Handmade Ornaments on the Cheap

   I love making, giving, and receiving handmade Christmas Ornaments. Each year when you pull them out of the tissue paper, you get a free story with it. My kids and I made TONS of these things for family, friends, and entire groups of people. We always ooh and ahh over the ones they made when they were small, like Santa flying an airplane which Julie and I made together for her whole kindergarten class.

   They really are the perfect gift for everyone, especially people who already have everything! 

   For one thing, they're affordable, usually adorable, and always relevant, often use recycled items, need no batteries, and they don't take up much space. Plus you only visit them once a year, which makes them even more endearing.

   I've been making ornaments with my kids and groups of kids and also for friends and family for several decades, and they're sort of piling up in my head, which is why I'm sharing them now with you.  

   I hope to put several old favorites, as well as recent designs, on this blog before Christmas 2013 is over and will continue posting through the year for all the serious crafters who are always looking for ideas.

   These are my own designs or my own spin (think easier or cheaper) on something I've seen somewhere.

   It would be greatly appreciated if you would choose to become a Christmas Ornament Queen follower and also if you'd share, share, share my blog address on Facebook and elsewhere. 

Many thanks!

The Christmas Ornament Queen (actually Cindy Bailey, Waynesburg, PA).

[You might also enjoy my "Cindy's Wind" blog in which I share some slices from my life with you, at which you may laugh and/or cry or maybe both at the same time! cindyswind.blogspot.com]

Spike poses on some fungi-covered branches.
Don't ask how she got her name….

   

Anyhow here is my first ornament collection for you:

'MUSHROOM' FOREST ANGELS

By Cindy Bailey, Waynesburg, PA

   I recently discovered crafting with shelf fungus, which is what the angels below are made from. Shelf Fungus   grows on dead or dying trees, but does not attack trees and CAUSE them to die.

    In my southwestern PA woods, there are TONS of colors and sizes of these things. I've included a couple of photos for you to see what I mean. "Spike" the formerly stray cat is examining some at right.

I discovered these huge shelf fungi which I have
 left for another time. These are highly valued by artists
who sometimes paint scenes on them.

   

   

   Collect them on your hike (or order from a craft supply place) and let them dry out for several days. You can still collect them is this area right now, but I think they will turn black after too much cold and snow. So hurry and get lots so you have many to choose from! 

   These a very budget friendly and suitable for older children and adults. If you are concerned about bugs/germs, you can carefully bake them on the oven's lowest setting for like 10 minutes but watch them closely! Also, you may want to seal the dust and pollen on the fungus in matte varnish before you begin. They are not poisonous but wash your hands to be on the safe side.

SUPPLIES FOR MUSHROOM FOREST ANGELS:

Assorted Shelf Fungus Specimens

Moss

Sprigs of Wheat

Twigs

 String for hanging
Hot Glue
Elmers Glue

Painted Mushroom Forest Angel

Fine Glitter
Acrylic Paints


Instructions for Pink Angel:

1. Select a specimen that looks like a butterfly, and paint as shown. I used gray for the wings.
2. When dry, paint glue on edges and sprinkle with glitter as desired.
3. Attach string with hot glue.
 

Flat Mushroom Forest Angel

Instructions for Flat Angel:
1. Find a larger specimen that looks like an angel's dress. (Mine was brown and white stripes).
2. Attach bits of moss to bead, and then attach bead to the fungus.
3. Paint glue on edges and sprinkle on glitter.
4. Add raffia bow, if desired.
5. Attach a wheat section for crown.
6. Attach string for hanging with hot glue.

Primitive 3-D Mushroom Angel

Instructions for large 3-D Angel:
(This one is more involved, It's sort of a sculpture so you will need to look over you fungus specimens to see what fits together well).
1. Hot Glue several fungus sections together to form skirt.
2. Find two matching specimens and cut to look like wings. Find a tiny specimen shaped like a head and paint with flesh-toned paint.
3. Attachhead to bit of a twig with hot glue.
4. Hot glue moss to head.
5. Attach head to skirt
6. Add twig arms if desired.
7. Attach string.
8. You can leave it plain for a more natural look or add green glitter.

Glitter 3-D Mushroom Angel

See you soon with more ideas!