Tis the season for parties.
Neighborhood parties, office parties, white elephant parties, cookie parties, ugly Christmas Sweater parties, and one of my personal favorites, ornament parties. I love exchanging cute little ornaments to add to the cute little ornaments already on the tree.
And it’s so fun to come home with something cool and unique – and fun to be the person who brought the cool and unique.
(Which in my case is mighty rare I must say. ;)
When I found this darling Highland Hot Air Ornament at, you guessed it, Anthropologie, I fell in love. I thought it would be perfect to share at an ornament party – or brighten up your own tree!
It’s got some fun detail in a tiny package -it’s about 5″ from top to bottom not including the hanging cord.
Here’s my inspiration – they have a few different styles on the site if you want to check them out for more ideas.
Here’s what you’ll need to make one too!
• Small Scraps of Wool or other fabric – two different prints for the balloon
• Small Scraps of Fabric for the basket
• Buttons and beads for decorations
• Stuffing
• Pompom
• Jingle Bells
• Bendable Wire (about 12″ total)
• Cording or Yarn for Balloon Strings and hanger
• 1 Bead for Hanger
• Glue
• Thread
Begin by making a pattern for your balloon shape. The pattern will be similar to an oval, but the top and bottom will come to a point, instead of rounded. Mine is only 4″ from point to point, which made for a ball that is 2 1/4″ tall.
The wider the middle, the wider your ball will be.
Cut out three of this shape from each fabric.
Alternating the prints, sew three of the panels – right sides together, along the curved sides. So you should have one set of three that alternates red, gray, red; and one set that alternates gray, red, gray.
Open up the panels and place them right sides together. Sew around the circle, leaving an opening in the center of one side for turning.
Turn your ball right side out and stuff. Sew the opening closed.
For the basket, cute 4 pieces 2″ x 1 1/2″.
Sew these for pieces together, along the long edges, to make a square.
Cut a 1 1/2″ square of the same fabric. Sew it to the bottom of the fabric square, to make a box. Turn the top edge of the basket in.
Form your wire basket holder pieces. Cut your wire into 3″ pieces and curl one end in with small pliers.
Cut a little off of the top of a pom pom, so it has a flat side. Glue that to the bottom of the ball.
Cut a slit in the other side of the pom pom. Add glue into the slit and place the uncurled ends of the wire into the glue. Angle them so that they point out in a square shape.
Sew decorative beads and buttons down the seams of the ball. I alternated light colored beads with two buttons on each seam. I made sure to have a button on the lower third of the ball, so that later I could attach the cording from the button to the basket.
Sew beads to the top of your basket. I used a “V” pattern at the top, and a row of black beads below that. Any pattern would look great though. You just want a little bling on there.
Add a little stuffing in the bottom of your basket and add some jingle bells on top of that. Glue them in so you don’t end up hunting for them next Christmas.
Sew the four wire basket holders to each corner of the basket.
Tie thin cording from the four of the buttons to the basket holders. There will be one button on either side of the balloon that isn’t used.
Add a drop of super glue to the cording where it’s tied to hold it in place.
Add a cording tie to the top, with a bead if you want some sparkle up there too.
Hang up your ornament and admire your knockoff!!
Do you love it??
I bet you still have time to make one! It would be perfect to sit down with and work on while you’re watching White Christmas and drinking cocoa. And eating cookies. Can’t forget the cookies. ;)
Wow! It looks fantastic! It has so many little details…you rock for figuring it all out!
Are you kidding me? How on Earth do you have time to do all of your Christmas crafting. Host a whole day of giveaways. Then host another one just bc it’s the cool thing to do. And then…11 days before Christmas decide to copy an Anthro ornament. You my friend must have it all figured out. I on the other hand am so behind it’s not even funny. *By the way…I love your newest creation!* :)
This is so sweet! ^^ I love how it turned out!
that balloon is amazing!!!
No way! You always do the best knock-offs with your own unique spin!!
it’s so wonderful!!!thanks for your creativity ;)
Wow you are good! You are amazing and so are your creations. I don’t know how you do it. I will add this to my never ending list of things I want to make someday. I think I will give up on Christmas this year and just start on next years plans.
SO Cute, love your talent and seeing what you come up with next..
hugs
Wow!! That is completely and totally FANTASTIC!!! :)
This is just the cutest thing, Bev! I love the fabrics you used. At that last photo is just stunning!!
That is absolutely adorable! I love it! I am so impressed with your skills!
Wow, that is gorgeous. There’s so much tiny detail- it gets lovelier the longer you look at it. Awesome job.
How did I not guess right off the bat that this was your project in the link party? Great as usual, Bev, and VERY swipable!
I do LOVE it!!
wow, so detailed and adorable. nice work!!
I have a giveaway going on right now that you might be interested in!
This is way cute!
I love hot air balloons.
Great tutorial,thanks for sharing!
Super cute! I love the last photo of it.
Thanks for sharing this with the rest of us, it is such an original ornament with so many possibilities.
Hi! I am a new follower from today’s blog hop. I am looking forward to reading more of your blog. Come check out my new blog hop Thrifty Thursdays.
Johnnie
This is absolutely gorgeous! All the little details you put in make it so pretty!
BEV-ER-LY! You never cease to amaze me! Plus, I can’t believe you’re the one NOT bringing an amazing gift to an exchange. What a brilliant ornament. Hugs! Kim
soooooooo cute! love it!
Ohmigosh your’s is tons better than your inspiration, I love all the details you put into it.
I love your new creation. It’s so fun!!! I love the picture where it seems like it’s floating away.
Thanks for sharing, Katharine
Cute! You are amazing! Who doesn’t love a hot air balloon? They’re so much fun.
Absolutely love it! I might have to give this a try.
I LOVE this!! I saw this when you guest posted somewhere else. I totally want to make one-I saw it at Anthro and thought, “how could I make this?” Now I know-THANKS!!
So cute! I love hot air balloons and yours is very unique.
Merry Christmas!
julie
What a fun idea! Thanks for linking up to Thrilling Thursday @ Paisley Passions :) Hope you stop by again soon.
Wow Bev, you way outdid the inspiration! You never cease to amaze!!!
Wow Beverly this is so great! I actually think yours is better then the original. All your projects are amazing! I don’t comment enough but I wanted you to know that I think you are awesome! :-)
My boys would love this! Great tutorial too. I would love it if you would link this up tomorrow at my new linky party :)
That is too cute!
Okay, Beverly, I really, really try not to feature you too often – but I’m doing it again today! I really appreciate you linking up with lil ol me! :0) Hugs, Kim
This is so sweet.
Thanks for this! I always try to have “gift” ready for surprise visitors. I think this would be perfect for that role!
Tosi suloisia koristeita. Käy muutenkin kun Jouluna. Hellyttäviä ja saa ajan kulumaan hyvin siivouksien välissä.
Istuu juo kahvia ja ompelee siinä samalla. Nyt jo Joulun odotusta teille kaikille.
So so cute!!!!!
Thanks.
Hugs
I love this! I have a friend who collects anything hotair balloons and this is perfect!! Thank you for such detailed instructions because I’m one that definitely needs that….. God Bless and thanks again!
Thanks Rhonda! I am so glad you like it – I had a great time putting it together! I’d love to see a photo when you get your version made! :)
Simply brilliant! Thanks for sharing!!
This is so cute!!!
it’s so lovely!