Advent Calendar

I never showed it decorated, so here you go.

Entries are closed and the Winner is

I have left the comments open on the advent post, but the winner is going to be drawn from what was currently posted when I started this post. There are 213 comments as of right now. My husband picked 131.
The winning entry is on Part 16, the 5th post.

Sharon said...

I would have never thought of something like this but I am liking the candle the best so far.

Friday, December 07, 2007 4:45:00 PM

I wish everyone the merriest of Holidays.

Part 26: The reason for the Season Ornament

Supplies:

• wood peg people (these can be found at places like Michael's, Roberts or other hobby stores as unpainted wood)
  
• paint / brushes
• muslin
• glue dots
  
• needle/ thread
• pearl cotton embroidery thread size 5

Order of events:

1. Paint wood people.
2. Cut muslin ruffly 4 inches by 3; a little bigger or smaller is fine, too (make according to your little wood people).
3. Use glue dots to hold fabric in place. Black dots represent placement of glue dots. Follow pictures for directions in placement of glue dots and folds. There is also a glue dot on the back of Baby Jesus's head and back to hold him to the cloth.
   
   
4. Stitch side up.
5. Wrap with embroidery thread and tie at back of neck and about 2 inches higher on string to form hanger. Done.

This is the very last ornament and the Reason for this season: the birth of baby Jesus. I will do the drawing on Dec 24, Christmas Eve. So you have 'till that day to add a comment to each of the advent calendar posts (all 29, including this one). Every post can have an entry from you on it. Happy Holidays and good luck to all!

Part 25: Sequins and pins Ornament

Supplies:

• small Styrofoam ball
• sequins
• embroidery thread for hanger
• scissors to cut embroidery thread
• short pins

Order of events:

1. Place pin inside of sequin hole and start placing on ball with a little over lapping; continue this for awhile.
2. Then, add a sequin to a pin and the embroidery thread that has been tied into a loop and place in ball. Make sure subsequent sequins cover thread and overlap on all sides of this sequin to hold it in place.
3. Continue covering ball with sequins 'till no more Styrofoam shows. This gets harder at the end because so many pins are inside the ball. That is why it is best to use short pins because they take up less space inside the ball.
4. Finished; hang on tree.
   

One more ornament to go, then this is done and we have the drawing.

Part 25: Redwork Ornament

Since I missed a few days at the beginning of the week because my life was so busy, I decided to post another ornament to make up for either Monday or Tuesday where I missed.

Supplies:

• needle for embroidery and for closing up the ornament
• embroidery thread
• sewing thread
• muslin
• pattern for red work: I used a Kris Kringle, but you can use any holiday picture you like -- Mary, baby Jesus, holly, star and so on
• red fine tip permanent marker for drawing pattern on fabric (or pencil)
• I also used a sewing machine at the end, but you can do that step by hand, too

Order of events:

1. Find a pattern you like, not more than 2 1/2 -3 inches tall.
2. Trace onto fabric.
3. Embroider (I used size 5 pearl cotton and doubled up sewing thread for the first one and just a single strand of sewing thread for the second one); both are hand stitched. I was playing with detail and texture. This has caused a debate amongst my children as to which is better, Kris with a fluffy beard to keep him warm, or one that looks sleek and nice and presentable. I was just trying to show the difference a change in thread makes.
   
4. Sew two pieces of fabric together with right sides facing each other; one has embroidery and one is plain. Sew around edge of the embroidered one. I sewed close to one and on the other I gave 1/8 inch of space. You decide which you like better. I left opening next to Kris Kringle's hat
5. Trim off excess fabric close to machine stitching.
6. Turn right side out.
7. Stuff.
8. Hand stitch closed.
9. Add hanger, done.

Two more ornaments to go, then the drawing, so if you want to enter do it soon. Don't forget you can have one entry per advent calendar post. That is a lot of entries possible.

Part 24: Allsorts Tiny Tree Shrunk

Since I have been talking about allsorts site I also liked the tiny button tree there. So I used her pattern and made a little modification and came up with a bell, sequin, tree for the yoyo advent calender.

Supplies:

• felt
• pattern from allsorts site
• pearl cotton size 5 embroidery thread
• bell
• beads
• sequins
• thread
• needles for embroidery thread and sewing thread

Order of event:

1. Get pattern from allsorts; reduce it to 1/4 its original size and cut out felt.
2. Sew on embellishments randomly.
3. Sew up side of tree; turn right side out.
4. Add bell to embroidery thread; tie 2 knots (see photo for placement of knots).
5. String from inside of tree through the top of the tree; place two more knot (see photo).
   
