Blog #3 Embellishing Ornaments


Hello and thank you all so much for joining me! In today’s blog I am going to talk to you all about adding things like sequins, beads, and charms to your ornament to embellish it and make it even more beautiful! Some tools that you will need to help attach the embellishments are: straight pins, a thimble, needle-nose pliers, and jump rings (to attach the charms).

There are several things that you can add to an ornament to embellish it. I really like adding sequins or beads (or both) to the long piece of trim that we use to cover the raw edges and pins of the final layer of the ornament. This is both functional and beautiful and it serves two purposes: first, it ensures that your piece of trim that you’ve wrapped around the ornament will not move, secondly, it adds even more incredible detail to your finished product!

Here are a few examples of things you can add to embellish your ornament!

To attach the decorations around the trim I always like to begin by threading on a small, clear seed bead and then whatever sequin or other bead I am using onto the straight pin. Then I use the thimble to help me push it through all the layers of material. I always like to add the embellishment where the lines meet up on either side of the ornament; I just think it looks so nice and symmetrical.

                  

 

I also usually like to add a charm of some kind, and I’m partial to matching my charm to the theme of my ornament. For example, if I have used beautiful materials that are sort of Christmas-y, I like to add a jingle bell or any other kind of Christmas-themed charm. If I’m making a springtime, Halloween, or patriotic ornament, I like to add a matching charm. I have had tremendous luck finding all sorts of good quality charms on Etsy—I highly recommend you begin your search for charms there. I typically buy my sequins and beads at craft stores, but do not underestimate dollar stores; I’ve found some incredible deals here too!

To attach the charms, I like to chain several jump rings together (anywhere from 5-7 of them, depending on how far you want your charm to dangle). This can be a bit tedious, but you could also opt to use a very thin ribbon. To attach the charm to the jump rings, simply open a jump ring with the needle nose pliers, slide on the charm or bells you want to use, and hook the ring to the chain you’ve made—being sure to close the jump ring securely once it’s on the chain.

                                                      

 

I attach the entire thing to the ornament by sliding it onto the same long, decorative pin that the ribbon bow and hanger are on (you will place the charm onto the pin last—after the bow & hanger are already on it), and then attach the pin to the ornament gently (so that the pin doesn’t bend).

 

                                                           

Once you’ve added your embellishment and charms you will find that your ornament is even more beautiful—the attention to detail really give is a special flair!

Here are some examples of charms and embellishments you can add to your ornament!

                             

You can also add sequins and larger beads together. The ones that I’m using look tremendous on this ornament, and it looks even cooler when you turn it to the front; the beads kind of stick out and give an awesome effect!

                           

And there you have it! The options for embellishing your ornaments are endless!!

 

Thanks so much for checking out this blog, I really means a lot to me!!

To learn how to make my Triple Layer No-Sew Ornament, please check out the tutorial in my shop!

To learn more about creating ornaments using wide ribbon, please check out my blog post.

Please check out my gallery to see some of the different styles and themes of ornaments that you can make! It is truly a very satisfying craft, whether you make one yourself (with your own materials), purchase one of my DIY Kits that comes with everything you need from start to finish, or if you simply purchase one of my completed ornaments!

You can purchase my completed Ornaments, DIY Kits, and Tutorials (these are available in a PDF download format) by checking out my shop!

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