On the 8.5 th day of Christmas: Sugar Sweet Shelter Ornament

In celebration of Ornament Thursday, Art Bead Scene has TWO projects to present to you today! Please enjoy:

Sugar Sweet Shelter Ornament

I have always loved gifts within a gift and things that function on several levels. This ornament is not only a pretty festive tree ornament, but it also houses a whole collection of art bead jewelry that can be taken off and worn! A pair of Gingerpeeps earrings, a Sweetheart charm/zipper pull, a beaded necklace, and a Spiral face brooch all find their home within this little gingerbread house! Here is a super quick step by step explanation of what I did to make this.

Paint the house with copper paint, front and back, and let dry. String the jump ring onto a piece of ribbon and wrap around the house through the door, so the jump ring hangs in the door opening. Glue the ribbon down. Glue another ribbon piece onto the house across the top. Decorate using puffy paint and let dry.

Drill holes into the house and embellish with the brads. Drill two holes at the top of the house for the wire hanger. Twist the copper wire pieces together and attach to the holes in top. Attach ribbon for hanging. Drill holes in the house for the earrings to dangle from.

Glue the bottom of the lip balm tin to the center of the cross on the house. Glue the pin back to the inside lid of the tin. Let dry. When dry, cut a round piece of ultrasuede to fit inside the top rim of the tin. Cut a hole in the center of the ultrasuede. Glue down to the tin top. Glue the face stone on top of the ultrasuede hole. Let dry.

Attach earwires to gingerpeeps. String earwires onto the house, using the drilled holes. Attach spring ring, ball charm, and sweet heart charm, with the small jump ring. Clasp charm to center jump ring in the house door. String alternating red and brown beads into a simple beaded necklace and use crimps to attach the clasp. Coil necklace into the tin. Place the tin lid/brooch onto the tin.

Supplies Needed:

1 pair of Earthenwood gingerpeeps charms

1 Earthenwood Sweet heart charm

1 Earthenwood Face Stone

1 large oval jump ring

1 pair of sterling earwires

1 large sterling spring ring and jump ring for bail

1 small sterling clasp and ring

1 tiny sterling ball charm

2 feet .019 beading wire

2 sterling crimps

Red and brown seed beads

Glue on pin back

Flat wooden house (or cut your own out of wood or cardboard)

Lip balm tin

5 heart brads

Coppery acrylic paint

White puffy paint

3 feet of ribbon

2inch square of ultrasuede, dark red

2 feet of 20 gauge copper wire

E6000 glue

Round nose pliers, chain nose pliers and wire cutters

Dremel tool with drill bit and safety glasses

Porcelain art beads by Earthenwood Studio, some of which are available in the Earthenwood Etsy shop. Lipbalm container, Majestic Mountain Sage. Other supplies are readily available from various online bead suppliers. If you have any questions about specific supplies, please leave a comment and I would be happy to share!

*Please visit the links on the Ornament Thursday post to view a whole slew of ornamental craftiness.

Melanie Brooks Lukacs is the ceramic beadmaker of Earthenwood Studio, who blogs from her Metro Detroit, Michigan home.