   
6. Cut excess thread; done.

Three more ornaments to go, then this is all done!

Part 23: Allsorts Little Elf Shoes

I have wanted to make Allsorts' elf shoes for over a year. I never gave myself a chance, but I decided they would be good for this project. I would make one for me and one to give away. To get the pattern, go here and then print it out at 1/4 the original size to get a size that will work for the advent tree scale. This pattern is one hundred percent hers, and I am not taking any credit for it; she is an amazing blogger and I love her stuff. If you go to her site, please thank her for this pattern because it is so sweet.

Supplies for the version I made:

• wool felt (I used Pendelton wool that I felted; you can use whatever you want)
• pearl cotton
• sewing thread
  
• needle for both embroidery thread and sewing thread
• scissors
• seed beads

Order of events:

1. Get allsorts pattern and reduce it to 1/4 size.
2. Cut out pieces.
3. Embellish with beads.
4. Embroider around edges with blanket stitch and assemble.
5. Add hanger; done.

If you make this pattern, you can add it to allsorts elf shoe group on flickr, and you can also add it to my advent calendar group on flickr, too.

Part 22: Teddy Bear Ornament

Since I have been making bears for the school, I had lots of scraps from them; thus this idea came about.

Supplies:

• fuzzy fabric or felt
• pearl cotton in your choice of colors
• 2 buttons
• a tiny tiny bit of batting or stuffing or other scraps to stuff nose with
• needle/scissors / thimble, if you use one

Order of events:

1. Cut four circles: 2 for ears, 1 for muzzle, and one larger one for head. I cut these free hand, no template; I think it adds to the charm of the bear if they are a little wonky.
2. Blanket stitch around head.
3. Add ears and blanket stitch around them.
4. Blanket stitch around muzzle and add it to face; don't stitch all the way around, yet.
   
5. Stuff and finish blanket stitch.
6. Add button eyes and embroider nose and ears (I used chain stitch on the blue ears, and colonial knots on the yellow ears); use whatever stitches you like -- satin...
7. Add hanger; done.
   

On a side note, these would make adorable gift tags on baby items, then the Mom and Dad could use them as baby's first ornament.

Part 21: A little Present

Supplies:

• fabric
• 1 inch cube (wood block, large die, or part of a kid's broken toy, like I used)
  
• glue dots
• embellishments; I used bells, but you can add other items
• fuzzy fur yarn
• scissors
• needle to string on bells

1. Cut fabric to fit square, just like wrapping a present.
2. Fold over edge of one side of fabric (this is so no raw edges will show); use glue dots.
3. Wrap present using glue dots on the inside of wrapping to hold fabric in place.
4. Tie on fuzzy yarn; add a few extra pieces into knot to make festive.
5. String on bells; tie knot to secure.
6. Tie another knot at the end of those same to strands of fur yarn to form hanger; trim if needed; done.

Part 20: The Knitters Ornament

Supplies:

• 2 boutonnière pins (dull the tips by rubbing points on cement)
  
• size 5 embroidery thread
• skinny knitting needles, optional
• scissors
• glue dots

Order of events:

1. Knit a sample with the embroidery thread. Leave a long tail when starting to make your hanger out of. You can knit this on the boutonnière pins (mini needles), or you can do this on the skinny knitting needles that are easier to hold because of length, but either way works. If using skinny needle, make sure to transfer the stitches to the boutonnière pins. Ggreen sample is straight knit stitch, red sample is *3 rows knit and 1 row drop stitch (that is two wraps around the needle that are dropped)* repeat.
2. Cut thread about 1 to 2 yards long wind into small ball.
   
3. When nearing the end of winding (about 1 foot from end), place 1 to two glue dots on ball; this will keep the ball from unwinding and will hold the boutonnière pins in place, too). Continue to wrap, making sure to cover the glue dots.
   
4. Press firmly to secure thread on dots.
5. Insert pins into ball (two options: all knitting on one needle, as with the red, or split between the two needles, like the green).
   
   At my house, we think the green looks better when hung up because of the way it hangs.
   

