We love when our kids make special ornaments at school. but it seems like these days, once they’re out of kindergarten, we don’t get them anymore. So, we’ve started a new tradition and we make our own at home. The kids had a blast making last year’s ornaments and they were pretty excited for this year’s too.
Self Portrait Ornaments
SUPPLIES:
- 4″ – 5″ embroidery hoop
- muslin (half a yard should be plenty)
- variety of martha stewart acrylic paints
- martha stewart stencil brushes
- fine black sharpie
- spray paint (optional)
- glue gun
- twine
STEP ONE: trace the inside of the embroidery hoop onto the muslin.
STEP TWO: have your child draw their self-portrait with a pencil inside the circle.
STEP THREE: using a larger stencil brush, fill in the background color. tip: dip your stencil brush in the paint and then use a paper towel to brush most of it off. you’ll want a very dry brush with a soft touch.
STEP FOUR: using a smaller stencil brush, fill in the other colors. you’ll want to go out of the lines a little bit, but make sure your paint is light enough that you can still see the lines. (we mixed two colors to get a good skin color.)
STEP FIVE: trace your pencil lines with the sharpie marker then add your child’s name and year.
STEP SIX: you can spray paint your embroidery hoop now, if you choose to. and once that is dry, insert the self portrait.
STEP SEVEN: trim off some of the excess muslin, leaving just a little bit that you can hot glue onto the hoop.
STEP EIGHT: tie some twine (or other thin ribbon) onto the top and you’re ready to hang!
we just LOVE how each one turned out.
and as the years go by, these little treasures will be so fun to pull out of the box and hang onto the tree.
Katie says
I can't wait for my little girl to get old enough to do this. So sweet!
Christine says
love these SO much!! I am going to get the supplies today.
Dixie Mom says
Rad!!!
liz says
these are so great!
*Michaela* says
Oh, my Goodness! These are fabulous!!! Definitely will be making them this afternoon 🙂
JenniB says
How fun! We did self portraits one year on our stockings… I love how sweet it looks!
Suzanne says
I love this idea. Thank you!
Just Rhonda says
love these. like REAALLLLLY love these!!!
Meckenzie says
Love this idea! No kids of my own (yet), but a great idea to share with friends that do!
Polished says
These are so sweet! They will make for great memories when the kids are older, and a tradition they will surely bring into their homes and share with their own children! Thanks for sharing a piece of your family with us!
Maureen@Loving this Life says
what an awesome idea! I love these! Must do them with my boys.
Malinda Jane Sieg says
This is such a cute idea! Kids grow up too fast not to document it in fun ways like these. Thanks for sharing!
Chessa @ Antsi-Pants says
Cute! We crafted up these at our house: http://antsi-pants.blogspot.com/2011/12/christmas-ornaments.html
Crafty Mischief says
Too cute!
Danielle says
I love this! I wanted to let you know that I featured this in my "What I Bookmarked This Week" post – stop by and see.
Valerie says
Oh, my. LOVE these! I am so doing this next Chrsitmas. I have shared this at thecraftersfilebox.com. Thanks so much for the amazing idea!
Kindra says
These are so cute. I am going to have my daughter draw pictures of each family member. She loves to draw and they would like it too.