Why Buy Christmas Decorations When You Can Make Your Own.
What if instead, you spend some time with your family and friends making things that all of you can enjoy. Some of what you can make can cost nearly nothing especially if you use things you already have in the house.
Take a look at the following and think about trying some of them with your family this Christmas. This first decoration is made from 3 post-its and a paper clip. You use your paper folding skills to make something that is pretty. Imagine an entire tree decorated with these origami decorations.
Step 1: Find Post-It Notes
I stole mine from several of my Co-Workers
To make this little Christmas ornament, I used post-it notes. To make it more colorful, I used 3 different colors of post-it notes. I went around the office and found 3 different colors on my co-workers' desks. I sure hope they don't mind. Somehow I don't think they will.
Step 2: Fold Corner to Corner
Make a Triangle
The first step is to fold the post-it from one corner to the opposite corner. Ideally you will want the sticky part to be on the inside.
Step 3: Make Two Triangles
Fold it Again
Next, fold the newly formed triangle in half. This will make a crease to prepare you for the next step.
Step 4: Corner to Top
Let's Turn Up One of the Corners
Fold the outside corners of the triangle up to meet the top corner. The bottom edges of the triangle should meet the crease you made in the previous step.
Step 5: Do it Again
Now Turn up the Other Corner
You should now have a diamond shape with two corners flapping at the top.
Step 6: Fold Back Down
Turn the whole thing over and peel the top flap back. It will be sticky because of the post-it note.
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Step 7: Half Way Up
Fold that same flap back onto itself where the corner meets the center of the diamond.
Step 8: Fold into Quarters
With the corner between you fingers, you pull the flap up to where the crease you made in the previous step meets the crease along the center of the diamond.
Step 9: Decorative Folds
Now fold the corner back reversing the crease you made two steps ago.
Step 10: Last One
Again you will want to fold the flap where the corner once again meets the center of the diamond.
Step 11: Make Three of These Modules
Now find the other two post-it notes and do the exact same thing to them. You should have three diamonds with an interesting pattern along the center of them and two flaps on the back of each. Again different colors will make fore a more interesting ornament.
Step 12: Slide Them Together
Take the two flaps of one of the diamonds and slide them under the design of the second diamond. The flaps should fit snugly all the way to the point of the second diamond.
Step 13: Three Make One
The object is to get the flaps of all three diamonds under the designs of their neighboring diamonds.
Step 14: Find Some Paperclips
Once you get them all together, they should look similar to the image below. Find two paperclips and link them together. This is what we will use to hang your ornament.
Step 15: Finished Ornament
Loosen the diamonds just enough to get one of the paperclips into the shape. The paperclip that is outside of the shape should be bent just enough to make a hook.
Step 16: Hang it on the Tree
Now you are ready to hang them on your tree or your neighbors' cubicle. If you have enough time on your hands, make 100 of them and hang them all over your boss's office. OK that might go a little far, but it's a thought.
You can use those price tags on a string if you can find them in the store. As for me, the paperclips work great for an ornament that will most likely only make it though one Christmas.
Right Lathe for the Job
Christmas Decorating Blog Posts
- More families decorating loved ones' final resting sites
- She places a Christmas tree there in December and appropriate decorations for other major holidays. One year, she planted 52 tulip bulbs so they would all come up for Memorial Day. Initially, Kubalak was frustrated that her hard work had been consumed.
- Generations of Memorial Day traditions in Dallas, Ore.
- ... and you're likely to hear "Christmas!" In our family, though, it's Memorial Day. For nearly 70 years, the descendants of the Grace and John McDonald clan have been meeting in Dallas, Ore., at the cemetery on Southwest Fairview Avenue to decorate ...
- Visiting graves: The remembering ritual
- By Michael O'Connor Peonies and irises, popular flowers for decorating graves, bloomed earlier than usual, said Kathleen Cue, of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln extension service for Douglas and Sarpy counties. Blooms have already come and gone on ...
- 5 clever home features
- Regardless of whether these installations are simply a few outlets on the mantle to help with Christmas decorating, or elaborately installed heated floors in the master bathroom, they'll all make your home more comfortable and more valuable.
Christmas Decoration Books
What is Your Favorite Christmas Ornament?
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haikuwedding
Dec 5, 2011 @ 2:28 pm | delete
- Very resourceful and creative lens for making one's own ornaments. My kids make picture-framed ornaments so their smile faces are there with the X'mas tree :)
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glowchick Nov 27, 2011 @ 7:44 pm | delete
- I used to make popcorn and cranberry garland with my mom when I was growing up, it was a lot of fun ( I think I ate more popcorn than strung though)
Great Lens :)
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earthybirthymama
Nov 9, 2011 @ 12:51 pm | delete
- I really like the wooden icicle ornaments. Some great ideas!
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capriliz
Dec 26, 2010 @ 9:18 am | delete
- Love your handmade ornaments! I can see how these would brighten up any Christmas tree! And you would have so many choices in the colors you select! Lensrolled to my How to Make 3D Paper Snowflakes lens!
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rgasperson
Dec 27, 2010 @ 4:19 am | delete
- Thank you. These small ornaments are fun to make.
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LizMac60 Dec 17, 2010 @ 1:28 pm | delete
- Glad you called in at my lens. I like your stuff and will be back to investigate further.
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ohcaroline
Dec 7, 2010 @ 10:48 am | delete
- I liked the first paper folded ornament best.
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Margo_Arrowsmith
Dec 1, 2010 @ 6:55 am | delete
- This is what Christmas is supposed to be
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Desilegend Nov 30, 2010 @ 3:27 pm | delete
- You have been featured on Squidoo List Of The Best Handmade Christmas Decorations. Thanks for great lens!
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mcochs
Nov 15, 2010 @ 8:43 am | delete
- Awesome lens! Love the heart ornaments
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Momsbusy247
Oct 3, 2010 @ 8:09 pm | delete
- Christmas? Didn't we just finish last Christmas? Crap.... I will be late this Christmas too, I am sure!!!
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frances
Jun 14, 2010 @ 6:35 pm | delete
- Great ideas for six months time
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MysticTurtle
Nov 18, 2009 @ 3:13 pm | delete
- Love it!
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rgasperson
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You'll Need a Tree
All Those New Decorations Need a New Home
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I found that having a fake tree is a fantastic idea. When the economy is in the dumps and you are having to pull bak on spending around shristmas time, having that fake tree in the attic is a life saver so you don't have to spend $40-100 on a live tree.
