Christmas Tree Ornaments

The theme of these clever and easy-to-make ornaments is Christmas trees, which means you'll find ornaments, gift packages, and more to make and use to decorate your own Christmas tree.

©2006 Publications International, Ltd. Festive Foam Ornaments

Festive Foam Ornaments

Add some Christmas cheer to your home by adorning your tree with these fun foam decorations. Kids will love to help.

You'll Need:

• Assorted 2mm craft foam
• Pencil or pen
• Scissors or craft knife
• Foam glue
• Assorted hole punches
• Black permanent marker
• Assorted ribbon and braid trims

To Make Festive Foam Ornaments:

1. Download ornament patterns here. For Rudolph ornament, trace and cut out purple base shape. Cut out smaller base shape from green foam.
   

   ©2006 Publications International, Ltd. Cut out smaller base shape for Rudolph ornament from green foam.

2. For round ornaments, cut out 3 coordinating bases for each. For all ornaments, punch hole for ribbon hanger in each piece at the same spot; glue together matching pieces.
   
   
3. Trace and cut out shapes and words with scissors or craft knife. (Craft knife is for adult use only.) Glue pieces to corresponding bases. Use punches to make other foam shapes. Glue shapes to ornament bases. Use marker to make Rudolph's eyes.
   

   ©2006 Publications International, Ltd. Glue Rudolph face to base.

4. Cut ribbon and trim into 8- to 10-inch pieces. Thread a ribbon or trim through each ornament. Make a knot in ribbon or trim above ornament, and then make another knot at ends, creating a loop for hanging.

   ©2006 Publications International, Ltd. Tie ribbon to make a loop for hanging.

©2006 Publications International, Ltd. Christmas Wish Ornament Trio

Christmas Wish Ornament Trio

These fanciful paper ornaments are wonderful when attached to holiday scrapbook pages, used as gift tags, or even hung as ornaments!

You'll Need:

• Scrap paper
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Cardstock or decorative paper: white, violet, turquoise, textured gold
• Vellum: white, gold
• Craft foam sheet
• Ball-tipped metal stylus
• Embroidery needle
• Paper glue
• 1/16-inch round hole punch
• 2 mini silver brads
• 20-gauge jewelry wire: silver, gold
• Ruler
• Wire cutters
• Round-nose jewelry pliers
• 6x9 inches gold/silver metal foil
• Paper crimper

To Make Christmas Wish Ornament Trio:

1. Download ornament patterns here. Trace patterns onto scrap paper and cut out. Except for white cardstock, fold paper and vellum in half to make a double layer. Place top of pattern on fold of paper and vellum, trace, and cut out. Trim white vellum so it is smaller than corresponding color cardstock. Trim bottom of gold vellum so it's shorter than textured gold paper.
   
   
2. With vellum facedown on craft foam, use ball-tipped stylus to emboss name, year, or decorative patterns. Note: Write backward so that when vellum is faceup the writing will be correct.
   

   ©2006 Publications International, Ltd. Use stylus to emboss words or patterns.

   Ornament TipYou may want to make a reverse pattern, which you can place below vellum.

3. With vellum of teardrop ornament still facedown, use an embroidery needle to make pin pricks around border.
   
   
4. Fold white cardstock in half. Trace trapezoid (gold) ornament pattern, and cut out slightly smaller than pattern lines. For teardrop ornament, cut white cardstock slightly larger than pattern. For round ornament, cut cardstock slightly larger and make a wavy edge border. Matching top fold, glue cardstock to inside of each ornament.
   
   
5. Place corresponding vellum pieces onto front of each ornament. Punch a 1/16-inch hole at bottoms of blue ornament through cardstock, turquoise paper, and vellum. Place brad in holes. Punch another 1/16-inch hole at center top of each ornament on fold.
   

   ©2006 Publications International, Ltd. Poke a brad through hole at bottom.

