Hey, it’s Laura again! I don’t know about you, but I love seeing all the cool 3D things people create with paper. There are tons of clever little boxes and animals you can make, but I got extra excited when I discovered all the gemstone templates that exist online. Make my own diamonds?! Yes please. I thought the diamond shape would make a fantastic ornament for my Christmas tree, but I didn’t think a decoration made out of only paper would store very well from year to year. That’s where the balsa wood comes in! The wood makes the design much sturdier and doesn’t change the overall geometric feel of the diamond.
Supplies: Balsa wood (I used 1/32 inch thick), diamond template (I used this one), printer paper, cardstock paper, X-Acto knife, gold craft paint
, ornament hooks, super glue, screw eye hooks (13/16 inch).
1. Print out your diamond template. Place template on top of your balsa wood and use your X-Acto knife to trace over the outline of the template to cut out your panels. 2. Print another template on a heavier cardstock and use scissors to cut out your template. Pre-fold your template and flatten back (this makes it easier to fold once your wood is glued on). Attach each panel to its designated spot with super glue. 3. Assemble the diamond by using the super glue to attach the tabs in the appropriate spots. Before you glue the top piece down, make sure to screw your eye hook into the middle of the top panel (this is what you’ll attach your ornament hook to). 4. Paint the diamond with the gold paint. Once it’s dry, you’re ready to hang your diamond!
In addition to making a few solid gold diamonds, I added a coat of glitter to some to add a little variety (just paint a coat of Mod Podge and sprinkle loose glitter on top). I love how these ornaments turned out. They add a punch of gold-plated fun to our tree, and I can tell everyone that I got loads of diamonds for Christmas. Score! xo. Laura
Credits // Author: Laura Gummerman, Photography: Janae Hardy and Laura Gummerman
53 Comments
Lovely! Glitter and gold make everything more beautiful at Christmas time.
love, love, love them. my tree will sparkle!
It looks so lovely, especially with the gold diamonds on it!
http://sincerelylara.com
Gorgeous! Thanks so much for sharing! Such a lovely DIY!
http://sometimesgracefully.com
Oh my gosh, this ornament is absolutely amazing! I have to make some for our christmas decoration – there are so many possibilities speaking of different colors, glitter yes or no, mixed materials…thanks for sharing this!
I love this little diy! Great idea!
♥ Naomi Starry Eyes + Coffee Cups
I love this tutorial, Laura! It’s a creative way to dress up our tree. The best part is that our Christmas colors this year are gold and red! I totally can’t wait to make one, and I really think adding glitter gives it a sparkly touch. Thanks, this will look amazing with our red and gold decorations! xoxo, Jesse
Great little decorations, you must have so much time to make all these things
Lauren
livinginaboxx
Cool!!
soo cute!
xxoo,
nikki
http://www.dreaminneon.blogspot.com
LOVE LOVE LOVE these!!!! Sooooo awesome! I was just saying to my boyfriend last night, “can we please have a Christmas tree that’s decorated in just gold ornaments?” and we were wondering were to find or how to make cool, gold ornaments!
xoxo
Taylor
http://www.welcomehometaylor.com
Adorable!
brilliant!!! you ladies are awesome 🙂
Laura, all of your DIYs are seriously awesome!
I really love this one!
I absolutely love this ornament idea! Love it! 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
Lulu xx
http://luluslittlewonderland.blogspot.com
I love this!! They came out so great! 🙂
I adore this! And it would definitely hold up better than the beautiful paper ornaments I’ve been seeing floating around recently.
Love this, Laura! They’re gorgeous!
http://bravefelicity.blogspot.com/
This is amazing and so right down my alley! Love
I love this! Y’all should post more ornament diy’s. 🙂
So perfect! I love it! xo
That is a great idea! I’ll be totally doing that for christmas!
adorable!!!
Beautiful and such a smart & simple idea!
great idea. beautiful stuff. and diamonds are always our best friends. especially at the christmas tree. 🙂
have a great weekend
groetjes
vreeni from freak in you
Looks beautiful! X.
Amy Lauren
Diamonds for Christmas… haha!
So cute!! And great idea using the wood inside the card stock – genius. 🙂
Bailey
http://akabailey.blogspot.com
Nice idea, easy and brilliant!
http://inatrendytown.blogspot.com.es
Very nice inspiration.
xx
http://www.fashiondenis.com/
I love it! It looks great and pretty simple to make it!
Nice blog! Greetings from Spain 🙂
Nice looking ornament, but the time you spend making it, you can earn money and buy 5 similar ornaments. Sorry, the wrong thing to say on a creative blog 🙂 No it looks really nice.
Kind regards
Claus Rode
http://www.foodishoot.com
It looks like the paco rabane scent!
http://talisatalksbeauty.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/christmas-gift-guide-for-him.html
Lalalalove this! Just made golden feathers that will look so gorgeous with these!
Wow Laura, they look fabulous! X
this is adorable!
So cute and really pretty!
I love the shape of it!
Elly
Here is 2 links to my 2 blogs:
http://ellysblogoffun.blogspot.com/
http://felicityfun.blogspot.com/
Can you please do a photography tip post about how to take photos of a Christmas tree? It’s nearly Christmas and I (and many other people I think) can’t seem to find the right angle! It would be really helpful:) anyways just a suggestion. Love your blog! Xx
oh my, how incredibly wonderful! such a unique design and glamorous colour!
xx
OMG I love this idea!
I have to try it *-*
xoxo
Anna
These are so great and simple, but have the appearance of being difficult. Really nice project!
Another very lovely idea! You guys are so inspiring! 🙂
http://andreavytlacilova.com/
I love this! and I also love the variations. This would be a great add on gift for gramma and grampa’s present:)
This looks really interesting. I guess the method could be used for other shapes as well. I wonder, where I can get the wood from.
great idea!
http://hanaljoofri.blogspot.sg/
Am I dumb? Where do you buy balsa wood at? And pretty much all of the other supplies too.
Hi Natalie!
You can buy balsa wood in the wood section of a craft store like Michael’s or Hobby Lobby. I believe you can buy all of these supplies in both stores, actually. 🙂
elsie
Love it, so beautiful!
so simple! i adore it such a great idea.
Zoe
http://gypsiesister.blogspot.co.uk
So creative!
Hi Laura, thanks for this super tutorial, you rock!
I wonder if Martha Stewart makes these…or does she just use real diamonds?