Handmade Ornaments Galore!

I've been in an ornament making craze lately. I did 4 for the swap I was involved in and now I've decided to make them for my top 20 or so customers (stores), 2 ornament exchanges, a few friends and 5 to sell on Etsy. That's a total of 50 ornaments. They'll all be signed and numbered on the back.

I wanted to share my process with you to maybe inspire you to create your own ornaments. If you do I would love to see what you come up with!

First of all, I hand cut a stamp from a sketch. I use the soft eraser material for my stamps just because it's so easy to cut and it doesn't make my hands hurt. Genine has a wonderful tutorial just on stamp cutting, not to mention her work is fabulous! I prefer using the StazOn ink pads just because the ink is waterproof and I don't have to worry about it smearing. You can also use a brayer and printing ink but using the ink pad goes quick and there's less to clean up.

Then I began stamping and stamping and stamping. You could use any kind of wood but I used raw 3/8" MDF (medium density fiberboard) as my base.

Using a scroll saw I cut carefully around each stamped image. Afterwards I used fine sandpaper to smooth out the edges and back.

Here's Rachel, one of my employees, getting to play on the creative side of things. She's usually in the office but I'm sure she welcomed the change since she's quite artistic herself. I had her cut the thin copper into scarf shapes with a pair of scissors.

Before applying the glitter as shown here, a little watered down gold paint and some shading were added. An orange oil pastel was used for the nose area and Mod Podge to adhere chunky glitter to the areas to be covered.

The hangers are made out of those brass hooks that you can hang things from your ceiling with. Bent and oxidized with Nickel Oxidizer to blacken them. I pre drilled the holes to prevent the wood from splitting.

Wrapped the copper scarf around fastened it with a small nail and then added a copper patina to give it a weathered look. Repainted the small black dots for the mouth, used red/pinkish paint watered down for the cheeks so it kind of spread naturally under the glitter. And finished it off with a vintage bingo game piece.

This has been so much fun to make! I've already decided I'm going to give one to each of my girls with a bingo piece depicting their age this year.

If you've handmade something this holiday season I'd love to see, please leave me a comment with your blog address so I can come visit.

I've posted 5 of them on my Etsy. They're signed and numbered on the back and even better in person!

Comments

[Jennifer Williams]

These are absolutely adorable! Thanks for posting the process. It's always interesting to see how things were made. It looks like you guys had a blast!

Your friends and customers are going to love them!

[Mieke]

Wow, they are beautiful!!!

[Deb]

Hi Michelle ~ love the snowmen!!!! Absolutely gorgeous. I just bought the last one in your Etsy shop. I can't wait to get it! Thank you so much!!

[michelle allen]

Thank you so much! I had only posted 1 of the 5 ornaments, I just posted the remaining 4 on Etsy.

[katy]

these are so cute! i missed out though im so bummed!

[txscrapaddict]

Those are beautiful! I did a table top decoration eariler this month. It's on my blog at http://texasscrapaddict.blogspot.com/

[katy]

sweet i got one!!

[april mccrumb]

oh-SO-cute! I love how his body is smaller at the bottom and bigger at the top. Life is always more interesting when you turn things upside down:) keep on creating oh-talented one!

[Anjanette Myren]

I just happened upon your etsy store and got to looking at your clocks....turns out I own one! I bought it from a store in Sprinfield, IL. They are so cool I want to start a collection! I also am a creative gal and sell my stuff in an artist co-op across the street from where I bought your clock! I just love your style!!! I wish I could paint like you! Just wanted to give you a thumbs up! I love your work!

Anjanette Myren Springfield, IL

[Meredith]

Those are SO cute! :) So far I've done a fairy tree for my daughter and a painting of Santa taking a cookie break...would love for you to come visit! :)

Thanks!

Mere

[Kinks, Quirks & Caffeine]

oooh...oooh...did I make the cut? These are the cutest things I've ever seen!

[candace]

Michelle, how perfect these sparkling fellas are! A true creative inspiration from you and thanks for sharing the process... mmm...
Maybe something similar for -- dare I say it??? -- me to do, too?!?

Have a great weekend!

[Sophie]

The little snowmen are too cute! I loove the stamp :D.

[shannon]

as I told you at the sale...sooo cute! I'm gald you decided to make more. I love the exclusivity of it all!! fabulous. Hey, wanna pick me up for the ornament exchange on wednesday!

[Flassie]

Those are really cute Michelle!

Could you pray for my Mom and
ask Lani to also. I have a low
connection and can't sign in to
anything.

Please have your church pray too!

Reason why is on my blog.

Thanks!!!

God Bless You and Yours!!!

Have a Merry Christmas and New Year!!!

[Natasha Wescoat]

Incredibly unique and fun! Love what you are doing, with a blog store. I've been hosting my art auctions on my blog, with much success. Collectors really love having that personal touch, plus they can state their price. Very fun!

[Aunt Cindy]

Love the snowman! I hope I end up with him at the ornament exchange! What a gift God gave you! Love you!

[Sarah]

Those are SOOO cute!! Maybe next year I will make my own ornaments! Thanks for posting the directions! :)

[Kate]

ohhhhhhhhhhhhh, these are ADORABLE~!!!! I need to bump your site up to the top I see so I check it more often. Bummer that I missed out. I adore snowman ornaments. Fabulous idea on the age/bingo thing for your girls. I love that~!

We had the most fabulous snow woman on our Christmas table. I'll send you a pic of that.

[deb]

Michelle, I absolutely LOVE my snowman ornament! Wasn't the swap fun? Eventhough a little stressful, it was fun to receive a little present each time.

We just got power after being without it for 7 days!! Now I'm playing catchup on laundry and dishes and e-mails and orders... yikes!

Thanks again for joining the swap. Happy Holidays to you and yours. xo Deb

[susan m hinckley]

Thanks for Anne Leuck Feldhaus for getting me here -- I loved the ornaments! And I was so intrigued by the process since from the picture I couldn't really tell how it was made. Can't wait to see what you come up with next year.

[Janne Robberstad]

These are so fun! I almost wish it was Christmas right away, so I could make ornaments! Its great how you´ve incorporated so many different techniques and materials.

[lulu]

Adorable ornaments! Thanks to Deirdra for sending me your way - I love your style!!!
: ) lulu

[Jordan Flipsyde]

Chance to read your blog, I really like your blog, let me learn a lot! I will focus on your blog, refuels!

[amritha vijayan.m]

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