6. For each ornament, cut a 5-inch length of 20-gauge jewelry wire. (Use silver wire for purple and turquoise ornaments and gold wire for gold ornament.) Bend a small loop on an end of each wire. Slip opposite end up through punched hole on inside of ornament, and pull through.
   

   ©2006 Publications International, Ltd. Insert bent wire through hole inside of ornament.

7. To make ornament caps, crimp a 11/2x4-inch strip of colored foil. With ruler and stylus, score a line at 1, 2, and 3 inches. Cut into pieces at score lines. Fold pieces in half (making pieces 1x3/4 inches), placing gold outside for gold ornament and silver outside for other 2 ornaments. Use needle to make a hole in center top of each cap on fold, and thread wire of ornament through hole. Glue cap to top of ornament. Use jewelry pliers to form remaining wire into a decorative hook. Trim excess foil if needed.
   

   ©2006 Publications International, Ltd. Thread wire through hole in ornament cap.

8. Cut a 6x6-inch piece of gold foil. Run foil through crimper twice, turning foil in other direction for second run through crimper to create a wafflelike texture. Cut out a star from foil, and glue star to center of gold ornament.

©2006 Publications International, Ltd. Pretty Package Ornaments

Pretty Package Ornaments

Don't throw those scraps away! Trim, cord, and beads left over from other craft or sewing projects are perfect embellishments for these heartwarming felt ornaments.

You'll Need:

• Felt: 11/2x21/4 inches cream, 41/2x6 inches purple
• Fusible iron-on webbing
• Iron, ironing board
• Ruler
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Metallic copper embroidery floss
• Embroidery needle
• Fabric glue
• 3/8-inch braided gimp: 4 inches sage, 6 inches burgundy
• 8 pearl beads, 2mm
• 6 inches burgundy twisted satin cord, 1/8 inch

To Making Pretty Package Ornaments:

1. Follow manufacturer's instructions to apply fusible iron-on webbing to cream felt. Measure and cut two 21/4x3-inch rectangles out of purple felt. Set 1 purple piece aside. Remove paper backing from cream felt, and center it on purple felt. Press with iron to adhere.
   
   
2. Thread needle with 3 strands of copper embroidery floss. Blanket-stitch around cream rectangle, going through both layers of felt.
   

   ©2006 Publications International, Ltd. Use blanket stitch around cream rectangle.

3. Use fabric glue to draw small circle outline near center of cream felt. Press sage gimp onto glue, creating wreath shape. Overlap ends at top, and cut excess trim. Let glue dry.
   
   
4. Hand-stitch bead accents around wreath with embroidery floss. Make bow from burgundy cord, pinch at center, and use embroidery floss to tie knot to hold shape. Use satin stitch to affix bow to top of wreath. Apply a small drop of glue to ends of cord to prevent raveling.
   

   ©2006 Publications International, Ltd. Add beads to accent wreath.

5. Create hanger loops by folding 6-inch length of gimp in half; glue or stitch ends to back of ornament. For a finished look, place remaining purple rectangle on back of ornament to cover stitches and knots. Blanket-stitch around outer edges, joining purple pieces front and back.

Ornament TipMake all kinds of Pretty Package Ornaments for your Christmas tree or to give as gifts. You can refer to the photo above for placement suggestions, or come up with your own designs. For best results, cut gimp 1/2 inch longer than needed, folding ends under 1/4 inch to prevent raveling.

©2006 Publications International, Ltd. Whimsical Christmas Trees

Whimsical Christmas Trees

Here's an ornament that's sure to liven up your Christmas tree and spread holiday cheer throughout your home.

You'll Need:

• Wood pieces: 1 large triangle, 3 large hearts, 4 medium teardrops, 4 large teardrops, 5 small circles, 2 small holly leaves, 4 small candy canes, 1 small angel, 1 small star
• Old scissors
• Craft stick
• Wood stain: forest green, chestnut
• Paintbrushes
• Paint markers: metallic gold, red, green, white, tan, yellow
• Extra-fine permanent black marker
• Craft glue

To Make Whimsical Christmas Trees:

1. Cut corner off large triangle to form trapezoid shape.
   

   ©2006 Publications International, Ltd. Make trapezoid by cutting off corner of triangle.

