Back in the summer of 2018, I challenged myself to make a bunch of different ornaments out of the same 3 fabrics.
Prior to that, I'd spent the last couple of years coming up with a new pattern almost every month for the Ornament Girls Club, and I wanted to go back and make some of my older patterns again, plus spend more time with some of the newer ones.
It ended up being way more awesome than I expected! It was so much fun to make a big bunch of ornaments purely for the joy of it. I felt like I went back in time for a little bit.
The best part was that some of you decided to do it right along with me, and made your own set of 12 ornaments.
The idea grew bigger, and that fall, we did our first official Ornament Girls Challenge together!
So many of you have been asking when this year's Challenge would begin. Guess what? It's almost time!
I hope you'll join me.. if you do, then by the end of it (and just in time for Christmas), you'll have a set of 12 beautiful, matching ornaments, each made with a different pattern!
When I did this by myself the first time, I made a new ornament every single day, which was a little bit tough (life happens after all).
So don't worry.... for the official Challenge, we'll be making one ornament per WEEK.
How will this work?
Each week, starting next Monday, September 27th, I'll send you an email telling you what that week's challenge pattern is, and I'll show you photos of mine and my team's versions, to hopefully inspire you and give you some ideas.
(Not on my email list yet? Well, what are you waiting for? Join me RIGHT HERE. <-- psst. Joining my email list gets you a free video workshop!)
When you make each week's ornament, you can share it with me (& all the other participants) on Instagram using the hashtag #OrnamentGirlsChallenge (and if you're an OG club member, please also share in our private group!)
What will you need?
In order to make all 12 ornaments, you will need...
1. About 2 to 2-1/2 yards EACH of three different fabrics (this is an approximation - you may use slightly different amounts depending on how you arrange your fabrics on your own ornaments. You can get a little extra if you want to be on the safe side!)
****I recommend 3 fabrics that contrast highly with each other. (I've got some examples at the end of this post)****
2. A LOT of straight pins. I would go ahead and buy yourself a nice big one pound box from HERE.
3. Foam. Okay, so I usually haven't given this info out ahead of time, but here's the thing. I can give you an almost-definite foam list for the first 11 weeks.
But, as we've done every year, the 12th week will coincide with our big bundle of NEW PATTERNS - and just like last year, there will be SEVERAL new patterns to choose from!
And of course, I have no idea which patterns you'll pick, or if you'll even want to purchase the bundle at all (but it's awesome, so I think you will!)
So, let me break this down for you the best I can...
(Note: All of the lined-ball recommendations below can be drawn on by you! We are currently experiencing a foam shortage, and may not have our pre-lined foam available each week. We have all the resources to show you how to do this yourself.)
Weeks 1-11, you'll need:
- 7 - 3" Balls (where 8 lines would be very helpful, but there are a couple here where you could get away with unlined.)
- 2 - 3" Balls (where 6 lines would be very helpful)
- 1 - 3" Balls (where 5 lines would be very helpful)
- 1- Disc (this could change if we do not get our next foam shipment in time, as I know these are hard to find!)
Week 12: ANY of the following (or, all of them!)
- 3" Ball with 6 lines or a Disc, OR...
- 3" Ball with 6 lines (for another of the patterns), OR...
- Heart Shape, OR...
- Two more that are secret for now: We have two new shapes coming soon to our OG Shop, and I don't want to say what they are yet, until I know they are here.)
(But wait til you see this year's Bundle!)
4. Whatever embellishments you'd like to use for all 12 ornaments (I'm going to try and use the same embellishments for all 12 ornaments).
5. Each week's pattern (hint: the first week will be the FREE Basic Star pattern)
What if you don't yet own each week's pattern?
I don't want to leave anyone out, so in order to make this as accessible as possible for everyone to make along with me, each week's pattern will be available at a very special deal! (and some of them are free!)
The special price will be for 3 days only each week, on that week's pattern. I'll send you a link to each week's special deal when I send you your weekly challenge email.
