Christmas Crafting
I took some time off my quilting and decided to make Christmas ornaments. I have made one vintage look ornament using a Dresden die cut angel and vintage look silver tinsel. I posted a picture of this ornament.
I have cut up a cardboard egg carton and made some ornament forms. I put Gesso and them and they are drying. Have some red puffy pipe cleaner, going to make some pipe cleaner Santas (my favorite). I bought some santa faces, the kind you down load and print, to use for the pipe cleaner Santas.
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Tried my hand at making a spun cotton ornament. got the instructions from Pintrest, plus lots of ideas on that site. Also made some pipe cleaner santas; these are my favorite and sure to be a hit with all the little kids in the family.
Went to the craft store today and got some gold and silver cord to make the hangers for ornaments. My sisters and some friends are planning a big crafting day of making Xmas decorations. I am getting good at making spun cotton figures.
The globe is hollow, and is made from spalted poplar. The finials are walnut.
Here is my latest, I got the idea from a spun cotton ornament on Pinterest.
Made another swing girl. Had an old photo of a man in a Santa suit, scanned it in and made a smaller copy to use for the scrap ornament, Getting better at working the spun cotton figures. Learning by trial and error.
I used to collect antique Christmas ornaments. Back in the 1960's and 70's, people would give them to me. When Ebay started, I found my collection was very valuable and I needed money so I sold all of them off. But by collecting, I learned a lot about Christmas and the way different cultures decorated their home and their trees. My favorite type has always been the old homemade scrap ornaments. I guess because growing up, we didn't have a lot of money and we made many of the ornaments for our tree.
Anyway, making ornaments is now old lady fun and I am having a ball! Here are latest; the pics are by 3-yr. old great-granddaughter and my old calico cat. Trying to finish up so I can give them to everyone on Thanksgiving day.
Waiting for red and blue felt I ordered from JoAnn's so I can dress all my Santas. Wanted to be finished by Thanksgiving, but probably won't make it. I made the faces with the craft clay that you bake 15 minutes in the oven. Then I painted the faces. I tried to make the faces crude like old spun cotton santas sold long ago.
I am going to try to put one of the larger Santas on skis with bag of gifts on his back.
Putting all the Christmas crafting stuff away. Gave all the ornaments that I made to friends and family, they were a big hit. Everyone loved them, had to make special ones of beloved pets and children
Come July 2018. when it is 100 degrees outside, I will get all the Christmas stuff out and make ornaments for 2018, Have lots of ideas. In the meantime, I made a tub of about 50 spun cotton figures while watching TV. I like working with the spun cotton best of all.
