These little ditties were created in an effort to make small wooden/ribbon ornaments with the same Handel's Messiah theme which I used for the large tree at the DC Temple Visitor's Center.
The phrase boards for the Temple tree were very big (10" across for the jagged-edged ones and 7.25" across for the Hallelujah ones). This size is too large for the typical 6 or 7 foot tree...the 10" ones especially, but they would also look great as a little wall or door hanging, or part of a wreath arrangement. Hmmm...I see a new wreath in my Christmas collection this year...
If you would like the PDF files for the phrases in the rectangle format, click on the desired phrase link at the very end of this post. The wooden boards with the jagged edges were purchased at Michaels, by the way. The smaller rectangles were also purchased there, and they came in a pack of 6.
The method for attaching the image to the wood is the same for all sizes and shapes, so even though these little ones look quite a bit different with all the ribbon, it's the same decoupage technique for all of them.
I even created the same phrases in two different font styles - a loopy, calligraphic formal style and the clean and contemporary look you see above.
Okay, time to get down to business:
MATERIALS NEEDED:
Little wooden discs in circle and/or oval shapes, approx. 3" (I bought mine at Michaels, 29 cents each)
Printed copies of my PDF files (there are 4 circle designs and 6 oval designs in each font):
Download Small circles and 2 ovals (loopy, formal style)
Download Small circles and ovals contemporary (contemporary style)
Download Small ovals contemporary and traditional (the remaining ovals in both fonts)
NOTE: Many home printers use ink that will smear when wet (like mine). If so, I recommend printing these at a commercial printer or, if you use your home printer, allow ink to dry at least 2 days before attempting this project.
Modpodge (matte finish) and an inexpensive chip brush and small bowl to hold the Modpodge
Clear glitter and small tray/box lid to catch the glitter
Ribbon in various widths (the lengths needed depend on how you choose to design your ornament...see instructions for a general idea)
Cardstock paper for back of ornaments
Hot glue gun (craft glue not recommended = takes too long to dry)
1) For each ornament, you will need to trace the circle or oval shape onto the cardstock and cut out the shape slightly smaller than the wood.
Pour the Modpodge into the little dish and lay down a paper towel or piece of cardstock as a work surface.
2) Each image is printed with some "wiggle room" in case the sizes of the wooden discs vary. To ensure that the wording will be centered on your disc, place image on top of disc and hold up to a light source. You will be able to center the words using the shadow of the disk shape as a guide. Hold paper in place firmly with one hand, and use the thumb of your other hand to create a crease all the way around the disc.
3) Holding disc in your hand, coat top side of wood with a thick coat of Modpodge. Place paper on top, flipping upside down to more easily see that the wood is lining up with the crease all around the edge of the shape.
Place right side up onto the paper towel, give the paper a careful rub to adhere it to the wood, and quickly brush Modpodge over the top of the paper. If your ink is the smear-able kind, brush as little as possible so the red ink doesn't bleed all over the place. If bleeding occurs, you can minimize it by gently blotting with a paper towel.
Set aside to dry completely.
4) When paper is completely dry, turn upside down and trim away excess with a sharp Xacto knife. I discovered that it is easier to cut when disc is on top of folded cardstock than on a paper towel, as is pictured here.
5) Coat top and sides of disc with Modpodge, and place face down into tray of glitter.
Set aside and allow to dry completely. When dry, brush off excess glitter.
6) Cut ribbon in desired lengths and numbers. You will need a skinny ribbon for the hanger, about 8 inches long. The circles will need 6 or 8 of each variety of ribbon. The ovals should have 8 of each ribbon variety. In this example, the silver ribbon is about an inch long and the red ribbon is about 2.5" long. Each ornament is unique, there is no set formula for making these. That's the fun of it - designing each one to be one of a kind!
7) Glue the first set of ribbons on the backside, doing 1 or 2 at a time because the hot glue hardens so quickly. Try to get the ribbon pieces to align with the one opposite, as if there were 3 ribbons instead of six. I always start at the top (12:00 position) and then do the bottom one (6:00 position). Then I place the 2 on the right hand side and finally the 2 on the left hand side.
Using 8 ribbons is easier because you can do the 12:00 + 6:00, then the 9:00 + 3:00 and fill in with the final 4 pieces centered in the 4 gaps.
8) Glue the second set of ribbons in the gaps. This ribbon has dots on one side, it's glued face down.
9) If you want to create loops in the ribbon, fold them over and glue them now. An alternative method is to hot-glue the loops together first before attaching to the disc.
Glue the skinny ribbon to the top of the ornament.
10) Glue the cardstock shape over the back to hide all the uglies...and that's it!
Happy Happy Joy.
Here are the PDFs for the large rectangular phrase boards:
Download The Everlasting Father
These are simply adorable! I cannot wait to make them for our tree!! (Can you say weekend project?) The big rectangular ones are great to hang up on the walls as well! Thank you for sharing these!
