There’s something special about a homemade ornament on your Christmas tree.
Over the years many of us collect ornaments from our travels, and receive them as gifts from friends and family. But the most special ornaments are usually the ones made by hand.
This year why not make a special ornament for your tree or perhaps as a gift to a friend?
I came upon this ornament last year at a craft show and thought it was so intricate and pretty. It reminded me of the snowflakes in the Rankin & Bass Christmas cartoons I used to watch a child.
Materials
- 8.5” x 11” cardstock (assorted colours)
- Scissors
- Hole puncher
- Paper cutter
- Craft glue
- Slotted quilling tool
- Toothpick
- Thin gold string
- Paper clips
- Plastic multicolored beads
You can purchase a paper cutter inexpensively at craft stores such as Michaels. These make cutting your paper strips so easy and every strip comes out consistent.
Cut 16 11-inch strips with your paper cutter. Set them aside.
Glue two strips end to end by half an inch. You will be left with eight long strips.
Using your quilling tool, curl each strip into a coil and set them aside.
Take your toothpick and separate the coils so that the resulting round coil is approximately three inches in diameter. Glue the end with your craft glue.
Press each coil with your fingers to make a flower shaped petal. Use your toothpick to pull up the center coil into the top left hand side of the petal. Carefully glue the coil into this position with the craft glue and toothpick. Place a paper clip in this position until the petal is dry. Repeat with the remaining seven petals.
Once the petals are completely dry, glue them all together in the pattern of a snowflake and let them dry. Add your beads to the center of the snowflake with the craft glue.
Hole punch a hole in the top of one of the petals and add a loop of gold string for hanging.
Barb Lunter is a freelance writer with a passion for home decor, entertaining and floral design. She also runs Blu Dog Staging & Redesign. You can find more information at bludogstagingandredesign.com.
