ORNAMENT #2 - creative girlfriends linking & sharing

My girlfriend Katie Hacker (who just did a podcast interview with Girlfriendology) invited me (aka: GirlfriendologyToo!) to participate in an ornament round robin with other creative women's sites. (Thanks Katie!)

Last week I visited all the other sites and got great ideas for ornaments and gifts - it was like visiting new creative girlfriends and getting inspiration from them. (Try it! I'm sure you'll get some wonderful ideas!)

For this week's ornament, I have to confess that I'm somewhat a hardware junkie. I don't know why, but I just like crafting with some materials generally used for home repairs or decorating, etc. Again, I've got the flashing out (found in the plumbing section of home improvement stores) and the metal ABC stamps. So here goes ...

GIRLFRIEND ORNAMENT/SUN CATCHER

I cut a small square out of flashing and hammer stamped in some word/wish (Hope, Peace, Love, Joy, Dream - depending on the girlfriend to receive the ornament). Then I sanded it to remove a bit of the shine and add some distressed texture (and to remove any rough edges). I drilled holes in the top and bottom for the wire. Using colored wire and beads, I added adorments and a handle. Pretty simple ornament to make but also very versatile. I gave to some girlfriends last year and they kept them up all year in their offices, windows, bathrooms.

EXTRA ORNAMENT

Okay, so all these creative women kind-of intimidate me! (They're some pretty BIG blog/craft stars in the bunch!) So, I thought I should throw in a bonus ornament to earn inclusion in the group! This is just a simple ornament with coated wire formed into a swirly hanger and then in spirals to form a mini tree. I added metallic plastic beads on thinner coated wire to 'decorate it.' I love how it sparkles in the tree lights!

For more GREAT ORNAMENT IDEAS check out these creative girlfriends and their ornament ideas:

Easy needle-felted orb - Katie Hacker
Christmas cookie - Jennifer Heynen
Christmas tree finger labyrinth - Hali Chambers
Ring in the New Year - Kriss Cramer
Quilty pieced snowman - Linda Augsburg
Simply striking sparkling spheres - Margot Potter
Beaded memory wire - Elaine Luther
Wire & beaded tree - Lynn Kvigne
Jolly and yummy ceramic candy - Melanie Brooks Lukacs
Polymer snowflake embedded in resin - Melissa Lee
Beaded candy canes - Candie Cooper
Polymer clay gift tag/ornament - Heather Powers
Twisted blues - Lampwork Diva aka Cindy Gimbrone
Holiday spiral tree & party pixie - Art Bead Scene
Wire bird's nest - Rebecca Peck
Plush gingerbread doggie - Jenny Harada
Swell ornament - Alexa Westerfield
Holiday paper crafting - Brandy Lung Gill
Shaving cream & chipboard ornament - Michelle McGee

Thanks Katie! Thanks Creative Girlfriends! Have fun!!