Posted by: Emme | November 10, 2010 at 06:16 AM
Thank you SO much for sharing these so fast! I LOVE them!!! I picked up some supplied today and will be printing the files tonight. Michaels only had 1 oval, so I'll have to go back there anyway!! Hopefully they have more soon, because I just love this!
Posted by: Sarah E. | November 10, 2010 at 06:18 PM
GORGEOUS! These are so, so beautiful! Thanks so much, I'll be linking.
Posted by: Rachel | November 14, 2010 at 10:15 PM
Love this tutorial thank you for sharing!
Posted by: Jen Goode | November 15, 2010 at 01:29 PM
I'm making some soon...picked up the wood shapes and ribbon today! Will post pics when I'm done! Is it to early to put my tree up? I can't wait.. :)
Posted by: Stacey | November 15, 2010 at 01:32 PM
What a great idea! I love them! Thanks for sharing your tutorial.
Posted by: Louisa | November 17, 2010 at 12:25 PM
Thank you for participating in the blog hop! Your craft is great. We also wanted to let you know that your project will be featured in a special "Blog Hop Recap" newsletter that will mail on the 24th. Thanks again!
Kirsten
Editor, FaveCrafts
kkwon@primecp.com
Posted by: Kirsten | November 19, 2010 at 12:48 PM
Wonderful! I am bookmarking this for next year!
Posted by: Paula | November 24, 2010 at 01:16 PM
How nice of you to share your designs. Thanks
Peggy
Posted by: Peggy Pearson | November 25, 2010 at 08:41 AM
Your creations are just beautiful and your tutorial very easy to follow. Your home looks like a Pottery Barn catalog!
Thanks for all the great ideas!
I added some of your ideas to:
www.facebook.com/homemadegiftideas
I hope you don't mind but if you do please lmk. thanks!
Posted by: Krista | December 06, 2010 at 02:18 PM
I made these a couple of weeks ago and absolutely love them. I told my boo that we now have ornaments for our first Christmas tree! Thank you!
Posted by: Kendall | December 06, 2010 at 10:13 PM
Absolutly love these. Are you selling any? I need 11 of them before Dec 2nd? Can you let me know?
Posted by: richelle | November 16, 2011 at 12:48 PM
Hi Richelle,
Thanks, I'm glad you like them! Unfortunately, I'm totally swamped with other things right now and can't make any to sell. They're really quite easy, hopefully you'll be able to make them yourself or hire a crafty friend of yours to do it for you!
Best wishes, Shelley
Posted by: shelley | November 16, 2011 at 03:23 PM
These are so awesome! I think we might make these for the cousin ornament exchange. Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Jillian | November 23, 2011 at 08:28 PM
Hello,
Could you please share what the more formal font is called? I'm trying to print out a large 'Joy to the World' and cannot find one that I like as much as the one you used!
Blessings,
Kristen
Posted by: kristen | December 01, 2011 at 01:44 PM
Hi Kristen, The formal font is called Edwardian Script ITC, and it's a standard font with the Illustrator CS3 program. Hope this helps, and best wishes to you!
Posted by: shelley | December 02, 2011 at 04:14 PM
New to your site and have you bookmarked. I found you through Somewhatsimple.
LOVE your site and LOVE these ornaments :)
I have a question - I don't see how I can follow you?
I'd love it if you stopped by my place sometime too :)
Posted by: Nicole {Miss Mommy} | December 12, 2011 at 08:04 PM
Hi,
I was wondering if the links to the PDF files are still working. I've tried to download them, and they don't appear to be working? Thank you!
Posted by: megan | October 07, 2012 at 05:38 PM
Hi Megan,
I'm sorry that they aren't working for you...I reloaded them, because I had somebody else email me with the same problem. They're printing out just fine for me - I'm sorry I'm not a computer whiz, I have no idea what to do beyond reloading them. If you still can't print them (there's a little menu that pops up at the bottom of the PDF page after I click on the link in my post) then let me know and I can email the files to you. Best wishes, hope this helps!
Posted by: Shelley | October 07, 2012 at 06:49 PM
I love these. What wonderful photos! Great directions too. Really pretty.
Thanks for posting.
Buy Here Pay Here
Posted by: heidi | November 08, 2012 at 08:23 AM
Does anyone know what the contemporary font is? I've tried several methods, and can't find it! Thanks in advance @muz4k
Posted by: Muz4k | November 13, 2012 at 09:16 AM
I would like to put names on instead. Can you send a blank to add words to it? or tell me how you got the sheet music and what you did to type the words on
Posted by: stacey | November 17, 2012 at 09:26 AM
Hi Stacey,
I created the images in Illustrator by scanning sheet music and tilting the orientation of it on the artboard. I then put a semi-opaque white layer over it and added the text.
I'll see if I have any files saved with no words on it...but if you don't have Illustrator I'm not sure if you'd be able to use my files to type new words on top of my existing music image.
Posted by: Shelley | November 18, 2012 at 07:58 PM
I would like to get permission to sell these ornaments. I would give your design full credit and direct people to your web site.
Posted by: Tina Carpenter | November 20, 2012 at 07:41 PM