It’s time for another design influence, on Day #14 of 30 Days of DIY Designer Ornaments. This time we turn to the Arts and Crafts movement.

Charles Rennie Mackintosh was a notable designer of the Arts and Crafts and Art Nouveau movements. One of his most recognizable motifs is his geometric “Mackintosh Rose.” I love the simple, tumbling layers of the Mackintosh Rose, and decided to apply the same idea to a Christmas tree ornament.

The result is our Mackintosh-Inspired Trees. Craft some up in traditional holiday colors, in the subtle mauves and greens of Arts & Crafts (a fab scheme for you Shabby-decor fans), or in jewel-brights like I favor. Have fun!

Materials and Tools:

• Our Mackintosh-Inspired Trees Pattern (PDF)
• Printable card stock or copy paper
• Assorted colors of felt pieces
• Paper and fabric scissors
• Scotch tape
• Thin cardboard (like the kind that backs a writing pad)
• Tacky craft glue
• Paint brush for applying glue
• “Mini” hole punch that makes small holes
• Ribbon or ornament hangers

Instructions:
1. Print our Mackintosh-Inspired Tree Pattern (PDF) onto printable card stock (if you have it). Regular-weight copy paper also works fine.

2. Plan your color scheme by laying out different felt pieces, alternating the angles to create little triangles.

3. Cut out pattern pieces 1 – 4 from your card stock or paper pattern.

4. Tape each pattern piece to the felt with a loop of scotch tape. Cut out the felt pieces. Cut two of piece number 1 from the same color or felt (this will make a base and a backing for your ornament).

5. You can test your layout now. Follow the finished ornament drawing in the pattern, and alternately tilt triangles to the left and right as you stack your colors. You’ll notice that the points of each triangle will touch the edges of the triangle below it.

6. Cut a piece of cardboard for each ornament, that is about 1/4″ smaller on all sides, than pattern piece number 1.

7. Center and glue the cardboard to your backing piece number 1. Then brush on more glue to the cardboard and felt edges around it, and glue the second piece number 1 over top. Now you will have a sandwich made up of large triangle felt pieces, with the cardboard inside.

8. Glue on the remaining pieces, following the pattern as you did in step 7. Ensure the edges are glued, and press down firmly.

9. When you have finished gluing all your trees press them in folded wax paper, under a stack of heavy books. Allow several hours for the glue to dry thoroughly.

10. With your hole punch, punch a hanging hole near the top of the ornament. Add some ribbon or an ornament hook, and enjoy!

All done – a quick and unique accent for your tree or fireplace mantel garland. Makes a lovely “bonus gift” attached to your holiday gift tags too.

Thanks for joining us on Day #14 of 30 Days of DIY Designer Ornaments.

Now – start bookmarking your fave snaps of the loved ones. Tomorrow for Day #15, we’ll make bargain ornament photo frames….