesterday, and I think they turned out great!

[StaceyD]

Those are so stinkin' cute Andrea!!! I am going to have to do this with my daycare kids!! What kind of paint did you use for the handprint?

[AndreaBurns]

I just used a white acrylic! I used sharpies for the black and ornage, but I think ornage paint would be better!

[KimberlyGiarrusso]

oooh goodness that is PRECIOUS!!!

[hollyrh]

Andrea, that looks great! Was it hard to hold Seth's hand still? I'm trying to imagine doing this with Parker, but I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to press his hand cleanly agains the ornament without the paint smearing...

[AndreaBurns]

It wasn't too hard... I think he thought the paint was a novelty and it felt different to him. We did a practice "press" on some paper before the actual ornament. I also got 4 ornaments to make 3... one just "in case" KWIM? Seth is also 2, so I dunno if that makes a difference.

I just heard that there is a poem that goes with the ornie.... I'll post it once it gets sent to me. :)

[Rynonut Mom]

I think I may try to make the snowman fingers as the handmade teachers gift! But on flat paper, I think!

[AndreaBurns]

Here you go!

This was on a little business size card and tied with a ribbon to the top of the bulb..i left it on and hang it with the poem and all..

These aren't just 5 snowmen as anyone can see
I made them with my hand,
Which is a part of me.
Now each year when you trim the tree
You'll look back and recall
Christmas of 200_
When my hand was just this small.
Merry Christmas

[Rynonut Mom]

Oh- that makes it even more perfect!!! So cute!

[chloe]

That's so cute!

[AndreaBurns]

One more idea! Can't believe I almost forgot!

Cinnamon Ornaments

NOT EDIBLE

3/4 cup ground cinnamon
1 TBS ground allspice
2 TBS ground cloves
1 TBS ground nutmeg
1 cup applesauce

Combine spices, blending well. Stir in applesauce; blend well. Dough will be stiff. Roll dough out to 1/4 inch thickness on ungreased cookie sheet. Cut out with cookie cutter shapes. Peel away dough and re-roll if necessary. Put in wire hangers (I use paper clips). Let dry uncovered for 4-5 days. Gives your house a wonderful fragrance.

[ccouch]

Love these :)
My mom made some last year - Gingerbread Boys & Girls. She dressed them w/ paint. I think it was actually the fabric paint that comes in the little squeeze bottles. She gave them to us w/ a little suction window hanger. When they're warmed by the sunlight, they are really fragrant. I wrapped those little guys up and pulled them out again this year - they still smell wonderful & besides Camille trying to eat them, they are just perfect!

[meems]

Andrea, those cinnamon ornaments sound great. I wish I had some applesauce right now. I think these would be nice to attach to the teacher gifts Henry is giving out, which are just GC, so a little something like this would be cute with it.

hmm, well I do have some Motts Natural strawberry applesauce. Do you think that would work? would it look weird? the applesauce is pink. would all the spices just make it look yucky?

[PixelStix]

hmm, well I do have some Motts Natural strawberry applesauce. Do you think that would work? would it look weird? the applesauce is pink. would all the spices just make it look yucky?

Since they end up the color of the spices, I would think that it wouldn't matter if your applesauce was pink- though you might have a berry smell goin' on too... I would doubt it though- they just smell like the spices.

[YvetteSanders]

The cinnamon ones are great - I remember Mom making them a few years ago - they keep their scent for years!

[meems]

I'm going to have to remember this for next year (or make them now and save for next year?) b/c Henry is giving his gifts tomorrow.

[AndreaBurns]

Snowflake Photo Ornies

http://img3.glowfoto.com/images/2006/12/21-0719565504T.jpg (http://www.glowfoto.com/viewimage.php?img=21-071956L&y=2006&m=12&t=jpg&rand=5504&srv=img3)

Supplies Needed: Glitter Snowflake ornaments from Target. 3 inch flat glass ornie (http://www.woodcrafter.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=2370), 3x3 inch photo, decorative ribbon, some small rhinestones. Diamond Glaze Glue (http://store.scrapbook.com/rp-400.html)for gluing photo to glass, and I used Gel Medium (http://www.misterart.com/g2687/Liquitex-Acrylic-Gloss-Gel-Medium.htm))to glue everything else.

Just assemble as seen!

