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 charms1 Earthenwood Sweet heart charm1 Earthenwood Face Stone1 large oval jump ring1 pair of sterling earwires1 large sterling spring ring and jump ring for bail1 small sterling clasp and ring1 tiny sterling ball charm2 feet .019 beading wire2 sterling crimpsRed and brown seed beadsGlue on pin backFlat wooden house (or cut your own out of wood or cardboard)Lip balm tin5 heart brads Coppery acrylic paintWhite puffy paint3 feet of ribbon2inch square of ultrasuede, dark red2 feet of 20 gauge copper wireE6000 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.
Heather Powers
December 13, 2007 at 5:17 pmthis tops them all! aren’t you just the most cleverist girl around? you have some lucky folks on your gift list!
Margot Potter
December 13, 2007 at 6:21 pmOh these are all phenomenal!
Love this idea.
Rock on, sista!
Margot
*melanie* earthenwood studio
December 13, 2007 at 6:41 pmThanks so much!
JenniferJangles
December 13, 2007 at 6:45 pmA gift in the ornament! How darling. I’m going to have to make some for my teacher gifts. Great idea.
Jennifer
Alexa
December 13, 2007 at 8:48 pmwow! That is amazing. So well thought out!
LampworkDiva
December 13, 2007 at 9:18 pmMelanie this is such a FAB idea! Thanks for sharing it with us!
Linda at Make It Mine Mag
December 13, 2007 at 10:40 pmOrnament AND jewelry—What’s not for a girl to love?!! (Throw in a shoulder massage and ice cream and I’d never have to leave home!)
Rebecca
December 14, 2007 at 1:24 amMelanie,
I love this idea! I think I need some Gingerpeeps!
GirlfriendologyToo
December 14, 2007 at 10:59 amWow – anyone you give this to is dang lucky! Thanks for sharing your creative ideas – I’m inspired!
Debba
*melanie* earthenwood studio
December 14, 2007 at 7:02 pmThank you all for your kind comments~! I am so glad you enjoyed it! I sure had fun making it. I think the puffy paint dots were my favorite part. How can you not love puffy paint!?