Blanket-Stitch Flannel Ornaments

Submitted by Heather Hales (Alma 6th Ward, Chandler Alma Arizona Stake, USA)

SUPPLIES:
- White Flannel (1/4 yard is enough for multiple ornaments)
- Scrap Fabric in any color
- Embroidery Floss to match scrap fabric
- Embroidery Needle
- Button to match scrap fabric
- 4 in. Ribbon to match scrap fabric
- Fiber Fill
- Sewing Machine
- Scissors
- Pins

1. Cut two squares of flannel -- 5 inches by 5 1/2 inches.

2. Cut your scrap fabric into a shape such as a heart, star, tree, etc.. Pin the shape in the center of one of the white flannel squares. Use embroidery floss to blanket stitch the shape into place.
> Get help learning the blanket stitch

3. Remove pins and sew on embellishments such as buttons, snowflakes, silver "garland,"etc.

4. On the second square of flannel use a backstitch with embroidery floss to stitch the calendar year, or another holiday message.

5. With right sides together, sew the two squares together, leaving a 2 to 3 inch-opening at the top so you can stuff it.

6. Turn ornament right-side-out (you may want to trim your seams first) and stuff with fiber fill.

6. Pin the opening shut and blanket stitch around the outer edge of the ornament using embroidery floss. When you reach the opening at the top, stick the tail of your ribbon loop into the hole and then stitch closed.

Variations:
Fill the ornament with holiday scented potpourri (instead of fiber fill), use a longer ribbon at the top; then you can hang it on your door knobs, giving the rooms a holiday scent every time you open the door. You may want to use a more rich fabric such as an homemade embossed velvet.

Holiday Tile Coasters
(Tiles for drink coasters)

Submitted by Linda Tubbs (Leavenworth Kansas Ward, Platte City Missouri Stake, USA)

SUPPLIES:
- 3" tiles with a matte finish
-Christmas rubber stamp
-Solvent ink pad in black (can be purchased at your local craft or hobby store)
-Paint pens or permanent markers

1. Clean and dry ceramic tile.

2. Using a solvent ink pad, stamp onto the tile. If you mess up, don't worry, you can easily wipe it off with a wet cloth or baby wipe. Make sure to dry thoroughly before you restamp.

3. Wait at least two hours to dry.

4. Using paint pens or permanent markers, color in the stamp. When it's dry, you can use it as a trivet in which to place hot pots or dishes.

5. Combine several coasters together and wrap with red ribbon or rafia.

Holiday Tile Trivets
(Tiles used to place your hot pots)

Submitted by Linda Tubbs (Leavenworth Kansas Ward, Platte City Missouri Stake, USA)

SUPPLIES:
-5" ceramic tile with a matte finish
-Christmas rubber stamp
-Solvent ink pad in black (can be purchased at your local craft or hobby store)
-Paint pens or permanent markers

1. Clean and dry ceramic tile.

2. Using a solvent ink pad, stamp onto the tile. If you mess up, don't worry, you can easily wipe it off with a wet cloth or baby wipe. Make sure to dry thoroughly before you restamp.

3. Wait at least two hours to dry.

4. Using paint pens or permanent markers, color in the stamp. When it's dry, you can use it as a trivet in which to place hot pots or dishes.

Reindeer Clay Ornament

Submitted by Lori Garcia (Sherwood Ward, Topeka Kansas Stake, USA)

SUPPLIES:

- Brown, black and red polymer clay* in 2 oz packages.
- Small twigs
- Paper clip
- Red ribbon
- Glue gun and sticks
- Rolling pin or pasta machine
- polymer clay tools**
- Reindeer ornament template

*Scupey polymer clay is recommended for beginners because it is softer and easier to condition. Femo and Kato brands are recommended for experts because of the smoother finish they can produce. They are harder to condition, though.

**If you don't have access to polymer clay tools, you can use a normal straight pin, a roll of thread and a table knife.

1. Open one small Condition clay. (Crafty Chic Tip: conditioning clay means manipulating it with your fingers or with a rolling pin or pasta machine so that it is soft and pliable.)

2. Roll the clay out using a rolling pin or pasta machine so that it is about 1/4" thick. Make two of these and place one on top of the other. Press slightly so the two become one 1/2 square.

3. Place the two triangle templates on top of the square of brown clay. Cut out using your clay tools or a common table knife.

4. Place the smaller triangle on top of the larger one at a slight angle. (SEE ILLUSTRATION IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.)

5. Carefully smoosh the top triangle "the head" on top of the larger triangle "the body."

6. Make two small black balls of clay for eyes and place in a clean baking dish. Make a slightly larger red ball for the nose and place it in the same baking dish. Place the dish in a 275 degree oven for about 10 minutes. Let cool.

