Today's project was a fun one since I got to bring out my scroll saw! I am participating in the 31 Days of Handmade Ornaments blog hop and I decided to create a series of ornaments that could be used alone or in conjunction with each other. (You can see the other entries at the bottom of this post.)
This was what I came up with for the challenge:
A round ornament that also holds other smaller ornaments. I think they came out so cute!
I decided to include traditional Christmas motifs, as well as personalize it with my Six family initial.
SUPPLY LIST:
-Thin Plywood or Veneer (I used 1/4 inch thick birch. I like smaller sheets for the scroll saw)-Silhouettes of your final design (printed to scale)
-Spray Adhesive (I like Loctite brand)
-Drill or drill press (this is the one I have)
-Scroll Saw (if you don't have one.. they are surprisingly affordable. This one is less than $80!)
-Sandpaper (200 grit or higher)
-Craft paint
-Glitter (I love the ultra fine)
-Jewelry Eye Pins (or tiny hooks and eyes)
-Needle nose plier/wirecutter
-Super glue
INSTRUCTIONS:
Choose and print your ornaments designs at the exact scale you want the final versions to be. (To create the files, I just Googled "ornament silhouette").Using spray adhesive, attach the template to the plywood. To cut out interior designs on the scroll saw you will have to drill a pilot hole with your drill or drill press.
Cut out your designs on the scroll saw.
Straight lines and outside angles are much easier to cut than sharp curves. You need to experiment with what works best. Also, be really careful of your fingers with tiny pieces like this. I always leave as much scrap on them as possible, up until the last cut. That way you have something (far from the blade) to hold onto.
Once they are cut out, you can clean them up with sandpaper. I found wrapping the sandpaper around a bamboo skewer make it easier to sand the inside of these small pieces. Be careful since they will want to break easily they are so thing!
You can leave your pieces their natural wood color, but I decided to paint and glitter them. I just used craft paints.
While the paint was wet I added my super fine glitter.
While the paint was wet I added my super fine glitter.
I let all the pieces dry on top of toothpicks to keep them from sticking to the tray.
The trickiest part of this project is how to hang the smaller ornament inside the larger one. I couldn't find eye hooks small enough, so I picked up these eye pins (which are tiny.. since they are meant for jewelry.) They worked perfectly!
Since they don't come with hooks, you can just bend the eyes open with a pliers. You can also easily cut them to length with a wire cutters.
To attach the hooks and eye to the ornaments, I "drilled" a pilot hole in the wood with a push pin.
A little hot glue or super glue will secure them in the hole.
Here is the final placement of the eye pins. The little ornaments swing freely inside the Christmas ball shape.
Plus they are easy to mix and match. You can feature whichever one you want inside!
And you can also use the smaller ornaments on their own. The eye is a perfect place to hang them from.
Another great beginner scroll saw project and a fun one too!
And make sure you visit the other participants blogs. Here they are in order of their appearance:
The trickiest part of this project is how to hang the smaller ornament inside the larger one. I couldn't find eye hooks small enough, so I picked up these eye pins (which are tiny.. since they are meant for jewelry.) They worked perfectly!
Since they don't come with hooks, you can just bend the eyes open with a pliers. You can also easily cut them to length with a wire cutters.
To attach the hooks and eye to the ornaments, I "drilled" a pilot hole in the wood with a push pin.
A little hot glue or super glue will secure them in the hole.
Here is the final placement of the eye pins. The little ornaments swing freely inside the Christmas ball shape.
Plus they are easy to mix and match. You can feature whichever one you want inside!
And you can also use the smaller ornaments on their own. The eye is a perfect place to hang them from.
Another great beginner scroll saw project and a fun one too!
For more Homemade Christmas Ornament Inspiration, here are 30 other bloggers' fabulous ideas!
And make sure you visit the other participants blogs. Here they are in order of their appearance:
Day 1 - The Silly Pearl :: Day 2 -Yesterday on Tuesday
Day 3 - Cupcakes and Crinoline :: Day 4 - An Extraordinary Day
Day 5 - Knick of Time :: Day 6 - Pet Scribbles :: Day 7 - Simply Kelly Designs
Day 8 - Town and Country Living :: Day 9 - Petticoat JUNKtion
Day 10 - The Everyday Home :: Day 11 - Up on Tippy Toes
Day 12 - Remodelando la Casa :: Day 13 - DIY 180 :: Day 14 - 504 Main
Day 15 - Sum of their Stories :: Day 16 - At Home with Jemma
Day 17 - The Kim Six Fix :: Day 18 - Shabby Art Boutique
Day 19 - Morena's Corner :: Day 20 - My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Day 21 - Our Southern Home :: Day 22 - Domestically Speaking
Day 23 - The Crafting Nook :: Day 24 - Sweet Pea
Day 25 - Dukes and Duchesses :: Day 26 - Heathered Nest
Day 27 - Lovely Etc. Day 28 - Stone Gable Blog :: Day 29 - Mod Podge Rocks
Day 30 - Running with a Glue Gun :: Day 31 - All Things Heart and Home