Original photo that gave me the idea~

http://img3.glowfoto.com/images/2006/12/21-0730471774T.jpg (http://www.glowfoto.com/viewimage.php?img=21-073047L&y=2006&m=12&t=jpg&rand=1774&srv=img3)

Keep embellishments at a minimum to keep them looking timeless for decades.
I do plan on making some for our family! I'll edit this post with those when I'm done! :)

[meems]

One more idea! Can't believe I almost forgot!

Cinnamon Ornaments

NOT EDIBLE

3/4 cup ground cinnamon
1 TBS ground allspice
2 TBS ground cloves
1 TBS ground nutmeg
1 cup applesauce

Combine spices, blending well. Stir in applesauce; blend well. Dough will be stiff. Roll dough out to 1/4 inch thickness on ungreased cookie sheet. Cut out with cookie cutter shapes. Peel away dough and re-roll if necessary. Put in wire hangers (I use paper clips). Let dry uncovered for 4-5 days. Gives your house a wonderful fragrance.
yay, I found the recipe! I'm going to try this with the rest of the individual applesauce cups I bought that no one will eat. (darn Costco)

Many great ornament ideas in this thread!

[StaceyD]

Thanks for digging this one up Mimi!

[Karah]

Love this thread!!!

I'm goign to have to make some of those ornaments too LOL.

We always do the cinnamon ornaments and we did salt-dough ornaments this week that are just waiting to be painted. I think I'm going to use those to decorate xmas gifts.

[sinead]

Oh, I'm going to have to try these when we get back from Disney! It sounds like the perfect thing for an after-school activity one day! :)

[AndreaBurns]

THIS is one of the BEST threads ever!

[mzkellyb]

So many cute ideas in this thread! Thanks for bringing this back up Mimi.

[StaceyD]

I hope to do the applesauce ornaments this year!

[femmgrangwav]

WOWzers this is a GREAT thread!! I want to try EVERYTHING!! I'm off to look for ornaments. The acrylic ones don't break right?

[Rynonut Mom]

Yeah - I wouldn't think that they would break...

[ajoyfulheart]

LOL!!! I was SO confused by this thread...I was reading along and thought that I recognized that clear ornament pictures from LAST year, and that it was odd that everyone was acting like it a was a "new" idea!!! LOL Then I saw the dates...*sigh*...I'm such a dork...ugh!

[YvetteSanders]

LOL!!! I was SO confused by this thread...I was reading along and thought that I recognized that clear ornament pictures from LAST year, and that it was odd that everyone was acting like it a was a "new" idea!!! LOL Then I saw the dates...*sigh*...I'm such a dork...ugh!

So post #33 didn't catch your attention? :rofl:

[ajoyfulheart]

LOL Yeah...I saw that after I realized the date thing...too funny :p It's all Mimi's fault...she's trying to make me think that I am going crazy...

[meems]

LOL Yeah...I saw that after I realized the date thing...too funny :p It's all Mimi's fault...she's trying to make me think that I am going crazy...
heh heh, like I even have to try

[YvetteSanders]

Rofl!

[mcardall]

what a cute idea!

[femmgrangwav]

Awww! We did these yesterday, and I think they turned out great!
Andrea,

Did you have handprints on both sides or just one side of the ornament?

[annscraps]

Those are absolutely gorgeous! If I had time I'd make'em myself. I'm busy finishing up a family yearbook. I won a free 12x12 shutterfly book, but I gotta order by the end of December - mwahhhh!

[ajoyfulheart]

Evil...evil evil MIMI!!! :hosed:

[kyl099]

Just had to show mine off that I made! Thanks for bringing this thread back so I could see it!

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b260/kyl099/xmasballs.jpg

[YvetteSanders]

They turned out great!


Just had to show mine off that I made! Thanks for bringing this thread back so I could see it!

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b260/kyl099/xmasballs.jpg

[chloe]

Great ones!

[AndreaBurns]

Here's a new one! ;)

Cube Card! (http://www.thedigichick.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17187)

Get it here (http://www.thedigichick.com/shop/product.php?productid=17389)

[AndreaBurns]

how about this... I came across this decorating the tree last night and remembered that some of you might like it! Its just made with felt.

HTH!

[StaceyD]

Oh that is cute, Andrea! I was going to make a card with a painted handprint Santa but I think I like this better!

[gift.christmas]

This article,made me easy to choose give a gift (http://www.christmasgiftfavorites.com/) to my dearest friend which I think will make him happier on this Christmas.

[AngelinaS]

Andrea, those are too cute! I'm in charge of the second grade craft for the Christmas party this year...Maybe I'll have to do those little Santas!