2. Paint 3 large hearts, 4 medium teardrops, 4 large teardrops, and cut triangle with forest green stain. Paint craft stick with chestnut stain. Follow stain manufacturer's directions.
   
   
3. Referring to photo, use paint markers to color tree ornaments. Paint star metallic gold, circles red with gold detail, holly leaves green with gold edges, holly berry red with gold edges, and candy canes white with red stripes. Paint angel dress white, and use tan for face, yellow for hair, and metallic gold for halo and bow. Use extra-fine black marker for eyes and wing lines.
   

   ©2006 Publications International, Ltd. Color ornaments pieces with paint markers.

4. Attach points of medium teardrops to back side of a large heart with craft glue. Set aside.
   

   ©2006 Publications International, Ltd. Glue teardrops to large heart.

5. Referring to photo with step 6, glue side edges of 2 remaining large hearts together. Glue points of large teardrops to back side of the hearts. Let dry.
   
   
6. Glue teardrops and heart from step 4 to teardrops and hearts from step 5.
   

   ©2006 Publications International, Ltd. Glue teardrop/heart pieces together.

7. Glue trapezoid to base of craft stick. Glue craft stick to lower back half of tree. Glue ornaments in place.
   

   ©2006 Publications International, Ltd. Glue ornaments to tree.

8. Fold ribbon in half, and glue ends to back of ornament to create a hanger.

©2006 Publications International, Ltd. Christmas Tree Ornaments

Christmas Tree Ornaments

These delightful ornaments will add a special touch to your Christmas tree. Use whatever leftover trims and ribbon you have around your house -- and your imagination -- to decorate them.

You'll Need:

• Precut wood tree ornaments
• Acrylic paint: gamel, forest green, spice brown, antique gold, white, metallic gold
• Brushes: #8 shader, 10/0 liner
• Low-temperature glue gun, glue sticks
• Trims: assorted lengths of white and gold rickrack, material strips, red satin ribbon, off-white rattail cord, gold trim, cream sheer ribbon, ribbon roses, gold cord
• Scissors
• Sparkle glaze
• Assorted buttons
• Precut 3/4-inch wood star
• Old toothbrush
• Floral accents: pale gold highlighter, gold glitter spray
• Decorative snow
• Acrylic spray

To Make Christmas Tree Ornaments:

1. Paint some ornaments gamel and some forest green. Paint tree trunks spice brown.
   
   
2. Child's Tree: Glue rickrack to tree; paint with sparkle glaze. Let dry. Glue on pastel buttons. Tie a rickrack bow around hanger.
   
   
3. Country Tree: Paint wood star antique gold. Tie rag bow; glue to wire hanger. Glue star to tree. Glue burgundy and small white buttons to tree. Using liner brush and white, paint. "Noel" on trunk. To fly speck, dip toothbrush into white paint and drag finger across bristles. Let dry.
   

   ©2006 Publications International, Ltd. Drag finger across toothbrush bristles to fly speck.

4. Antique Memories Button Tree: Tie a red satin bow and glue to wire hanger. Glue 4 old buttons and fly speck tree with white paint. Dab snow with shader brush on tree and top of buttons. Let dry.
   
   
5. Victorian Bridal Tree: Glue gold trim and off-white rattail cording to tree. Tie small bow of cream sheer ribbon to hanger. Glue ribbon rose to top of tree. Glue cream buttons to tree. Mist with gold glitter spray. Let dry.
   

   ©2006 Publications International, Ltd. Hot-glue buttons to tree.

