Tilda Ryan - DIY Christmas Ornaments Pro: Easy 20+ Xmas Ornaments for For toddlers, Pre-schooler, Kids, older-kids & Adults

DIY Christmas Ornaments Pro

Easy 20+ Xmas Ornaments Ideas, Tips & Tricks for Toddlers, Pre-schooler, Kids, older-kids & Adults

BY

Tilda Ryan

Introduction

W hen you open that box of Christmas tree decorations, memories of the season flood your mind. All of your decorations, particularly the homemade ones, have the potential to convey heartfelt personal sentiments. Who doesn't have a collection of unique onesa plaster cast of your child's hand, a pasted macaroni star, or an exquisite hand-sewn Santa?

Making your own ornaments provides you with the satisfaction of creativity, long-lasting tree decorations, and cherished presents for friends.

Everyone, from children to grandmothers, will enjoy creating their own decorations. Children like making decorations using simple, fast materials and methods. They are fashioned from blown, fused, or stained glass; engraved gold or silver metals; molded and fired clay; or carved wood by artists with greater technical abilities. The majority of the tasks in this book need a skill level in between. They emphasize easily accessible resources and demonstrate achievable methods.

Some take less than a half hour to create, while others, such as the Japanese Temari ball, may take hours and hours to complete. Not to worry; this offers you more time to consider how happy your gift ornament's recipient will be.

Christmas is observed in a variety of countries and ways. Knowing some of this history adds intrigue to the subject of each Christmas ornament.

Several of these customs date all the way back to ancient times and include symbols such as evergreen trees, wreaths, mistletoe, candles, bells, and holly. Certain designs include religious motifs such as crches, angels, and guiding stars. Others depict more contemporary subjects such as Santa Claus, stockings, gifts, gingerbread homes, and elves. No ornament form is more lasting than bright balls in a variety of designs, and no star on top of the tree better represents Christmas.

Along with these tidbits of folklore, there are full-color photographs of each ornament, as well as lists of supplies, patterns, drawings, and directions for making them. So gather your materials boxbeads, ribbons, fabrics, chenille stems, sequins, and glistening papersand let's get started.

Suggestions for ornament crafting

W e wish you a happy holiday season.

By their very nature, ornaments are delicate. Each year, a couple of those beautiful glass balls shatter on the concrete floor in front of our home. Fragile ones are like flowers; they blossom briefly and then fade away.

Even delicate decorations, such as your hand-made treasures, may endure for years and years when stored properly.

Choose materials that are both lightweight and durable for your decorations. Tree limbs will droop as a result of heavy decorations. Fragile ornaments will not survive till the next season. While the instructions recommend certain items for optimal results, others may suffice. For instance, the folded Christmas tree may be constructed from a variety of papers, thin plastic sheets, or even rigid fabric.

Protect your decorations by storing them in strong boxes. If you can locate them, utilize divider-lined special boxes. Wrap delicate decorations in tissue paper and store them separately in these compartments. Ensure that your decorations are kept away from excessive heat or moisture throughout the summer.

If you have a space to store an artificial tree, you may leave the lights and decorations on it. If this is the case, make careful to bend the hooks tight on the decorations and limbs, and put the tree in a big plastic bag (available for live tree disposal). Next year, reposition the tree and add a fresh touch, such as a wire-edged ribbon or new ornaments. Each Christmas season, new ideas arrive on shop shelves.

Choose the appropriate adhesive and paint for the materials you're working with (details on product labels). Certain beads, for instance, need hot jewelry glue, whereas Shrinky Dinks plastic requires waterproof paint or pencils. Collect ornament materials from anywherecandy ribbons, costume jewelry, art papers, and craft shop safarisfor your ornament-making session.

Assemble these little ornamental crafts with family and friends. A large part of the pleasure of Christmas is spending time with those you care about. Another aspect is gift giving, and the decorations you create will make excellent presents.

Holly Clipping & Candles

T he song Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly conjures up images of waxy green holly leaves and carolers singing joyous carols while holding lit candles. Since ancient times, humans have celebrated the winter solstice with evergreens and lit candles. These objects represent rebirth and the beginning of longer days.

In many nations, traditional rituals have been blended with Christian festivities for the year's greatest event. In Sweden, on St. Lucia Day (December 13), the eldest daughter dresses in white and wears an evergreen wreath with seven lit candles on her head to serve coffee and buns in bed to family members. A candelabrum with nine candles is featured during the Jewish Festival of Lights. In Germany, residents decorate their evergreen trees and windows with lit candles as a gesture of welcome. Now, Christmas is a wondrous mash-up of customs from many countries.

YOU NEED

3" x 1" glue stick, wooden dowel, or candle