When You Need a Little Christmas!
This time of the year makes me want to get my craft supplies out and make up all kinds of Christmas decorations and trinkets. I bought a bunch of those tiny Christmas ball ornaments last year, knowing I would find something to do with them besides just stringing them on my tree. You can get them at any discount store for really cheap — which leaves you plenty left over to splurge on ribbon! Buy a couple of small spools of ribbon about 3/8″ wide in brightly colored Christmas colors and motifs. I used about 16 mini ornaments to make one finished ornament.
Things you’ll need:
*Mini Christmas ball ornaments, in your favorite colors and finishes. (I used half-shiny, half-matte finish in red.)
*Ribbon
*Wire – 26 gauge
*Wire cutters
*Needle-nose pliers
Instructions: Gather your supplies and find a comfortable place to sit and work. (Hey, look! I found that pretty little flocked candle holder at the same discount store and couldn’t resist.)
Okay. Now start stringing the balls on the wire randomly. You don’t need to cut the wire yet, just string the ornaments.
When you get about 15 or 16 strung on, pull up the wire gently so you don’t break any of the balls or pull them off their hooks.
Now you can bring the wire together and give it one or two twists toward the bunch of ornaments. Then tie the loose end over and under the other end that is still connected to the spool of wire. Leave a decent amount because you need to make a loop in the next couple of steps.
Start to form a loop and gauge about how much wire you will need to finish that loop off. Now you can cut the wire with your wire cutters.
Using your hands, carefully start to wrap the wire ends around and around down the opposite sides of the loop you formed.
When you get toward the ends of the wire, use your needle-nose pliers to wrap the rest of the wire around and down the loop. Pinch snuggly at the end so no one gets poked by a wire when handling.
Now take your sweet little ribbon and pull through the loop you just made, pulling up to the length you want it be when hung, leaving extra for tying, and cut the ribbon. Tie a knot, leaving the two ends untied. Isn’t it so pretty just laying there like that?! Yes, I know. Crafts excite me like that.
Okay, so now you’re ready to hang on a door knob, a window latch or curtain rod, the back of a chair–wherever you NEED A LITTLE CHRISTMAS! Just loop it through something and tie a knot, or just tie a knot and hang. This was such a quick, easy, and inexpensive project. Now go make yourself a cup of hot cocoa and feel proud of yourself for doing a DIY decoration for your home! You’re so talented…
Merry Christmas!
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