How to make cross stitch Christmas ornaments

This year I have been really into cross stitch so I wanted to use that technique to make some ornaments for my tree.

I started out by cutting my cross stitch fabric down to 3 inch squares and then using my sewing machine to do an overlock stitch around the edge. If your machine can't do an overlock stitch, do a zigzag. I do my cross stitch in the hand. If you need to use a hoop or frame, you may want to do your cross stitch first and then cut down your fabric.

I selected some characters from The Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery's Kawaii Winter Sampler (which is now discontinued but they have other Christmas-y patterns here) and stitched them up in the center of each square. I used 3 strands of white to make those parts extra rich.

Earlier this year, I purchased a fat quarter bundle of cute little Christmas character fabric so I selected my characters so they'd match up. Snowmen with snowmen, owls with owls, penguins with penguins, and reindeer with reindeer.

I cut out a 3 inch square of coordinating fabric to go with each cross stitch square.

Then I cut down some red glitter ribbon to 6 inch lengths and folded those in half. I layered my pieces cotton fabric facing up, folded ribbon with the glitter side facing out, and cross stitch character face down.

Here's my little sandwich with the ribbon pinned in place.

Then I pinned all around.

Sandwiches ready to sew up.

I sewed around the edge about 1/4 inch in. I started about half an inch from the bottom left corner and then went up the left side, across the top, down the right side, and stopped about half an inch in to the bottom right.

Turn your ornament right side out. The cross stitch fabric is quite stiff so I found it easiest to push the cotton through first and let the rest follow.

Push out the corners with something pointy but not so pointy it'll poke through the fabric. I used my Clover Finger Presser.

Front and back of the snowmen turned out.

I stuffed my ornaments with a bit of ancient polyfill from my mom.

Then I sewed the bottoms shut. I did the penguins by hand but then I decided that I'm not all that great at sewing by hand so I did the rest by machine.

Here's the back of the owl done by machine.

Here's the front of the owl done by machine. I used an oatmeal colored thread that's basically invisible on the cross stitch fabric I selected.

Supplies: DMC Stardust Aida cross stitch fabric, DMC embroidery floss in assorted colors, Timeless Treasures mini series cotton fabrics, red glitter ribbon from Michael's, Aurifil thread in #2325 "Linen", sewing machine, embroidery needle, polyfill, pins

Paper Christmas Ornament Tutorial

I'm participating in a handmade Christmas ornament swap on Instagram coordinated by Acts of Craftiness.

I decided to use some scrapbooking supplies I already had to make these Christmas balls.

First I cut out a ton of 2 inch circles with my Silhouette. You could also use a punch, but my 1 inch punch was too small and since I already had the Cameo, I wasn't going to buy another punch. Each ball takes 20 circles and you might want some to spare.

Next, I drew a template for scoring my circles. You want an equilateral triangle in the middle of the circle. I extended my triangle legs so I could use them to line up my ruler. Score all the triangles. This is the most tedious part. I think you might be able to score them with the Silhouette but I haven't figured out how to do that yet.

Fold along all the score marks.

Start arranging your pieces so 5 corners come together on each "side" of your ball. Attach your flaps. You could use glue but I'm not a big fan of glue so I used a mini stapler.

Keep attaching flaps to each other until you've completed your ball.

I a) scored some of my lines a little too aggressively and had some breakage and b) wanted more glitter so I reenforced some areas with glitter washi tape. Then I cut a length of glitter ribbon and stapled it on the hang the ornament on the tree.

Supplies I used: Silhouette Cameo, Tiny Attacher, paper is from the 2013 Ali Edwards Decemeber Daily kit, glitter washi tape, glitter ribbon from Michael's