Making Birds for the Ornament Exchange

Every year at Christmas time I host an Ornament Exchange Party.  Seven of my crafty friends each make 8 handmade ornaments and then we exchange them at our party!  This year I decide to make some Christmas birds for my exchange.

Although I have made little birds before, I lost the pattern and had to find a new one.  So these little birds are made using the Sizzix bird pattern.  They are a bit smaller but are just as cute!

I painted some beaks and eyes onto them using a charcoal paint.  For some of the birds, I crocheted a little red and white scarf and for others I glued on some flower embellishments and poinsettias.  Then I sewed a thin gold cord so that they can hang on the tree.

The birds are made using Fig Tree Christmas fabric.  Each bird is a little bit different and that makes them so special.  

I made extra birds so that I can give them out as Christmas gifts.  My crafty friends just loved them.  Of course, I want to make MORE.  (They're like eating potato chips; you can't just make one!)

I put them in a two-tiered tray that I picked up at Target.  I think they look so cute!  

 

Christmas Ornament Exchange

As you may know, every Christmas I host an annual Ornament Exchange party.  It's a fun time to get together with my crafty friends and celebrate the holidays.  Each person has to bring 8 homemade ornaments, all the same, for exchange.  They also bring appetizers, drinks and desserts and we have fun eating all of the goodies.  

This year my friend Tracy brought over a Hot Cocoa bar for us to enjoy.  It was fun setting it up and choosing the toppings for our cocoa.  

We always have such a silly and fun time together!  

This is Linda's first year joining in on the fun!  She made everyone a quilted ornament for the tree.  

Carol made some cute Buffalo checked mittens with a wooden snowflake and button attached.

Amy brought two kinds wooden bead ornaments that were strung on wire.  

Melissa made some deer ornaments using chipboard as the base.  

And Judy made some designer paper punched ornaments.

Tracy also made some pretty paper ornaments.  

And my contribution was these little quilted trees.

Every year we have such a good time.  We're already talking about what we can craft up for next Christmas!  

Do you participate in an ornament exchange?  Gather up some of your crafty friends and put one together for next year.  

 

Quilted Tree Wall Hangings & Matching Ornaments

If you remember, I made a couple of these quilted Tree Wall Hangings last year for Christmas gifts.  The pattern is from The Fat Quarter Shop and is called Charming Christmas.  You can watch the video on how to make here.  

While I was home on Christmas break this year, I made four more of them to give out as gifts.  They are each a little bit different.  I used fabric from Fig Tree called Christmas Figs.  All of the colors coordinate so beautifully.  For the gifts, each recipient received the wall hanging and some matching ornaments for their tree.

I made some little birds, which were so much fun to make, and some patchwork squares from the leftover scraps.  It's hard to see in the photo, but they have gold cording on them for the hangers.

I made MORE of the quilted trees (a lot more!) and gave them out, as well.  I love giving out handmade ornaments to people.  People tell me years later that they still have them.  :)

The wall hangings measure about 22" square.  Will I make more of them?  Yes, yes, yes.  I'd like to try some different color schemes and see how they turn out.  It's a great Christmas gift and doesn't take too long to make.

Back in November, I had the idea to make some ornaments from my grandbaby's handprints.  I painted her little hands with some green paint, cut out some linen squares for the imprint and attempted to get her handprint on the fabrics.  Needless to say, it didn't work out very well!  LOL  She kept trying to grab the fabric and we ended up with green paint everywhere - on the table, her clothes, my clothes, etc.  

After we washed her up, we took off her socks and stamped her footprint instead.  These came out so much better!  Look at her little face in the photo- "What are we doing here, Nana?"  

This is what I came up with for an ornament.  I made patchwork strips to sew around the linen, matching the green paint that I had used.  After I sewed the front to the back, I added some red floss stitches, embroidered her name and added a couple of little buttons.  So sweet, right?  I made two of them, one to keep and one to give to my daughter for Christmas.  

Maybe next year we will try the handprint!