Making Western-Themed Ornaments
Put a new and different spin on your Christmas celebration by creating a Western theme for your tree. Decorate your tree with unique ornaments that say the American West: bandanas, cowboys, longhorn steers, and more.
 ©2006 Publications International, Ltd. Here is a completed Christmas Kerchief. |
This is a simple but attractive ornament with a country feel. Here's what you will need:
- Red bandanna
- Iron, ironing board
- 2 holly picks with 3 leaves, 3/4-inch leaves
- Hot glue gun, glue sticks
- 8 gold mini pinecones on picks
- 8 inches red satin ribbon, 1/8 inch wide
- Red thread
- Needle
- Iron bandanna. Fold and iron plain border under so only patterned area shows.
- Fold bandanna, matching opposite corners, into a triangle. Iron flat.
© 2006 Publications International, Ltd.
Fold the bandana in half,
cross-wise, to make a triangle. - Fold long edge down 1/2 inch. Continue folding in same direction until about 2 inches remain unfolded at tip of bandanna.
- Fold bandanna in half, with tip as center. Tie a knot in center; do not pull knot too tightly.
© 2006 Publications International, Ltd.
Tie the bandana into a know to
form the Christmas Kerchief. - Tie a square knot about 4 inches from ends of bandanna, leaving a hole in middle. Iron ends flat.
- Insert a holly pick into each side of last knot made. Place a dab of hot glue into each side to hold holly in place.
- Arrange pinecones into 2 groups of 4. Apply hot glue to stems of first group, and place it into sides of knot with holly. Repeat for other group and side.
- Fold ribbon in half, and tie an overhand knot near open ends. Sew folded end to back of square knot.
© 2006 Publications International, Ltd.
Here is a finished Cowgirl Hat ornament.
This fun and sassy ornament will add a honky-tonk feel to your Christmas tree. Here are the materials you will need:
- 12 inches tricolor cord, 4mm wide
- 4-inch white felt Stetson hat
- Hot glue gun, glue sticks
- Scissors
- 14 rhinestone settings, 4mm
- 7 green rhinestones, 4mm each
- 7 red rhinestones, 4mm each
- Orange stick
- 8 inches gold elastic cord
- Tie tricolor cord around brim of hat, with knot at side of hat. Place a dab of hot glue at both sides of hat to secure cord to hat.
- Trim ends of cord so they overhang hat brim by 1/8 inch. Glue ends to hat brim to secure.
- Push points of a rhinestone setting through hat brim from underneath to top. Place a rhinestone into points.
© 2006 Publications International, Ltd.
Push the points of the rhinestone
settings through the brim of
the Cowgirl Hat ornament. - Using orange stick, push points over rhinestone to hold it in place. Repeat until all rhinestones have been placed around brim, alternating green and red rhinestones.
- Fold elastic cord in half, and tie an overhand knot about 1 inch from open ends. Glue knot to bottom front edge of brim.
©2006 Publications International, Ltd.
Here is a finished On the Trail ornament.
Giddy up! This fun ornament will have you thinking of home on the range. Here's what you'll need to make it:
- Wood horse, about 4x3-1/2 inches
- Acrylic paints: white, brown
- 1/2-inch paintbrush
- 13 inches red satin ribbon, 1/8 inch wide
- Tape measure or yardstick
- Scissors
- 2-inch frosted sisal wreath
- Craft glue
- Tweezers
- 7 jingle bells, 6mm each
- Paint horse white. Let dry, and repaint to cover completely. Let dry. Paint pinto markings with brown paint. Let dry.
©2006 Publications International, Ltd.
Use brown paint to create
the pinto markings. - Cut ribbon into an 8-inch length and a 5-inch length.
- For hanger, slip 8-inch length of ribbon through wreath and tie an overhand knot about 1/2 inch from open ends. Reshape wreath into an oval.
- Slip wreath over horse's head, and place glue on mane where wreath hits. Hold wreath in place until glue sets. (Place ribbon in glue so horse hangs straight.)
©2006 Publications International, Ltd.
Hold the wreath steady until the glue sets. - Make a 3/4-inch bow with 5-inch length of ribbon. Glue to right front side of wreath.
- Using tweezers, glue jingle bells evenly around wreath.
©2006 Publications International, Ltd.
Using tweezers, glue the jingle
bells onto the ornament.
