My granddaughter wanted to make Angel Ornaments this year for the tree. Pasta, here we come! But really, I didn't want to have macaroni angels hanging from my boughs and I doubted any of the other people that she wanted to make them for did either. So, of-course we logged on to Pinterest to see what types angels were posted there (What did we ever do before Pinterest?).
Amelia immediately fell in love with these gorgeous angels made with layers and layers of different lace over a styrofoam ball head -- very elegant and quite gorgeous -- and totally impossible for a then 4 year old to make (she's had a birthday since we started working on these). So, my immediate goal was to simplify the angels she liked. Which took a lot of trial and err and they are still not easy enough for her to make without a lot of help and supervision.
The first thing we changed was the styrofoam ball head -- we changed it to a wooden bead on which we drew eyes and a mouth. The inspiration angels didn't have hair, but we couldn't have angels with a hole in their heads, so we hot glued Chenille extra loopy pieces on for hair.
Then we played around with various laces and ribbons.
Eventually, I thought to go buy those pre-cut tulle rounds that you find in with the wedding supplies for wrapping favors (I never thought to take a picture of them). We used two tulle rounds and one organza round (these were slightly more expensive and have a finished edge, but are sold for the same use as the tulle). The unfinished tulle makes the body of the angel and the finished organza made the top layer or gown of the angel. If I was doing it over again, I would buy the tulle an inch smaller than the organza rounds, because we did end up having to trim the tulle so in didn't peek out of the angels gown (the organza).
I layered one organza round on the bottom and 2 tulle rounds on top of that, then marked the center for Amelia to try to hit with her threaded needlepoint needle ( the blunt tip went right through). Then she pulled it through the bead (head) and I added a spot of hot glue inside. The thread on the needle is eventually what it will hang from the tree from. I didn't learn this until we were down to the last few and we ran out of gold thread, but a thin silky ribbon will thread just as easily through it all and it is much easier to work with.
Next, we changed the ribbon "arms" to pipe cleaner arms.
We didn't care for how bulky they were and switched them to silver tinsel pipe cleaners. We were satisfied with the silver tinsel and eliminating the hot glued ribbon arms made it so Amelia could attach all the arms herself with one quick twist.
Once we had the angels body down we decided on one lace for the gown (it is cheaper to buy it cut in one large length when using a coupon).
I basted the entire length with light string and pre-cut them into gathered pieces for us to tie around the angels necks.
We glued a ribbon, bow, gem or something under the angel's chin right over the top of the knot holding the robe.
Several angels that we saw on Pinterest, including our inspiration angels, had these double bow "wings." The top smaller bow covers up the wire for the larger bow. We rung a bell each time we put on a pair of wings -- which was totally hilarious, because Amelia thought her Nan had lost her mind!! -- I guess, I still have work to do making her an "It's a Wonderful Life" fan!
The inspiration angels used strings of beads for halos, which looked great on them, but were getting lost in all the hair on Amelia's angels -- and besides that they were impossible for her to hot glue on herself. So, we got tree tinsel for the tiny Christmas trees and twisted it into loops. I added the hot glue and Amelia placed the halos on the angels heads using large tweezers.
Our Angels aren't near as fancy as the inspiration angels, but Amelia was still happy with them. (And I still have a macaroni-free tree). We made oodles of angels some holding stuff, some not:
Notice, the uneven organza at the bottom of this angels robe. This is what happens if they are not threaded through the center:
See Him in a manger laid,
Whom the choirs of angels praise;
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,
While our hearts in love we raise.
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
