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so with the advent ornaments complete, i am now left with the first 6 ornaments i originally made.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

[conniemelancon]

This are so cute. I love this idea.

[Marlene Moore]

Love your ornaments. Can you tell us what the fabric is ?

[Tracy Dayett]

These are so cool...the only thing cooler is hanging a "Handmade By Donna Downey" ornament on my tree...Thank You for always sharing with all of us out here!

[Guenolee]

Your ornaments are so cute! Love it so much!

[Jen K]

These are so cute.

[Katie]

Those turned out AWESOME. LOVE them. :)

[KarenY]

So Very CUTE! I love them! You're so creative...

[Teresa]

What a great idea! And they are soo cute! Love them!

[Christina]

I love this idea! Your ornaments tuned out so cute!

[Patti M]

Those are so adorable! Even if I don't win, I think I could do it myself! Thank you for the detailed instructions.

[Sarah]

Tweet, tweet! Thanks again :-)

[Cristina]

Love the idea! Now to implement! Hoping to win the ones you made. :-)

[Sharon]

Really cute idea. I need to get that sewing machine! What brand are the stamps you used for your images? Loved them!

[Diana Martin]

These are amazing!!! Thank you so much for the chance to win!!! Happy silly season xo

[Erin H.]

OMG...those are absolutely adorable!!! What an awesome idea! Thanks for sharing!

[Lisa in Ontario]

TOTALLY cute-alicious!!!!!!
inspiring, as always

[Alicia Sharp]

I have loved these ornaments since I first seen them sketched on your pad! Would very much so love to have them!!

[Cathy F]

Hi Donna,
These ornaments are very cute. Great idea.
Thank you for sharing the instructions with us!

[jenny]

Donna, They are so beautiful!! Thank you so much for the chance to own some. I would be so happy to have something beautiful you created hanging from my tree this year. :)

[Cindy McAllister]

I liked them so much when you first blogged about them and now I love them even more cause I have a chance to win them and hang on my tree. The advent ornaments are so cool...I want to make some.

[Emma]

They are beautiful, love them! Thanks for the inspiration x

[laurie hunt]

These Advent ornaments are such a great idea for a family. I wanted to make my friend an Advent calendar, but realized the drawers are just too small for four kids. this would be a wonderful idea for the whole family to do to work on trimming the tree the whole month of December. Thanks for the wonderful idea.

[Ida]

you don't have to do Christmas to love these - i decorate for Chanukah and just because...
these are too stinckin' creative -lol

[rebecca]

Gorgeous...and an awesome idea!

[Morgaine]

These are adorable! What a great idea and I would love to see these on My tree. :)

[Janelle Shultz]

these are amazing, love them & it's the first i've seen of it's type :) no pun intended!

[Jennifer W.]

oh, man..those are so cute and meaningful! What a fabulous gift they would make!

[Charity]

Oh my! That's one of the best inspo ideas I've seen in a long time!! Thanx for sharing it with us. It's just too bad I don't have a sewing machine- guess that means I could be top on Santa Donna's list?! ;)

[Heather]

you are so darn creative, what wonderful ornaments and treasure for your family to share!

[Sarah Barker]

love, love, love the ornaments...you are sooo inspiring:) thanks for the chance Donna!!

[Terry Gardiner]

Sweet!!!

[Eileen]

I simply LOVE this idea and only wish that I had the creative time to adapt it to my own style...I really try to make sure that my family slows down a little bit to really reflect and remember WHY we celebrate Christmas has absolutely nothing to do with the wrapped gifts under the tree, but rather with the BEST gift of all - the gift of LOVE.

[christine]

I love this idea and the fabric's are so cute. Count me in and even if I don't win I plan on making some.
Christinedrevo@rocketmail.com

[Ludid]

it's so much fun making ornaments for christmas. i just bought my first sewing machine and having fun with all the stitches. so i love the stitches you chose for the ornaments.

[Anne T.]

Really, really, really LOVE these ornaments! And they would look fabulous on our tree! Hope I'm the lucky winner.

[Kelly]

Love the idea. Thanks for sharing!

