Mod Podge Photo Ornaments

I know it's hard to believe, but Christmas is right around the corner.

While it's not time to decorate, we can do a little early prep and crafting beforehand to enjoy the holiday.

That's where 31 Days of Hand-made Christmas ornaments come into play. For the month of October, we've been sharing one new ornament each day! You can find the complete list below.

There is so much creativity shared by each and every blogger this month. Many thanks to the fabulous ladies from An Extraordinary Day, Cupcakes and Crinoline, Yesterday on Tuesday and Silly Pearl for hosting the fun event.

I'm a sucker for a photo ornament. My kids are in college and high school. We hang photo ornaments each year. I love pulling those out and reminiscing.

Don't tell anyone, but I still have my kids have their photo taken with Santa each year! It is a treasure. I even have a gallery wall that I created with the photos that you can see HERE. (I really need to take new ones….that post is from my very early years blogging and a poor camera!)

You will need the following items:

• Scrapbook paper
• Mod Podge
• Small paint brush
• Paper Mache ornaments
• Scissors
• Pencil
• Glitter
• Photo copy of black and white photo 

These photos were taken last weekend when we went to Skytop Orchard in Hendersonville, NC to go apple picking. It was such a wonderful day. I thought they'd be great for this project.

I uploaded my photo into an editing program like Picmonkey and turned it from color to black and white. I wanted the contrast against the colored scrapbook paper.

Then simply print the photo on regular copy paper. You may have to play around with the size of your chosen ornament. I went with 4×6. Do not print on card stock or photo paper. Mod Podge works best with thinner paper.

This one is still wet from the Mod Podge. This is what you will do:

• Use the ornament to trace onto the backside of the scrapbook paper. Cut it out. That's the polka dot paper.
• Find a glass or some smaller object to trace the photo with that will give you a nice outer edge of the polka dot.
• Using a small artist brush, apply Mod Podge to the top of the paper mache ornament.  Then apply a layer of Mod Podge to the backside of the polka dot paper. Place the paper on top of the ornament. You've got time to position it. Use the side of a credit card or scraper to smooth out any bubbles. I didn't have any with the paper being smaller.
• I let that set up a few minutes.
• Do the same with the photo copy circle. Make sure you put a layer of Mod Podge on the top of the polka dot paper.
• Apply a final coat of Mod Podge to the top of both layers like in the photo above. Basically follow the instructions on the Mod Podge label.
• Let this dry completely.
• I like to do all of this on waxed paper. It doesn't stick to it.

Once your ornament is completely dry, paint the sides of the ornament with Mod Podge. I slightly bushed the top and bottom of the ornament.

Then lightly roll the ornament on its sides in a plate with glitter until the entire edge is covered. This way you have a tiny amount of glitter along the top and bottom.

Hang the ornament somewhere to dry completely. You could use a clothes pin to attach it to a wire coat hanger. I hung mine from the kitchen chandelier.

You are not done! The secret to not having glitter falling off the ornaments constantly is to apply a top coat of Mod Podge to the glittered edge once the initial coat is dry. Don't be afraid. It will go on white, but will dry clear like in the photo above. The glitter will stay in place!

Yes, Bentley went with us to pick apples and had a grand time!

Such sweet memories of that fall day.

Woods was on fall break from college so it was an extra special weekend.

I love this little small pad of winter scrapbook paper. It's great for little projects. You could just as easily buy the 12×12 sheets and make all of your ornaments with the same background paper.

Here is the backside of the ornament. You could scrapbook the back or leave like this to write the date or a memory about the photo.

I thought I'd let the kids do this. Let it come from their own thoughts and handwriting. I may go back and add a bow to the top, but for now I like them simpler.

Be sure to PIN the above image for later!

Follow the Handmade Christmas Ornaments Pinterest page, where the blog hop ornaments, as well as past ornaments we’ve created, will be pinned.

Here are all 31 Bloggers in order of their appearance over the 31 Days.

Yesterday on Tuesday
The Silly Pearl  
Cupcakes and Crinoline 
Celebrating Everyday Life
AnExtraordinaryDay
All Things Heart and Home
Petticoat Junktion
Sew a Fine Seam
Shabby Art Boutique
Morena’s Corner
From My Front Porch To Yours
Pet Scribbles
Sweet Pea
Dukes and Duchesses
Simply Kelly Designs
Town and Country Living
One Artsy Mama
The Crafting Nook
Our Southern Home
StoneGable
Love of Home
Lovely Etc.
Remodelando la Casa
504 Main
Knick of Time
Refresh Restyle
The Cottage Market
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Heathered Nest
Sum of their Stories

I’d love for you to follow along on social media!

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