Angel Feather Ornament With Hanger (One ornament)
1-clear glass ball ornament (size 67mm or 2 &1/2 inches, or make your own, see below)
1-16" pip berry pick (or ornament hanger)
1-feather plume, white or your choice color
ribbon, your choice
1-card (for photo and poem, see below)
hot glue (optional)
new pencil with eraser
thin thread or elastic craft trim
small wood plaque (optional)
Lengthy, yet very informative instructions. Please read through all before starting project! View pics below for reference while working on project.
First let me say that these ornaments can be used in a large variety of purposes and occasions. I believe they were originally made for family members of a lost loved one, but have grown to be used for many purposes as well as Cancer Patients, and etc. There are many poems to use on cards for these ornaments on the internet, just make sure you have a "free" poem or get permission from the author. Most of us know someone or have a friend that is good at poetry. Explain to them the purpose for the ornament and get them to write you one. (As a courtesy, it's always good to give the author credit for their work by noting their name on the card.) These ornaments can be used as holiday ornaments (for the tree) or year round, your choice. You can even make/use extra ribbon, card, and etc. to serve both holiday and year round. When creating your ornament be creative and plan your color scheme/patterns for the purpose. These are even made for the "Red Hat Ladies" and are great as gifts, a condolence to family members, encouragement to Cancer Patients, and even to sell in a Country Store. Even make them for your own special club/group, but whatever your purpose, be creative! I am including several card background patterns to print out for use with ornaments. You can create your own or visit my site for more free card patterns, (see below). If you need a special background pattern contact me through my site and I'll be glad to make one for free. Cards should be no smaller than "402 width x 270 length," in pixels, so poems can be readable. With that said, put on your creative thinking caps and let's get started with this craft project!
Supplies: Clear glass ball ornaments, (size 67mm or 2 &1/2 inches) can be purchased from an Arts & Craft store like Michael's, (which can be expensive) or you can clean your own (see below). Feathers can also be purchased at the same or your local Wal-Mart. (White feathers tend to work best with many various purposes but depending on your particular intended use, you may wish to use colored feathers.) 16" Pip Berry Picks, sometimes these can be purchased from Arts & Craft stores but you'll probably have to look around. Anything shorter than the 16" picks wouldn't work well with the above glass ornaments. (If you can't find these anywhere I do have a link to purchase them online below.) Ornament stands can also be purchased from an Arts & Craft store. You'll need a 9" stand or larger, for this size ornament.
Cleaning your own glass ball ornaments: Have some old color glass ornaments that shows wear by paint coming off? Most of these ornaments are painted on the inside, so you'll need to strip the paint from them using a technique below. Which ever works best for you, please be careful as the top edge of the ornaments can be chipped or cracked. If cracked, discard ornament! Use good thick pair of rubber gloves for extra protection.
1-Some use hot water and lots of regular table salt to strip the paint. Remove the cap from ornament. Simply fill the ornament about 2/3 with hot water, add lots of salt. Placing gloved finger on ornament top, shake until paint is removed and ornament is clear, rinse well, allow to dry. (Add more salt as needed.) Note: Any remaining specs of paint can be carefully removed by using a small piece of cloth or paper towel inside the ornament with water mixture, then taking the eraser end of a new pencil and carefully swishing cloth or paper towel around with eraser on paint specs. This "eraser technique" can be used with each stripping method.
2-Some use vinegar. Remove cap and fill ornament with vinegar. Let it set a couple of hours. With gloved finger on ornament top, shake until paint is removed and ornament is clear, rinse well, allow to dry. Use eraser technique above to remove any left over specs of paint.
3-Some use bleach water. Use same amount of bleach to one gallon of water as you would for cleaning. Remove cap, carefully place in very warm bleach water allowing ornament to fill as you place it on the bottom. Let set a couple of hours. With gloved finger on ornament top, shake until paint is removed. Note, there will be a light film inside ornament but this is removed using the eraser technique above. When clear, rinse well and allow to dry.
Select a nice fluffy feather that isn't too long for the inside of ornament. Using a pencil, carefully roll feather around pencil to flex it for inserting in ornament. Once feather is flexible, start by inserting larger end inside ornament first, pushing as far as possible. Use the eraser end of pencil inside oranment to guide the rest of feather inside the ornament. Tip: use eraser on middle stem of feather only to move around inside ornament to your preference. Replace ornament cap and set aside. If using a pip berry pick for ornament hanger; start at bottom end just below the individual stems and carefully curl into circle so that when stood upright, circle will be the base. You may have to work with this a little to get it shaped so it will stand like a tree. Spread out stems to balance and take two center stems bending forward, then upward, for hanging ornament on. (See pic below.) Using the card and a graphic program, like "Paint," type in text of the poem you have selected in the poem area. Edit text till it's positioned correctly on card. Insert picture of person in photo area on card, (or glue on card after printing). Print and cut out card. Using a clear plastic craft bag, fold card and place inside bag. Cut off excess just leaving enough to fold over and tape end with clear tape. With hand type paper hole punch, punch hole in top left corner of card. This will be on the folded side with poem side of card facing you. Using thin thread of your choice or elastic craft trim, thread through punched hole and attach to ornament top, through ornament cap hanger wire. Trim off excess. Card should hang slightly lower than ornament when held up. Using ribbon of choice cut about a 12" piece. Fold ribbon in half and tie a bow about 1 & 1/2 inch from folded end. (Can also place ribbon around an empty paper towel roll to make the bow.) Trim length of bow strings to your preference. Slip loop end of ribbon through ornament cap hanger wire so that bow is at ornament cap. Hot glue bow to cap and allow to dry. Place loop of ribbon on pip berry pick hanger (or on regular hanger) and carefully steady ornament till it is in balance and free standing. You may also wish to use a small wood plaque as a base for the pip berry hanger. Just glue the pip berry pick circle bottom to plaque and allow to dry before hanging ornament. If giving as a gift or selling in Country Store, no need to fuss with hanger, just decorate ornament as stated above with card and ribbons, give or sell in individual clear bags like freezer bags. Suggested price is $3.00 - $5.00 each, depending on decorative items used, (price without hanger).
Also used for: Yearly birthday ornaments, Wedding keepsake, Holiday ornaments, (Easter, St. Patrick's Day, 4th of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas!), Household shower keepsake, Baby shower keepsake, and the lists goes on with your imagination! Craft submitted by: Libby
Cards to print out. (Note: Printable card will not have wording on them.) Click on thumbnail to view actual size, print card and click "Back" button on browser to return to this page. Craft submitted by: Libby
Visit Libby's site here: "Rusty Shed Primitives"
I will post different design pics as possible.
Links:
Order Pip Berry Picks online. Do a search for "Pip Berry Picks."
Speak From The Heart - Site for poetry to use on cards. (New Site Coming Soon!)
Lil' Sis Graphics - Site for more free card designs, look in "Printables."
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