Homemade Ornaments/Ornament Exchange

 This month I enjoyed taking part in  One Artsy Mama's Ornament Exchange

Amy partnered me up with Kirsten at One Tough Mother blog. It was so fun getting to know a fellow blogger.

This is part of what I learned about Kirsten to help create an ornament she would enjoy.

"I love color - so really, any color is wonderful :)  I'm a huge fan of owls. 

I'd love anything: colorful, shabby chic, unique!"

I had never given owls much thought when it comes to ornaments but I was up for the challenge! I found an adorable string of owl beads at the Beadin' Path in Freeport Maine, close to where I live. I was very excited to have the owl to create around.
 A bit of a rustic, woodland design is what I came up with.

 I had fun picking out coordinating beads for her snowflake to match the owl. 

These were my gifts to Kirsten.

I had made these shaker box ornaments in the past. They are little paper mache boxes filled with enough seed beads to cause the shaker sound. For this one, I wrapped it with burlap, strips of sheet music and beaded twine. The tricky part was the beaded branch which is attached to the pin holding the owl onto the box.

  This is Kirsten's beautiful gift to me!

 

I don't have my tree up yet but this beautiful vintage style jeweled ornament would look lovely anywhere!

   Combined with the book pages this is truly a very unique piece and just the style I adore.  

Thank you again Kirsten

 Check out her DIY ornament week beginning next Monday Dec 10th. It should be a great time!!

In addition to Ornament Exchange my ornaments are also linked to
Make it Monday

Terrific Tuesdays

3D Challenge, Homemade Faux Clay Seals

3D Challenge

There is a challenge this month over at CreativeScrapbookDivas to share your favorite 3D project for a holiday. Michelle's challenge was so cute with all her little pillowboxes that I had to give it a try. This is one of mine with my homemade faux clay seal and the word "friendship".

This gift is linked to:

I have 4 of these little rose clay seals and this pillow box together for sale on My Etsy

I used my bigkick to emboss the box then scored the lines. ONLY glue the bottom flap then the top flap down. This leaves room inside for folding the sides and filling with candy, buttons, ribbons or any gift.

Michelle's blog has several links to help with templates, SVG files for your electronic diecut machines, twine ect. Check her out! I don't use the SVG file, I printed a template and handcut.

Now for my favorite 3D Holiday projects to share for the challenge:

These are made with mini paper mache boxes. They are filled with microbeads to make them shakers, wrapped in paper and layered with torn pieces of old cards. I wrapped them in trim from old doilies and added an eyelet screw to hang a treasure. The final touch is my wonderful Aleene's glitter snow. They adorn my winter berry wreath.

I covered this tiny box with an old book page then music paper. The angel is hanging from a loop which is screwed into the bottom. I get my old vintage buttons from a great lady at the local flea market. She has hundreds of fun old buttons. This extra gift is hanging on a Christmas gift bag with a matching tag.

Cardinal Paper Mache Ornaments

I really wanted to make one more winter craft before the Valentine rush so I decorated two mini paper mache boxes. They are filled with microbeads to make them shakers, wrapped in paper and layered with torn pieces of old cards. I wrapped them in trim from old doilies and added an eyelet screw to hang a treasure. The final touch is my wonderful Aleene's glitter snow. They now adorn my winter berry wreath. I am on a cardinal kick this year (see my tag with alcohol inks also in Jan.)

Altered Tiny Paper Mache Box

I covered this tiny box with an old book page then music paper. The angel is hanging from a loop which is screwed into the bottom. I get my old vintage buttons from a great lady at the local flea market. She has hundreds of fun old buttons. This extra gift is hanging on a Christmas gift bag with a matching tag.