This article is reprinted with permission from Craft Central Station, located at CraftCentralStation.com.

Victorian Christmas Ball Ornaments

First take a Styrofoam ball and make a hole through the center, beingcareful not to break it; the hole should be no bigger than the size of adime or nickel. Now, using a 3-inch doll needle, thread some 1/4-inch satin ribbon and tack the end of the ribbon to the inside of the Styrofoam ball with a small sewing pin, then proceed to sew the ribbon through the hole, coming out the other end of the ball, continue like this until the ball is completely covered (you can alternate using different colored ribbons if you desire). When the ball is completely covered, tack the end of the ribbon to the center of the ball as before. Now take an 8-inch piece of your ribbon, or gold cord, and thread the needle so that both ends are even. Bring this loop through the ball leaving enough at the other end to knot and secure.

Now using fancy lace of a different color, put a bead then a sequin on a sewing pin, tack the fancy ribbon around the circumference of the ball, leaving about 1/8 inch between pins. Do the same thing, sewing through the center of the ball as before but this time leaving spaces so the other ribbon shows through. As you sew, tack this ribbon with beads and sequins as well. For an added touch you can add dried flowers, like baby's breath, to the top of the ball, inserting the stems in the hole and securing with a bit of craft glue. You can also add a beaded tassel at the end using pearl seed and teardrop beads.

Christmas Bear Ornament

Materials:
For each bear, you'll need:

* One gold Christmas ball ornament
* Four 1/2" pompoms
* Three 1/4" pompoms
* One 2" pompom
* One pair googly eyes
* Scrap of red felt
* Hot glue gun and glue sticks


Instructions:

1. Glue the two-inch pompom on top of the Christmas ornament, just infront of the hanger. This will form the head.

2. Glue two 1/4" pompoms to the top of the head to form ears. Glue one1/4" pompom to the center of the face to form a nose.

3. Glue the two eyes in place above the nose.

4. Cut a smile out of the scrap of red felt and glue to the face
underneath the nose.

5. Glue the four 1/2" pompoms to the ornament to form four legs.

6. You can use 3-dimensional paint to write a child's name on the bear's tummy.