Decorative Studded Ornament

Who says you can only make ornaments during the Christmas season? If you're looking for crafts using rhinestones, decorative headpins and more, you can't go wrong with a Decorative Studded Ornament from Lisa Fulmer. Leave it on a hook or doorknob all year long.


 

Materials:

• 2-1/2″ smooth foam ball
• Craft paint and brush
• Q-tip
• Clear glitter and glitter tray
• Assortment of brads, beads, head pins, eye pins, decorative straight pins
• Thin ribbon

Instructions:

1. Insert q-tip into large hole at one end of the ball to make a handle to hold the ball while painting.
    
2. Paint the ball with one coat of craft paint.
    
3. While the paint is still wet, sprinkle the ball with clear glitter over a glitter tray and allow to dry.
    
4. Carefully insert your brads, etc. all around the ball in a random fashion.
   1. If the prongs of the brad seem too flimsy, insert a large pin into the ball first, remove and guide the prongs into that hole.
   2. Use a thimble to protect your finger if you’re using lots of head pins/eye pins.
   3. Coat the base of your brads, etc. with a little glue before sinking into the foam for extra reinforcement.
       
5. To fill the large hole in the ball, squeeze a little glue inside, then press a long trumpet-style bead down into the hole until it’s flush with the surface.
    
6. Place a large decorative bead on a long eye-pin and sink it through the trumpet bead into the foam. This becomes your ornament hanger.
    
7. Place some large decorative beads on a long head pin, coat the pin with some glue, and press it up into the opposite end of the ball.
    
8. After the glue has dried for a bit, thread a ribbon through the eye pin at the top, tie a knot and your ornament is ready to hang.