Tinsel Twine Ornaments

When I was unwrapping last year's ornaments and came across these ornaments I made for my kids last Christmas , I was inspired to make a few more ornaments with some tart tins I found junking this summer. I'm a sucker for these shiny and sometime not-so-shiny chef supplies. For crafting only, mind you, NOT cooking!

Since the challenge over at Studio L3 Compendium of Curiosities 3 Challenge #17 is to use Tim's Woodlands or Tinsel Twine, I thought I would find a way to incorporate the Tinsel Twine into my ornaments.  The idea of the challenges over at Studio L3 is to try Tim Holtz' techniques from his inspiring book A Compendium of Curiosities Vol. 3 on your own creation.  It's lots of fun, so if you don't have your own book to work from yet, it's not too late to join in.  Pick up your autographed copy here, and turn to page 60 for Tim's introduction to these wonderful products.

Be sure to visit each of the Curiosity Crew's blogs to be eligible to win an awesome assortment of Tim's goodies compliments of Tim and Mario. And if that's not enough, they are also rewarding one lucky entrant a $50 SHOPPING SPREE to Inspiration Emporium where you can find all kinds of great crafting products.

I am influenced by Tim's ability to take anything and make it into something that looks like it's been around for decades. I hope I've captured the look of ornaments of by- gone days by using an everyday item, along with some "new" items.

Silver beads with Latte and gold mixative alcohol ink.

Gold beads with white snow cap alcohol ink. Stamped and die cut image popped up with piece of foam that comes in Texture Fades cut to desired thickness and painted gold with Distress paint. rounded off the edges with my fingers to give it a more realistic look.

Silver beads with meadow and snow cap alcohol inks--much prettier in person!

I've used plastic stringed beads in gold and silver which I've colorized or altered using alcohol inks to get a mercury glass look. The red beads were used just as they are. I've colorized Tinsel Twine according to Tim's instructions, and adhered both the twine and the beads using Matte Multi -Medium to the tart tins.  The vintage-looking Santas were die cut using Tim'e Bottle Cap Movers and Shapers from this lovely paper I purchased from 32 Degrees North last year--I don't have a manufacturer's name, unfortunately. The ornament was stamped and die cut using Sizzix Retro Christmas set, inked with Distress Ink and highlighted with Stickles. I punched a hole in the tops of the tins and added jump rings for ease in hanging from a tree. Here they are on my tree for a quick photo before wrapping them up for my kiddos.

These were a bit fiddly to make because the Tinsel Twine didn't want to stay put, but otherwise quite simple--big bang for the crafting buck!

  These will make wonderful little gifts for my kids--each year they receive an ornament of their own along with a pair of pj's on Christmas Eve.

 I'm meeting my twin Mom friends for dinner on Sunday, and I think I will make each of them one, too!  Praise the Lord, my friend's (twin Mom) pathology report came back negative, so cancer has not spread!  Thank you all for your prayers for her!

I hope you are having a delightful Christmas season!  Thank you for taking time from your busy days to spend some time here and for your sweet comments!  I read and appreciate them all!

UPDATE:  I was so excited to get these linked up to Studio L3 CCV3 challenge I forgot and used my blog name.  I hope that doesn't disqualify me!

I would also like to enter these into the following Christmas Challenges:

A Vintage Journey # 21 "Let's Celebrate"

Country View Challenges December's Festive Challenge "Nostalgic Christmas"

The Mirror Cracked #4 Upcycle/Recycle or a Christmas Gift (I've upcycled tart pans and made a Christmas gift!)

The Artistic Stamper Creative Team December's Creative Challenge "Anything Goes" (I stamped the ornament--Tim's Retro Christmas stamp and die set)

Artist Trading Post Exchange "Let's Celebrate!" The ornament was stamped using Tim's Retro Christmas stamp and die set.