Wednesday, January 4, 2017

Use a cookie cutter to make Needle Felted Ornaments



I started with the mitten shaped cookie cutter, my needle felting needles, and mat.


Stuffed the cookie cutter full of wool.


Then needle felted until the shape started to hold together.

Once the wool starts to hold it's shape, pick up the cookie cutter and the wool, then flip it over and needle felt the other side.
When I was done felting I had a perfect little mitten!




Then made another so I had a pair.



Once I had a bunch of mittens, I decorated them by needle felting scraps of wool yarn onto the front.




The last step was to attach a piece of yarn between the pair and hang them over a branch on the tree.

You can use cookie cutters to needle felt lots of shapes. I've made stars and circles for banners before and they've turn out super cute!

These ornaments would also make great decorations for gift packages too! Just tie them around the bow and the recipient gets the gift plus a nice keepsake ornament.




It is now done.









Here is how to make felted balls.



I've been seeing tons of projects for felted acorns again this year.

Here's and easy way to make the felted balls you need for that project. And it's great to do with kids. They love the "magic" that happens during the felting process and this technique contains the soapy water mess.

Get a small plastic container. Fluff your wool a little by pulling it apart. (You can use just one color of blend a few together)

Add a drop or two of dish soap that been watered down (50/50). But you really only need a drop or two or it will get way too soapy!

Also a little warm water from your tap. Then seal the container.


And shake.... and shake.... and shake. In all directions, side to side, up and down. Round and round


Soon you'll see the wool getting smaller and forming a little ball.


When your wool ball feels firm and all the fibers have come together your done. Rise and let dry.


Once they are dry they are ready for felted acorns, or any other projects you can think of!



Flowers made of Paper

Here is how you make this flower
What you will need to make your own Kusudama paper ball?

1. Paper – 60 square pieces of paper, all of the same size. I use advertising catalogues (for your convenience in the first part of this tutorial I use plain blue paper so that the folds are more visible). My squares are 3,5 cm x 3,5 cm but you can make them bigger, smaller squares would be rather hard to fold. For every flower you will need 5 pieces.
2. Ruler
3. Pencil
4. Glue – the glue I use have two nice properties: (1) it does not dry very quickly which allows small corrections when necessary (2) being initially white it turns translucent while drying
5* Scissors(optionally) I prefer torn paper instead of cut. I fold it several times before tearing slowly.
6* Beads (optionally) Use them to add some extra glamour.
7. Toothpick – to apply the glue.

You have to start with a single petal. Don’t give up, it may seem that it will take ages before you make all 60 petals but you will progress faster with every next piece :)

Paper Flower Kusudama Ball step 1 Paper Flower Kusudama Ball step 2 Paper Flower Kusudama Ball step 3
Paper Flower Kusudama Ball step 4Paper Flower Kusudama Ball step 5Paper Flower Kusudama Ball step 6
Paper Flower Kusudama Ball step 7Paper Flower Kusudama Ball step 8Paper Flower Kusudama Ball step 9
Paper Flower Kusudama Ball step 10Paper Flower Kusudama Ball step 11Paper Flower Kusudama Ball step 12
Paper Flower Kusudama Ball step 13Paper Flower Kusudama Ball step 14Paper Flower Kusudama Ball step 15
Now you have to glue your 5 petals into a flower.
Paper Flower Ball step 16
Paper Flower Kusudama Ball step 17
Apply the glue to only one side of each petal, except for the last one, in this case cover both sides with glue

Paper Flower Kusudama Ball step 20
Your first flower is done

Paper Flower Ball step 21
Don’t glue every petal right after you make it. Make the whole 60 and then glue them into 12 flowers, it’s really faster this way, believe me.


12 Paper Flowers Ready to Make Kusudama Ball
When all 12 flowers are finished you have to glue them together. You start with gluing the first half – six flowers together. With your first flower you have to apply the glue on two adjacent petals, with five next flowers you apply glue on three adjacent petals. Put the glue not exactly on the middle line of the petal but a little to the right.
Paper Flower Kusudama BallPaper Flower Kusudama BallPaper flower Kusudama Ball

Paper Flower Kusudama BallPaper flower Kusudama BallPaper Flower Kusudama Ball

When two halves of Kusudama Flower Ball are ready you have to glue them together. You can put a cord between the halves so that your ball can hang down. I make my Kusudama Flower Balls for a table decorations so I don’t put a cord.

Paper Flower Kusudama BallPaper Flower Kusudama BallPaper Flower Kusudama Ball

Paper Flower Kusudama Ball
Paper Flower Kusudama BallPaper Flower Kusudama BallPaper Flower Kusudama Ball
Paper Flower kusudama Ball