As Seen in Newsweek, Woman's Day, Woman's World, Quick & Simple, the Family Life Network, NY Times and Associated Press

BetterBudgeting.com has been featured in publications all around the world... where have you seen us?

Where Did You
Learn About Us?
Contact Editor

Living a Better Life - The Free Money Saving Tips Ezine

Enter Your E-mail Address to Receive a FREE Subscription and BONUS GIFT... "Dealing with Debt"

Dedicated to Helping Families Live a Better Life,
Not by Spending More Money, but Less!  Since 2001

  Join Us Today!!!

Home | Register for Budgeting Class | Shop & Save | Free Subscription

, 2008 

Learn How to Save Money with Thousands of FREE Tips on Everything from Budgeting, Getting Out of Debt, Frugal Family Fun, Saving Money on Groceries and Work-at-Home Business Guides

Welcome to BetterBudgeting!
Michelle Jones, Founder and Editor of BetterBudgeting.com
Meet the Editor
Dinner Blog

Home
Translate
Article Index
Monthly Tip Rewards Contest
Search this Site


Budget Help
Budget Help:
Budgeting Articles
Budgeting Class
Budget Calculators
Budget Planners
Budget Software
Free Budgeting Forms


Resources to Help You Save Money
Resources to Help You Save Money:
Books
Credit Reports
Credit Scores
Dealing with Debt
Dental Plans
Entertainment Coupon Book
Free Insurance Quotes
Find a Job
Frugal Cookbook
Grocery Coupons
Grocery Savings
Lower My Bills
Menu Planners
Paid Surveys
Shop & Save
Unclaimed Cash
U.S. Tax Help
Work-at-Home Business Guides


More Money Saving Topics!
More Money Saving Topics:
Bargain Shopping
Decorating on a Budget
Frugal Household Tips
Frugal Living
Frugal Parenting
Frugal Recipes
Frugal Travel Tips
Gas Saving Tips
Getting Organized
Holidays - Frugal Crafts & Homemade Gifts
Thrifty Money Saving Tips

TOP "HOW TO" EBOOKS:

How to Cook Great Meals for Your Family on a Budget

How to Own Your Own Paycheck Again

How to Shop Smart with Our Very Own Black Belt Shopper

How to Start a Home Business

How to Use Coupons Wisely and Finally Get Organized So You CAN Use Them

 

 

Homemade Christmas Ornaments

Courtesy of BetterBudgeting.com

"Midnight Star"

Submitted by Carole Ohl

Design © 2007 Carole Ohl

You will need:

·       flat marbles (found in floral departments)

·       felt or veloux material (I used a veloux bead mat)

·       assorted matching beads

·       beading needle

·       6 lb. Fireline fishing line (regular thread may break with glass beads)

·       scissors  

Star Base: Your star base is made of material (a bead mat or felt)  that is glued between two flat marbles. Take a square piece of veloux or felt and glue (with E6000) the flat marbles on, leaving about one inch between each marble. Allow to dry. Cut the marbles out, leaving about an eighth of an inch of material around the marble. Glue a marble onto the other side and let dry.

Your beads will be sewn to the excess material that is sandwiched between the marbles. You will be sewing a series of beaded loops.

Thread your needle. Use a single thread. Make a large knot in the end of your thread.

There are many combinations of beads you can use, depending on the beads you have. For instructions, we will use a basic string of size 11 round seed beads (but you can use any size bead.).

1)  Start your first stitch with unbeaded thread. Put your needle in the material back and poke through to the front, staying as close to the marble base as possible. Secure your thread by sewing in and out a couple times near the marble base. When the thread is secure, bring your thread out through the front to begin beading.

2)  With your thread coming out of the front, pick up six seed beads. Bring your needle and thread around the top of the material and push the needle into the back and out through the front in the position just next to where your beads begin on the front. Keep your stitches as close to the marble as possible. Repeat this technique until you have beaded loops all around your marble.

3)  To make a loop for hanging, pick up twenty (or more for a larger loop) seed beads. Make this loop the same way as in step 2. Go back through the beads in the loop another time to make it secure.

4)  When you have finished attaching all your beads, push your needle all the way through the sandwiched material a couple times to hide and secure your thread. Cut off excess thread.

Below are just a few ideas to play with. You can mix and match these on the same ornament for beautiful effects!

1.  Two seed beads (size 11 or 8), one drop and two seed beads.

2.   One size 8 hex, one size 11 round, one bugle, one seed bead. Go back down through the bugle and add one size 11 and one 8 hex.      

3.   Two seed beads, one cube bead, two (or three!) size 11’s. Go back down through the seed bead and cube, and add two seed beads.

4.    One seed bead, three drops and one seed bead.

For illustrated instructions, Carole has provided a .pdf document that you can view and print.

 

Homemade Christmas Ornaments Index

 

 

Special Features

FREE 30-DAY TRIAL:  
Mvelopes Personal Budget System

GROCERIES:
Print Free Grocery Coupons at Our Grocery Site  

DINNER BLOG:
Frugal Family Recipes - What's for Dinner Tonight?

MONTHLY TIP CONTEST:
Thrifty Money Saving Tips


Order Our Frugal Cookbook

Frugal Family Recipes by Michelle Jones

Frugal Family Recipes... From
Our Home to
Yours!

FEATURED FRUGAL RECIPES OF THE MONTH
Cheap and Inexpensive Recipes for the Frugal Cook on a Budget!
Michelle's Meals on a Budget
Deviled Eggs

Readers' Recipes
Easy French Bread
Hot Dogs and Baked Bean Casserole
Crock Pot London Broil

More Recipes...
Share a Recipe...
Order Cookbook...

EDITOR'S BOOK PICK OF THE MONTH
Extraordinary Uses for Ordinary Things - Order Today at Amazon!
Extraordinary Uses for Ordinary Things: 2,317 Ways to Save Money and Time...

More Book Picks...


Free Budget Help and Tips to Save Money

How Financially Fit are You?

Take this Financial Fitness Quiz to find out!

Help a Friend Today, Tell Them About Us!
Send an E-mail
Link to Us
Free Brochures

Support Our Favorite Charities

American Bible Society

American Cancer Society

American Red Cross Disaster Relief

More Charities and Your Local Food Banks...

 

RETURN TO HOME PAGE

Thank you for visiting with us today!  
Don't forget to sign up for your FREE SUBSCRIPTION & BONUS GIFT!

Home | About Us | Contact Us | Article Index | Free Article Reprints | Media | Advertising | Affiliates
Disclaimer | Privacy | Reader Feedback | Subscribe | Unsubscribe-Change Address

Charities & Food Banks

Copyright © 2001-2008 by BetterBudgeting.com
a subsidiary of Blue Ridge Publishing, Inc.  All rights reserved.