Budget Gifts Ideas Winner!

Posted on | December 23, 2008 | 5 Comments

Stephanie from Even Cleveland is the winner of the budget gifts ideas sweepstakes! I absolutely fell in love with her diy snowflake ornaments. A sweet and cost-effective gift for the holidays. Stephanie was kind enough to share the instructions with all us. I can’t wait to try out this fun craft.

p.s. my boyfriend said, “I think they’re gorgeous”….he not a gorgeous saying kind of guy. I got him his own glue to help me make some.

This is how you make them:

1. Select your macaroni – I used large and small wagon wheels, small shells, and fiori (flower shaped pasta).

2. Come up with your designs – this part is the most fun. I like to spill a few macaronis out and move them around, until I find the most snowflake-like arrangements. This year, I came up with ten different styles – the possibilities are only limited by your imagination (and the strength of your glue!)

3. Using a good strong craft glue (Like Aleen’s or Smart) and a small paint brush, apply glue generously to the edges of the pasta and attach the pieces to make your design. Once they are put together, I like to lay them out on wax paper to dry. Let glue dry completely, making sure to rotate your snowflakes periodically. This prevents them from sticking fast to your wax paper.

4. Using a large cardboard box, lay out a single layer of the snowflakes. Make sure that they are not touching each other. Spray lightly with glossy, fast-drying white spray-paint. Let dry. Re-apply in light layers, letting snowflakes dry in between, until they are completely coated. I spray the backs as well. As they are drying, give the box a few gentle shakes to keep them from drying to the bottom of the box. Make sure to keep the coats of paint light, or the macaroni will soften and start to lose it’s shape.

5. Once they are painted and dried, it’s time to apply the glitter. I thin my craft glue with a few drops of water, then use a sponge brush to lightly coat each snowflake with glue. Sprinkle generously with glitter, and let dry completely, Re-apply glitter as needed to cover any empty spots. I used large flake clear crystal glitter on these, but any glitter would look lovely – it’s craft magic.

7. Attach a looped length of ribbon or monofilament, and ta da! Macaroni snowflake ornaments!

I made mine white, but I think colorful ones might be fun, too. They make great garlands as well. I also tie them on the necks of wine bottles as little presents.

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