●✿Free Pattern - Owl Ornament✿●

Hello there!  It's been so long since my last post that I actually couldn't figure out how to get into my Blogger account!  It's taken me most of the morning to get to this point and after many attempts and a google search, I found a post saying it might be helpful to switch the internet server I'd been using, and voila, it worked!  

Anyway, now that I've got things sorted, I have a quick and easy project to share with you.  It's an appliqued owl hanging ornament made from scrap felt, a couple of brads, which are used as eyes, and a few tiny star sequins (totally optional).  

● Brads are otherwise known as brass fasteners, butterfly clips or split pins, and they're mainly used to secure multiple sheets of paper together ●

These are suitable for sewists with a basic knowledge of hand sewing. Finished ornaments measure about 3 x 3 inches.

● What you'll need to make one Owl Ornament ●

🌼 Scraps of felt

🌼 Matching embroidery thread 

🌼 Light Effects embroidery thread for ornament loop and accents

🌼 2x 5mm metal brads 

🌼 Dressmaker's scissors, and a sharp pair of embroidery scissors, an awl

🌼 Disappearing ink marker and ruler

🌼 Pins and needles

🌼 Optional: 3x tiny silver star sequins 

🌼 Click here to download the pattern template.

● Prep ●

➸ Set your printer at 100% and print pattern templates onto regular printer paper.  There’s no need for re-sizing unless you’d like to enlarge or minimize the outcome of the project. 

➸ Cut out paper pattern pieces. 

●🌼I've included two Outer Eye templates - choose the design you'd like to use.

➸ Use a large needle to pierce the eye dots on the Body, Outer Eyes and Inner Eyes paper templates.

➸ Pin pattern pieces onto felt. Cut around each pattern piece, using a dressmaking scissors to cut out the larger pieces and a pair of embroidery scissors to cut out the smaller ones. 

● Transfer the Eye dots from the paper templates (Body, Outer and Inner Eyes) onto corresponding felt with your disappearing ink marker. (A.)

● Insert the tip of an awl (or the tip of one end of your embroidery scissors) into the dot in the center of the Inner Eye, then insert it into the dot in the center of the Outer eye, creating a hole through each circle.  Insert a brad into the hole.  Repeat with the other Inner Eye and Outer Eye.  You now have a pair of Eye Posts. (B.)

● Insert the tip of the awl into one of the eye dots on the main Body of the owl. Place the pointed end of one of the Eye Posts into the hole and then repeat with the opposite side. (C.)

● Split the post and flatten each pin onto the back of the felt. (D.) 

●🌼For the following steps, refer to the Placement Guide (Base) template to help you determine how all the pieces are assembled ● 

●🌼I've used a single strand of regular embroidery thread when stitching the pieces onto the base,  but have doubled the strand when using the Light Effects thread  when stitching on the accents to add more depth.  Keep your stitches small, neat and evenly spaced as this will ensure a nice, clean finish on your project.

● Position the Beak onto the Owl's face, then applique it in place using small straight stitches. (A.)

● Position the Tail onto the lower body, placing the top edge of the tail behind the body.   Applique the base of the body onto the tail. (B.)

● The back view. (C.)

● Use your marker to draw four little lines onto the tail.  Stitch each line using the Light Effects embroidery thread. (D.)

● Refer to the Placement Guide and position the Branch onto the lower part of the Owl's body. Use your marker to draw the owl's claws on. (A.)

● Pin branch in place and stitch the claws on using the Light Effects embroidery thread (two or three strands of thread together). (B.)

● Mark four lines on the owl's chest and then add a the lines across his forehead. Stitch with Light Effects embroidery thread (two or three strands together). (C. and D.)

● Position the Placement Guide (Base) paper template onto one of the two cut out felt Bases.  Use a couple of pins to mark the center line at the top and bottom of the base.  This will become the front facing piece and the pins will help with the placement of the moon. (A.)

● Position the Moon onto the front facing piece using the guide for placement. (B.)

● Stitch the inside curve of the moon onto the base. (C.)

● Now position the owl onto the base, laying it over the moon as shown in the guide. (D.)

● Stitch the outline of the owl's body and tail onto the base, then stitch the branch on. Place the leaves onto the end of the branch and stitch on with a single stitch in the center of each one.

●🌼Optional - stitch a few sequin stars onto the base felt. (A.)

●🌼Another option is to cut tiny slits around the outer eye to add some dimension. (B.)

● Mark the center of each base (front and back) using the pins as you did earlier. (C.)

● Cut a length of Light Effects thread to measure about 8 inches.  Fold thread in half and make a knot close to the cut ends. 

● Stitch the knotted end of the loop onto the back of the front base piece, centering it beneath the pin. (D.)

● To finish off your ornament, place the front facing base onto the back base, aligning pins at center at the top and bottom. 

● Blanket stitch around the outer edges using the Light Effects thread.  You've now completed your little hanging owl ornament!

I hope you've enjoyed making this little owl!

Botanical Resin Ornament Tutorial

Hey there, are you guys ready for a new crafting tutorial?  Of course you are!

So I'm not sure about you, but I've been noticing a lot of resin and dried flower related crafts on social media lately.  If you're interested in delving into this fun medium, go for it!  There are lots of great how-to videos out there and I encourage you to find and watch as many as you can before getting started as they will not only supply you with ideas, but they'll also help you learn to be successful at getting the best results.

