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These ornaments are simple, straightforward, and versatile, so even the faint-of-heart DIYer can accomplish this rustic tree charm without breaking a sweat.
Here is what you will need for two different kinds of ornaments:
- cotton bolls
- cotton burrs
- ribbon of any color you choose or jute
- locked and loaded hot glue gun
- glitter (totally optional, but I just love the stuff)
- paint brush (for glitter application)
- hairspray (any kind works just fine)
My personal choice for the cotton boll ornament was white glitter to emulate the look of fresh fallen snow, but you can opt to omit it for a more natural look. I'm also using jute, but ribbon would work just as well.
Start by snipping the stem from the cotton boll. Try to make the cut as flush to the boll as possible.
Next, use the hot glue gun to attach both ends of the jute to the back of the boll to make a loop.
You could stop here and hang it up as-is once the glue has dried, but adding some sparkle to the cotton is just as easy.
Lightly spray the front of the boll with hairspray and sprinkle glitter over the cotton. The hairspray will keep it in place. Let it dry completely before hanging it up!
The cotton burr ornament is done in very
much the same way.
Start with a cotton burr with no stem attached. I used red ribbon to create the loop for this one. Cut the ribbon about a foot in length and loop it so that the ends dangle from the bottom of the burr. You should have enough for a loop that is 2-3" in length and two streamers at the bottom that are about 3" in length each. If you want more to flutter on your tree, just cut the ribbon a bit longer. Attach the ribbon to the back of the burr with hot glue. Make sure that the ribbon is securely attached and wait for the glue to dry completely before turning it over to decorate. You could just hang it up at this point, but I crave sparkle.
There are a few different ways you could accomplish this next step. If you are lucky enough to have some sort of glitter glue, you could use that instead, but I did not. Working over a small paper plate to catch excess glitter, I applied a line of hot glue starting at the center of the burr and worked out along the edge to a point.
The next part of this is important, if you want the glitter to stick.
Quickly, while the glue is still sticky, dip your brush in glitter and lightly slip the sparkle-laden brush over the applied hot glue. You will probably need to make a few passes to cover the glue. Repeat this step until each ridge is appropriately festive.
To create a unified theme, I made ten of each of these and let my son and husband go crazy with the ornaments on the tree. I find that giving them options that will look good no matter how they are arranged makes for a happier tree trimming. The boys feel accomplished and proud of their work, and I get to enjoy my glass of wine from the living room loveseat.
I felt so good after finishing these ornaments that I decided to improvise a cotton stick and burr tree star, as well.
The raw cotton contrasts nicely with the classic glass balls and adds just the hand-crafted, sincere touch a Christmas tree deserves.
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| Close-up of cotton burr ornament with gold glitter and red ribbon. |
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| Close-up of cotton boll ornament with white "snow" glitter and jute hanging loop. |
Full descriptions and pricing information for all Floral Cotton products can be found on: www.floralcotton.com
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