So last year I post my Holiday Craft. Making personalized ornaments. "Baby's first Christmas... Memory ornaments for Christmas.. ETC"
You can find it
HERE (Ornament Holiday Craft Gift).
Now this year we gave it a little twist.
I couldn't find the pre-painted ornaments like last year. Have no idea why, but I was going to be dismayed over a simple thing like that.
 |
| Ornament Craft Holiday Gift 2013 |
I found clear glass Ornaments for $4.99 for a box of four at Micheals (3.97$ at walmart).
Fake Snow Flakes for $3.79. (The bag looks small but I haven't even made a dent in it. A little goes a long way)
 |
| FolkArt Multi Surface Paint |
I bought permanent Paints $1.50-$2 a bottle. (I haven't even made a dent in these wither and I've made 8 ornaments so far). After it cures for 21 days it can no longer be removed (or they say you can bake it to make it permanent).
You
DO NOT need to stick to this brand. Just make sure what ever paint you buy, will paint on glass effectively. I just found it appealing that it becomes permanent and then can be ran through a dishwasher.... In other words, I can use it for other personalized gifts like plate or mugs...
I also found 3-D stickers $1.49 (Get the smallest ones to use on ornaments. and in retrospect I would take off the double sided sticky tape and attach with a glue gun if you have one. I didn't so used what was on them. - I now have a glue gun coming. I may re- attach them with it if it gets here early enough).
I have paint brushes I use for my Cakes, but you DON'T want to mix food paint brushed with regular paint brushes. Once you use them for paint, they are no longer viable for food! So I bought more paint brushes.
Things you will need other than listed above.
Scissors
thread (string, fishing line, or some decorative threads -Your choice)
Glue - I was using elmers (tape if no glue available)
Paper - For your template and to make a throw away funnel to get you snow flakes in).
Pen or Pencil
Wallet Sized Photos (or photos you can cut out) .
The first thing you want to do is make your template. So this time, I found a lid about the same size as the circumference of my ornament and traces it out for a smooth circle. Now I was smart. I rolled it up and dropped it in the ornament
to make sure it fit. It was a hair to big and I trimmed it down, but
you see the point. Better to re-cut your template then to waist a photo.
Next you'll want to place your 2 photos back to back.I put a little bit of glue on the back of the two photos I was using, smeared it around and put them together. Now you want to let them dry if you do it this way, so they wont move when you cut
them out with the template. Make sure you don't do the entire surface. You're going to want to leave room to glue in your string at the top after you gut them out. So the bottom section of the back is enough. (If you're in a hurry, use tape.)
When your glue is dry;
center you template over the face on the picture (you could just use a picture that is beautiful and scenic too. Don't get stuck on specifics ) . You can use a
larger photo and make it the size of the entire circumference, but I
found I like the look of the straight edge on the sides when it's in the
ornament. But you make prefer the full circle, use a larger photo.
Next glue the thread/string at the top, between the two photos. So basically pry the top part (that I instructed you not to glue) open, put a small dab a glue in there, put the string on the glue, and press the photos back together. Catch and clean up any glue that might come out from in-between the two photos.
Now in order to get the photo in the ornament, you need to roll it to
the size of the hole. Don't fold it. You'll ruin the photo and never get
it to flatten out in the ornament. (Yes my other half asked last year " and you
folded it to get it in there"). I used the handle of my paint brush to reach in and flatten out the photos. It's not always as easy as it looks. You have to press the pictures against the inside of the ornament to flatten out the rounded edges from rolling it up to get it in there. Be patient and take your time, or you may end up folding the picture anyway and ruining it.
Right now you're wondering what the string is for. It's to keep the
photo from twisting all around the ornament. I learned on the first one I
made. They move!
You have the wire that's bent to make it springy, so when it's put in
it won't fall out. The wire is put through two holes. You too are going
to use these two holes. You have two ends of string. You'll put one
through each hole so you can tie the photo to the top after it's put
back on. This will keep it from rolling around and turning upside down.
Cut the end short, but not so short it could slip the knot
(You can also put the top back on and weave it through the metal leaves
rather than poking it through the hole, but unless you use thin thread
it will be visible). See last yearsCLICK
HERE Ornament Holiday Craft Gift. Photos of these steps.
So your next step (and it can be done prior to putting your pictures in there, but let it dry completely before putting you photos in) is painting on your Chrismasy decorations. I went the easy route. I painted the bottom white and wavy for snow (use two coats). I painted 3 round white circles of three different sizes to make the snowman ( 2 coats). When that dried I painted the eyes, nose, mouth and arms in black on it. Then painted on a scarf. A few have painted little hats on them.
 |
| Hand Painted Snowman |
I also chose to paint on snow covered trees. I looked at an ornament from last year and figured I could do it. let dry completely.
 |
| Hand Painted Trees |
I also painted tiny white snowflakes on the outside like this
*. If you click on the pictures and make them larger you can see them. I just put them randomly around it.
The 3-D stickers were for a different POP effect. See my snowflake above. These were put on after I painted them.
For my out new Babies this year I put on these stickers.
 |
| 3-D Stickers |
 |
| 3-D Stickers |
 |
| I painted on their names and the year on them. |
 |
| With a cute little picture of them inside. |
 |
| With this one of my Friends whole family I got crafty. See the Merry Christmas 2013 on the photo. I put that on there before I had it printed. I love Photoshop!. |
So there you have it. This Years Hand Crafted Personalized Gift Ornaments. Cute or what!
45.Doug M Upp
Yes I made my own with a little help from the dollar store. I found some of my son's old clothes, my old clothes. 
Now for the Bonus feature....
