Pink Christmas Ornaments with TUTORIAL - more pics, red, purple, black

[qazicat]

I spotted some Christmas Ornaments that are very much like these.  I decided I could make them myself and for probably cheaper. So using polystyrene foam balls, some acrylic paint, water based craft glue (I used Gemstone Glue), satin cord (rat's tail cord), seed beads, silver bead cap, head pin and some silver cord this is what the results are.



It took a few days for me to make each so I made three at a time.  You could make more but I just didn't have the space on my craft desk.  What takes the time is the drying time.  The glue needs to dry at each stage before you can move on.

1. Paint the balls where the beads are going to be glued.  I matched the paint to the colour of the cord.
2. Glue satin cord in a spiral at each 'pole' of the ball. Start from the middle and work out. Go slowly, don't use too much glue and use pearl head pins to hold the cord until the glue drys.
3. Turn the ornament on its side. Use the pearl head pins in the side so that your ball has feet to rest on. Apply a small amount of glue on the painted surface of the ball and sprinkly beads over the glue. You will only be doing a small area at time so don't rush and put glue on too big an area or it will just run down the side, your beads won't stick.  Allow glue to dry, then move on the the next area. 
4. Put the head pin through the bead cap and make a loop using plyers.  Use the plyers if necessary to make the bead cap more 'ornament top' like.  This will depend on what bead caps you are using.
5. Put a blob of hot glue on the top of your ornament where the bead cap is going to be located. Then place the bead cap on the glue. Don't put the glue into the bead cap as you are likely to burn your fingers.  The hot glue heats the bead cap and it takes forever for it to cool down so that the hot glue will harden.
6. Tie a piece of silver cord on the loop at the top and you have finished.  Put finished ornament on Christmas tree.


Some photos of ornaments I have made in different colours
Red


Purple


Black

[crystalthepirate]

wow they're beautiful.

[Muria]

For the middle section, you could also put the glue on an area, then dip the ornament in the beads.  It might be less messy than sprinkling (I've sprinkled beads before  )

Cool ornaments!

[qazicat]

For the middle section, you could also put the glue on an area, then dip the ornament in the beads.  It might be less messy than sprinkling (I've sprinkled beads before   )

Cool ornaments!

I find sprinkling more economical on the beads. I  also use a big tray to catch the beads that don't stick.

[RosiePosie]

Those are so pretty! You could do them in such a variety of colors, like red, green and white seed beads, or shaded of blue and white. I'm going to have to give this a try!

[rosel2004]

They're really beautiful. I like it in violet

[rebeldaisy]

Very cute!  I might have to give this a try...

[FIFI]

Those are gorgeous! I love pink for Christmas.

[mariposaluna]

Those are freaking awesome! Great job!

[HippieKender]

These are beautiful!  I will have to remember this for next year.  I would really like to make them this year, but I don't know if I will have time.  I am trying for an all-handmade-gift Christmas and I am so excited about it that I want to make everything I see!