This guest post on making geodisic paper ornaments is from Chel Micheline. This is a super fun project that I think you'll want to try! There are so many possibilities once you've got the basic technique!
Supplies:
- 2 or more sheets of paper (cardstock weight or thicker)
- Cutting tool (I used Sizzix #113472 Circle 3-D Ornament die in my Cuttlebug– but a circle punch, craft knife, scissors, etc. will work fine)
- Adhesive (I use Aleen's Fast Tack but double stick tape or even a stapler would be fine)
You can use thinner sheets of paper, but back each sheet with some heavier paper first, otherwise when it comes time to actually construct the ornament, you will get so frustrated you will throw it out the window before you finish it. Trust me, the first few of these I made, I attempted to use wrapping paper. Hours later, I gave up and stomped away from my desk in tears. I still eye my pretty origami paper from time to time with these ornaments in mind, but I all I have to do is remember "the Day of Ornament Frustration" and I am reminded WHY I have to use cardstock.
Back to *this* ornament: I used my Cuttlebug and the Sizzix Circle 3-D die, but a circle punch would work fine, as would a careful hand and some scissors.
Note: If you aren't using the Sizzix die, which embosses folding lines into your circles, you are going to have to create the folds yourself. There's two ways of doing this - either eyeball it (which generally works, but things can get wonky) or use the template I'm including with this tutorial - simply size it in Photoshop or Word so that the circle is the same size as the one you've punched out.
Fold along the triangular folding lines of each circle, so you make a little "cup" out of them. The folds should be TOWARDS the side of the paper you want to be on the outside of the ornament.
Now for basic ornament construction - the ornament will have 5 circles on the top, 10 in the middle, and 5 on the bottom. I like to organize my circles BEFORE I begin construction so I don't end up with two same - pattern circles bumped up against each other when the ornament is complete. Regardless, it REALLY helps if you organize your circles into a group of 5, a group of 10, and a group of 5.
Begin constructing the top of your ornament- simply glue the flaps together to create a little "cap." When flipped upside down, it looks like a little flower.
Repeat this for the bottom of your ornament - 5 circles together to form another cap.
For the center of your ornament, glue the 10 remaining circles together to form a chain.
When the center chain is dry dry, attach one end of the chain to the other, making a bangle shape. This will be the foundation of your ornament.
Now, place some glue on the outside edges of the top cap of the ornament, and affix it to the outside edges of the center of the ornament.
When that is dry, repeat with the bottom cap.
You'll end up with a completed ornament. You can do a lot of things with this guy: spritz it with glimmer mist, ink the edges with gold ink, or use a gold leafing pen or some Stickles. When it's all done there are two ways to make a hanger: (1) thread a ribbon through the entire thing top-to-bottom or (2) punch a hole through one of the flaps and thread a ribbon through it.
Here's one I made a few months ago, using hand-painted/stamped paper and with the edges stamped in gold ink:
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