How To

Holiday Crafts | Make Victorian Scrap Ornaments

Prelude festivities started this week in Kennebunkport, Maine and I was offered the opportunity to join other artists at Bandaloop’s Artisan Market for a craft show as part of the events.  Although I have plenty of items for general shows, I was lacking festive holiday wares.  I had some beautiful holiday themed paper on hand so I decided […]

Victorian Scrap Paper Ornament

Coffee By Design | Portland, Maine

Photo Credit : Katherine Keenan
Prelude festivities started this week in Kennebunkport, Maine and I was offered the opportunity to join other artists at Bandaloop’s Artisan Market for a craft show as part of the events.  Although I have plenty of items for general shows, I was lacking festive holiday wares.  I had some beautiful holiday themed paper on hand so I decided to make some Victorian Scrap Ornaments to liven up my table.
Victorian Scrap Ornaments
Victorian Scrap Ornaments
Victorian Scrap Ornaments
Victorian Scrap Ornaments
I will show you how I made these Victorian Scrap Ornaments with 3 ways to transform decorative paper into holiday ornaments.

Materials to Make Victorian Scrap Ornaments

  • Decorative papers like those found in the scrapbook aisle of craft stores or recycled holiday cards
  • Small brads
  • Small hold punch (it needs to create a hole smaller than the size of the brad head).  If you do not have a small hole punch you can use scissors to puncture a hole in the paper.
  • White Glue
  • Hot glue and hot glue gun
  • Holiday stickers, buttons, and/or sequins
    Making Victorian Scrap Ornaments
    Making Victorian Scrap Ornaments

Instructions on How to Make a Basic Victorian Scrap Ornament

Basic Victorian Scrap Ornament
Basic Victorian Scrap Ornament
  • Cut a holiday card or piece of paper into equal strips ( i.e. 5” x ½” sized strips work well).
    A holiday card is cut into strips
    A holiday card is cut into strips
  • Punch a hole in each end of each strip.
  • Pile up 8 strips with the image facing up.
    Paper strips are piled together and brads are inserted in each end.
    Paper strips are piled together and brads are inserted in each end.
  • Put a brad through the holes in the stack on one side.
  • Place another brad through the holes on the other end.
  • Tease out the layers of the ornaments—it helps to slide the bottom layer out and around until it is opposite the rest.  Then slide the remaining layers around to form a ball shape.  This is a very awkward step the first time you do it, so be patient with yourself as you get the feel for it.
  • Once you have formed the ball shape, tie a ribbon on and it’s all set to hang.
    Completed ornament.  Attach a ribbon and hang it on the tree.
    Completed ornament. Attach a ribbon and hang it on the tree.
 

Instructions to Make a Victorian Scrap Snowflake Ornament

  • Create the ornament above.
  • Push the two brads together so that the center of the orb is compressed.  Glue into place(use tiny dabs of glue on the paper strips near the center).
  • Adorn the center with a holiday sticker, button, or sequin using hot glue.
  • Attach a ribbon or string for hanging.
    Victorian Scrap Ornament Version 2
    Victorian Scrap Ornament Version 2
 

Directions for making a Victorian Scrap Fan Ornament

  • Cut a holiday card or piece of paper into equal strips ( i.e. 5” x ½” sized strips work well).
  • Punch a hole on ONE end of each strip.
  • Pile up 6 strips with the image facing up.
  • Put a brad through the holes in the stack on one side only.
  • Spread the paper strips out into a fan shape.
  • Attach a sticker or button over the brad using hot glue.
    Victorian Scrap Ornament Version 3
    Victorian Scrap Ornament Version 3
I turned these fan-shaped ornaments into a paper garland by tying them onto a ribbon. The ornaments were well received at the artisan market!  However, I’m quite sure I have Bandaloop to thank for this– the warm rustic ambiance of the restaurant, the super accommodating staff,  and delicious aromas could turn anyone’s mood around.  If you are in the Kennebunkport area make sure you stop by Bandaloop for locally grown and organic foods!  They are open Wednesdays thru Sundays at 5 pm. Enjoy making these Victorian Scrap Ornaments!

Bonnie Thomas

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