Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Don't Try This at School...


Ok so I got these Christmas decorations 2-3 years ago and finally got them done on the weekend. They are Basic Grey Blitzen. Each ball is made of 20 same size circles, pre-scored with triangles.


I am in the process of trying to figure out cool end-of-year gifts for the kids teachers including Merenia's last year teacher who didn't get anything cause I was pre-oocupied with our impending arrival.


I saw these ones which I thought were cool. And figured I could make 3 of the Kaiser style ones and 3 of the Basic Grey ones for each teacher. But that's nine balls... 9 x 20 = 180 circles to punch, score, fold, glue and ink... I am crazy but I'm not stupid.



Quick instructions incase you want to try...

You need:
Card (multi coloured or patterned as you wish)
Circle Punch (the bigger the better)
Embossing tool or other to score with.
Bonefolder or other to burnish edges
Glue; Fast and clear drying I used tombo green.
String or ribbon to match your card.
Optional; beads, ink. (I used lipstick red Chalk ink)

1. Punch out 20 circles (the larger ones were easier to deal with).
2. Score an equilateral triangle on each with all three points touching the edge of the circle.
3. Fold the edges of the triangle in to the centre and burnish with a bonefolder or similar for nice creases.
4. Choose two sets of five to be the top and bottom.
5. Glue each set of five together so they all meet at a central point (like in the picture above).
6. Line the remaining ten up in the order you wish. Place each circle so that the triangles alternate between pointing up and down.
7. Glue the adjacent sides together so you have a row of circles with alternating triangles. Then...
8. Glue the end of the row onto the start so you have a ring.
9. Glue the top section (from step 4 & 5) onto the ring.
10. Make a loop of string or ribbon. Pierce a small hole in the top of your ball and thread it through.
11. You could also repeat step 10 on the bottom section before you glue it on with a string of beads or similar.
12. Glue the bottom section on.
13. Ink edges if you wish.

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