6. Traditional Gold Tree: Glue gold rickrack to tree. Tie bow of gold cording; glue to top of tree. Glue buttons to tree. Mist with gold highlighter. Let dry. Add dots using handle of liner brush dipped into metallic gold paint. Let dry. Mist all trees with acrylic spray.

   ©2006 Publications International, Ltd. Use handle end of liner brush to add gold dots.

©2006 Publications International, Ltd. Family Fun Project

Family Fun Project

Clay ornaments can be a fun family project -- and easy enough for a child. Once Mom or Dad bakes them, they'll last forever!

You'll Need:

• Waxed paper
• Polymer clay: 2 packages brown, 1 red, 1 white, 2 green, 2 bronze, 1 yellow
• Transparent paper
• Pencil
• Rolling pin
• Craft knife
• Paper clips (for hangers)
• Wire cutters
• Cookie sheet (nonconducting surface)
• Metal spatula
• Brown paper bags
• Paintbrush
• Varnish (for modeling compounds)
• Red and white ribbon, 1/8 inch wide (optional)

Ornament TipCover your work surface with waxed paper. Work with the lightest color first; darker colors stain. Work the clay in your hands to soften it, then roll it into a coil. Do the same with the other colors needed.

To Make Family Fun Project:

1. For holly ornament: Twine green and bronze coils together and fold them back on themselves, twisting new coil until you have marbled pattern.
   

   ©2006 Publications International, Ltd. Make marbled pattern with green and bronze coils.

2. Roll coil flat. When it's 1/4 to 1/8 inch thick, use holly pattern and craft knife to make 2 leaves. Download holly pattern here. Lightly score surfaces. Press leaf tops together.
   

   ©2006 Publications International, Ltd. Use rolling pin to roll coil flat.

3. From red coil, pull off 3 small pieces for berries. Roll them into pea-sized balls. Push berries gently onto tops of leaves.
   

   ©2006 Publications International, Ltd. Roll red pieces into small balls.

4. To make a metal hanger for holly and gingerbread man, partially unbend a paper clip and cut off all but 1/2-inch loop. Poke this into top of ornament.
   

   ©2006 Publications International, Ltd. Poke bent paper clip into top of ornament.

5. Bake on a nonconducting surface at 250 degrees Fahrenheit oven for 15 to 30 minutes. Clay will be soft when hot; it hardens as it cools. Ventilate kitchen when baking. Do not overbake; fumes could be toxic. Remove ornaments with spatula and place on brown paper bag. (Keep cookie sheet and utensils for clay only!) Once ornament is cool, brush on varnish. Glue ribbon on candy canes for hangers and bow to holly.
   

   ©2006 Publications International, Ltd. Apply varnish to cooled ornaments.

6. For candy cane: Roll out coils until long and thin. Cut white coil in half, then cut red coils to same length. Layer white and red, then red and white on top.
   

   ©2006 Publications International, Ltd. Lay red and white coils for candy cane.

7. Gently roll colors together to form large roll. Roll should be about 1/2 inch thick. Trim ends and twist so colors spiral. Bend head to form candy cane shape. (Go to Step 5.)
   

   ©2006 Publications International, Ltd. Twist red and right coils.

8. For gingerbread man: Use rolling pin to flatten brown clay to 1/4 inch thick. Make gingerbread man using pattern. Download gingerbread man pattern here. Cut around edges with craft knife.
   

   ©2006 Publications International, Ltd. Cut out gingerbread man pattern with craft knife.

9. Roll bits of yellow, red, and green clay into small balls (pea-sized) for buttons. Roll 2 small white balls for eyes, flatten slightly. Press bit of green into middle of white. Roll out small pieces of yellow, red, and green for rickrack. With craft knife, cut zigzag pattern and place on arms, legs, and neck. Roll thin red tube for mouth. (Go to Step 4.)

   ©2006 Publications International, Ltd. Make gingerbread pieces out of clay.

Take the time to spread some holiday cheer by creating the joy and noel ornaments featured on the next page.