Hello there! It's Melissa of I Still Love You. I'm here to share with you a quick ornament tutorial that you can do with objects you're likely to find already at home! I'm not one to decorate for the holidays, I've said this before, and I just don't think I can really justify buying/making crazy amounts of Christmas (or any holiday) decorations when I don't even own the home I live in. We now have a TON more storage space (nearly 1300 sq ft of scratch space) at our new place, but in rentals past, that has never been the case. If the decorations can't fit in one rubbermaid container, I'm not buying it or making it.
These little ornaments are easy enough to duplicate over & over. Even easier if you have a cutter like the Silhouette or Cricut! Let's get started, shall we?
H O U R G L A S S • C H R I S T M A S • O R N A M E N T
This ornament design is heavily inspired by my sister-in-law Shelley. She was showing me around her Industrial Design classroom (she's a sophomore) & showing off the different iterations her group (and others) had made for their lamps they recently produced. This ornament is similar to one of the ideas she had.
• S U P P L I E S •
- X-acto knife
- decorative paper
- thread
- needle
- clear tape
- ribbon
- Cricut or Silhouette cutter (optional)
Cut out your ornament pattern. If you have a Silhouette (or other cutter) use that. Otherwise, print the ornament pattern onto the paper of your choice & cut out using an X-acto knife & ruler. Use a hole punch for the holes.
Make sure your paper is right side up & with your threaded needle, go in the first slit.
Alternate going in & out with each slit.
Match the ends up so the last two slits overlap. Tape ends together.
With your string, tie a knot as tight as you can, bringing the inner slots together to form an hourglass shape. Get them as tight as possible. let the alternating slits bow out evenly.
Thread your ribbon through each hole & knot. repeat for the other side.
Hang ornament on a bow of your Christmas tree or cluster several together (in different patterns & sizes) for a little festive chandelier for your front door. Happy decorating! For the pattern (printable & cutting files) click the download button below. Check out I Still Love You for more refashions, printables & tutorials than you can shake a stick at. Each year I offer a candy box printable for readers to download. Check them out here: 2010 Christmas candy box • 2009 Christmas candy box • 2008 Christmas candy box • 2007 Christmas candy box. Be sure to subscribe to ISLY for more crafty goodness and this year's Christmas Box printable!
This tutorial/freebie is free for personal use and should not be distributed/republished without my consent. Altering the file NOT ALLOWED. If you would like to use this tutorial for commercial purposes, please email me. Thanks!
Very cute. my daughter makes the paper lanterns, she will love this!!!!
I use this cute hourglass for summer. Instead of paper,I use plastic sheets.
then I hang them in trees in my garden.
Because of the plastic,it doesn't matter with the rainy day's.
Love to watch the colours….Try that…
Great idea Heidi.
These ornaments are adorable – too cute! I've got this linked to my paper ornaments post too today, thanks Melissa and Sara too!
LOVE IT! i'm doing an ornament a day until christmas (http://www.hardlyhousewives.com/2011/12/onesie-ornament.html) and this may need to make it onto my list! Thanks for sharing!