2015 Ornament Exchange Link Party

Are you getting excited for Christmas yet?  Some of you may already be planning to put your tree up.  Others may just being trying to get through Thanksgiving.  Whether you’re already decking the halls or not, here is some great inspiration to get you started on your Christmas decor!

Do you remember when I shared about the ornament exchange I took part in?  Being a part of that also allows me to share this awesome opportunity with you!  Yay!  Welcome to the 2015 Ornament Exchange Link Party!

Feel free to link-up your own ornament creations.  I’m so impressed with all of the ornaments and I can’t wait to see what you’ve created!  Please be sure to follow the party rules and have fun!  

Ornament Exchange Link PartyWelcome to the first 2015 Holiday Ornament Exchange!

Want to see all the amazing ornaments we have shared?

We are linking up all of our ornaments in the link below so everyone can see all the beautiful handmade and/or store bought goodies we came up with!

Let’s all get inspired this season!

The Hosts of the Exchange~Ornament Exchange Hosts

My Pinterventures | Made in a Day | The House Down The Lane | The Kolb Corner | Intelligent Domestications | Where The Smiles Have Been | Ash and Crafts | Inside the Fox Den | C’mon Get Crafty | Olives-n-Okra

We want to say a huge “Thank You” to all the blogs that shared the exchange announcement on their sites, we could not have done it without you! Hugs! Ornament Exchange Helpers

Lexi Michelle Blog | B is 4 | Xo, Lorey | Craving Some Creativity | Cherishing a Sweet Life | Our Crafty Mom | MidMichigan Mom


Make sure to visit all the other wonderful bloggers of the 2015 Ornament Exchange! All of their incredible creations are linked in the link party below.

DIY Adulation | The Farmhouse In The Field | Tastefully Frugal | My Sweet Things |Christmas Tree Lane | Simply Kelly Designs | Munofore | Decor To Adore | Tulips & Orchids | Rhinestones & Sweatpants |Happily Ever After, Etc. | From This to That | DIY Just Cuz | This Design Journal | I am Homemaker | Organized by Sunshine | Displaced Yinzer | My Life From Home | Nets Blog About Jnets Line | 10 Acres and 6 Chicks | Books and Life | Gardenchick | Two Purple Couches | DIY Just Cuz | Across the Blvd | Kentucky to Cali | Insolence + Wine | Our House Now a Home | Weekend Craft | Mary and Martha’s House | Random Bits of Happiness | Dragonfly and Lily Pads | Garden Matter | Recipe For a Sweet Life | Mama’s Journey | Amber Downs | Toolbox Divas | Craving Some Creativity | Vikalpah | Flourish & Knot | Raising Fairies and Knights | Blue Willow House | The Road to Domestication | Love My Messy Messy Mess | An Oregon Cottage | Home On The Corner | Fearlessly Creative Mamma | The Evolution of Mom | The Green Mountain Couple | Simply Home Love | Run with Jackabee | simple.pretty.life | The Chilly Dog | Try it – Like it | Gypsy Road | Playfully Tacky | Wife Mommy Me

We want to see your ornament tutorials too! Show us your creations by adding your post to the party below! Please add only ornament tutorials to the party. Thank you!

An InLinkz Link-up


Cinnamon Stick Candle Holder

Cinnamon and fall go together brilliantly.  Fill your warm home with that spicy smell and it is instantly cozier.  You just want to snuggle up on the couch under your favorite flannel blanket with a good book and a hot mug of apple cider.  Just as beautiful as the scent of cinnamon is the look of using cinnamon sticks in your décor.  Even better is that cinnamon sticks can be left up into the Christmas holiday season as well and still be beautiful and relevant.  What better décor idea than a cinnamon stick candle holder that you can fill with your favorite scent all season long?

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This cinnamon stick candle holder is an easy and beautiful decor item that you can fill with your favorite scent all season long!

 

[bctt tweet=”This cinnamon stick candle holder is an easy and beautiful decor item that you can fill with your favorite scent all season long! #holidaydecor”]

Materials

Step 1

Clean your candle jar thoroughly.

Tip:

If there is still leftover wax inside, soak the jar in very hot water and it will come right out.

 

This cinnamon stick candle holder is an easy and beautiful decor item that you can fill with your favorite scent all season long!

Step 2

Cut all of your cinnamon sticks in half using your box cutter.

Tip:

If you cannot get your box cutter completely through the cinnamon stick, score around the entire circumference of the center and it should snap in half easily.

 

This cinnamon stick candle holder is an easy and beautiful decor item that you can fill with your favorite scent all season long!

Step 3

On a non-stick surface, place your candle jar on its side and apply E6000 to 2 sides of it.  Cover the glue with cinnamon stick halves.

 

This cinnamon stick candle holder is an easy and beautiful decor item that you can fill with your favorite scent all season long!

Step 4

Turn your candle holder to the opposite side and repeat step 3 until the entire jar has been covered with cinnamon sticks.

 

This cinnamon stick candle holder is an easy and beautiful decor item that you can fill with your favorite scent all season long!

Step 5

Place your candle holder right-side up on your non-stick surface.  Gently tighten up your cinnamon sticks and add extra sticks where needed.

