fabric advent ornaments

and the winner is...

rhonda nickol!

congratulations rhonda! email me with your address and i will get your new ornaments out to you tomorrow.

i am really excited to share this idea today.

and courtesy of my new sewing machine the stitching around the outside edge of the ornaments came out better than i imagined!

the idea started here in my idea journal: but before i went straight to it, i wanted to test it out in a trial run.

i cut 3" white muslin fabric circles, corresponding circles of batting and my favorite new christmas fabric (if you are interested in precut circles of the christmas fabric, email me i have extra of the fabric and can cut it for you - 25 fabric circles for $5.50 + free shipping)

i created this template and used it to adhere the white muslin circles of fabric to so that they could easily roll through my typewriter.

{click here for a full sized download}

the typewriter text worked beautifully when attached to the paper with a few hermafix tabs.

then pulled the fabric from the paper and stamped with a few christmas themed images. the bold red "believe" was stamped in stazon, i much preferred the softer look of the distress inks on the other 5 though. (inks used : broken china, shabby shutters and worn lipstick)

ok so the idea worked and they are too flippin cute!

for the true test, could i translate the idea into a daily advent ornament with special messages and inspirations to share as a family?

yes!
for these however, i put 2 layers of batting. i thought the first ones were a bit thinner than i had envisioned.
the large number stamps i bought at michaels, are martha stewart brand, but i cannot find a link for them.
i stitched them up, and set a 3/16" red eyelet in the top to hang them and voila!

so with the advent ornaments complete, i am now left with the first 6 ornaments i originally made.
whats a girl to do?
hmmmm?
lets hang them on your tree!
leave your comments today and i will get them ready for your christmas tree!

1. Leave your comment today before 10 PM (EST).
2. To double your chances tweet, blog or post on your facebook about this giveaway and come back and leave another comment.
3. Winner will be announced on the blog tonight.

............................................................................................................................

REMINDER: today is the last day for the INSPIRED. Artist Workshop payment plan

make sure you book your spot today.

Comments

[Lisa Cox near Myrtle Beach, SC]

Those look great Donna. I am not good with a sewing machine. I dont think I could get them to work.
I would love to have the ones you made to hang on our tree. This year the theme is "Handmade with Love" Every ornament on the tree is Handmade. I have a picture on my facebook page if you would like to see it.

Thanks for the inspiration:)

Happy Holidays!!
Lisa in SC

[Sue Krei]

I see that you are putting those new typewriters to work! This is such a cute idea and I'd love to win a few of these!!! I could hang them on my handmade "martha ball tree"....lol....long story!!!
Your head must feel like it is going to explode from all the ideas you must have floating around in there!

[Fay]

These are gorgeous, clever idea

[Cathy]

So cute!! I absolutely love them. I'm feeling inspired.

[Melissa]

Love it! Thanks for the great ideas!

[Michelle Gala]

Super cute idea!! Very different from the normal decorations, Love them!!

[Joan]

oooh, sign me up!

love the look and feel of these!

[Amber]

I wish I had just an ounce of your creative genious!

[Helena]

oh wow! I love those circles!

[twitter.com/mabelmiranda]

Simply perfect idea!!! thanks for sharing us Donna!!! =)

[Robin]

Typewriter on fabric is speaking to me......love this idea.

[Steff]

These ornaments are ADORABLE! I tweeted about them and put a link on my FB!! I absolutely love the advent ornaments with the message!! I need to get started!

[Nitasha]

You're right, these are too stinkin' cute! Thanks for sharing with us (the creativity and the giveaway)! I wish I had a sewing maching uhhh and new how to sew! LOL!

[Nitasha]

I mean "knew"...I do 'know' how to spell...LOL!

[Gloria L.]

Really fun idea! Thanks, Donna!

[Kayla Pierre]

CUTE!! i love how they turned out!
-Kayla P

[Mandy]

I wanna try this but I use a wheelchair and I am unable to use a sewing machine because I can't use my feet! I'll find some way to make it work! They are totally wonderful! YOU ROCK!

[Kirsten]

Dang it, girl, my machine would do that tricky little border stitch! I just needed you to inspire me! Those are spectacular :)

[Holly S]

This year for the first time EVER, it is just me and my husband for the holidays...I bought our 'tree' yesterday at Walmart...a 6" bottle brush tree (YES, 6 inches). How sad is that...I am not unpacking my ornaments this year (sad no family is around us this year) and they are too big for the tree I bought. One of these ornaments would be just right-just enough without being too much-for my 'tree' this year. Thanks!

[Meaghan (bonafyde)]

Love the extra oomph that the extra batting provides and the decorative stitching is amazing!!! I *need* that sewing machine or something like it!

[Cameron]

Looooove these, Donna! And I finally signed up for Inspired again. :) It was on my To Do list for today, got it crossed off early, LOL! :)

[Jessica Stoops]

Wonderful idea Donna. I would be happy to give your six ornaments a good home. Are you doing on each day and having the kids read them? Jessica

[Gale]

The best Advent idea I've seen. The fabric circles would also make nice gift tags.

[ArtdeMia]

You are always so full of inspiration! Love them!

[Jessica Hess]

Love them! Love the idea of the values you are sharing with the kids. Love that they are used over and over. Love it!

[StacyS.]

Those aren't your mamma's Christmas ornaments! These are so cute - what a great idea:)
StacyS.

