Saturday, November 14, 2015

12 Days of Ornaments - Day #1

Welcome to the sixth annual Little Blue House “12 Days of Ornaments” blog feature! Every day for the next 12 days one of the LBH gals will be sharing a tutorial for a handmade ornament here on the blog. This is one of our favorite events of the year and we hope you will recreate some of the ornaments you see here for your own Christmas Tree! As an added bonus, one lucky commenter on each blog post will win that day’s ornament! Let the fun begin!!

I am so happy to be the first to share with you today. When my children were young, I started a family tradition of giving them a special purchased or handmade ornament each year. As they marry and start their own families, I box up their ornaments to give them for their own trees. Now that I have grandchildren, I am continuing the tradition and especially like to incorporate their photos on dated ornaments for each year. So that is how I came up with this ornament.



“Christmas Memories” Photo Cube Ornament
Designed by Susan Tidwell
This ornament is a one-piece 2.5” square box with lid created from card stock. The sides can be decorated with patterned papers of your choice and layered with photo mats and tiny photos of your loved ones. Because it opens, it can also house a special gift inside! 

I created my own Silhouette cut file, including score marks, for this ornament and I am offering it to all of you for free! You can download it by clicking the link below.  If you do not have a Silhouette, we will also have pre-cut boxes available by order at the LBH for a small fee.

Click here below for Silhouette Cut File-

So let’s get started!
These are the supplies you will need to create this Ornament
Silhouette cut file 
12” x 12” card stock in color of your choice
(I like red because it shows up well against the tree)
at least 2 coordinating papers
(I used Echo Park’s “The Story of Christmas” paper collection)
icon from a journal card or paper
(or other embellishment)
24” ribbon
16” baker’s twine (cut into 10” and 6” pieces)
2 jingle bells (optional)
2” scallop circle punch
paper piercer
Quick-dry liquid adhesive (Scotch) and/or 1/4” Scor Tape
Ink for edges (optional)
Stickles 

Instructions:
1. Die cut the box file from 12” x 12” card stock. Lay the precut box as shown in the first photo below and fold all score lines. Assemble by glueing the tabs marked in the photo. Glue one or two at a time and use liquid adhesive to give you a little time to line up the tabs.



2. Cut  2.5” squares from printed papers. I used two squares of two different patterns but you could also use all the same patterns or four different ones. Glue to the four sides of the box and ink edges if desired. Punch scallop circle from one of the printed papers and glue to top of box.
3. Pierce a hole in the center of the box top. To make the hanger, fold a 10” piece of baker’s twine in half and insert through the hole from the underside (TIP: use a flosser as shown in photo as an easy threader). Knot the ends and cut off the flosser.

4. Thread ends of remaining piece of baker’s twine into bells. (An easy way to do this is to put a bit of glue on one end and twist it between your fingers to make a “needle”.) Knot ends and trim. Tie around hanger at top of ornament.

5. Cut two 2” squares from card stock for photo mats and glue one to opposite sides. Do not place on the front and back of the ornament. (If you want more photos, add these to the front and back after tying on the ribbon.)
6. Trim photos to 1.75” square and attach on card stock squares.
7. Close box and tie ribbon around front and back forming a pretty bow at top around the hanger.
8. Fussy cut an icon or embellishment and decorate as desired. (I used images from some of the journal cards in the collection and added sequins, jewels and Stickles.) Center and glue to bottom of ornament over the ribbon. Be sure to date your ornament!


9. Add Stickles around the outer edge of the scallop circle.


Hang your ornament on your tree for everyone to enjoy!

For a chance to WIN this ornament, leave us a comment telling us about your favorite ornament of all time!!!!
Be sure to return each day from now until Thanksgiving for all the other fabulous ornament tutorials and even more chances to win!

Come by the  LBH to pick up your ornament supplies and see this adorable ornament in person!
Merry Christmas all,
Susan Tidwell

21 comments:

  1. This is really cute - would make A great place card at a holiday table -

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  2. Super cute! Do you know if the Cricut Explore can use the same cut file? I'm new to the Explore...

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    1. I don't think so Jennifer, but I don't know anything about the Explore.

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  3. Super cute! Do you know if the Cricut Explore can use the same cut file? I'm new to the Explore...

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  4. Very cute. It is too difficult to select just one ornament. My tree is full of ornaments that have meaning:-).

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  5. So cute! Love the picture on the ornament. :)

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  6. Yeah! It's finally here! This is my most favorite day of all on the LBH calendar...the 12 days of ornaments!!!!!!!
    Susan, you always come up with some ingenious idea for an ornament! And now that you have Grandchildren, it's so neat to see you capitalize on using their pictures. I love your ornament! I'm always buying small picture frames for photos on our Christmas tree. Now I'll just come by LBH and use your pattern.
    My favorite Christmas tree ornament is over 100 years old. It's a Santa that belonged to my maternal Grandmother, who gave it to my Mom, and my Mom gave it to me. Eventually I'll pass it on.
    Can't wait for the next 11 days!!!!!!

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  7. Too cute Susan! My favorite ornaments are those my grandchildren have made over the years with their pics on them & I can't pick just one. I love them all!!

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  8. Thank you susan for sharing your cut file. I love this idea.

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  9. So cute! My favorite is the first ornament my husband and I got on our honeymoon in Disney world. We get one every time we visit as our tradition!

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  10. So very cute! You do such great work!

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  11. This is just what I needed for new baby ornaments.. thanks Susan.. my favorite of all time was the year I did the glitter and floor wax ornaments.. ithit my fancy and we made a ton... new ornaments each year always so fun..

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  12. It is so cute. I saw it in person on the tree at LBH yesterday.

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  13. Could be great advent ornaments! Good job Susan!

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