 

This cinnamon stick candle holder is an easy and beautiful decor item that you can fill with your favorite scent all season long!

Step 6

Allow glue to dry 24 hours before using candle holder.

Tip:

Check your candle holder periodically during drying and re-tighten cinnamon sticks if needed.

 

This cinnamon stick candle holder is an easy and beautiful decor item that you can fill with your favorite scent all season long!

 

This cinnamon stick candle holder is an easy and beautiful decor item that you can fill with your favorite scent all season long!

Even though this project uses real cinnamon sticks, the scent didn’t last long so don’t rely on them to make your home fragrant.  It is still a beautiful addition to your holiday décor that you can fill with any scent of candle you want.  Tealights work best in your cinnamon stick candle holder because they can be easily removed once empty.  Also, when you need to clean your candle holder, gently wipe down with a damp cloth.  Do not submerge in water or wash in your dishwasher.

This project is so easy to make that you can whip up many of them in a day to create a beautiful table centerpiece that can be left up all season long.  Once you’re done, check out our Autumn and Christmas pages for more great projects like this!

See where I’m linking up!

Glittery DIY Lollipop Ornament

This year I had the awesome opportunity to take part in the 2015 Ornament Exchange created by Erlene from My Pinterventures!  This is an event where bloggers are paired together to create one-of-a-kind ornaments for each other.  What a fun idea, right?!  Plus, now you get a sweet DIY ornament tutorial.

[bctt tweet=”Make this super-sweet, glittery DIY lollipop ornament for under $2! #ornamentexchange “]

2015 Ornament Exchange

I was paired with Deborah from Kentucky to Cali who I absolutely love.  Upon exchanging emails we learned that we both have 2 trees each year.  In addition to that, we also both have candy themed trees!  Once I found that out, I knew I had to make her a fun candy ornament for her tree.  The result is this super-sweet, glittery DIY lollipop ornament!

 

Make this super-sweet, glittery DIY lollipop ornament for under $2!

Materials

 

Make this super-sweet, glittery DIY lollipop ornament for under $2!

Step 1

Twist your tissue paper into strips as pictured above.  You will need 4 strips with at least 3 different colors.

 

Make this super-sweet, glittery DIY lollipop ornament for under $2!

Step 2

Take two of the strips of differing colors and twist them together.

 

Make this super-sweet, glittery DIY lollipop ornament for under $2!

Step 3

Once they are twisted together, coil it into a disk.  Cut the tail of the strip once your disk has reached the size desired.  Hold the disk together with your fingers on a non-stick surface and apply a generous amount of Mod Podge.  Continue holding the coil together until the glue soaks into the paper and it stays together on its own (about 30 seconds or so).

Tip: 

  • I did this on the lid to a jar because it pulls off easily and has beveled sides to keep the glitter from getting everywhere later.

Step 4

Repeat steps 2 and 3 to create your second disk which should be slightly smaller than the first.

Step 5

Once Mod Podge has dried, flip the disks over and apply a coat to the back sides as well.

 

Make this super-sweet, glittery DIY lollipop ornament for under $2!

Step 6

Allow the glue to dry completely.  Next, add a second coat and sprinkle with glitter.  Again, wait for the glue to dry and flip over to apply glitter to the other side.

 

Make this super-sweet, glittery DIY lollipop ornament for under $2!

Step 7

Once your disks are completely dry, attach your straws using low temperature hot glue.

Tips:

  • If your glue gun doesn’t have a low temperature setting, allow the glue to cool slightly on the disk before pressing the tip of the straw to it.
  • If you are using bendy straws, make sure to attach the non-bendy end to the disk.

 

Make this super-sweet, glittery DIY lollipop ornament for under $2!

Step 8

Add ribbon to each lollipop at its base and tie into a bow.

Tip:

  • You may want to add a dab of hot glue to hold the ribbon into place.

 

Make this super-sweet, glittery DIY lollipop ornament for under $2!

Step 9

Trim your straws to a length that matches the size of the lollipop.  Next, attach the straws together, slightly crossed, with hot glue.  To stabilize the top, take one tail of the ribbon on the larger lollipop and glue it to the back of the smaller one.

 

Make this super-sweet, glittery DIY lollipop ornament for under $2!

Step 10

Twist your twist-tie into a loop and secure the bottom.  Attach it to the back of the larger sucker with hot glue to create your hanging loop.

 

Make this super-sweet, glittery DIY lollipop ornament for under $2!

 

Make this super-sweet, glittery DIY lollipop ornament for under $2!

 

Make this super-sweet, glittery DIY lollipop ornament for under $2!

 

Make this super-sweet, glittery DIY lollipop ornament for under $2!

This is such an easy ornament to make!  The hardest part is waiting for the glue to dry.  I was able to use supplies I already had on hand so it didn’t cost me a penny to make.  Even if you do have to buy some supplies to make it, you are still getting a fun and beautiful ornament that will only cost you a couple of dollars to make.  Be sure to check out all of the other amazing ornaments from the ladies in Group 1 of the ornament exchange below.

The Farmhouse In The Field 

Tastefully Frugal 

My Sweet Things 

Christmas Tree Lane