Skip to main content

ABS Ornament Blog Hop!

Heather Powers of the Art Bead Scene hosts an Ornament Blog Hop every year!  I try to participate, and though it's last minute (story I'll tell you about another day) here I am! 

I made an owl based on a tutorial from Heather at Humblebeads.  I have dabbled in polymer and taken two classes with Christine Damm (who is the most generous person and enthusiastic teacher) but never made a 3-D item (aside from a heart that I really liked that sold!).  So it was time!

I made the polymer owl and painted it.  I tried to crackle it, and wasn't thrilled, so I baked it again to heat set the paint.  Big mistake.  Or so I thought.  After I took it out of the oven, it was gummy.  But I let it sit for a while, and it got less gummy.  So when it was not gummy anymore, I sealed it with Renaissance Wax.  And then it got gummy again.  But just for a little bit.  And now it's not.  I don't know if it will last, but at least I finished it, right?  I used three felted beads I bought from someone who packages them in cute little glass test tube vials, but can't remember who!  And finally finished it with a handmade, copper wire ornament hanger.  I may embellish it, I think it need some blue beads!

So there you have my ornament for this year.  I think I really like it.  I'm trying to make another owl and I burned it.  Ugh.  I'll try again tomorrow, it's already 1:30 and I have too many irons in the fire right now!

Here's a recipe for Cinnamon Ornaments - the one you see below is ours!  You may have made these with your children when they were young - I think they are so cute!  You can replace some of the cinnamon with other spices, too, like nutmeg, cloves, allspice, etc.

Cinnamon Ornament

3/4 cup applesauce
1 bottle (4.1 ounces) McCormick Ground Cinnamon

Mix applesauce with cinnamon in a small bowl to form a stiff dough.  Using about 1/4 of the dough, roll a ball to 1/4 inch thickness between 2 sheet of plastic wrap.  Peel off top sheet, and use cookie cutter to cut dough.  Make a hole in the top of the ornament with a drinking straw.  Place ornaments on a baking sheet and bake for 2 1/2 hours at 200 degrees; place on a rack to cool.  OR carefully lay ornaments on a flat rack to dry at room temp. for 1 to 2 days or until thoroughly dry, turning occasionally.  Insert ribbon through holes to hang.  This recipe from McCormick.  




Comments

OMG - this is so cute! I would not add one single thing to this ornament! I think your owl is perfect as is and I applaud you for using polymer instead of your fabulous lampwork - is there any medium you do not work in?????? BTW: I am tempted to make those cinnamon ornaments just for the incredible smell of Christmas! Thanks for the recipe share!
Jill said…
Love the owl ornament, your house must smell gorgeous with the cinnamon heart
Anonymous said…
That little owl is just adorable! Your trials and tribulations sound like my own experiences with polymer. It looks so easy in a tutorial then real life steps in! You should make a whole "set" of these cute little owls.
Cute owl! Thanks for the recipe!
baymoondesign said…
I remember making cinnamon ornaments! Your owl is very cute. I didn't run into any problem with making the polymer clay owl for some unknown reason since I have very little experience. I did find the painting very challenging. I also didn't seal my owls. I am wondering if that is necessary with ornaments. Any thoughts on that.
Heather Powers said…
Your owl turned out great! Check out the hook on the ornament on the ABS - that would be a fun way to embellish this guy. And the burnt one, just paint it - the paint should cover it, it may take a few coats. Thank you for participating the hop! I used Sue Beads in my ornaments on my blog today. :)
Butt, butt, how beautiful!

Susan
LadyFlowersbySusan
kerensky said…
Very cute Ornament, and nice cookie recipe too, thanks for sharing.
Anonymous said…
Owls seem very popular at the moment! Shame about all the trouble you had with your owl :( I'm not an expert, so I'm sure someone else can offer better suggestions than me, but one suggestion is to paint after baking? Not sure though! Regardless, doesn't he make a cute ornament?!

Happy Christmas!
Charis Designs said…
What a great job- love the color combo and this little guy is adorable. Christie
Anonymous said…
Sweet little owl. With those fresh colours, he could be an anytime ornament too.
Niky Sayers said…
Really lovely little owl and he goes so nicely with the felted beads!
Love your sweet owl! The felted beads are too perfect with it. BTW, I used one of your beads as the art beads for my swap partner. I was wondering if you would recognize it! Beautiful beads!

Popular posts from this blog

Bead Soup Blog Party!

Welcome to the 3rd Bead Soup Blog Party! What is a Bead Soup Blog Party? Each beader was paired up with another jewelry designer and tasked with sending the following: ~ A focal ~ A special clasp (not just a lobster claw) ~ Some coordinating spacers or beads Using the focal and the clasp was mandatory, but we could use anything from our own stash to round out the rest, and choose to use the coordinating beads or not. You may recall my partner was Margot Potter ; click this link to see the blog post I wrote of what she sent me! Here's what I made! Dangly earrings! Come see what the rest of us made! 1. Lori Anderson, Pretty Things 2. Kitty Durmaj, Perles and Life 3. Michelle Heim, Life In the Bead Lane 4. Lisa Petrillo, Lucid Moon Studio 5. Anitra Gordy, Leelu Creations 6. Paige Maxim, Paige Maxim Designs 7. Marianna Boylan, Pretty Shiny Things 8. Cheryl Roe, BeadRoe 9. Heidi Post, Ex Post Facto 10. Cindy Wimmer, Sweet Bead Studio 11. Terri Gauthier, Blooming Ideas 12.

The Tacky Earring Blog Hop

Diana Ptaszynski had a great idea, instead of a Tacky Christmas Sweater blog hop, a Tacky Holiday Earring blog hop! I was on it.  I had ideas right away.  I had so many I had to control myself.  You can buy these for $15 each, too!  Here we go! I found these awesome wreaths in the miniature Christmas section in Michaels, and they go perfectly with silver and copper colored plastic beads! These trees were found in Michaels, on an end-cap - I assume they are scrapbook or card making supplies, but make fantastic earrings.  The holes were a little small and far down, so I had to make LARGE loops.  Paired these with cute little gold colored jingle bells! And, finally, the ones I had in my head the moment she announced the blog hop.  Dr. Seuss sparkly puff balls with ribbons.  The only thing that would have made these better for me is if I could have found the red ribbons I really wanted to pair these with - don't get me wrong, the silver is cool and all, but in my head they w