Ornament Swap Goodies

A crochet Christmas tree, knitted star and Lego tree from Little Woolie

A felt and doily pudding and an embroidered felt bell ornament from Wombat's Picnic

Oh dear. Teething. I had forgotten how difficult it could be. Just as I have forgotten what an unbroken sleep feels like. So please forgive me if you are waiting on a return email from me. Feel free to re-send any correspondence you think I may have missed. I am endeavoring to make use of all day time napping opportunities. Even going so far as visiting my sister, only to curl up for a nap after an hour, leaving her to mind the children. (Thank you darling, understanding sister!)

I have been waiting for a chance to share the beautiful ornaments I received in the swap. I have been so lucky.  My partners, Jules and Cyndy, both spoilt me with two ornaments - one for me and one for Emerson. While Jules' son made Cohen his own Lego Christmas tree, a massive hit with my Lego obsessed darling. Thank you so much Jules and Cyndy! Your gorgeous ornaments are hanging proudly on our tree alongside our own handmade ornaments, gold baubles and decorations from my Mother and Grandmothers past Christmas trees, making it all the more special.

I'm so pleased with how well the swap went this year. All you clever crafters out there! Thank you all for participating. Would you be interested in doing it again next year?

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Ornament swap house keeping - I know many of you have received your ornaments in the swap, (I love seeing them pop up on your blogs and instagram!) while some of you are still waiting. I have been checking in on late ornaments for concerned swappers, ensuring they have been sent. Some international swappers may still be waiting. I have had a few emails to say that ornaments were sent later than expected, but no emails so far to say that ornaments haven't been sent at all. So I am hopeful everyone will receive their ornaments with time. A few swappers have forgotten to reveal their blog or email addresses with their ornaments. If you can't contact your partner and would like to, shoot me an email. Thanks again! :)

Swap Link Progress

There are only four days left to finish up your ornaments and get them in the post! How is everyone going?

I love clicking around and seeing the wonderful ornaments that have been made so far. There is so much talent and creativity in this blogging community of ours. I have also discovered some lovely new blogs in the process. Thank you to all those who have linked up so far or sent me an email to say their ornaments have been posted. If you haven't started your ornament yet there is still time! I would hate for anyone to miss out. Difficulties do arise though, so please email me if your ornaments won't be in the post by the 1st of December.

Some of the beautiful ornaments that may be on their way to your letter box.
Makers blogs from left to right - Paravent, Typically Red, Yardage Design,
Creative Chaos NZ, Zaranne Handmade, Pumpkin Sunrise,
Imogen Eve, Petticoats and Peplums, Tales from Swallow Barn

Swap Progress Link Up

Swap Progress Link Up

Air-dry clay ornament tutorial

I love playing with clay. It was always the high light of art class in school. I have dreams of one day throwing a pot on a wheel. But in the meantime, my forays into clay are on a smaller scale. Some of you may remember the doily plates and brooch I once made from air-dry clay. While brainstorming about the ornaments I would make for the swap those creative ideas came back me. I made these simple and sweet ornaments and took photos of the process in case you were interested in making some too. 

1. String, straw, doilies, DAS air dry clay (under $7 at Lincraft), cookie cutter, rolling pin, baking paper.
2. Pinch off some clay and roll it into a ball in the palm of your hands and squash it a little on to the baking paper.
3. Roll it out to about a 6mm (1/4 inch) thick.
4. Position doily over the top of the clay and gently roll rolling pin over doily to impress the texture on to the clay. (If it doesn't work the way you hoped, roll it into a ball and start again.)
5. Use the cookie cutter to cut out the desired shape and the straw to poke out a hole for the string.
6. Use the side of the straw to smooth out the edge of the ornament. (The cut edge of the air dry clay looks like torn paper, but the frayed edge can be rubbed smooth with the straw, or gently filed off once dry.)
7. Leave to dry on a sheet baking paper. Pop doilies in the wash.
8. Attach the string and admire your handiwork.

It's a great project to do with kids. When Cohen got up from his nap he joined me in making them. His bumpy little ornaments are perfectly imperfect and will be pride of place on our tree this year. You can have fun and experiment with them. You could use different shapes and textures, or letter punches. You could also paint them, dip them in glue then glitter, or engrave a message or the year on the reverse. They would look great on a gift as well.

I will be sending sets of three of these ornaments to my swap partners. Has anyone else started on their swap ornaments? Leave a comment and a link so we can come visit!

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More creative spaces here.

