In the latest issue of Somerset Life, there are some glass ornaments made by lots of different people. I've gotten a few questions about my two ornaments, so I thought I'd answer them here. In the grandfather ornament shown above, I started with a photo and glued it onto hard card stock. I tied a thin string from the top to hang it from the little silver hoop that you attach a tree hook to. I took long tweezers and curled up the little guy ever so slightly to get him in, then uncurling again by pinching the edges straight with the same tweezers. In the middle of doing this, the string broke, and I chipped little bits off the ornament glass top by hitting it with the tweezers. This process was very frustrating! (That's why I wouldn't recommend these ornament crafts for kids, although some of you have asked.) Since the thread broke in process, I changed plans mid stream and dropped a pool of white glue in the bottom while holding the little guy off to the side. I put in a bunch of mother of pearl buttons and mica flakes (like a snow globe I thought, but instead, it just seems to make the glass look dirty). Then I held the little guy down into the glue and propped it all ever so carefully to set. Again, frustrating process trying to get the buttons in the glue in a manor that would enable the photo to stand straight.
For the bluebird ornament, I cut up some blue ledger paper in the shape of a little bird, trying to use the writing to emulate a beak and eye. I coated the bird with decoupage medium to strengthen it and let dry. I shredded some music paper and put that and a bit of vintage tinsel loosely in the bottom to hint at a nest. Then, after putting a thin piece of wire through the bird, I curled it up and placed it in the ornament, this time hanging it from the loop of the ornament instead of resting on the bottom.
The ornaments were purchased at Ikea. As you can tell, I found it hard to get a good photo, the glass was so reflective. There are lots of other creations made from the same glass ornaments in the magazine, so you might find something that inspires.
About a year ago I posted about these ribbons. I still get questions, they are so pretty. The website is www.Raffit.com if you are one of the many interested. But be careful, as you can see, there are so many pretty colors to choose from you may go a bit overboard as I did.
Have to run to the bus-stop, will answer some glitter questions next time...
