Trim the Tree Challenge

Back by popular demand, Nichole has issued the Papertrey Senior Design Team the challenge of creating homemade ornaments. Oh what fun it is!

Homemade ornaments are a great gift to make and give. You can package them up in pretty little boxes, tie them to gifts, or do what I've done and tie one to a pretty, decorated envelope. The envelope can hold a Christmas card or can be used for gift cards. And my favorite way to present a homemade ornament? I like to tuck the envelopes into the Christmas tree and let the recipient search for envelope with their name on it.

What I've created for my ornament is a button wreath with a pretty tied bow. Pretty enough by itself but even better tied to a beautifully stamped Kraft envelope. And oh so simple to make. Easy peasy.
For my button wreath, I used the ever so popular Vintage Buttons in Dark Chocolate. I chose medium sized buttons and arranged them to create the size of circle I wanted. My button wreath measures about 2" in diameter and I used 12 buttons. Using black craft wire, I then threaded my buttons onto the wire. Leave about a 2" tail at the beginning and ending of the wire ends. When all the buttons are threaded onto the wire, twist the wire ends like a bread wrapper about 5-6 times to secure the button wreath. Tie on a length of Rustic Twine to make the ornament hanger. Then for the finishing touch, tie on a length of ribbon. I used Luxe Satin ribbon in Fresh Snow. To tie the wreath to an envelope, wrap more Rustic Twine around the envelope, tying the strands around a part of the wreath.

For my decorated envelope, I used a square Kraft envelope stamped with images from Snowflake Serenade. Beautiful sentiments and intricate snowflakes were stamped in Dark Chocolate and Fresh Snow. As a finishing touch, I added some brown sequins and White Gold Martha Stewart glitter(available at Michael's or Walmart) to the envelope edges.

Simple but super duper cute! The kids would love this too.

Other ideas for button wreath ornaments: Tie around the neck of a bottle of wine....wrap twine around a fresh loaf of bread and tie on an ornament.......use tiny buttons to create a smaller button wreath to tie onto individual wine glasses........tie to a handle of a coffee mug....tie to a box full of stamping goodies (like a mishie mini kit)......pin to a lapel of a jacket.....hang from a holiday kitchen/bath towel.....use as the main accent of a card......place a magnet on the back for fridge magnets.....hang from your rear view mirror in the car.....tie to the handle of your favorite Longaberger basket lined with a coordinating napkin liner......use red and white buttons to create a peppermint button wreath and tied around a bundle of candy canes......

........what other ideas can you think of????

And be sure to get even more holiday inspiration from the other Papertrey Senior girls:

Nichole Heady
Becky Oehlers
Heather Nichols
Lisa Johnson
Betsy Veldman

Annabelle O'Malley (guest designer)