Craft Exchange

Angel and Singer Ornaments


This project lets you make 2 styles of paper cone ornaments, one set with the arms drawn right on the body, and the other with separate arms attached to the ornament, for a more 3-D effect. The ones with the arms drawn right on the body are easier to make, and well suited for younger children.

There are 3 different angels and 3 different choir singers in each style.

Young children (like my 6 year old) might want help with the cutting around the head/neck area. Also a good thick glue (we use Aleene's Tacky Glue) makes things go together much more easily.

This project is rated EASY to do.

What You Need
 

  • Crayons, markers, or colored pencils
  • Computer paper
  • Scissors
  • Glue
  • Yarn or ribbon, if you want to hang the ornament

 
How To Make It
 

Making the Ornaments

Read all the directions before starting. This project is simple enough that you might not need directions, but check them once anyway.

Step 1 - Print Patterns

Choose the ornament you want to make. Download and print the pattern(s).

Simple Ornaments

Ornaments with Separate Arms

These require 2 pages to be printed, one which has all the different arms on it, and another with the figure you wish to make.

  • Arms -- you must get this pattern, and at least 1 of the ones below:

  • Angel1 long hair, closed eyes
  • Angel2 curly hair, open eyes
  • Angel3 medium-long hair, open eyes
  • Singer1 curly hair, open eyes
  • Singer2 long hair, open eyes
  • Singer3 short hair, closed eyes

Step 2 - Color

Decorate your angel or singer with crayons, markers, or colored pencils. Feel free to add extra decorations to their robes - shiny gold star stickers to trim the robe, or glitter or foil on the wings.

Step 3 - Cut Out

Cut out the decoration, making sure to cut along the lines between the hair and the robe. The head should only be attached to the robe at the neck.

Step 4 - Attach the arms if necessary

  1. Cut out the 3-D arms, and bend/fold them at the places marked on the pattern sheet. Folding is making a sharp crease/line. Bending is almost like folding, without getting a sharp line, more like shaping the paper.

    • for the book, fold sharply along the binding lines
    • for the guitar, bend gently at the wrists
    • for the folded hands, fold sharply along the center line between the hands
    • for the others, bend them at the wrists

  2. Cut the slits in the robe, fold the tabs on the outer edges of the sleeves, then insert them into the slits. Glue the tabs to the inside of the robe.

Step 5 - Glue the cone

First, if you're making an angel, fold the wings along the back line towards the front of the angel.

Now take the figure and bend the body into a cone shape, overlapping the back edges so that the tab is hidden. Glue it.

If your character is playing the horn, use a drop of glue to attach the horn to the mouth.

Step 6 - Optional Ribbon

If you want to hang your ornament, take a 10" piece of ribbon or yarn, and glue the two ends to the back of the head, making a loop. Let the glue dry.

You're Done!

Enjoy your new decoration. You can make a small group of them and display them on a table, or hang them on a tree. I also printed some of the simple ones at 50% size on my laser printer, and they made great mini-decorations, too. You can also have even more variety by adding wings to the singers, or removing the wings from the angel patterns. Your imagination is the limit!
 
Tips
 
  • One family wrote me and said that they were making an angel for every one of their guests for Christmas dinner, putting their names on them, and using them to mark their places at the table.

  • Sheri Quinn wrote that her class is making the paper angels, and using class picture proofs to put the student's faces on the angels.

  • Susan Richardson's family made a lot of the angels, and then attached them to a ribbon to make an angel garland. It kept the kids busy for hours and it looked pretty hanging over the window.


 
This project was created by:
Grace Sylvan

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