Spiral Snowflake Ornament

Though I made an ornament for my new niece, I wasn't really planning on starting Christmas ornaments for Amanda in May, but when I found this ornament tutorial I figured I might as well get started while I was motivated! The tutorial is in Russian, but the pictures are fairly easy to follow, and the "translate" button in the left column helps. With the exception of attaching the binding to the back and the button, I used my machine for the rest of the sewing. The ornament folds easily on the stitch lines, so instead of lining it with a layer of batting, I used a thin piece of cardboard to better stabilize it. I also added a button in the middle. It's approximately 4.25" in diameter.

Polyhedron Christmas Ornament

This ornament did not turn out as spherically as it should have. It also doesn't look as crisp as the one pictured in the tutorial I used. I have made this design in paper, but not as a Christmas ornament. I used fabric scraps from my hexagon quilt. It is about 3.5" in diameter.

Hungary Postage Stamp Tree

 

One year in high school I became friends with a foreign exchange student from Hungary. After she went home, we became pen pals. I recently liberated these stamps from their envelopes, and this seemed like a good way to repurpose them. I only had enough for one side of this tree. There isn't a wide range of colors, but at least they all match thematically. While the other two stamp trees are going to Amanda, I am keeping this one for myself.

Finished size: 3.5" x 4"

US Postage Stamp Tree

After making an ornament with fake stamp stickers, I decided to try decoupaging some real stamps. I didn't have a huge selection of old stamps, so this one isn't as nicely color coordinated, as the focus was mostly on trying to cover the entire tree without leaving gaps. I collected stamps for a while as a kid, and that's where these stamps came from.

Finished size: 3.5" x 4"

Postage Stamp Tree

After the last postage themed ornament, I was inspired to make another. I applied stickers that look like stamps to a wooden tree. The front is nice and colorful.

The back is more muted, but the colors still coordinate and look nice together.

I don't usually date my ornaments, but it worked out nicely to add the year to the back of this one:

Finished size: 3.5" x 4"

Postage Ornament

Since we write a lot of letters, each year I try to make a postage themed ornament for Amanda. This one makes use of a postage stamp fabric. I tried to find a postage stamp charm, but to no avail. I think a heart is perfectly appropriate though. I used this tutorial, which I found unexpectedly in May. The ornament is 3.5" square, and 5" across.