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Michele Made Me

One birdie's attempt to figure things out. Oh, and crafts.

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Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas Ornament #2

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Today’s ornament story began a while ago, back here in February, when I received several puzzle pieces in a package from my bloggy friend Melissa. I’m fairly certain it was a bit of an unspoken crafty challenge on her part, eh Melissa? Like: “What can you make with these, Michele?” Well, I finally took the bait, 9 months hence, and here’s the concoction I mixed up…

Tutorial ❉ Puzzle Piece Angel Ornaments

You will need:  old large-ish puzzle pieces, fine grit sandpaper (I used 220), large sewing needle, pencil, fine tip marker, liquid acrylic paints, small paintbrush, gold dimensional paint (optional for halos), small piece of cardboard, glue, pair of scissors, pretty string for hangers.

The puzzle pieces I used are the ideal size for ornaments at about 3 inches by 3 inches square (7.5cm x 7.5cm). Out of the pieces Melissa sent, I chose some that resembled little people: with heads, arms and legs.

To start, I sanded the fronts of the pieces with fine-grit sandpaper (220 grit). I sanded lightly to remove only the ink and not the layer of paper underneath. The sanding gives your puzzle pieces a lovely distressed look but, more importantly, the slightly roughed-up surface will hold on to paint and marker famously.

Then I used a large needle to pierce a hole in all their heads. I know that sounds slightly horrific and everything, but they are angels after all…

So once I did that… um, I took out my pencil and very lightly drew the angelic details on each piece. I drew on hair, eyes, a dress with collar, wings, skinny arms, and a halo. Once I was happy with my design, I re-traced the pencil lines with a fine tip Sharpie (a.k.a. a marker).

Then I took out my liquid acrylics and painted the other-worldly hair, dresses and collars. While I waited for the paint to dry, I made some little stars out of cereal box cardboard, and gave each a gold finish in liquid acrylic.

The stars, once dry, were then glued to the “hands”, and a halo of gold dimensional paint dots was added to each head. And lastly, I added the hangers.

Hark!… Is that singing I hear?

 

Why I think it is! A choir of Puzzle Piece Angels… How very sweet of them to sing for us like that. And they don’t even have mouths! Now THAT is what I call talent.

♥M
Find the first installment in the “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas Ornament Series” here!
 

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Comments

  2. I love these, might have to check out some old puzzle pieces. One question though, what did you do to the back of the piece? Sam x

  3. Fabulous idea!!! Love it Michele. Wanna do an ornament swap with me? We could send eachother 2-3 ornaments. It would be fun and we haven't swapped in awhile. Let me know!

  4. Hello michele,
    Great project…I am going to try doing this with my niece as soon as she stops putting everything in her mouth.
    Big hug,
    Giac

  7. Such talents! Singing without having a mouth!

    These are the most adorable ornaments I’ve seen in a long, long time! Such a great idea. Now I want to buy me a large pieces puzzle and start making them!

  8. Oh heavens, that is so cute! Now I want to go to the thrift shop and find some old puzzles! Thanks for sharing these, I look forward to seeing these posts!

  16. Oh, perfect!!! I love them so much, esp. because puzzle pieces are boring craft supplies that have always defeated my attempts to find something fresh to use them for. Bravaaaaa!

  21. They are just too gorgeous for words! I'm off to raid the puzzle boxes at our house … do you think my lot will miss a few from each box – I think it just makes the puzzle all the more interesting 😉

  24. Those are just damn cute, love the lateral thinking. Wish I could look at a puzzle piece and see an angel. You have a fun mind.

  26. So cute! If you decide to sell any, I want 2!! Or 3. These would be perfect gifts for family, but I know I'm not going to have time. Nor would they look nearly as cute as yours! I'm serious about that buying thing! 🙂 Awesome!