Monday, December 10, 2018

Dollar Store Ornament Transformation

It's amazing what can be created with items from the dollar store and especially Christmas crafts!  For this month's theme, I'm transforming a plain dollar store ornament into a beautiful buffalo plaid trendy showpiece! You've seen those ornaments at the dollar store that have no character - a plain ornament that's quite large and painted in a dull gray color! One that blemishes quite easily! Yuck! 

 And, you won't believe that I'm using left over buffalo plaid fabric from my last year's dollar store Christmas craft challenge, too! I know, that's sounds a little weird! I didn't realize it at first! But believe me, it's a great way to use up leftover scraps and other dollar store items to make this beauty! 
Materials:
Large Ornament - $
Rubber Bands/Paper Towel/Pencil
Buffalo Plaid Fleece Fabric Scraps - $
Fabri-Tac Glue
Metallic Foil-edge Ribbon - $
Mod Podge
Epsom Salt - $
Glitter/Seed Beads
Hot Glue
Tiny straight pins
7/8" Ribbon - $
Embellishments

Let me start off by saying that it's a bit tricky to cover ornaments evenly and smooth using plaid fabric. I'm not talking about gathering the fabric and tying it together at the top or cutting strips and haphazardly gluing them on. I'm talking about trying to match the lines and pattern - so you'll have a more cohesive finished look.  I've tried it before with no success. Until now, I think! 

And the secret is .  .  . the type of fabric to use. Something that gives so you can stretch it a bit and make it lay flat around curves. 

So let's get started! First, use rubber bands to segment the ornament in order to make a pattern out of the fabric. You can adjust the bands to make the sections even all around.
Next, take a paper towel (it's flexible) and use a pencil lead tip to rub out the outline of one of the sections.
 I tweaked the drawing, making the ends into points and cut it out for a template.
Cut out one section of the fabric and match up the lines or pattern of each additional section with the first section pattern of the fabric. (sorry, I forgot to take a picture of that)
Next, position the first fabric section on the ornament and add fabric glue underneath, along the fabric edges - from one end to the other and smooth out the fabric on the ornament.
For the second section, run a bead of fabric glue along the edge of the first section and partially on the ornament. Take the second fabric piece and match up the pattern (stretching a bit to match) while gluing them together onto the ornament. 
Continue adding sections by running a bead of glue on the edge, 
matching patterns as before .  .  .
until the ornament is completely covered.
I know this isn't a perfect matching of the fabric but it does look cohesive and neat.  
To start embellishing the ornament, 
cut off the metallic flat side edges of dollar store ribbon -
 two to three inches (you judge how long you want them) .  .  .
and form a V shape with the ends, gluing the tip with a dab of hot glue.
Make seven of them!
Next, use tiny straight pins to hold the V shapes  .  .  .
while evenly spacing them around the top of the ornament.
This design looks so cool, don't you think!
Next, add a snowy look to the top by mixing Epsom salt, glitter, seed beads and mod podge together.  
Paint on a bit of mod podge to the fabric first before adding the snow
mixture to the top so it will adhere better.
This can get quite messy!
And let dry for a few hours.
Next, tie on a hanging wire loop to the center and glue down the tips of the "Vs" 
Glue on additional embellishments (added smaller V shapes) -  stems, berries, and bow ribbon 
 to complete the look!



Here's a pic of my 2017 Dollar Store Christmas Craft Challenge
 (Plaid Decoupage Candle Holder) on the left with this years'!

I've joined a group of creative bloggers to bring you a monthly challenge blog hop. On the 2nd Monday of each month we share our themed creations for the month, be it Upcycling, Family Recipes or Dollar Store Crafts.  For the month of December, it's the special edition of Dollar Store Christmas Craft Challenge! 


Don't forget to visit all of the co-hosts participating in this month’s challenge. You'll find lots of awesome Christmas craft ideas and inspirations!

It's that time again for our Monthly Challenge Blog Hop!






19 comments:

  1. This is lovely, Gail and I love the tip about using rubber bands to section it off.

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  2. Gail the amount of work that has gone into this is extraordinary. Your attention to detail has given us a beautiful one of a kind ornament that would be hard to duplicate!

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  3. This is beautiful and great tutorial to follow. I love it!

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  4. Wow! What a transformation! Thank you for sharing the tip about making a pattern using rubber bands! -Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures

    pinning

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  5. such a beautiful ornament, you are so inventive using a scarf!

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  6. Beautiful ornament! I'm impressed with the precision and work that went into this ornament!

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  7. You are so crafty, Gail! You created such a pretty ornament. I love metallic embellishments and the seed beads! Pinning!

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  8. Gail, Love the plaid. Your ornament is extraordinary. So many details and the finished ornament is truly beautiful. Pinning

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  9. This ornament is beautiful, Gail! I really love the buffalo plaid. Merry Christmas!

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  10. I am speechless, Gail....the transformation is AMAZING and oh-so-beautiful! Thanks for sharing :) Hugs to you!

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  11. It's beautiful Gail. I just love the way you made the pattern for the bauble. I can use that for so many different things and the epson snow idea is really neat too. It's probably the closets we'll ever get to snow here in South Africa :D

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  12. What a lovely Dollar Store makeover! Quite stunning! thank you for co-hosting at Sweet Inspirations!

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  13. Wow, the way you made the pattern was genius! I definitely need to remember that the next time I'm trying to deal with an awkward shape. The final results are stunning

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  14. That is so beautiful! Thank you so much for sharing with us at the Happy Holidays link party. Pinned.

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  15. This is so lovely. I liked the tips you gave to make the templates. Thanks for sharing at the Snickerdoodle Create Bake Make Party.

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  16. This is an amazing transformation!!! Happy New Year, Kippi

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  17. Thank you for sharing the great information with us. this blog is
    very good and informative.
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