Thursday, December 5, 2013

DIY Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer Bulb Ornament


What is the Christmas Holiday without Rudolph, next to baby Jesus of course?  Well Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer if you were wondering!  I can't go a year without watching Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and now that I have kids, it's become their must see every Christmas Season!  I guess they had no choice since I have an obsession with Rudolph.  

Rudolph for me is the Reindeer I think many of us can relate to.  Finding our way through life with expectations hanging over us.  Who am I to put a damper on the story?  Guess it's my deep thinking getting the best of me.

Well really Rudolph gives me this warm fuzzy feeling inside during the Christmas Season.  I'd be lying if I said I don't watch it all year round!  I think it's natural to just feel so nostalgic when watching Rudolph even though it was created way before I was born.  About 2 years after my parents got married when they were still in Italy.  I think I can remember seeing it when I was little, in the 80's next to our very 80's Christmas Tree.  Ya know, with the annoying Tinsel draped over and my mom's creative take on putting snow on the tree by using cotton balls and stretching them out and laying it on tree branches.  Thinking about it now, what a design disaster!  I think that every tree decorated in the 80's might of been a decorating disaster.  Not like now where you can pretty much have your Christmas Tree be a reflection of you!  So here it is, sitting watching Rudolph with the warm glow of our 80's tree and just thinking about how much fun it would be at the North Pole with Rudolph.  The obsession began....

My obsession began with just watching Rudolph.  Now we are lucky to have figurines, toys, stuffed animals, ornaments, everything Rudolph.  Now you can make the idea of Rudolph yourself in just about any way!  Here I show you how to make a Rudolph Ornament!  I saw one made at a local craft store, Pat Catan's Craft Center while buying a glue gun for a Girl Scout project.  I think that a glow was surrounding it with Angels singing a harmonic "ahhhhhh" in the background!  I had finally found my first choice Christmas Craft!  It was easy to figure out what to get to make him.  I've made ornaments before.  But lucky for you, instead of me dragging out my explanation, Darice Craft Supplies was great to create a turtorial sheet on it and I grabbed it!  So I'll use their step by step process explanation.  If anything was changed, I changed it maybe to explain it in more common layman's terms.  So here goes!  If you do make my beloved Rudolph or have a memory or love of Rudolph, (The most famous reindeer of all), please comment below and share it with me!  I'd love to hear it and of course post your pic of your ornament if you made a Rudolph one either like mine or your own way, I'd love to see it!  Put it on my Facebook Page!  Art By ASM on Facebook  Don't forget to like my page!

Okay here are the materials you will need!

Supplies:
100 mm Lightbulb Ornament #2610-64
Brown Enamel Paint, I used Americana's Enamel Paint in Dark Chocolate
Brown Chenille Stems (Pipe Cleaners)
1/2 inch Red Tinsel Pom Poms #1153-30
Wiggle Eyes (Googly Eyes) #ME12-PP
Holly Berry Picks of Choice
Ribbon of Choice for Hanging (I used 1/8 inch Red Polyester Ribbon)

Tools:
Hot Glue Gun
Wire Cutters or Heavy Duty Scissors (Don't use your Fabric Scissors Naughty!)
Small Dixie Cups or Wire Rack for paint to drain 
(I got creative and used my empty Snapple Bottle for Paint Draining, lol)

Directions:
1.  Remove Cap from Ornament and pour a small amount of brown enamel paint into the bulb.  Swirl, Shake or Tap to get it evenly and completely coated!  Turn ornament upside down on a wire rack or dixie cup or Snapple bottle, lol for excess paint to dry out.  Let dry completely and then replace the cap.


2  Using the Hot Glue Gun, glue on the wiggle eyes and a red tinsel pom pom nose.


3.  Cut a chenille stem (pipe cleaner) into fourths to make antlers.  Twist one stem around another about halfway down the stem.  Twist the one end of the stem around the ornament hangar.  Repeat with the other 2 chenille stem sections.


4.  Glue a section of holly and berries to the cap of the ornament.

5.  Cut your ribbon to have as a hanger making sure to place it so when hung, the ornament will face outwards.


So Ta Daaaa!  You have a Rudolph Ornament!  Isn't he adorably cute????!!!!  I think so!  This was super easy to make and might I add super cheap to make!  What also sold me on making this ornament is that the bulb itself is PLASTIC!  So no dog or child of mine will break it!  The only last touch I would do is put your name and date on the back of the ornament so you can remember when or who made it!  Might I add this makes an excellent gift?  I love homemade gifts!  I think they help spread the Christmas/Holiday Cheer!

My kids just went Gaga (Not Lady Gaga) but crazy gaga over this!  This is a great ornament to do with the kids!  Most of all have fun and enjoy your time to relax and craft by yourself or spend some quality time with family!

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask!

Wishing you a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy Festivus....Happy Holidays!  ;-)

Much Love, Peace, Blessings & Hugs!
Annamaria