Floppy Diskette Ornaments--worth a second look

Ornaments are not just for holidays or trees. Take a peek at this tutorial I did 10 years ago and get make some "old fashioned" fun with floppy diskettes (yes you can order them on Amazon if you threw yours away).

These would be a fun gift to make any time of year, expecially in 2020 when we can make wise cracks like, "thinking back to olden times..." or "wish this virus would go the way of the floppy diskette."  Keep thinking, you'll come up with more.

Here are the ones from the video--they are still hanging happily in my studio today.

And for those (including myself) who like to have the printed instructions:

Floppy Diskette ornaments—“Old School” Tech hanging photo

 

Create a photo ornament from a floppy diskette and share the love while "giving green."

 

Supplies for this project:

Old floppy diskettes—all colors work well

Paper binder clips—the old style with a hole on the top makes a great hanger

Paper clips of various sizes—the colored ones jazz it up

Paper cutter or scissors and ruler

Photos that can be cut to 3” by 3”

Embellishments—get creative and use what you have. Items used in sample:

Ribbon scraps, beads, charms, Scrabble™ letters, label maker, colored safety pins, jump rings, permanent markers and stickers.

 

Steps:

1. Trim 2 photos to 3" square

 

2. Use office clip to attach photos on either side of the diskette—the same clip holds photo on both sides.           You can glue the photo down with strong dry adhesive like double stick tape or glue dots if desired

 

3. Embellish with ribbon, words, wire, gem stones, stickers, safety pins, charms, etc. There really are no rules but these designer notes may inspire you:

 

Avoid adding symmetrical embellishments, asymmetrical is always more pleasing to the eye.

Utilize the different holes on the diskette for hanging charms or tying ribbon.

Add one embellishment directly on the photo.

Use label maker or sticker to add one appropriate word as accent element

Trace a marker around the edge of the photo for a more finished look

Limit your color scheme to 3 colors or monochromatic

 

4. Bend a paper clip into the binder clip to serve as a hanger for ornament

 

Enjoy your surplus items and employ your imagination for lots of other great variations on this design.

 

Tips:

-Use a black diskette for color photos and a colored diskette for black and white photos

-Create at least one of these every time you finish a scrapbook layout while you still have the extra photos, papers, and embellishments lying around

-Thread a ribbon hanger through the hole and use flush style binder clip for attaching the photo

-Embellish further with sparkling glitter or mica powders

 

Related projects:

1. Put a magnet on the back and store/display on metal file cabinet

2. Create a series on red and green diskettes for a holiday tree--add to the effect with cassette tape “ribbon” garlands, and snowflakes from internal computer parts. Glue letters from old keyboards together for additional ornaments

3. Use a lower profile clip and secure diskette to a scrapbook page or greeting card

4. String three together for a hanging photo mobile

5. Replace photos with stamped images or recycled greeting cards

Pandemic Projects Anyone?

July was Christmas in July for me as I created more Christmas cards then I will ever need to send this year (even with the expanded list I have prepared). 

I used some of the techniques I've learned in my new online art workshops presented by Amanda Evanston. For cards I painted watercolor paper with abstract florals. After they dried (tick, tock, tick tock) I cut the paper to make designs for the front of our cards. 

Easy wreath

Here are the instructions for an easy and inexpensive wreath. I taught this as a spring workshop for First Christian Church and it is easily adaptable for the holidays. Enjoy.

Cheerful Easy Wreath for all Seasons

Finished wreath

Supplies:

·       Wire coat hanger or wreath form (free or $3.50 on sale)

·       1 Plastic table cloth from party section for base color ($1)

·       18 1” by 7” strips of accent color of similar weight plastic from old table cloth, project buddy, or plastic grocery bags (free)

·       1 design focal image piece(embellishment)—glitter butterfly Christmas ornament used in sample, look at the dollar store or party store or floral/wood craft/kids department of craft stores ($1.00 or less)

·       Curling ribbon in 3 coordinating colors (on hand or $.25-$1.00)

·       Tools: pliers, long blade scissors, florist wire, ribbon shredder tool (optional) (on hand or borrowed)

Typical cost to assemble: $3.00--$4.00

Assembly:

1.       Bend wire hanger into a round shape. It’s fine for it not to be perfectly round, mine looked more octagonal. The color will correct any bends that are crooked

2.       Bend top of hanger (the part that typically hangs on the clothes rod) to make a place to suspend your wreath on a door or wall.

3.       Cut your base table cloth into strips that are about 1” by 7”

a.       Perfection is not the goal, they can be as lopsided, crooked, etc.—it won’t show

b.       Tip: Cutting the table cloth from the folded position is a great way to do this quickly.

c.       Don’t tax your cutting hand by doing them all at once, do a few and start tying and then cut some more

4.       Tie the base

a.       Start at the wire loop of the wreath on the left or right side

b.       Tie 2-3 strips of plastic material onto the hanger

c.       Pull tight and fluff them a bit

d.       Continue to tie until you run out of strips

e.       After you have tied about 1/8 portion of the wreath, push the knots very close together

f.        You may add your accent color strips at this point or wait until the end, adding them now is easier to manipulate, but don’t do it if you’re really picky about placement.

g.       Continue to cut and tie strips. Push them together tightly as you go around

h.       This phase becomes a rote process, so now is a good time to chat with your buddy, watch a movie, listen to an audio book, explore your imagination…

 

5.       Once you have filled up the base with fluffy knots, add the accent color strips at about 1/8 segments around the wreath if you didn’t do it as you went along.

a.       Tie additional base color strips onto the wreath hanging wire to cover up the twisted base.

6.       Depending upon your taste you can just tie or hang your embellishment on the wreath and call it a finished project.  If the wreath is only going to be viewed from further away this is a great idea—you could even skip the embellishment part. If for example, you are hanging them high up in a room or on the outside of windows—stopping is recommended

7.       If the wreath will be on a front door or other eye height position then continue to embellish it by wiring your focal image onto the wreath (sample places it just below the half-way point of the left side).

8.       Cut and curl 16” – 25” pieces of package ribbon and tie them on the wreath near your contrasting color ties. Use a ribbon splitter to make some of the curled ribbons different widths.

9.       Tie uncurled loops of the ribbon together to make a bow about 8” in width. Wire or tie this bow to the top of the wreath.

  

Tips:

Ø  For a fuller wreath purchase a wire wreath from craft or floral stores and use the same techniques

Ø  The plastic makes this wreath ideal for outdoor use, but you can use torn strips of fabric, cloth ribbon, or crepe paper to design indoor wreaths with same instructions. The look will be totally different.

Ø  Add glitter with spray glue or other methods to glam this up.

Ø  Add silk flowers where you have tied the contrasting plastic color. If you use those plastic flowers available at thrift or dollar stores you will get a kitschy vintage look.

Ø  Use a rainbow of colors for a birthday event—project is so quick and easy you could even take it to work for an office or cubicle decoration on birthdays.

Ø  Printed plastic table cloths are a fun variation—smaller prints work best.