Also, please note, that the first week's pattern is FREE (and again, there are a couple of other freebies in coming weeks, too).
Be sure you're on my email list so you can get each week's Challenge Email! Each week's email will say 'Ornament Challenge Week #' in the subject line so you can spot it easily!
(If you've never tried one of my patterns before.... they are FOOLPROOF. And many of them come with full-length videos, too. So, no worries.. you WILL be able to make these ornaments along with me. :) )
So.. will you join me for this? It's gonna be fun!
Do we need to sign up anywhere or just look for the emails?
Thank you.
Hi Jeany, nope, you’ll receive our emails and I believe we’ll post the challenges on the blog here too. Thanks!
I quit receiving the Christmas challenge emails after week 3. Can you please send me the emails so I can catch up!
Nancy, it looks like our newsletters are bouncing when they are sent to your inbox. There’s also an issue right now with Yahoo and AOL emails not allowing some emails to come through, sending them through hours later, or pushing them to spam/junk folders. You can view the previous weeks content here: https://theornamentgirl.com/blog/tag/og-challenge-2021/ One way that may help your provider allow our emails in is to add our email address to your address book in your email program. If you need any help with that, please email us here and we’ll be happy to assist you further. http://www.theornamentgirl.com/contact Another source of a bounced email can be if your inbox is full of emails and there’s no more room to allow ours in. Because I don’t know for sure the source of the issue for you, I’m just offering suggestions as to what could be going on. If you do need further assistance, please feel free to email us any time. Have a nice day!
Thank you, Staci!
You’re so welcome!
Hi,
I would love to do this challenge but not sure if it possible. We are in lock down in Melbourne,Victoria Australia so supplies might be a problem. If there is any way I can participate I will. Can I put my name down for this just in case?
Please keep the photos coming.
Ann
Hi Ann, sure thing! You will continue receiving our emails about the Christmas Challenge unless you decide to opt out of them. Otherwise, you’ll still be in the loop. Thanks so much!
Hi Staci Ann, I would love to participate this year! I’m not sure how to sign up officially and I need to ask that I may not be able to complete each task depending on how my arthritis is, does this effect my place in the group?
Hi Dawn, oh no, not at all. You can do all the patterns/weeks or some or none and it won’t affect your standing in the group/club. Thanks for your question and have a great night!
Hello, I accidentally hit the don’t send the ornament challenge. Is there a way that I can still receive the challenge? I really enjoy making the ornaments.
Thank you,
Karen
Sure thing. I have added you back to the list. Thanks!
I haven’t received challenge 4 yet, is it running late?
Julie Ann, I’m so sorry you didn’t receive our email. We found that Yahoo and AOL addresses are having issues right now. They’re either routing emails to spam OR not even allowing the emails to come through. At this time, I don’t know any workarounds for this issue. We do post our Challenge on the blog here, so you will be able to view that every week until the email providers fix the issue. It’s so frustrating for us and I’m sure for you too. Fingers crossed this gets fixed soon.
Hi Staci,
I live in Australia and would l9ve to do a couple of the challenge ornaments for Xmas. Our family has a tradition that each xmas baubles have a family members name and is used as a place setting for Xmas lunch. As each person sits down to lunch they hang their bauble on the Xmas tree. My question is do you have ideas of how I can name each ornament, without having to Sew. I was thinking of a tag of some description.
TIA
Maxine
Hi Maxine, do you mean a way to do a name tag for each ornament so the gifter knows the ornament is for them? I just want to make sure I understand so I can offer the best suggestions. Thanks so much!
How can I catch up on the ornament challenge since I’m just starting !
Hi Bridget, you’re welcome to start now if you’d like! You can find all our previous weeks here” https://theornamentgirl.com/blog/tag/og-challenge-2021/ You’ll just want to scroll your way through the weeks. I hope this helps! And welcome to the challenge. If you need anything else, do let us know as we’re always happy to help. Happy ornamenting.