Embossed Iridescent Paper Ornaments

Hey friends, great to see you here!  This is an ornament making technique I've been using for years and there are a thousand different ways to make them. You can use photos, Loteria paper or different colors of cardstock. Whatever you have hanging around. It's like math, magic and origami all mixed together. For this particular version I embossed black watercolor paper and then used this incredible pearlescent acrylic ink from Royal Talens that shows up brilliantly on black surfaces. It worked like a charm!  I hope you make some of these fabulous Christmas ornaments - at least your own version!  

Love, Mark!

My trio of Christmas ornaments in 3 of my favorite iridescent colors!

Watch how to make them here or on my YouTube channel here:  https://youtu.be/JyXNLkIBH3A

Here's everything I used for this project:

Amsterdam Acrylic Iridescent Inks: https://www.dickblick.com/products/amsterdam-acrylic-ink/ SIZZIX Big Shot Embossing Machine: https://bit.ly/3Z5ILQS Van Gogh Black Watercolor Paper: https://bit.ly/3R4fVx1

I used a drinking straw inside for the structure but you could use a rolled paper straw

This stuff is magic!

Wiping it over the embossing and it just appears and the most beautiful way!

I'm obsessed with embossing anything and everything. I love my Big Shot from Sizzix and am thinking about getting a much larger version!

Merry Christmas!  Love, Mark!

 

Christmas Balls 2015!

With the help of GraphicStock.com I was able to print out some terrific holiday images and turn them into fun card stock Christmas ornaments!  You can make these with family photos, different colors of card stock or old holiday cards.  Once you get the hang of it, it's addicting!  Head over to GraphicStock.com for a free 7 day trial and download tons of images that you can use for the holidays...Seriously, TONS of fantastic images for every occasion!

Have fun!  xoxo, Mark

See how I made them here!

Print this on 8 1/2" x 11" card stock

OR head to GraphicStock.com and pick some others!

Holiday print out on card stock

8” medium gage wire

Ruler

Needle nose pliers

Scissors 

2 beads, 2 large sequins

1 drinking straw

Large safety pin or needle

Pin cushion 

10” of ribbon

1. Trim your print out to 6" x 11" making sure the image falls at the 3" mark

2. Cut 6” x 3/4” wide strips as you see in the photo.  You will need 16 strips so save the extra pieces for filler

3.  With your safety pin, poke a hole on each end of each strip 1/4” up from the edge and right in the center

4.  Poke a hole in the center of the large sequins if you need to

5.  Cut the straw to 3"

6.  Bend a loop in the end of the wire

7.  Add a bead and then a sequin

8.  Line your strips in a stack in order

9.  Starting at the top of the stack, thread them on the wire FACE DOWN toward the sequin

10.  Add the straw

11.  Starting from the strip that touches the sequin, thread each strip on the wire one by one

12.  Add a sequin, then a bead, clip and bend a loop in the wire.

Hang on a ribbon and you're done!

Happy Holidays!