Welcome to Day 2 of this year's 12 Days of Christmas in July Blog Hop! You won't have to hop very far today, as I will be sharing one of my favorite ornaments and direct you to a great tutorial for making one of your own. Then we'll follow up with the next set of instructions for this year's quilt-along. Let's go!
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Out of the many (many!) Christmas ornaments that I've accumulated over the years, this is one of my favorites, and I'll tell you why...
Back in 2014 when we were raising money to bring our adopted grandson home from China, my daughter and I made a bunch of Christmas ornaments that became part of a sale. We had 150 different ornaments, and each was assigned a number. You chose the number you wanted, and the price was the number of the ornament. So if you chose number 20, the price was $20. This is a great way to raise money because it adds up quickly - she sold all the ornaments and raised $11325! (Adoption is painfully expensive, y'all....) I fell in love with this ornament after making it, and put my money towards a good cause. Each ornament had a tag with the hashtag #bringnathanaelhome and another with the number of the ornament. I've left both on there to remind me!
I remember this ornament fondly not only because of it's relationship to my grandson, but also because it was so much fun to make! It's called a kusudama ball, and it's made of some very simple components - pieces you could easily fold while watching tv in the evenings or while waiting in the car rider line or at a ball game, provided you had a hard surface to work on. Even a hard-back book will work, although I use a lap desk.
You can use almost any type of paper - origami paper, copier paper, I've even seen them made with old book pages (those are very cool, and definitely on my list!). Mine is about the size of a softball, and I made the individual flower petals using 3" squares. It takes 60 of those individual flower petals to make a whole ball, but as I said, once you learn the folds, it goes quickly!
Want to make one of your own? Here's a link to a tutorial that shows the whole process.
And I had two tools this time that made the whole process a lot easier! Glue sticks work much better than liquid white glue, and this is yet one more use for these handy dandy craft clips.
The kusudama ball ornaments are lovely and fascinating. I may have to try making one.
ReplyDeletethe ornament is beautiful but so is the story behind it! Thanks for the directions for today!
ReplyDeleteThat ornament is gorgeous. I may have to try it.
ReplyDeleteWhen we got married we had zero money and I blew out eggs and hand painted them. Became a trend to have handmade ornaments, and after 42 years I am still adding. Absolutly must make these!!!!! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThat ornament is so pretty. I can see why it is a favorite. I am going to check out that tutorial!
ReplyDeleteI think I am ALWAYS in the Christmas mood! That ornament is beautiful, and I love the creative way of getting your grandson over here. I've known several people who adopted from China, and it's more expensive each time I read about it. I will think about making one - I'm not particularly crafty in other than quilting/stitching ways!
ReplyDeleteThat is a gorgeous ornament and I love the story behind it.
ReplyDeleteThat is the most beautiful ornament. I am going to have to try and make one!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful ornament, I will be checking out the tutorial. Thanks and Merry Christmas 🎄
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