Mini Crystal Ornaments

You've probably noticed that I really like these DIY Crystals.  I presented them at each of our events in November.  I think I like them because they appeal to both men and women, they have a whimsical feel, and of course they are sparkly!  Ha! :)



One of my favorite things to do when I'm looking to add special details to a space is to take an idea and make it mini! Miniature sized pieces are instantly adorable to me for some reason.  Whether it's tiny baby shoes or a "teacup" chihuahua named "Dolly", I'm smitten by all things extra small! :)


Photo by Keely Yount

So, that's what I wanted to with the DIY crystals. In addition to creating crystals to sit out as table top decor, I decided I wanted to put them in glass ornaments and hang them on our tree!

So, I retrieved some clear ornaments from the craft store and made my first attempt. . .  which was a failure.



I thought I could drop the pieces through the opening in the top and maneuver them around with a toothpick.  It took me 2 minutes to figure out that was not going to work.

Luckily, I anticipated having to try a couple of methods and opted to buy the plastic clear ornaments rather than the glass ones.  Did you know that they have a plastic option now?  It was a new discovery for me and I love that the plastic pieces are much more practical, especially for those that have kids, suffer from clumsiness. . . or want to create a tiny vignette inside the ornament.

The plastic is pretty thin, which means you can cut into it.  I used an exacto knife to puncture the plastic and then I used scissors to cut out an opening.  This allowed me to get my fingers in the ornament and move things around.



I made the miniature versions almost exactly like I made the bigger version, except I used foam core instead of pink foam insulation. (See instructions here.) Once the mini crystal was in tact, I added some faux snow inside the ornament, placed the crystal inside and then added a little more snow to cover the foam base.




The best part is when you turn the ornament, you can't even tell there is a hole in the back of the piece!  Here's a back and front view. . .



These ornaments were a great addition to my modern tree!  I love the crystals, but I can also think of a number of other fun & tiny vignettes to put in these clear plastic ornaments.  What about you?!