LBH 12 Days of Ornaments: Day 8

Can you believe there are only four more days of ornaments? 

 It's been so much fun to share these with all of you!

This is  Susan again and I will be sharing a new technique on today's ornament using

Ultra Light Paper Clay, Mod Podge and beautiful napkins.

Christmas Cardinal Ornament

Designed by: Susan Tidwell

Here are the supplies that I used:

 (all available at the LBH of course...we even have these beautiful napkins for you )

4" circle paper mache ornament

ivory or white craft paint and paintbrush

Mod Podge and paintbrush

1 pretty napkin with a design sized to fit ornament

 (most napkins have four similar or identical designs - two will be needed for each ornament)

approx. 4" square of coordinating patterned paper for back (I used Authentique music paper)

Viva Decor Ultra Light Air-Dry Clay

approx. 12" double-ruffled stretch ecru crochet lace (Maya Road)

approx. 12" red or green crepe ribbon (Creative Impressions)

Optional:

red and green inks for edges

red, black and Diamond or gold Stickles

Glossy Accents

additional supplies not shown: scissors, sander, Helmar's 450 glue

Let's get started!

First you will paint the front and sides of the ornament with ivory or white paint. (The back does not need to be painted as it will be covered with paper.)

 Most printed napkins are either 2-ply or 3-ply. Carefully separate the plain layers from the top printed layer.  Roughly tear out two identical designs so the napkin covers the ornament. (I used a cocktail napkin - we have these available in the store if you want to use this particular design.)

Apply Mod Podge to painted side of ornament and place napkin on top, smoothing from the center out to the edges.  The napkin should be larger than the ornament with the excess hanging off sides.

Take a small piece of the paper clay and pinch in hands for a minute to soften. 

Add small bits of the clay to the design you want to highlight, directly over the napkin. If the clay starts to dry out, slightly moisten your fingertip with a bit of water and continue molding. Do not add too much - keep within the design's lines. In the photo above you can see the outer edge of the bird peeking outside the clay.

In this photo you can see the difference between the bird's body and the wing.  I did not add clay to the tail as that hangs over the edge of the ornament and will be trimmed later.

Here is another shot from the side showing the dimension you are building up.

Using a second identical napkin design, lay over the ornament, matching designs.

Apply more Mod Podge over the first napkin and clay.

Smooth out top napkin layer over the ornament, gently "stippling" with the paintbrush and/or using your fingers to fit around the raised areas.  Let dry.

Turn ornament over and trim excess napkin around the edge.

Sand edges for a smooth, finished look. 

Ink edges with green ink if desired.

 Trace back of ornament on backside of desired patterned paper, cut out and decoupage on ornament with Mod Podge.  When dry, sand edges if desired and ink with colored ink of choice.

Using Helmar's 450 glue, adhere double-ruffled crocheted lace around edge of ornament, starting and ending at the top where the hanger is.  Tie a pretty bow at the base of the hanger to cover the ends of lace.

If desired, embellish design with Stickles (red for berries, black for eye and Diamond for leaves) and Glossy Accents (beak).Your Cardinal Ornament is now ready to sing from the branches of your Christmas tree! Enjoy! The pictures hardly do these justice...it's difficult to see the dimension on camera...Stop by the Little Blue House to see just  how gorgeous these Christmas Cardinals really are!

 

As you can see, I made two of these pretties, one for the LBH tree and one for the lucky commenter on today's blog post.   Please share with us your favorite Christmas cookie!  Mine are "Candy Cane Cookies" - my Mom made them every Christmas and they were so popular among our classmates that my brothers and I were always elected to bring them for our school parties. I continued the tradition with my own children and they are now starting to add them to their own holiday baking!

Happy Holidays!
Susan

The WINNER from Day #7 is.....
CATHY GRIGSBY!
Congratulations Cathy! Please contact the LBH to claim your ornament!