Crafturday- Ornaments!

One of our holiday traditions is to make ornaments for our Christmas tree. My husband and I have been crafting together for almost as long as we've known each other;  I think even the first Christmas we were dating, we made painted plaster ornaments for our respective Christmas trees. Over the years I've made beaded ornaments, painted ornaments, embroidered ornaments and more- it's so fun to unpack them every year and see all the crafts we've tried. Several years ago my mother gave me a Martha Stewart pipe cleaner ornament kit for Christmas, and although I didn't succeed in making most of the different kinds, I did manage to figure out the wreaths, with my own spin!

You need:

• A white pipe cleaner
• 3-4 green pipe cleaners
• Thin cardboard stock
• Circle template
• Scissors or x-acto knife for cutting cardboard 
• Coated wire for the hook/ hanging loop
• Strong adhesive glue
• Red marker
• Wire cutters- don't cut wire pipe cleaners with regular scissors.
• Embellishments- jewels, ribbon, what-have-you.

1. Make the candle. Cut a short length of white pipe cleaner (like 2 inches or so- eyeball it) and pick off about 1/4 of an inch at the top to leave a wick. Then use a red marker to color in the "flame."

2. Make the wreath base. Cut out a circle of thin cardboard- cereal boxes will work. I have a template for this. The circle is about 3 inches tall. Then cut a circle out in the middle. Eyeball it- make one that looks good to you.

3. Glue the candle to the bottom back of the base.

4. Cut a length of stiff twine or coated wire for the hanger. Make a U shape and glue it to the top of the back so it hangs like a loop.

4. Wrap the green pipe cleaners. I need about 3-4 pipe cleaners per ornament. Start by holding the pipe cleaner perpendicular to the front of the ornament with about 1/2 inch above the cut-out circle. Wrap that half inch to the back, tightly. Wrap the pipe cleaner around the ornament, tightly, and when you come to the end of the pipe cleaner, wrap the next one over the end of the first. Wrap around the candle and the hanger. Continue till you cover the base and tuck the final end under.

5. Use fabric glue or another strong adhesive to attach embellishments. I like to use flat-backed jewels and a red bow.

Enjoy!

With some creativity, you could transform these into fun brooches, decorations for cards, book covers, or.... These are great, quick little guys to make and share.