DIY Playful Metallic Ornaments / Gift Toppers from Papernstitch

Hello everyone! Today I'm delighted to have Brittni of Papernstitch (and papernstich blog) here to share a fun tutorial with us from her free holiday eBook: The Happy Holidays Guide to DIY. I love that her project gives new life to discarded plastic toys (you can also pick up affordable new and used varieties at your local hobby stores or thrift shops). I also think (though I haven't tried it out yet) that you could paint these with nail polish in metallic or vivid colors for a similar effect (if you don't happen to have the other supplies handy).

Take it away Brittni...

The toys that were once pushed aside and forgotten are getting new life with this metallic toy ornament project that even the most novice crafter can complete with ease.

Here’s what you need to make your own:

• miniature plastic toys (this will not work for metal toys) of any kind: horses, dinosaurs, cars, etc
• small eye hook screws
• hammer
• ribbon
• clear gloss protective coating (I used shellac)
• liquid gold or silver leaf
• paint brush

Here’s how you make it:

1. Wash and dry your toys to make sure they are clean of debris.
2. Find a place at the top of your toy for the eye hook screw and using your hammer and your screw, punch a hole in it. Depending on how hard the plastic is, this may take a little time. Be careful. This is just a starter hole.
3. Next, screw in your eye hook with your hands as far as it will go.
4. Once that is done, spray the entire piece with shellac or some other protective coating. This will ensure that the paint doesn’t soak into the plastic, so less coast will be necessary and there will be less chipping later as well.
5. Wait until the coating has completely dried, and then you can begin applying your paint with a small brush. Applying the paint in thin layers works best, so you can get in to all those crack and crevices. Be sure to paint the eye hook as well, so it will blend in more.
6. Wait for paint to dry and apply a second, thin coat if necessary.
7. Wait for paint to dry and then apply a clear, gloss protective coating (again shellac works well for this).
8. Once that is dry, insert a ribbon through the eye hook. Tie it off at the desired length and your ready to hang it on the Christmas tree or box it up and give it to a friend.

More ideas for this project: Attach these little guys to packages during the gift-giving season for a special gift tag that friends and family won’t soon forget. And when the holidays are over, you can remove the ribbon and use the pendant year round for a necklace. Add a chain and its ready to wear.

A little bit more about Brittni:

Brittni is the founder of handmade exhibition site, papernstitch and the editor of a handmade blog, by the same name. When not working on papernstitch, she is dreaming up simple projects just for fun. Her Happy Holidays Guide to DIY, is filled with easy, winter projects that, literally, anyone can complete. But one of her favorite tutorials from the eBook is the golden toy ornaments project because its a little bit quirky and it utilizes discarded materials. It doesn't get much better than that.

Comments

[Kersey]

these are ADORABLE! I will definitely have to try these. Thanks!

[brttni]

Thanks Kersey. Glad you like my tutorial. And thank you once again Ez for making my day. Happy holidays everyone.
-Brittni

[caroline armelle]

too cute!

my little guy would go wild over these on top of his gifts!

[Lulu]

Hello..
I love it! It's to easy and handy. I should try it immediately..
Just one question: the hook can go out from toy if it get loose?
Thankkss =)

[sara d]

what a sweet idea! thanks!

[amourette]

really cute!

[brttni]

Lulu- the screw should be pretty secure in there. The plastic holds it in very nicely, but you can always drop a little bead of glue (even super glue in before your screw into the hole if you are worried about it.

And thanks everyone for the wonderful comments. :)

-Brittni
papernstitch

[Jeni]

such a sweet idea. something crafty i'll have to try out this holiday season!

[Luxie]

So cute!!!!!!!

[Alicia]

Really adorable!

[Katie]

Oooooh these are beautiful! What a great idea!

[SOMETHING_debussy]

this is just clever and adorable, well done Brittni.

Thanks Ez for sharing this with us!

[callmesusana]

Thank you so much for sharing your creativity with the world. Your mention of papernstitch led me there, which led me to her collections of tutorials, which led me to document my own tutorial involving the fun of using gel medium. Maybe you'll like it--I know I'm proud of it:

http://callmesusana.blogspot.com/

Thank you so very much for your inspiration :)

Sincerely,
Susana G.

[Ana Vicky]

beautiful tutorials!

[fit UGG Leather Shoes]

Hi,
Hope all your classes go brilliantly - I'm sure they will! I'd love to have a gypsy wagon in my backyard but travelling all the way from England is a bit too far!! :))
-fit UGG Leather Shoes