There are a couple last Kitschmas projects I wanted to show you before I pack everything away for another year. *sniff* Although my new job and the God Bless Our Pad kit prevented me from being as prolific with my Christmas crafts as I wanted – there were so many I had in mind that I just didn’t get to! – I did get a few things done. I already showed you this year’s felt mouse ornament, but I also started another ornament series that I plan to make one of a year. Last year I bought this adorable Nutcracker ornament kit made by Bucilla:
I had originally planned to make all four this year, but I quickly realized that was crazy business. These little guys are pretty fiddly and intricate! So I wisely came to the conclusion that I should make one a year, just like the mice. Requested by the boss Little Betty, the ballerina was first:
It’s all hand sewing and embroidery, adding beads and sequins, then sewing the layers together, and finally sewing the back and fronts together and stuffing as you go.
The sewing was definitely the least fun part as the spaces were so tiny it was darn near impossible to get stuffing in there! Anyhoo, I’m looking forward to eventually having all 4 of these sweet ornaments on our tree.
Next up was hands down the most fun project this season. Little Betty, my sister in law, and I made over 40 of these sweet diorama bell jar ornaments. We used this tutorial.
I wish I had pictures of more of them but we gave them to co-workers, teachers, and family members as gifts. They were so fun to make and turned out tooth-achingly sweet, in my opinion!
They were so cute, in fact, that my sister in law agreed they actually made us angry. Now that, friends, is pretty darn cute.
They are made out of plastic wine glasses, scrapbooking paper, vintage Christmas miniatures, and glitter. In other words, magic.
Little Betty had so much fun making these with us! She was pretty prolific, actually, churning out adorable Kitschmas vignettes in record time for us to encapsulate in plastic domes covered with glitter for generations to come.
Well, folks, that’s it. Kitschmas is officially over. I think this coming year I may start making Christmas crafts in July so I can get everything I want finished! What were your favorite Christmas crafts this year?
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9 COMMENTS
linda h
11 years agoEver since we made the bell jar ornaments in Girl Scouts in the 1960’s, I have loved these ornaments and have several on my tree. I keep thinking I will make some one of these years. I guess I need to start working on next year’s Christmas crafts today.
Erika T
11 years agoDo you know the maker of that cute little angel ornament in the second picture? I have a candleholder that looks so much like it and I would love to know more about it. It’s so sweet and reminds me of the animation in Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.
Betty
11 years ago AUTHORErika, I wish I knew the maker! That little angel is one of my favorite ornaments, and I’d love to get more like it. All I know is that it has a Japan sticker on the bottom.
Erika T
11 years agohttp://www.ebay.com/itm/Vtg-Mid-Century-Modern-Christmas-Angel-Figurine-Candle-Holder-Decoration-Ardco-/301032535142?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4616eff466
I decided to do a little research and I think the maker might be “Ardco”. The above listing is identical to my angel. If you check ebay there are a few Ardco angels that do look like your ornament and my candleholder. Hope that helps!
Betty
11 years ago AUTHORThanks Erika!!
tammyCA
11 years agoWe must be on the same wavelength. Last year I bought the supplies for the wine glass diorama tutorial when I saw it on her blog and didn’t get around to it until this Christmas, Yes, there are so darn cute & I made some for little gifts. I also am hooked on vintage Bucilla felt kits ever since I found a cute ornament kit partially done at a yard sale 2 yrs ago…I finished it and then bought some others online in Dec. (and another at the Goodwill). I’m still working on them..lots of sequins, but the old 50/50 felt is as soft as butter, which I love working with. Even the new wool/rayon blend felt I have isn’t as soft.
Ashlee
11 years agoYour jars are just precious! I LOVE the deer with the green bottle brush tree, it’s adorable! Great job! Hope you had a fantastic Christmas!
Hugs,
Ashlee
Betty
11 years ago AUTHORThanks Ashlee! I’m so grateful for your fabulous tutorial!
deb
11 years agoThank you so much for the mice patterns! They are so adorable!