[lynn whelan]

I love these, and I posted a link on my Facebook fan page here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/LWhelanDesigns/180859859521?ref=nf

thanks Donna!
lynn

[deanne]

That's it I need to get a sewing machine! I feel so left out!! Those are the cutest things ever!

[Kim J.]

You are soooo talented!! I wish I could be as creative as you! Thanks for sharing & thanks for the opportunity to win.

[Lisa Hodge]

Wow! Love these! going to have to try this!

Lisa

[Jennifer]

ca-ute! :)

[michelle]

donna, I had this up on my laptop today in Starbucks and 5 ladies stopped to inquire!!! very very creative and inspiring. All of them oooohed and aaaahed over your designs!

[cheryl yelverton]

I so wish I had time to do things like this. These tags are terrific. Thanks so much, ms.cheryl

[cheryl yelverton]

I have posted a link on my FB page here,http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home . I am loving your circles, so cute. ms.cheryl

[Joanne]

WOW!! An "inspired" idea again :) I thought I was inspired after taking taking your class at Scrappy Chic in Michigan but I continue to be amazed with your ideas....thanks! (P.S...I was one of the girls from Canada...not the one that kept winning things..the other one!)

[Sherri]

These are adorable! I love this idea!

[Ally White]

How do you keep coming up with this stuff!!!! These are so cute. What an inspiration you are!

[erika]

cool ornaments. the stitching rocks!!!

[Ann in WI]

Whoa those are cute! I'm amazed at how well the typewriter did on the fabric. You must have a very "juice" ribbon in there.

[joannesharpe]

Just darling Donna! What a great family idea! Love the sewing stiches.

[Christine]

Those ornaments look amazing! I just love handmade. I made the twelve days of Christmas cross-stitched ornaments and yours look like so much fun to make and a lot faster too!

[Betsy]

Those are super cute! Too bad I don't know how to sew :( Winning them would be sweet!!

[mandy]

Ohhh these are just lovely!

[Christine]

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE these! I am going to facebook, blog and twitter! You inspire me! :)

[Christine]

I posted on facebook too! http://www.facebook.com/ChristineAMathews?ref=name

[Christine]

And I Twittered!

http://twitter.com/camathews

[Krista Nash]

With minutes to spare ... I would be honored to hang some of your work on my tree. If I cannot be so lucky, thanks so much for the inspiration and tutorial. You rock!

[Toni Collier]

What a lovely idea and soooo original! Kudos to you....love the fabric!

[charlie]

great idea- i am a little nervous about working with fabric, but these are so cute!

[Denise S.]

What a super cute way to do the advent. I would love them hanging from my tree this year :O)

[Patti Groetsema]

I think I'm just making it in under the wire!! Hope I win!!

[Melle Broaderick]

Oh no, it's 9:59 by my time here in FL - did I make it? I'd so love to win! :)
Thanks for everything donna!!
Melle

[Kristy]

oh my! They are so cute. I am not a sewing kind of girl, so I love these on my tree......good luck to all.

[suzyallen]

love this idea...think I may try it tomorrow. Thanks for the inspiration !!

[Jill Strasser]

So beautiful and unique. Love this idea!

[bettyann]

you are just so clever..the tags are so cute..thanks for the giveaway..

[breeoxd]

well I just got home from work, but I figured it cant hurt to try. i am totally gonna copy you with the advent calendar ornaments. its a fabulous idea!!

[Michelle]

Hi Donna,

Does your sewing machine create those stitches or do you do them by hand? And how do you cut the circles? Also by hand or you use a punch / machine?

Thanks!!!

[Kat]

Wow Donna, they're gorgeous!
Love them!

[Theresa Grdina]

These are so dang cute!! I just love 'em!

[Susan L]

These are the cutest ornaments, what a great idea!

[Fiona]

Donna
Just wanted you to know that hands down this is the best Christmas project I have seen. I now have a whole year to find myself a typewriter and to learn how to sew so I can make some next year!

[Anna]

Winner right here!!!

[Diana]

I love this idea! Your talent and creativity amaze me.

[Michelle]

I totally missed your giveaway, but wanted to let you know how much I ADORE these little circles. Definitely putting these on my list of projects to do. Love, love, love them! Thanks for always being an incredible inspiration!