7. Place the baked eyes on the reindeer's head and smoosh it down slightly into the clay. Do the same for the nose.

8. Unwrap a standard-size paper clip so it is almost a straight line. Bend it where the paper clip bends naturally to create an instant ornament hanger.

9. Ooze the hanger into the head and body, being careful not to bring the hanger through the front of the ornament, as this will ruin it.

10. Place in a clean baking dish and bake in a 275 degree oven for about 20 minutes. Let cool.

11. Using a fine-tip marker, write a name, the year or special message on the front or back of the ornament. Let dry.

12. Spray with a high-gloss spray paint and let dry.

13. String ribbon through hanger and tie at the top to complete the ornament.

If you enjoyed the reindeer, try the santa ornament. It's a slight variation of the reindeer.

Sending the Reindeer Ornament: Make a cute tin to send it safely

Now that you've made cute reindeer ornaments, how do you send them to Dear Aunt Edna 300 miles away without it getting broken in shipping? Enter our cute and practical tins.

Materials:

- Empty breath mint tin (large enough to fit the ornament)
- Red spray paint in glossy
- 1 pkg small-gauge rick rack (found in the sewing aisle)
- tissue paper

Step by Step:

1. Clean breath mint tin with damp cloth and dry thoroughly.

2. Place on newsprint and paint with spray paint, following the directions on the can.

3. Once you have given the tin several coats (it took us six) and it is completely drive, place a generous amount of tissue paper inside and trim to fit.

4. Place ornament in tin, wrapped in the tissue paper.

5. Close tin and wrap rick rack around and tie a bow.

6. Now you can place it in with your Christmas package and it shouldn't break. (Note, make sure your larger package is packed tightly so that none of our items are free to move within the box.

In our tests, ornaments made it in one piece to Arizona and Utah from Kansas.

Cranberry Candle Rings
Decorate pillar candles with a ring of cranberries or beads.

SUPPLIES:

- Cranberries or red beads
- Elastic thread
- Cream pillar candles

1. Thread a large needle with elastic thread and tie off one end, leaving some a couple of inches in slack.

2. Stick the needle through a cranberry or red bead. String enough beads or cranberries to fit around one of the pillar candles.

3. Tie ends together so the cranberries or beads form a ring.

4. Place over pillar For added emphasis, place several pillar candles of varying height in a grouping and place on a larger charger or plate. (Crafty Chic Tip: It's more pleasing on the eye to group objects, like candles, in odd numbers.)

Translucent Picture Ball Ornaments
These clear, glass ball ornaments are beautiful in their own right, but add a translucent picture of a loved on in the center, then you've got a sparkling keepsake for years to come.

by Jill Crapo (Sherwood Ward, Topeka Kansas Stake, USA)

SUPPLIES:

- Clear glass ornaments
- Favorite picture or image*
- Scissors
- Transparency pen or wax pencil make it easier, but not essential

*Make sure the imagine isn't under copyright laws.

1. Draw and cut out a 2 1/2" circle on a scrap piece of paper.

2. Take off the topper of the clear glass ornament. Place the template circle inside. Cut down or redraw it larger to perfectly fit the inside of your ornament.

3. Once you have a good template to use, select a picture that will fit in the circle. (Crafty Chic Tip: Be sure to find an image that is slightly larger than the template.)

4. Take the image to a local copy shop and have them printed on a color laser printer on clear transparencies.

5. Place the template on the pictured printed on the transparency and trace with a transparency pen or wax pencil.

6. Cut out the picture and insert inside the clear, glass ornament. Use the hanger to piece through the transparency so that it stays stationary in the ornament.

7. Place the ornament topper back on, tie on a festive ribbon and you're done.

Traditional Salt-Dough Ornaments

by Jill Crapo (Sherwood Ward, Topeka Kansas Stake, USA)

SUPPLIES:

- 2 cups flour
- 1 cup salt
- 1 cup water

1. Mix salt and flour together in a bowl.

2. Add half the water and mix. Continue to add the rest of the water as you stir.

3. Knead dough until smooth, roughly 10-12 minutes.

4. Roll dough with rolling pin and use cookie cutters to make different shapes. You can also make your own shapes like a long rope twisted into a wreath. Use a fork or tooth pick to poke holes and add details to the ornaments.

5. Use a straw to poke out a whole to hang the ornament.

6. Place on a clean cookie sheet and bake in a 325 degree oven for about 1 1/2 hours or until dry. (The time for cooking will vary depending on the thickness of the ornaments.) Let cool.

7. Paint with acrylic paints. You can garnish with beads, buttons, glittery or any or fun things.

8. For a professional touch, spray with high-gloss spray paint.