Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Barnyard Recycled Lid Ornament ~ Homespun Christmas

It's not too early to think about how to have a homemade Christmas Do you use food jars with metal lids?  If you do, and you are placing the glass and plastic jars into the recycling bin, but throwing the metal lid into the trash, this craft is for you.






Items Needed:
~metal food jar lids, washed and dried
~a printed photo, extra photograph or cut out photo from a magazine, calendar or other source
~pencil or pen to trace
~scissors
~decoupage medium
~flat edged paint brush about 1/2 inch wide
~twine, for edging, and a second piece for the hanger
~white tacky glue
~small scraps of raffia (for our "straw")

Step 1:  Trace around your metal lid, onto the portion of the picture you wish to use.  You can use any photo and embellish it with small buttons, beads, small game pieces, glitter, or anything that coordinates with your photo you are using.

Trace another photograph or picture for the backside of the lid.  For this ornament, we printed a picture of the side of a old barn.

Step 2:  Take your paintbrush and paint a thin coat of  decoupage onto the inside of the lid, and gently press down the cut photograph or picture.  NOTE:  You may need to trim the edges before you place it inside, so be sure to check before you paint the decoupage into the lid.  Gently paint a thin coat of decoupage over the top of the photo.  Printed pictures from your computer, will smear if you do not allow the printer ink to dry completely.  Allow to dry.


Step 3:  Cut the scraps of raffia into small pieces about 1 1/2 inches long. With small dabs of white tacky glue, gently press the cut pieces of raffia into lid, under the photo of the chickens/rooster.  Again, you do not have to use barnyard photos, you can use a photo of a child, or pet, or whatever you prefer and embellish it with recycled pieces or scraps.  Allow to dry.

Step 4:  Turn the lid over and apply a thin coat of decoupage on the backside of the lid, gently press down your second photograph, and apply a second coat over the top of it.  Allow to dry

Note:  Steps 5 may also be completed before Step 4 is.

Step 5:  Place white tacky glue around the edge of the lid, and wrap the lid with twine.  Before the glue dries, gently pull up a piece on top of the lid, slide a second cut piece through and tie for a hanger.  You can do this as you wrap the lid as well.  It may get messy with the glue, but the hanger works better from this portion, instead of gluing it to the back.  You could also drill a hole before you start, and add a hanger that way as well.  



Front of Ornament
Back of Ornament

These ornaments are so fun to make.  Save your lids all year long, and put them aside for days you have time to start creating your homespun Christmas.

~More Options~

*Eliminate the hanger and glue a magnet to the backside (eliminating decoupage on the backside as well) and create a cute and decorative magnet.  Use on any magnetic surface for decor or use.  Use on magnetic boards in barns, garages, use in bathrooms, on magnetic doors, in the kitchen, in bedrooms, or on magnetic surfaces in porches, in campers, and in living room spaces.  Don't forget the front porch as well.

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