Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Tuesday Tutorial: Christmas Bauble by Melinda Spinks

Thanks to Melinda for creating a great Tuesday Tutorial for us! 


Who doesn't love a Christmas bauble, especially one that is home-made and slightly different than the store-bought baubles? Today I'm going to share a fun way to create a Christmas decoration using the Santa's Workshop Collection, Doodle Twine, balloons and glue... but be warned, it's a messy project, however that's half the fun!
What you will need: 
Small Baloons (water bombs work well); PVA glue or fabric stiffener; Doodle Twine - Christmas; Santa's Workshop - Little Helpers, Pretty Poinsettias, Holiday Tweed, Assorted Cut-outs, Candy Cane lane; Happy Holidays Mini Jewels; Sugar Coating Glitter Assortments; vellum; snowflake punch.
Step 1: 
Blow up your balloon to the required bauble size and then spray with cooking oil spray or coat with a thin layer of vaseline (this prevents the twine and glue from adhering to the balloon).

Step 2: 
Once you've worked out how much twine you require to cover approximately three quarters of the balloon, place the twine into a bowl of liquid fabric stiffener (which is what I used) or a mixture of 50% PVA glue and 50% water. You may need to use rubber gloves for this step as it gets quite messy. Leaving the twine in the bowl, start wrapping your twine around the balloon (wiping the excess glue off as you go). The more random you wrap your twine the better the effect, so don't be too concerned with an even coverage.

Step 3: 
Hang your bauble out to dry completely. Using the fabric stiffener and hanging mine outside on a hot and windy day the bauble took 4 hours to dry completely. You risk your twine collapsing if it's not 100% dry. Once it is dry you can pop the balloon using a sharp knife and remove the remaining balloon pieces using tweezers and pulling through the largest holes. Some pieces of the balloon may stick to the twine so gently peel those pieces off using the tweezers. You may also have some obvious pieces of glue between the twine which will also need to be gently cut off.



Step 4: 
Using spray adhesive, lightly coat your twine ball and then place over a bowl and sprinkle with glitter. Do not use a glue for this process as it will wet the twine and make it collapse, it must be spray adhesive. Spray again lightly with hair spray to set the glitter in place. Allow to dry.

Step 5: 
Now it's time to decorate your twine ornament. Using a small piece of twine attach a string to the top of your ornament for hanging then arrange your embellishments around the top and adhere using a hot glue gun. Again - do not use glue to prevent your ball from collapsing. I decorated my ornament using hand-cut holly leaves with jewels, rolled roses and vallum punched snowflakes.


GIVEAWAY: 
If you'd like to enter to win at the end of the week, all you need to do is jump over to Melinda's blog and follow her or tell us something you found inspiring on her blog. We'd also love to know what holiday things you're making...anything from holiday treats to gifts for your family or friends. Please share! Each comment is an entry to win!

56 comments:

  1. Oh my, Melinda, this is way too CUTE! I love it and how you embellished. I will have to try this with the kiddos.

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  2. I love the Chinese lantarns she made a while back, such a cute idea!

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  3. First I have to say this little twine ornament is so so clever...That is amazing... I love it..

    Melinda's blog is amazing, I love her creativity... I am inspired by how she thinks outside the box...her ideas are so awesome...I am now a proud follower of Melinda..thanks for sharing..

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  4. Oh Melinda, you never cease to amaze me!!! I love this!!! So pretty!! I think I may have to try this one. This is so so pretty!! Everything you make is nothing short from amazing! You are one creative lady! :)
    PS.. been a follower of Melinda's blog for quite a while.

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  5. OMGosh.....Breathtakingly gorgeous!!!!! Your creative mind and talent continues to amaze me. I'm in awe!!!! Melinda I love it!!!!!!

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  6. I follow Melinda and have for some time. I find EVERYTHING on her blog inspiring!

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  7. What a great idea!!!!! I already follow Melinda because her work is so fantastic!

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  8. I need to do this with my girls!!!!

    And wow! Everything on Melinda's blog is so beautiful!

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  9. Such a cool technique and gorgeous ornament, Melinda!!'

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  10. Wow, Melinda, this is amazing - I love it!! :o)

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  11. I love these! I remember using this technique as a kid and making easter eggs :) So fun. Turned out great.

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  12. Oh WOW Melinda!!! What a gorgeous Christmas bauble this is!!! Thanks for this tut!!

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  13. I already do follow Melinda and love her creativity. she has the best ideas and always so thoughtfully and simply explains her techniques so that even i can replicate them. Thank you Melinda!

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  14. I always find stuff on Melinda's blog to copy..love her thankful frame.

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  15. These are fabulous... I've done these for easter eggs, but never thought of ornaments! TFS!

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  16. I already follow Melinda's blog - her creations are always fantastic! One of my favorite Doodlebug projects is the Chinese lanterns that she decorated with a bunch of butterflies and flowers - SO cute!

