Ice Tree Queen Doll Ornaments!

Every year I create a new set of vintage inspired, recycled and up-cycled ornaments for the holidays, here is another new creation I did to resemble the handmade ornaments straight from a Dennison Book or vintage holiday tree.

I made the doll heads from wood, which I painted and drew the faces to look like the vintage wood or spun cotton heads from Japan. Then I attached DMC tapestry wood threading for the hair, wrapped pleated crepe paper around a paper cone, attached head, aged pipe cleaner and kitchy vintage embellishments.

I kept one of the dolls for me, the other 3 will be in my artfire store or at Piddlestixs.

Hope you enjoyed these easy, fun dolls using recycled items!

Magic and Joy,
Lisa!

Vintage Dresden Bell Boat Ornament Project, Step by Step!

I have always been enamored by vintage ornaments, Victorian die cuts/scraps, Dresden trim, boullion and Christmas. For years I have been making old world style ornaments for family and friends, today I want to share my step by step project on how you can create your own Vintage Dresden Bell Boats, make sure you give them your own twist.

Material List:
-German Image Scraps (Victorian Scrapworks)
-Dresden Trim and Pieces (Victorian Scrapworks)
-Bouillon or Crinkle Wire/Lametta (Tinsel Trading or Victorian Scrapworks)
-Bell Ornament
-Vintage Style Tinsel Garland(Bethany Lowe)
-Paper Scrap or Tissue Paper
-Paper Wrapped Floral Wire
-German Glass Glitter (Art Institute of Glitter)
-Designer Dries Clear (Art Institute of Glitter)
-Hot Glue Gun, Hot Glue
-Scissors
-Additional: Rhinestones, Ribbons, Floral Components and Millinery

Step One:
Pick your German scrap image and your bell base

Step Two:
Fill your Bell base with paper scraps or tissue paper, secure in place with hot glue

Step Three:
Place your German scrap image into the paper filled bell, secure in place with hot glue
Step Four:
Wrap your tinsel garland around the inside of the bell, until the top is covered, cut, secure in place with hot glue

Step Five:
Attach floral wire to each side of the bell, secure with hot glue

Step Six:
Wrap the tinsel garland around the floral wire, secure in place with hot glue

Step Seven:
Embellish your piece w/Crinkle wire, Dresden trims, German glass glitter, millinery, rhinestones and more.
The Final Pieces:

I hope you enjoyed this project and start to get inspired for this coming Holiday season. Try a truly vintage Christmas Ornament using Old World Santa's and Angels instead of the storybook ones I used. If you don't have glass glitter, try Martha Stewart antique silver glitter available in most craft stores.

Sources:
www.artglitter.com
http://victorianscrapworks.com
Martha Stewart Crafts
Tinsel Trading

Magic and Joy,
Lisa!

Dresden Trim Ornament Project!


What's better then a project consisting of Dresden trim, antique silver glitter, tinsel and vintage boullion, uhm....nothing, well maybe a 5 scoop hot fudge and toffee sundae with extra whipped cream and cherries, that could really top this, LOL!

Okay, I have been re-visiting my inner vintage and for the past year I have been experimenting with old projects from Dennison books, old crepe paper books, crafts and design books, vintage christmas catalogs and more, looking for ways to simplify the projects I saw, and giving them a twist, some pastel colors, mixed with gold or over the top distressed. As a result I have re-discovered the art of our past and learned to make over 28 vintage items from crepe paper dolls made 5 different ways, tiny styrophom angels, cone dolls, Victorian Ornaments, Paper Mache goodies, Charlotte Dolls, Carnival Dolls and more.

The following project was created from a turn of the century ornament I have, it acted as the muse for this project made from Dresden Trim, tinsel, boullion, images and a small oval Christmas Ornament, along with some supplies.

Here are the instructions, which will be followed by a quick demo!

Dresden Trim Ornament
Materials
-Small oval shaped Christmas Ornament (about 2 to 3 inches long)
-Two thick Chenille Stems in Metallic Gold
-One strand of boullion
-A strip of thin Dresden trim
-Dresden trim small medallion shape, or tiny gold charm
-Vintage image of choice
-Small piece of scrap book paper
-Antique Silver Glitter (Martha Stewart)
-Hot glue, glue gun, regular glue stick
-Scissors

Directions
1. Wrap a piece of chenille stem around the center of the Christmas ornament, only once, with hot glue, cut the left over stem to 4 inches, repeat on the left and right side ends of the bulb. (Refer to project sample and demo).
2. Twist the three ends to form a triangle shape.
3. Choose a vintage image that is sized to fit the center of the ornament, between the bulb base and the chenille stem top. Layer your image onto sturdy card stock, with glue stick, then cut out and hot glue to center of the bulb.
4. Hot glue the thin dresden trim down, alond the front center of the bulb.
5. Wrap the ornament 4 times, with un-raveled boullion, hot glue end in place.
6. Glue on some silver glitter
7. Finish embellishing with Dresden medallions, extra trim or other vintage oddities.

Tips/Hints:
1. Use ditressed tinsel, refer to project below this post.
2. Use red or pink chenille stems for Valentines Day or Easter.
3. If you don't have boullion, use tin DMC metallic gold thread, unravel a bit.
4. Try using a round Christmas Bulb or painted styrophom ball instead of the oval ornament.
5. Use images of family members in place of Victorian Clip art or collage images.
6. Use Small paper craft punches, cover them in silver or gold vintage glass glitter or Martha's Antique silver glitter, in place of the Dresden trim medallion.