I’ve never liked Saturdays.
They carry a weight I can’t shake — the kind that settles into your chest and makes it hard to breathe. Both my beloved Grandfather and my Dad passed away on different Saturdays. Since then, the day feels… off. Heavy. Not good. And I am scared before every Saturday and not expecting anything good.
So today is Saturday and I find myself needing something to hold onto.
Crafting is the only form of meditation that works for me. It slows my heart. It lets my hands take over when my mind and heart won’t quiet down. Sometimes, I even cut all the tiny elements by hand — even when I don’t need to — because the rhythm of the blade through paper feels like breathing. If you ask my hones opinion – this is the only meditation that works for me.
From Photos to Paper Windows
Lately, I’ve been returning to my landscape miniatures — small drawings I made with acrylic paint, based on my own travel photos. I call myself a “front-seat photographer.” My phone is full of landscapes snatched from moving cars: blurry trees, unexpected colours, strange light hitting empty fields. And all the beauty of the Nature around.
You can easily tell which ones are from the highway — they’re a little chaotic, with road signs smack in the middle.
But they keep the colours and the feeling, so the future paintings are sleeping inside.
So I decided to make them into ornaments…
I photographed the paintings and then shaped them into foldable ornaments. They’re simple but detailed — each one is like a tiny window into a place I’ve been, a moment I remember, or a feeling I carried for a while. I am sure my friends will like them, because (if something didn’t change my mind), they will be my Christmas gifts this year. To me they are not just decorations. They are emotions and love folded in paper.
You can follow these easy steps:
I am sure anyone could assemble them — all you need is a little time, white copy paper about 250-300 grams, a printer, glue, scissors and a cotton thread. Transparent lacquer will be good, but not compulsory.
When ready, you can hang them on your Christmas tree, on a thread in the window, or tuck one into a letter for someone far away.
Cut the main lace shape. You can use your Sizzix oval or round cutting dies or create Cricut files. If you don’t have any from above, you can use paper dollies, but will have to glue them on at least 5 layers to create two strong lace elements.
Then glue the cotton thread in between.
I also added some rustic look, but this is not necessary. Works for some art, doesn’t for other.
Cut out 4 landscape shapes. You can actually use any other drawing you have and I believe the ornaments with your children’s drawing will be amazingly cute and heartwarming.
If you are using landscapes, I suggest to lacquer them to give the prints more real-painting look. I didn’t have any transparent lacquer, so I used the Gum Arabica solution for watercolours. Two or even three layers give the paper even more thickness and look very good
Give them time to dry and glue them two by two.
(If you like the rustic style, add again some brown-ish shades.)
Then I glued them on both sides of the central lace element…
And the ornaments was ready!
Easy and simple. With some glue and brown in on my fingers… But most important – they saved the first part of my Saturday until 4pm. I even didn’t realise how the hours melted…
Hope you like this idea and will create beautiful Home decorations, using your own or your family member’s art!
If you like my ornaments – these days I will add the PrintThenCut files in my Etsy shop with detailed assembly instructions:
Warm hugs from me!
