This is my February project for Allie’s “Christmas Through the Year” club. It’s inspired by another one of those Flickr images I’ve had in my favorites for a long time. Each day in December, 2008, Barbara at Oodles and Oodles added a different vintage Christmas wrap image to her sidebar. This was probably my favorite of all the cute papers — I just loved these stylized bells, and thought they would make good ornaments.
My first ornament was made with my new, vintage crayons, but even though I used a metallic gold crayon, the colors looked sort of dull. Next I tried metallic paints, and I think these look much better and more sparkly. I applied the paint to a piece of bleached muslin — the bells are backed with a tiny green print. The black areas are either one or two strands of embroidery floss in outline, satin stitch and French knots. The ornaments are about 5″ tall and look much better if you click to enlarge the photo.
These were lots of fun to make, and there’s even another Flickr photo of vintage Christmas wrap which appears to be designed by the same illustrator, only this one has ornaments and a bird. I think I’m going to stitch some of these as well.
Oh, Martha, these are SO wonderful! You amaze me. I am so glad you found that image because the bells are just great!
Those make me want to put on pumps, pearls and a dress with a swirly skirt, then go shake up some martinis! AWESOME!!! Your version is so true to the original design. I love how you SEE these great projects!
This is just brilliant – you nailed these perfectly!!! I’m with Ann, I want to dress up for a 50’s Christmas party now!
OH! Love these! They remind me of the bells in the Whoville town square (from the Grinch).
I love these… they are really cute. I can’t quite work out how you have made them, but it seems really clever to have taken that design and turned it into oranments. And did I mention “cute”!!!!
Wow!!…I am speechless….I have not seen anything done like this before. Not only do I love the style of the vintage paper…but, I process of making the ornament..I think I need to investigate this more…. WOW!!
What pretty ornaments. So dainty looking.
Martha these decorations are very nice.
cheers shez
Beautiful ornaments. I can’t imagine how you did them. What great presents they will make.
Very clever! I will have to look through my stash to see if I have some appropriate fabric.
You have incredible fabrics and do beatifuls bells…
These are fabulous! So original and pretty!