Christmas tree hanging angel

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A cheery hello to everyone from England!!!





I designed these last year so I'm pleased to be able to share the idea.



Basically you need to cut an angel shape template (not wings) out of either stiff card or thin plywood. If it's wood, paint it cream or off white as a base.



Here's a tip if you are attempting to draw the design template yourself. Fold a piece of tracing paper in half, then on the folded side, draw only half the shape of the angel design. That's half a head and half a triangle shape for the body. You can make the design any size but for hanging on the tree, no bigger than 5 inches looks about right.

Turn the tracing paper over so you can see the design underneath then trace over it. Open up the paper and what you should have is a design that has two identical matching sides.



Taking your card or wood angel template now you simply start to dress the angel. Cut a small circle of cream fabric and glue on for the face. Choose some rustic check fabric and cut out the dress shape, glue onto the body of the angel. Take some more cream fabric and this time cut out another dress shape, slightly shorter but wider so that you can sew in and pull up some gathers at the neckline so that the apron when attached, hangs loose and gives the angel a 3 D look. Either paint or iron on a little red heart on the apron or add some lace, you can dress it up however you want.

Glue some curly craft wool on for her hair, use a cotton bud dipped in red blusher to add colour to her cheeks and paint on eyes and a little mouth. If you're feeling very creative, you can make a litle pair of padded arms and just glue them on.



Now for the wings you can do almost anything. You can make them out off stiffened muslin, cut out two wing shapes and just glue them on.

Or you can try making them out of gold florists wire, which you just bend an outline into the shape of the wings, then you just weave more wire back and forth to give a cobweb look. Just glue them on when finished.



You can use this template idea to make hanging santas and snowmen too but the angel, because you dress her up so much, looks beautiful. Add a little loop of rustic string or wire and hang her on the tree. You can also make her so she carries a special message such as 'angels always love you'.



Nadine, UK designer, copyright to Candlewyck but permission given here for crafters to make them and have fun!

Thanks Nadine! These are adorable.
I had trouble finding fabrics that I really liked for the angels. After much searching, this is where I found the best prim fabrics for my angels.
http://www.primitivehomedecors.com/c...ric-c-3_8.html