Holly Day Silhouette Ornament

When I was a penniless art student I started a holiday tradition with my family and friends. Each year I would create a handmade ornament for all the special people in my life as a way to celebrate and remember that year.  Now every year I love more than anything taking out those ornaments that I have created myself and collected from other artists over the years and decking out my tree with memories.

 

This year I am adding one more memory to my tree, a silhouette of our little guy - and I may not want to put this one away come January...or February...or March.  I've made one for our tree and then one for each of the grandparents because I know they'd love to hang one on their trees too.

Now go take a profile shot of someone special in your life and follow along with me to create a wonderful holiday memory....

Step 1.  Take a photograph of your someone special in profile and if you can include a little bit of their eyelashes it will be perfect.  Print it out - mine was approximately 3 inches tall - then glue your image down to a piece of black cardstock and use your exacto knife to cut around the image as shown above and then curve the bottom to finish.  You can remove the photo if you didn't use too much glue or simply flip the image over and use the other side to display.

Step 2. Cut an oval out of medium weight cardstock.  I actually used an empty breakfast bar box (which my son is addicted to, a memory for this year) but you could use decorative cardstock for something fancier.  

Step 3. Create your scalloped base for the ornament.  Lay your image and the oval you have cut out on a piece of cardstock and draw a scalloped edge around the oval.  I love the imperfection of a handmade edge - just go for it.  Then cut out the edge with an exacto blade.

Step 4.  You are almost done!  Glue down your profile to the oval and the oval edging (if you made one) then down to your scalloped base.  Now take a micro-hole punch and punch a hole in the center of each scallop.  Then choose a nice piece of ribbon, embroidery floss, or yarn (my choice) and weave it through.  Finally tie a knot in the top and you are ready to hang your new memory on your tree.

Enjoy, this is part of the Holly Day Blog Hop from Etsy Moms - leave a comment on this post and read below to find out how you can win a basket full of goodies from Etsy Moms!

And now continue on the Holly Day blog hop with a post from Baby Swank...