Lately

1 & 2. Thrifted round cushion and gum boots

3. So many choices

4. Egg and dairy free baking

5. My little helper is teething

Thanks to all those who joined in the Handmade Ornament Swap! Everyone who sent an email has been included (no matter if our time zones differed and the linky had closed. If you emailed me, you are in.) Sign up is closed now and 72 crafty folk are taking part. What a fantastic response! Even better than I had expected. Thanks everyone for sending through your details and for all your kind words. And thanks to everyone who helped spread the word. We have swappers from Australia, New Zealand, USA, UK, Portugal, Germany, Canada, Turkey and the Czech Republic.

I have begun matching up partners, which is a lengthy process. Each swapper needs a partner for their ornament and a second partner to receive an ornament from, so three people in total need to be matched. If they have chosen to make two ornaments that number goes up to five people. Then the variables such as national or international, likes and dislikes, come in to play. I've enjoyed reading all your likes and dislikes. I have noticed that pink and brown seem to be the most disliked; while traditional colours, embroidery and crochet top the most liked. Everyone will receive an email before the first of November with their partners details. 

I can't wait to see what everyone makes!

Christmas Ornament Tutorials & Swap details

L-R: DIY ornaments, clay birds,star decoration,
embroidered felt ornament, impressions in clay, smocked ornaments,
crochet snowflake, pinecone ornaments, folded ornaments.

Today is the last day to sign up for the handmade Christmas ornament swap! Thanks to all those who have put their names down and sent me their details. I have more names on the list than emails so far though! If you have signed up but haven't emailed me yet, please take a moment now to send me your address, likes, dislikes and the number of ornaments you wish to create/receive. Thank you!

There are so many beautiful and clever crafty Christmas ornament tutorials out there. I found those above after a short search and hope they will inspire or guide you as you start thinking about the ornaments you intend to make. Etsy has a list of 101 Handmade Ornament Tutorials. If you've posted an ornament tutorial on your blog before, please share it in the comments.

Once I have chased up everyone's details I will start partnering the swappers up, then email you your partners details. Don't forget to keep them a secret! 

At the end of the swap I will post another link list that you can add a link to your finished and received ornaments, so we can all have a look.

Handmade Ornament Swap Sign Up - Closed

Thank you for your interest and advice on the ornament swap! Let's get this swap underway. It will be open to everyone. You can choose to make one or two ornaments and will receive one or two ornaments in return. Partners will be kept a surprise. You can choose to post only within Australia, or Internationally.

Sign up will be open for a week, until Monday 21st October. Let's reach out to our community and get as many members involved as we can. Help spread the word! Add the button to your blog and link it to this post. Mention the swap on your blog or on facebook. Partner's details will be sent out to you on the 1st of November and you will have the whole month to make your ornament/s. Finished ornaments are to be posted on or before the 30th November. Any questions or comments, please feel free to email me.

Guidelines:

1. The swap is open to bloggers and non-bloggers, national and international. (Bloggers will be partnered with other bloggers, non-bloggers with non-bloggers.) Please only sign up if you can commit to sending an ornament. There is nothing worse than not receiving something in a swap when you have taken the time to make and send something.

2. To sign up for the swap, leave either a link to your blog at the bottom of this post, or you name in the comment section of this post, then email me at christina-lowry@hotmail.com with the folllowing-

Subject: Ornament Swap 2012.
Name:
Postal Address:
Blog/flicker/instagram etc. addresses: (So your partner can get to know you.)
Likes: Perhaps you collect vintage Santa's, or crochet baubles? Let you partner and myself know, so they get a feel of what to make you, and so I can match you up with a suitable partner.
Dislikes: Maybe it is a colour you can't stand, say pink, or you're terribly allergic to wool? This way I won't partner you up with a knitter who only knits in pink wool. :)
National or International. Are you happy to post overseas?
Number: one or two ornaments. If you choose two ornaments you will have two partners and receive two ornaments in return from two other people.

3. You will then receive an email with your partners details on the 1st of November. Keep these a secret! You will be receiving an ornament from a different swapper than who you are sending to. This way you will receive a surprise when your ornament arrives, but we can all share progress photos of our pieces on our blogs/ instagram / facebook etc. during the course of the month.

4. Make your ornament! It's up to you whether you want to design an original piece or use one of the wonderful tutorials you can find online. Share photos of your piece and tag your photo's with #ornamentswap12

5. Post your ornaments on the 30th of November, whether national or international. You can post before this date, but please use the last of the month as the due date for this project so that no one misses out! I want everyone to have their ornament/s before Christmas. Please include a note revealing your identity!

6. Keep your eye on your letter box. Share a pic of your house or Christmas tree sporting a beautiful handmade ornament.




Sign up now closed.