Handmade Christmas Ornaments

The theme for this weeks linky over at Funky Junk Interiors is Handmade Ornaments, so I thought I'd share a few of my favorites.

First, I want to start with the ones that my grandma made in the early to mid 70's. 

I wish I had the patterns that she used for the beaded ornaments.  Aren't they beautiful?  She used fishing line to hold them all together......  and they're tight, too!  She painted the piano and poinsettia one in 1976. 

Here are some pictures of ornaments I've made, mostly this year.  The first up is one that I saw last year over at Today's Fabulous Finds.  Such a cute idea.  The printable is mod podged to a big paint stir stick.  How clever is that????

The next one was adapted from the book page star ornament.  Mine weren't so much star shaped and I used old word search books........  The glitter is so sparkly!!

The following 2 ornaments I adapted from something I saw on Pinterest.....  I spend WAY too much time over there!!   Anyway, I drilled a small hole all the way through an unused wine cork and then just had some galvanized wire and added beads and the hangers........  Easy Peasy!!!  The beads really reflect the light!!

I might be behind the times a bit, but I FINALLY tried the floor cleaner and glitter ornaments.  They are just too stinking cute!!  I love how they don't drop glitter everywhere!!

Well I was going to add pictures of ornaments I've made in years past, but blogger isn't wanting to cooperate with me right now. 

Thanks for looking and let me know if you'd like more details on how to make any of these.  I'd be happy to share!!

Merry Christmas!

Hugs ~~ Suz

I'm joining these linky parties!!



My Eyes Hurt!!

A couple of posts ago, I mentioned that I was working on the decorations for my son's girlfriend.  This Saturday, she's having a graduation party, and has picked Hot Pink and Zebra as her theme.  I think my eyes are crossing from looking at the crazy lines of the zebra print.

I made a couple of banners for her.  "Congratulations"  "Shelby" "Class of" "2011"

Instead of making all the scalloped circles the same (who likes monotony anyway??), I did a few different designs.  At first I was questioning my wisdom with this decision, but last night I finished it.  After seeing the finished project, I'm thinking I like it!!  Here are some pictures:

The sample I made for her was about 5 inches in diameter.  Without thinking about how long CONGRATULATIONS was going to be, I asked her if she'd like them bigger..... and she said YES!!  I increased the circles to a little more than 7" in diameter.   So now, congratulations is probably about 10 feet long......  I sure hope they have a big wall for it!!

For the "Class of", I cut the letters out of the zebra cardstock, put clear packing tape behind the letters so that the sticky was facing out.  Then I sprinkled glitter on them.   I love that technique, and use it for my Christmas cards - A LOT!!  (You gotta have sparklies at Christmas!!).

For the year, I did the same circles as the "Class of", but instead of cutting the letter out of the cardstock, I cut the numbers out of black and hot pink vinyl and stuck them on.  I guess I didn't take a picture of that, though.....

Lastly, I made pinwheels for the table decorations.  All of the zebra cardstock I found was only printed on 1 side, so I made my own.   We have a really great (brand new) color copier/printer/fax/scanner machine at work.   (SSHHHHH  I borrowed it!!)   I found a website (http://www.scrapbookscrapbook.com/) that had free downloads of animal print papers.  They had hot pink and they had black.  I printed one side of white cardstock with the pink, then turned it over and printed the black.  I was usin' my noggin.... ha!!

I cut 4" and 5" squares and made pinwheels.  Secured the middle with white brads and then hot glued them to dowell rods that I spray painted pink (actually, the color was watermelon..... not an exact match, but it works).  I think they turned out cute!

I hope they take lots of pictures and send them over to me so I can post them for you.  I'm not going to the party and I'm really struggling with my decision.  My ex will be there.  The divorce was NASTY (and that's putting it nicely) and even though it's been almost 10 years, I choose NOT to be at the same location as him.  He lives in Chicago, so I don't have to deal with him.  In fact, I don't think I've spoken to him in nearly a year.  I prefer it that way.  I'm not going to the party because I don't know how he will behave.  He's either going to be over the top nice and everyone's friend (to show everyone how wonderful he is and how stupid I am for divorcing him) or he will make a scene and ruin the party.  (He seriously is bi-polar - in denial....)  I don't want Shelby's party to have the chance to be ruined, so I'm not going.  I would much rather have people in this small town talking about my absence, rather than them talking about any kind of possible confrontation.

I hope you have a great rest of the week.  I'll post pictures of the decorations at the party when I get them!

Hugs ~~ Suz

I'm linking up with these great blogs!!