We’re completely in love with this cute horse ornament! The best part about this ornament is that it looks more complicated to make than it actually is! You don’t need any sewing skills to make it, and you don’t have to follow along with the tutorial exactly to make one. Just use the supplies you have on hand! Keep reading for the tutorial!

Supplies:

1) 8″x10″ piece of felt or any other kind of stiff cloth

2) 8 mm black sequins

3) 6/0 black glass beads

4) 10 inches gold cord

5) 2 star fasteners or star sequins

6) 16″-18″ of 1/8″ leather cord or ribbon

7) 6″ white fringe trim (you can also use yarn in the color of your choice, just brush it with a brush to fluff up the yarn to make it look more like the horse’s mane)

8) Horse pattern (open up the image and right-click to save it to your computer)

9) Embroidery needle, black thread, and white embroidery floss (if you decide to stitch instead of glue your horse)

10) Glue gun and glue sticks (if you decide not to stitch your horse)

11) Scissors

Horse Pattern:

Step #1:

Print out the pattern. Cut out 2 of the head and 2 of the ear.

Step #2:

Place the 2 head pieces on top of each other. Glue a sequin on each side for the eyes. Glue or stitch an ear on each side of the head.

Step #3:

Place the fringe or yarn between the two head pieces for the horse’s mane. Trim the fringe if you feel it’s too long. Cut out a piece of the gold cord and place it between the 2 head pieces just behind the ear.

Step #4:

Glue or stitch the head pieces. Leave the bottom open so that the candy cane can fit inside. Cut 1 piece of leather or ribbon that’s 5 1/2″ long, and 1 piece that’s 9 1/2″ long. Begin on one side of the nose and glue the horse’s reign across the nose. Stop gluing at the point where the neck ends. Loop the reign around the head and glue the same portion to the other side of the nose. The ends should meet at the top of the nose. Step #5:

Begin about 1″ from the top of the nose and glue the harness to the head. Loop it around the head just behind the ears and meet at the same point on the other side. Trim if you need to. Glue a star bead at the point where the 2 pieces meet. Insert the candy cane. Done!

Photos and idea: Serendipity Refined.

These hot chocolate mug ornaments are just too cute! You won’t believe how easy they are to make, either! You can make them practically for free, since they’re made of paper towel tubes and paper! Make a bunch of them so you can have your very own set that you can reuse year after year!

Supplies:

1) Paper towel tubes

2) White paper (you need both card stock and regular printer paper)

3) Brown paper (the color of hot chocolate)

4) Cardboard (soft cardboard works best, like the one from cereal boxes)

5) Coffee filters

6) Red and white striped drinking straw

7) Mod Podge

8) Glue

9) A little bit of water in a cup

10) String or embroidery floss so you can hang up your ornament

11) Craft knife

12) Needle tool

Step #1:

Begin by cutting your paper towel tube into 5 equal parts.

Step #2:

Cut circles from cardboard. Each mug needs 2 circles. One will fit on the tube, the other will be slightly smaller. The smaller one will fit inside the tube.

Step #3:

Glue the large circle to the bottom of the tube.

Step #4:

The smaller circle will be glued onto a piece of brown paper. The brown paper will be larger on all sides than the cardboard circle. While the tubes are drying, cut the white card stock. You need a band that is long enough to wrap completely around the tube. The band will also need to be wider than the height of the mug. What you also need is a white card stock circle the same size as the larger circle glued to the bottom of the tube. Use Mod Podge to cover the outside with the band of white paper. Allow the paper to overhang on the top and bottom edges.

Step #5:

Cut a fringe around the paper on the top and bottom. This will make it easier to wrap around the tube.

Step #6:

Wrap the paper onto the bottom of the tube and over the top of it. Use Mod Podge to glue the paper down.

Step #7:

When the glue is dry, glue the circle onto the bottom and cover the wrapped paper ends.

Step #8:

Go back to the small circle that’s glued onto the brown paper. Cut generously around the disc and make a fringe the same way you did above.

Step #9:

When the disc and the tube are dry, put glue around the edge of the disk and put it into the top of the mug. Don’t worry if the hot chocolate disk isn’t even in the mug.

Step #10:

Use your needle to make a small hole near the top of the mug. This is so you can hang your ornament.

Step #11:

To make the mug handle, roll up strips of printer paper. Use a toothpick to help you get started. Soak them in water until the paper roll bends easily.

Step #12:

Curve the paper into a C shape, then set it aside to dry.

Step #13:

When the handles have dried, use a craft knife to cut the ends at an angle. Glue the handles into place.

Step #14:

When the handles are dry, give the entire mug a coat of Mod Podge.

Step #15:

To make the mugs look more realistic, bunch up a piece of coffee filter and glue it on top. This will be the whipped cream.

Step #16:

To make the peppermint stick, cut the straw into equal pieces and glue them to a piece of paper. When the glue has dried, trim around the straws. The white circle of paper will close the tip and make it look like a peppermint stick.

Step #17:

Cut the other end of the straw on an angle and glue it to the top of the mug. Get a piece of embroidery floss and thread it through the hole you poked earlier and make a knot. That’s it! Finished!

Photos and idea: Mega Crafty.

If you’re hosting a get-together, party, or BBQ for July 4th, it’s time to get your outdoor tables ready for the big event. If you’re feeling uninspired, take a look at these festive tables!

1. Festive Lanterns

We love the different sized patriotic lanterns hung above this rustic table. The plaid tablecloh and navy napkins add old-world charm to this festive table.

2. Make it Fun

What’s not to love about this table? The pinwheel centrepiece is a fun and original idea, and we love the mason jars used as cups. The cupcakes placed on mini chairs as party favors complete the fun theme of the table.

3. Keep it Simple

This table is simple, but still elegant and welcoming. We especially love the mini present party favors! Too cute!

4. Nautical

This nautical-themed table is colorful, but not too busy. The red napkins and navy chairs keep the striped table runner in check, and the white lanterns give the space a more open feel.

5. Old Americana

This table gives a nod to the old Americana of the 50s with a country flair. We love the bandana napkins and the rustic style metal cups. The Pepsi and Cola bottles used as vases look charming, and are a simple decoration that can be recreated on a budget.

6. Budget-Friendly

Just because you’re on a budget, doesn’t mean you can’t throw together a lovely table! We like how the plates and utensils are kept in baskets, and the Uncle Sam sparkly top hats add a bit of fun!

7. Chair Decor

When decorating your table, don’t forget the chairs! These chairs are decorated with an American flag and held together with blue tulle. The plaid tablecloth makes a big statement, but is toned down by the blue charger plates and cups.

8. Vintage

For a vintage look, antique plates were paired with a classic plaid tablecloth. The glass goblets are simple, but still keep the vintage feel.

Photos: Enmerit, Party Resources, Nest Nest Nest, Homeward Found Decor, Premeditated Leftovers, Tobi Fairley, The Charm of Home.