[Brianna T.]

These are SO cute!!!

[cindy barriga]

You are too generous! Thanks!!! :D

[TracyBzz]

So cute!

[Jingle]

These are fabulous! I really love the soft look of them!

[Shawna]

These are absolutely fabulous and are just the inspiration I needed this morning! I have a fabulous little metal tree that these would look amazing on...hopefully!

[Huyen]

I love it! Just love, love, love it!

[Jewel]

I love how your ornaments turned out! Thanks for sharing the great idea!

[Chris S]

Wow what a great idea - I have never seen anything like it. Thanks for the inspiration!

[Cbaby]

What touched my heart more than anything was the typing on the typewriter. Just too dear!

[Just Sue]

These are so incredibly awesome! Great idea!!

[SandyB]

These are so cute!

[Theresa]

LOVE LOVE LOVE them!!!

[Lia]

What a great idea!

[Denise]

Donna,
I love your fabric ornaments. I love the way you sketched it all out. I love seeing the details on how a project is brought to life. Thank you for sharing.
So fun!

[Cbaby]

Swr4him

RT @tracykuethe: Giveaway at Donna Downeys blog: http://donnadowney.typepad.... about 1 hour ago less than 5 seconds ago from web

I am new to Twitter and this was the only way I knew to let you know that I posted on Twitter. Again, using the typewriter is priceless!!!!!

[Alaina]

Can always leave it to you to come up with such a wonderfully, creative idea!

[Maureen F]

Those are the cutetest and I think they would like to be hanging on my tree !!!

[Tagyn]

So flippin cute!!!

[Louise Murr]

Those are so neat. And I need things this year on my tree that won't break. My 2 year old grandson doesn't understand that the ornaments stay ON the tree. But he grabs them and takes off running with them still attached to the tree...So we need the ornaments to be unbreakable for when it falls to the floor. I can't imagine what it is going to look like by the end of the season...LOL Love the idea...thanks for sharing it.
Louise

[Charlie]

So so cute! Such a nice festive idea!

[Francesca Di Leo]

these are fan.tas.tic.!!! I so love this idea.. betweem this project, and Tim's 12 tags of xmas, I'm going to be one busy lady!

thanks for the inspiration.
Francesca

[Stéphanie Pouliot]

Donna.... once again you rock! Fabulous!

[Valerie]

You're a smart lady! They're very lovely! Oh that they could be ALL MINE!!! Bwhhahaaaa!

[Donna VW]

These are so creative. I love your thoughts for daily inspiration that you typed on them.

PS I have just the tree for the original six!

[dbj]

I have been so inspired by your use of fabric and sewing. I made a paper advent calendar this year but I love your idea of fabric. Thanks

[Katie]

Donna, you're a freakin' genius!!! The ornaments are such an awesome idea, and I can totally picture your kids fighting over who gets them just like I fought with my cousins over who got my grandmother's cool handmade ornaments.

Katie

[amy rehnae]

love love love these!!

[Cami]

OH my gosh - those turned out incredible adorable!

[mclady]

As usual, you came up with a really cool idea.

[mrsgeek]

I'd love those ornaments on my tree. The best thing about them is if they fall on our floor the hardwood won't destroy them like some of our other ornaments.!

[Renee Campbell]

Love, love, love them. You are so talented. I wish I had the time and supplies, but YOU DO, which means I would love a set to go on my tree.

[Tammy Stewart]

love these!

[Nadia]

these are beautiful donna! happy tuesday! ciao!

[Dixie]

These are so cute. I would love to win. I'm not very creative at all. So jealous.

[Laura Toriello]

You are just so darn talented. The ornaments are beautiful!

[Stella]

love these! I am in an ornament swap in one of my craft groups and I think I'll try my hand at these!

[kreativekate]

Oh, for cute! Sad story: last year, I found out I am allergic to Christmas trees when I got an eye infection that lasted until March. So for the first time in my life, I have to have an artificial tree. And endure the broken hearts of my 3 children, who are trying not to make me feel bad, but let's just say the subject keeps coming up. These would make my tree special this year, as we all adjust.

[Teresa M]

those would look great on my tree..clever Donna!

[anna]

okay, so those first six ornaments really need to come live with me!!!

[Kirsten V.]

What a great project! Thanks for the inspiration. :)

[cedwards]

These are so cool and inspiring!

[Lori Ceballos]

Adorable! I might have to try and make these myself if I don't win!

[Cyd Houghton]

The ornaments are so cute, thanks for a chance to win! Thanks too for sharing your inspiration!!! (fingers-crossed, I'm off to tweet about it)

[Sabine F.]

You ROCK!! There are just no other words for you. You come up with the best ideas. How fabulous are these ornaments...you sure are lucky to have one of those "fancy" sewing machines.

[debi]

WOW! Donna...you continue to blow me away! What an adorable idea! Can I live in your brain for a day????

debi

[Mary Kozak]

cool ornaments. i like this idea for an advent countdown. looooove the original ornaments too. you are so awesome.

[hitomi]

Fabric ornaments....how great.....not only cute...but unbreakable!

[eyeisha@gmail.com]

these are fun!

[michelle reader]

what an incredible idea and awesome presentation. Our family has moved this year from Idaho to California and well, our Christmas decorations are still in storage. In the efforts to spend less, and give more! this is the greatest IDEA!! I'd love to have a set of these treasures.