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  17. I am a new follower of Melinda's blog. Loved the Thankful frame!

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  18. I am now a follower of Melinda's blog. I have been making everything from Christmas cards, tags, gift bags and altered items for gifts this holiday season.

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  19. We have been busy making handmade ornaments this week! The doodle bug twine has come in handy!

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  20. It's been a candy making madhouse around here! It's been great! We are working on gift bags for our goodies as well!

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  21. Everything on Melinda's blog was fantastic! Lots of inspiration for the upcoming week.

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  22. I already follow Melinda's blog and I have been so inspired by her style and creativity!

    Carol B
    ciaoitalia2007(at)gmail(dot)com

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  23. I am already a follower at Melinda's blog and love her creations! I am going to TRY (key word is TRY) to glass etch some plates and make cookies.
    Tracy
    jtg0398 at sbcglobal dot net

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  24. LOVE your ornament, Melinda! Been a follower on Melinda's blog for a while...and I ALWAYS find her so inspiring!

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  25. I'm already a follower of Melinda's blog and I love seeing what scrappy inspiration she has in each blog post.

    This holiday season, I've already made my favorite cookies twice: chocolate chip pumpkin cookies. SO GOOD!

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  26. This is such an amazing idea! SO creative...

    I'm a follower of Melinda and something she past about back at the end of October was VERY inspiring to me! She created a "Pink" layout where she did some chalking and it is just fabulous! I have a chalk set that I've never used, but she makes me want to break it out. ;)

    As for the Holiday things I'm making, I'm planning on doing some peanut butter & chocolate Ritz soon! I do it around this time every year. You just spread peanut butter between 2 Ritz crackers and then dip them in chocolate. Once they're dry, eat away! They are a HUGE hit here and super easy to do. :)
    - April W

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  27. I've always following Melinda's blog and find that she made beautiful craft flowers that I just couln't make

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  28. I'm now a follower of Melinda's blog.

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  29. I love the flowers Melinda makes. I have to make some of my own.

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  30. I'm not making a lot of holiday items this year - I wish I had more time. One this I did make is a Noel banner.

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  31. Cute, cute. I follow melinda already and love what she does. I am making coasters for some really good friends, an album for my MIL and a couple of shadow boxes for family. I also make Christmas candy to give to neighbors.

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  32. She has some lovely projects! I'm only making cards this year - and I'm behind on that too!! Thanks for a chance to win. Merry Christmas!

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  33. Wow! This is gorgeous and such an amazing idea!!!! I would LOVE to be inside your brain sometime!!!

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  34. I have followed Melinda for ages and her work is always so beautifully done and inspirational. The roses and leaves on the top of this cute ornament are sooo pretty! I love the patterned papers she used for them. So pretty for the tree! :)
    And yes, Melinda...I can see the glitter on them now! :D
    Thanks for sharing! :)

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  35. I just found this sight and Melinda's site. I love it so far. I don't have a lot of time and love that her ideas seem to be very simple yet fun and lovely!! Sincerely, jvaughn@nevc.k12.mo.us

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  36. I just found this sight and Melinda's site. I love it so far. I don't have a lot of time and love that her ideas seem to be very simple yet fun and lovely!! Sincerely, jvaughn@nevc.k12.mo.us

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  37. I just found this sight and Melinda's site. I love it so far. I don't have a lot of time and love that her ideas seem to be very simple yet fun and lovely!! Sincerely, jvaughn@nevc.k12.mo.us

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  38. This is a fab post and i can't wait to give it a try and the mind bloggles at the possibilities. Count me in on the giveaway i'm following you on fb :)

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  39. I'm already a follower of Melinda's super creative blog, I find all her work jaw dropping. I'm not sure what I'm making as I lost electricity for a week so it is just clean up mode.

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  40. Melinda you always come up with some great ideas!

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  41. Fantastic idea ~ sort of papier mache with a twist:)

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  42. Love this idea, must order more bakers twine!

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  43. Such a cool project!!! Love how you made it frosty looking! :)

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  44. Oh so Cute and what everyone else said. I think I am going to make some of these for my clients. So creative and unique. If I saw these in a boutique, I would pay big bucks. Love
    em!

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  45. I have made the balloon ornaments before but never thought of adding the paper embellishments!

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  46. I am already a follower of Melinda's blog. I just love this "bauble" and really want to make some. Will have to make a list and run to the craft store to get some supplies for the weekend.

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  47. I love Melinda! This is such a neat idea!
    We get together and bake hundreds of kolachy cookies for our neighbors. I can't wait to get started!

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  48. Fantastic Melinda and so creative..thanks for sharing... i should get the girls to make some over the holidays.

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  49. I've been a follower of Melinda for a long time - this ornament is so creative.
    This year I made some Christmas cards and a wedding album for my friends
    splodge@gci.net

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  50. OMG! Gorgeous...will have to make these for next xmas. TFS

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