STEPS:
- Paint the lid with red or green acrylic paint. Let dry, then add a second coat.
- Paste the photo inside using a glue stick or collage medium.
- Paste a gift tag or wrapping to the backside of the lid. If using wrapping or other decorative paper, pull over the side of the rim and glue down. (This will be covered by ribbon later.)
- When dry, add a Santa hat or elf hat to the image using scraps of red or green and white paper. (Not necessary if your cat is wearing festive Christmas wear in the photo.) Or, paint on a hat, and outline hat in permanent black ink.
- If desired, add beading, cord, or other embellishment to the inside rim. (These are mini-collages – use your imagination!) Line the inner rim with glue glitter.
- Using 20-guage copper wire, cut a length that is as long as the circumference of the ornament, plus an additional couple of inches.
- At the halfway point in the wire, create a loop by twisting the wire a couple of times.wrap the non-loop part of the wire around the ornament — a strand of wire on each side. Tightly twist the wire wear it meets at the bottom. Loop it around several times to hold. Cut off one the strands and wrap around the remaining piece of wire – a couple of twists is fine.
- Thread glass beads onto the remaining strand at the bottom of the ornament. When finished beading, fold and twist the wire up and around the last bead.
- Glue ribbon around the outer rim.
- Dab anti-fray agent or clear nail polish on cut end of ribbon to prevent fraying.
- Coat the image with water-based varnish/medium or resin*, let dry completely.
- Coat the back side with water-based varnish/medium or resin, let dry completely.
- Coat the rim ribbon with water-based varnish/medium, let dry completely.
* Resin requires 24 hours to dry, and an additional week or so to cure, so plan ahead if you use resin.
This is a great gift for cat-loving friends or co-workers. It’s also a great project for a DIY ornament party. It’s easy enough for kids (8 yrs +) to do with adult supervision.
Click here for a complete materials list and additional instructions.
[SOURCE: CatCrafter.com]