In this tutorial, I'll show you how to create tiny botanical resin ornaments using flowers, seeds and seed pods that can be collected from your own garden or nature park.  I think these would make lovely gifts for the upcoming holidays and they're fun and fairly easy to make.

✼ Many of the supplies I used for this project were purchased from www.microfleur.com.  They specialize in flower presses but also carry resin, bezels, silicon molds and other items such as UV lights, tweezers, etc.

✼ If you do decide to order through them, you can get 10% off your entire order by entering the code GINGERMELON at the checkout where it asks for a 'Gift card or discount code'.

Here's a list of things you'll need:

✼ UV LED resin (hard)

✼ UV Light

✼ Small ceramic tile or piece of thick cardboard

✼ Wide packing tape

✼ Open back bezels

✼ BBQ lighter

✼ Pair of tweezers

✼ Toothpicks (flat and pointed)

✼ Cotton buds (q-tips)

✼ Rubbing Alcohol

✼ Beads, beading cording or embroidery thread

 ✼✼ A collection of small flowers (single layer of petals works best), seedpods, seeds, leaves, etc.

Prepare these for drying in advance by carefully placing individual flowers, leaves, etc. between two sheets of parchment paper or paper towel. Place the sheets between the pages of a heavy book (put more heavy books on top of this) and let them dry out for a few days.

 

✼ Please read through the instructions and watch the videos before beginning ✼

 

How to:

Once your flowers are dry and you're ready to begin, create a ‘mockup’ of the design for each pendant by arranging the botanical elements inside of the frames.  Once you’re happy, take a photo to use as a reference for later. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Place a piece of tape (sticky side facing up) onto the tile/cardboard, taping edges down to prevent it from sliding around (photo A.)  

 

Remove residue on inner and outer edges of bezels using a cotton bud soaked in rubbing alcohol (photo B.)

 

Position bezels onto the sticky surface of the tape ensuring that the inner edges of the frames are set within the sticky area of the tape (photo C.)

 

 

 

 

Squeeze a bit of resin into the centre of each bezel.  Use a flat toothpick to spread the resin out evenly towards the edges (like icing a cake), it should be touching all sides of the inner frame.

Carefully lift out the larger bubbles with the tip of a toothpick.  Any bubbles that are not removed will be noticeable once the resin has set so take your time and get as many as you can out. 

 

With the BBQ lighter, carefully (and quickly) touch the tip of the flame onto the surface of the resin to pop any remaining tiny bubbles.

 

Refer to the photo you took earlier of your 'mock-up' design and transfer the flowers onto the surface of the resin with a pair of tweezers.  Use a toothpick to help position each piece in place or to reposition them if they slide around.

 

Once you're happy with the design, place the UV light over top and switch on.  It'll take about 1 - 2 minutes for the resin to harden.

Pour another layer of resin on top of the hardened layer then use a flat toothpick to spread it across the surface and out towards the inner edges of the bezel frame. 

 

Lift out any larger bubbles with the toothpick before using the lighter to burn off the smaller ones. 

 

Cure under the UV light for a couple of minutes.

 

Carefully lift each bezel up and off of the tape.  Flip them over so that the back of the pendant is facing up and place the hardened front side of the resin down onto a non-sticky area of the tile/cardboard (photo A.)

The resin at the back of the pendant will still be slightly mushy so another layer of resin will need to be applied to seal it. (photo B.)

 

Repeat the steps of smoothing the resin out towards the edges with a flat toothpick, removing any bubbles with a toothpick and the flame (photo C.) and then curing it under the UV light for a few minutes until set (photo D.)

 

 

The pendants should be fully hardened and ready for the hanging loops.

 

To complete, cut bead cord/embroidery floss to about 11 inches in length. 

 

Thread it through the loop of the pendant so that each end is even.

 

Insert both ends of cord/floss into a bead (add as many as you'd like) and slide it down to the to of the pendant loop.  Make a knot right above the bead/s.  Tie another knot close the ends of the cord/floss to create a hanging loop.

 

 I just wanted to share some common mistakes I made while attempting this endeavour.  

 

✼ The main one was (and still is) air bubbles.  They can get lodged under flowers, hide in corners and you may have a hard time noticing them at first.  Take your time looking at the pendant from all angles to find them and carefully lift them up and out with a flat toothpick.  I found it helpful to wipe the toothpick onto a piece of paper towel before dipping it back in to lift out more bubbles.

✼ Pouring too much resin into the bezel - it can leak out and create a hard shell around the edges of the frame after it has cured.  This can be remedied by filing the area down with some fine sandpaper.

 

✼ Not pouring enough resin into the bezel - if the resin is not completely touching the edges, the edges will look uneven and bumpy. 

✼ Flowers sliding out of position.  Check surface of resin again before placing under the UV light to make sure everything is where is should be before turning on the light.

 

✼ Overlapping.  Same as above.

 

✼ If you decide to add colour to the resin, try experimenting with different types of paint.  Resin paints are available, but I found that ordinary acrylic and water colour paints created some interesting effects. 

 

Here are some of my bloopers:

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial!