This is a guest post on the bystephanielynn.com website by Melanie of Bliss Bloom (blog). Melanie developed a variety of different techniques for using alcohol ink on glass. Because alcohol ink produces beautiful iridescent colors on glass, it’s perfect for handmade glass ornaments.

Melanie includes a supplies list and detailed instructions on making:

• Water Color ornaments
• Stamped Ornaments: Bold & Iridescent
• Translucent Solid Color Ornament

These are truly beautiful ornaments. Click on the Homemade Water Color Alcohol Ink Ornaments link below to see the complete tutorial.

Homemade Water Color Alcohol Ink Ornaments

I LOVE the look of these 3D multi-colored paper ball ornament.  I also thought they were pretty amazing.  Jessica provides PDF files with the template you need to make a large, medium or small ball. You need 12 copies of the template to make 1 ball.

This is a separate Youtube video by Jessica that demonstrates the assembly of a medium-sized ball.

How to Make 3D Paper Ball Ornaments

Laurie of Tip Junkie shares 20 different Christmas stocking projects with free templates. There are templates for vintage, retro, felted wool, burlap and More! It’s a great collection. Each Christmas stocking has a link to a tutorial. Click on the 20 Super Christmas Stocking Tutorials link below to see Laurie’s article.

20 Super Christmas Stocking Tutorials

Manuela of a Cultivated Nest shares 20 different Advent calendars that you can create at home. Advent calendars are used to count down or celebrate the days in anticipation of Christmas. Some Advent calendars also provide an opportunity for daily reflection.

There’s a lot of variety and creativity in these Advent calendars. Manuela has a picture of each calendar and a link to a tutorial that explains how to make the calendar. Very nice article!

20 Fantastic DIY Advent Calendars

This is a tutorial that explains how to make a rustic grapevine Christmas ornament. Crystal of Crafts Unleashed provides a supply list that includes links to a site where you can buy anything you can’t find locally. She explains how to use glitter snow and glitter spray to transform the grapevine ball into a beautiful Christmas ornament. Very nice project.

DIY Rustic Christmas Ornaments

These are crafty DIY gifts that are pretty neat. Alanna of Buzzfeed has collected 39 DIY Christmas gifts that people would like to receive. There’s a link after each gift that takes you to a tutorial for that gift.

Here are just a few of the DIY gifts:

• Terrariums
• Instagram Coasters
• Fabric Clock
• Artsy Mugs
• Catnip Feather Toy
• Stamped Tote Bag
• Gold bead bracelets
• Homemade Cat Treats
• Homemade Dog Treats
• Gold Leaf Notebooks

And MORE!

39 DIY Christmas Gifts You’d Actually Want To Receive

This is a creative and beautiful fabric Advent calendar made by Melissa of the Sweet Escape. She provides one of the most detailed tutorials I’ve seen and includes wonderful photographs.

This Advent calendar has a fabric diamond for each day of Advent. The number of the day is written in gold on the fabric with a glitter glue gun.

The neat thing about this calendar is that each fabric diamond has a small pocket in the back. A part of the celebration in observing another day of Advent is sharing a small treat with your kids. This wonderful Advent calendar can be used year after year as a part of your family Christmas tradition. Excellent project!

DIY Reusable Hanging Felt Fabric Advent Calendar

These Christmas Ornament Cupcakes are really amazing. Dan of the LiveDan330 website explains how to make them in this detailed tutorial. The recipe uses a Dessert Dome Candy Mold by Wilton which you can get at Michaels. Dan also gives you some alternative candy molds you can use. The recipe uses cupcakes, Oreo cream cheese cookie dough truffle mixture, fondant and other ingredients. Very unusual and neat Christmas project.

Tutorial: How to Make Edible Christmas Ornament Cupcakes

If you’re hard-pressed for creative gift ideas for the holidays, this article may give you some inspiration. Chanel of Buzzfeed has collected 15 different gifts that you can put in a mug. There’s a link after each idea which takes you to a tutorial for the gift.  Chanel includes a nice variety of gift ideas.

15 Easy Gifts You Can Put In a Mug