Part 19: Glass Ornament modification

Supplies:

Version 1:

• small glass ornament
• crochet hook
• pearl cotton size 5 embroidery thread
• needle
• scissors

Version 2:

• small glass ornament
• glue
• glitter
• embroidery thread for hanger

Order of events, Version 1:

1. Crochet a chain long enough to go over cap of ornament and sit around the neck of ornament to form ring (mine was 10).
2. Single crochet in joining chain *chain 5 skip next ch sc in next around* last one is a chain 3 with a half-double crochet in top of first single crochet.
3. Next round, sc in ch5 space,* ch 5. sc in next ch5 space* around end the same as step two continue in this manner 'till one row from end of ornament. (Mine was two rows of chains and 1 row of dc.)
   
4. Last row, ch three (counts as first dc) dc in every ch5 space once join with slip stitch to top of chain 3. Knot and leave a long tail when you cut so you can weave it into the tassel.
5. Make a tassel.
6. Tie tassel to bottom of ornament; weave all ends (three of them go through the tassel and add to the fringe).
7. Add hanger; done.

Version 2:

1. Add hanger to ornament and hang it on something to make it easy to dry and handle.
   
2. Put little drops of glue on ornament.
3. Sprinkle with glitter; let dry while hanging free.
4. Done.

I will post another ornament later tonight especially for knitters (hint hint).

Part 18: Fabricoholic Ornament

I know this doesn't look like a holiday ornament to most. But to those of us who hoard fabric, any fabric item is a good excuse to go buy fabric (all though this fabric is real, real old and pulled from my stash, and also a real small piece; still fun). Also, this is a reminder to Santa of what to put under our trees: more supplies for crafts.

On a side note, if you make a mini-doll house, this would work for that as well.
Update:
I was also given the idea from a reader on flicker (after she saw my post) that you could make these to keep an idea of your fabric stash a sort of mini library.


Supplies:

• stiff paper or thin cardboard (like what rick rack comes on) size 1 inch by 2 inches
• fabric 1 3/4 inches tall, however long you want it, with tiny, tiny holiday print on it
• glue dots
• embroidery thread
• needle at least 3 inches long
• scissors

Order of events:

1. Cut boards 1 inch by 2 inches.
2. Cut fabric by 1 3/4 inches by what ever length you decide.
3. Place glue dots on board and attach fabric.
4. Wrap fabric, fold end of fabric, place glue dots and press hard.
5. Thread long needle with embroidery thread.
6. Slide one strand of thread under fabric; tie knot at end.
7. Form another knot before closing down all the way; put needle inside knot and slide it into position. Pull out needle; done.

Ornamnet Crazy

1. advent calender with buttons, 2. holly berry ornament / win one of each ornament find out how on my blog, 3. on advent tree, 4. button tree on tree, 5. hung, 6. hung on tree, 7. cover image, 8. on tree, 9. done on tree, 10. wreaths on tree, 11. on tree, 12. on tree, 13. on tree, 14. hanging on tree, 15. chains on tree

This is the first part of the calendar; ten more ornaments to go (#1 isn't pictured).

I just wanted everyone to know that I am making these ornaments every day right before I post them. I should have started a few weeks sooner so I could be ahead of the game and have all the tutorial post ready to go and just publish them. It has sort of become a joke at this house, "What will mom spend all day thinking of for tomorrow's ornament idea?" I have never done something like this where there is a tutorial a day. This is a fun and challenging experience to come up with ideas each day that are different, and to still function and get things done, plus make and publish the ornament tutorial. After today's ornament, there are ten more to go, so we are 3/5ths of the way through this. I hope you are having fun, even if you are never going to make any of these. It is fun for me to challenge myself each day at 5:30 in the morning or at 11:00 at night. If you have made any, I would love to see them; you are welcome to add them to the group on flicker.

This is also a post you can enter for the drawing.

Part 17: Cookie for Santa Ornamnet

Supplies:

• size 5 pearl cotton embroidery thread
• needle/ scissors
• felt color for cookie and tag
• optional beads or sequins for chips on cookie
• fuzzy yarn

Order of events:

1. Cut circles for cookies and cut tag shapes.
2. Add cookie to corner of tag; use French or colonial knots to attach to tag (optional here; you could use seed beads or sequins instead).
3. Stitch around edge of tag with blanket stitch. One I couched the fuzzy yarn; on the other I used it to do the blanket stitch. Either way, rough up yarn with finger nail after stitching to make it fuzzy and not matted down.
4. Embroider desired words. I didn't draw letters ahead of time because I wanted it to be more free-form, like a little child wrote it. I also did not do this before the cookies and edging because I wanted to see how much space I had to work, with but you can do those three steps in any order you wish to make it easy for you.
   
