I wasn't sure if I should put these in paper-crafts or holidays and occasions, but decided upon paper-craft. While I'm using them as Christmas ornaments (I like to have a big basket of ornaments by the door, so when I have company during the holiday season, each guest can choose an ornament when they leave.), there are so many other uses... you could use them to make a mobile, photo globes to sit on a dresser, placing them over LED string lights, or put them in a shallow dish on the table as a centerpiece. I'm sure all you creative people could think of a million other ways to use them!
Alas, I have been making these for a few weeks... and last night when I went to Michael's (Or maybe it was when I was at JoAnne Fabrics...), there was that huge Martha Stewart display of holiday crafts... And she had KITS! =( I'm consoling myself with the fact that mine are each unique, and 100% hand-made, and I did the math, and... well. That's all I got. ~sigh~
My two favorite... <3 the little penguin!
To make, you will need: scrapbook paper (fyi... magazines don't work very well at all.), glue, a large paper punch if you have one (mine is 1 1/2") or a circle template you can trace and cut, string, scoring tool (a mechanical pencil with the lead retracted works just fine; I use a double ended stylus), and a piece of cardboard.
1. Cut 20 paper circles.
2. Use the cardboard to make a template of an equilateral triangle that will reach the very edges of your circles. If you're not up on geometry, the three sides should be the same length, and all three angles will be 60 degrees. For my 1 1/2" circle, the triangle sides are 1 1/4" long.
3. Score/make an indentation the triangle shape onto the backside of all 20 paper circles. I did one with pencil so you could easily see what we're doing.
4. Fold along each score line, gently pressing the printed side of your paper towards itself.
5. Arrange your paper circles in a way that is pleasing to you. There is no right or wrong here, but myself... I try not to clump colors or patterns together, and I try to arrange words or small pictures so they are right-side-up if possible. You will need 5 pieces for the top, 5 for the bottom, and 10 for the center section.
6. Start gluing! The 5 top and bottom sections will form a small dome - just glue all pieces with a common point. Before closing up the space between the first and last piece on the top dome, squirt some glue up near the top. Tie a loop of string (hanging length) and press the knot into the glue. Pull the loop out through the small hole near the points. Close up the side. Let dry.
7. The side pieces will need to alternate - 5 "pointing" up, and 5 "pointing" down. As you glue this section, I recommend gluing just 2-3 pieces at a time, and allowing to dry. It has a tendency to 'curl up' and if you have too many pieces that are still wet, they will slip out of place and dry crooked. Then you end up with a wonky ornament.
8. Once the top and sides are sufficiently dry, glue the top to the center section. Repeat with the bottom.
And that's it.
