I made these Christmas ornaments after seeing and being inspired by Kittie Kraft’s Pillow Window Ornament HEREÂ (photo at right). Isn’t it so precious? I knew these would be perfect to make for my friend, Bev (YT: NewCrafterBev) who is collecting holiday cards and ornaments for injured veterans because these ornaments can be flattened for mailing and then popped back up for a very dimensional whimsical decoration.
I used the We R Memory Keepers Pillow Box Punch Board to construct the pillow box from bright red Shimmerz card stock (love that shimmer!) cut down to 6″ x 5 5/8″. Then I die cut a fancy window and a glittery gold frame using the Diemond Dies Labels 1 Nesting Die Set. For the background liner piece, I cut a piece of white card stock to 2 1/2″ x 4 5/8″ and used the pillow box punch board to score the curved top and bottom, which I then hand fussy cut away.
To decorate the background scene and lay in a foreground, I blended on a sky with Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Tumbled Glass and a lush forest base with Mowed Lawn. Â Then I die cut the two smaller trees from the Diemond Dies Pine Tree Die Set, the Small Christmas Tree Die, and the Grass Border Die to create a forest look. I inked up the trees and grass with more Mowed Lawn and used an Inkadinkado sponge chalk applicator to ink up the trunks with Gathered Twigs.
Then for the focal points, I used the stag and fawn from the Diemond Dies Deer Trio Die and inked them up with Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Antique Linen, Tea Dye, and Gathered Twigs. For this inking, the small areas really call for using those sponge chalk applicators. Lastly I added details like the white spots with a Sakura white gelly roll pen, the eyes with a Gathered Twigs Tim Holtz Distress Marker, and a red nose punched out from a scrap of the Shimmerz card stock with a 1/16″ hole punch.
I kept the rest of the decor on these ornaments simple but decided to add a small gold glitter star as a little accent die cut from the Diemond Dies Nesting Stars Die Set. If you wanted to make a more simple ornament (less coloring), I think this technique of making a shadow box ornament from a pillow box would work great with the Diemond Dies Build a Snowman Die Set and maybe more small stars from the Christmas Ornament Die or decorative lights from the Christmas Lights Die Set added to the inside scene.
Remember, my readers can get 10% off and free worldwide shipping at Diemond Dies on all orders of $35 or more by using the coupon code “thankskristina” at check out.
The following is a start to finish tutorial video of how to make this pillow shadow box ornament:
These ornaments are being entered into the following challenges:
Crafty Gals Corner CASE It Challenge
Simon Says Stamp Monday Treat Bag/Box Challenge
Fab ‘n’ Funky Lots of Sparkle Challenge
Card Mania Let it Shine Challenge
Word Art Wednesday Anything Goes Challenge
613 Avenue Create Anything Goes with Option of Green and Gold Challenge – WINNER
Craft Your Passion Anything Goes Challenge
Creatalicious Anything Goes Challenge
Just Keep Creating Anything Goes Challenge
Not Just Cards Anything Goes Challenge
Wow…these are fabulous. Thanks for playing along with us at Fab’n’Funky. Pat K x
Awww thanks so much Pat! I really had fun re-creating these pillow box ornaments, especially as I know these are going to veterans. 🙂
Wonderful!! You did an amazing job and your deer are fantastic! Thanks for joining us at CYPC!
Awww thanks so much Pam! Coloring up those deer with the sponge applicators made it really easy. 🙂 TFstopping by! Big hugs, kristina
So cute and colorful – I love it 🙂
Thank you for playing with us at CardMania Challenges 🙂
Awww thanks so much for your super sweet and encouraging comment! Big hugs, Krisitna
What a fun and creative ornament! And I love that you are giving them to Vets. My favorite part is the arrangement of the two deer into two layers. And thank you for the tutorial! Thank you so much for sharing your project and creativity at 613 Ave C!
~ginny, DT for 613 Ave C: [ATG/ Green & Gold]
Owner: RubberMAD (GettyCollection.com)
Thanks so much Ginny! I really enjoyed making these, and I hope the veterans who receive them will enjoy them. 🙂 TFStopping by and leaving a sweet and encouraging comment! Hugs, Kristina
These Are Amazing … Beautiful Creations ….Thanxx For Sharing With Us At Lil Patch Of Crafty Friends …
Sherry @ LPOCF DT
Thank you so very much Sherry! I really appreciate your kind and encouraging comment! Big hugs, Kristina
These are really unusual and beautiful. You are so clever!
Thanks for sharing at Fab n Funky.
Sharon x
Thanks so much Sharon! I really appreciate your sweet comment! Big hugs, Kristina
These are lovely! Thank you for joining our challenge at Lil Patch of Crafty Friends!
Tracyx
Thanks so much Tracy! I hope the veterans will enjoy these ornaments. 🙂 Big hugs, Kristina
Gorgeous pillow boxes Kristina!
Thanks bunches Ann! Big hugs, Kristina
Awesome pillow box ornaments!
Thanks so much Lagene! I appreciate you taking the time to stop by and leave a sweet comment! Hugs, kristina
Just adorable! Love this entry, thank you for sharing with Creatalicious, Jackie DT member.
Thank you so much Jackie! I had a lot of fun designing and creating these ornaments for veterans. I hope they enjoy them. 🙂
What fantastic treat boxes, these are wonderful and perfect for the festive season! Thank you so much for sharing and for playing along with us over on the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog… 🙂
Thank you so much Emma! I really had fun creating these little treat boxes for the veterans. 🙂 TFStopping by! Hugs, Kristina
Lovely boxes. I like how you colored the deer.
Thanks for playing with us at Craft your Passion.
Good luck, Michelle (DT)
Thank you so much Michelle! I had a lot of fun coloring up those little deer with the distress inks and sponge applicators. It is really fun to see them come to life! 🙂 TFStopping by! Hugs, Kristina
What fabulous ornaments. Thanks for sharing with us at Creatalicious and we hope to see you again soon. Hugs, Gale DT
Thanks so much Gale! It was so fun to make these little ornaments for the vets. I hope they enjoy them as much as I enjoyed designing and creating them.
These pillow box Christmas ornaments look great, so beautifully made. I love the specks of gold and the scene you have created looks amazing.
Thank you so much Susan! I really wanted to make mailable ornaments. I will definitely be making more for friends and family this holiday season. 🙂 TFStopping by! Hugs, Kristina
Wow! I love your boxes!
Thank you for joining us at shiny Card Mania Challenge
Marzena DT
Thanks so very much Marzena! I hope they will “brighten” the day of the veterans who receive them. 🙂