5. Add hanger; done.

Part 16: Candle Ornament

Supplies:

• real long needle
  
• sewing needle / thread / scissors
• yellow embroidery thread
• felt
• button

Order of events:

1. Cut felt (the color you want to use for the candle) 1 1/2 inches by 4 1/2 inches rectangle. If you want a tapered candle, cut a slight angle so when rolled it forms a taper.
2. Cut felt for flame.
   
3. Tie knot on yellow embroidery thread; weave through flame; leave a long tail.
4. Roll candle felt around long needle; stitch closed.
5. Thread long needle with embroidery thread; pull through candle.
6. Stitch on button base.
7. Make loop out of another piece of embroidery thread. Thread needle and weave through flame; done.

Part 15: Advent Chain

I am sure most people in the USA have made a paper advent chain in elementary school. Well, here is one made from ribbon or rick rack ,whichever you choose.

Supplies:

• rick rack or ribbon
• needle / thread / scissors
• fray check
• bell, if desired

Order of events:

1. Cut rick rack into two-inch lengths.
2. Fray check ends of rick rack, and let dry.
3. Curl around finger and stitch.
4. Weave next rick rack inside of first; repeat 3 and 4 to desired length.
5. Add bell at bottom; this helps it to hang a little straighter.
6. Add hanger; done.

Part 14: Rick Rack ornament

Supplies:

• rick rack or double sided satin ribbon
• fray check
• needle
• thread
• embroidery thread
• beads version two

Order of events:

Version 1:

1. Cut rick rack or satin ribbon to length.
2. Fray check all ends; let dry.
3. Sew one end then the other making sure to go from longest to shortest then back up to the longest.
4. Add hanger.

Version two:

1. Cut rick rack (RR) or satin ribbon to length.
2. Fray check all ends; let dry.
3. Sew one end then the other making sure to go from longest to shortest then back up to the longest. I also added one bead to each side of the ornament (see finished ornament to see what I mean).
   
4. String beads through middle of ornament going sideways. I did the following pattern: 1 bead for future hanger bead, RR, 2 beads RR, 2 beads, RR, 2 beads, RR, 2 beads, RR, 1 bead, then three beads; turn, go through all again; tie off.
5. Add hanger in top bead; done (this ornament hangs sideways to the first).
   

When I finished this, I looked around to see if someone had the paper version that I remember making as a kid. Here is one, so if you have quilling paper, you can do that instead of ribbon or rick rack.

Part 13: Spool ornamnet

Supplies:

• craft wood spool or a real vintage one (if you don't mind adding glue to it; I just couldn't get myself to do that to my old ones)
• beads
• bells
• embroidery thread
• scissors
• needle
• glue dots
  

Order of events:

1. Place glue dots on side of spool from top to bottom where thread would normally be wound (I used 3 dots; it'a hard to see in this photo, the next few are better to see the dots)
2. Wrap thread around spool making sure to go over tail. Cut thread just past the last glue dot; press thread hard into glue dot to keep thread from coming undone.
3. String bell.
4. String spool followed by beads. Tie knot to keep beads from moving. Tie another knot to form hanger; done. The red and green tails haven't been cut yet in these photos.

Tails are cut in this last photo.

Part 12: Wreath Ornament

Supplies:

• ring of some sort
• embellishments (bells, beads, bows, whatever)
• embroidery thread for hanger
• needle
• thread to sew embellishments on
• thimble, if you use one
• crochet hook (size doesn't matter; just whatever works with your yarn)
• Fuzzy yarn

Order of events:

1. Crochet fuzzy yarn on rings. If you don't crochet, you can use a blanket stitch in embroidery to get a similar look.
2. Add embellishments; if you want, you can add some while crocheting, such as the bell on the light colored wreath.
3. Add hanger.

Part 11: Socks candy canes and bears

Supplies:

1. felt red, cream, tan or any colors you like
2. bear button and cane and any thing else you feel like stuffing the sock with; glue dots
3. needle
4. size 5 pearl cotton embroidery thread
5. scissors

Order of events:

1. Draw out a pattern for sock or use a punch if you have one
2. Glue together (I used glue dots; I have a busy day, so I needed a quick project). You can stitch these on, too, if you don't want to use glue dots. I do not recommend white glue; it turns yellow and gets brittle with time.
3. Layout fillers for sock; stitch or couch onto sock.
4. Add hanger; done.