Nativity Vinyl Glass Ball Ornaments

Seven nativity designs in delicate silhouette style

to cut from vinyl, attach to cut acetate or vinyl 

insert shape, roll into a tube, and place inside 

a 3" glass ball, add artificial snow

if desired, add bow or other decoration,

then feature on Christmas tree or other displays.

These scale-able vector graphic (svg) downloads

are available from SnapDragon Snippets,

SVG Attic, and Silhouette America's online store,

to work with digital cutting systems such as

the Silhouette Cameo (our favorite) as well as

Cricut Design Space and others.

Here is the set of designs:

ASSEMBLE: 1.Obtain glass ball ornaments.

Designs are sized 3.1" size which work well 

with the  "Celebrate It" balls from Michael's Crafts; 

also included are the slightly reduced designs 

for the 2.6" balls.

2. Cut the selected size design from vinyl.

Since these designs are very small, several may

be set up in one or more rows when 
preparing to cut. Allow space between the

designs for trimming. Trim each with a small

margin around the component cuts, like the area

of white backing shown on the "Holy Family" design

being modeled in the image below.

NOTE that a good choice is "outdoor vinyl" 
such as Oracal 651 which has a stronger adhesive 
to help keep tiny pieces attached to backing 
during the weeding procedures.

3. The tiny details of these designs will require careful

and slow weeding to remove all excess around

and within the design components. 

Refer to the thumbnails

which appear with the downloads, 

or to the image above to preserve only the design.

4. Cut the ball insert shape from clear acetate.

5. Cut a piece of transfer "tape" paper,

remove backing, and place over the weeded

vinyl design.

6. Use a "scraper" to "burnish" the transfer paper

over the vinyl pieces to ensure they will be picked

up correctly and completely.

7. Carefully peel away the vinyl carrier sheet

leaving ALL vinyl pieces attached to the

transfer paper.

8. Position the vinyl on the front of the 

clear ball shape.

One way to do this is (without a lot of inadvertent sticking
of transfer tape) to place the clear ball shape

ON TOP of the carrier with vinyl and 
adjust the vinyl design compared to the ball shape

up/down and side-to-side.

Once desired position is determined, trim away the 

transfer paper even with the clear ball shape.

Next, move the clear shape to be in its final position

 BEHIND the vinyl/transfer paper, aligning the lower

edges of both, and visually adjusting before

allowing the transfer paper to "stick" in final position.

9. Burnish with scraper tool to attach the vinyl

shapes to the front of the clear ball shape.

10. Carefully peel away transfer paper,

making sure that each tiny detail of vinyl

remains in position attached to the acetate.

Here is the completed acetate shape.

11. Remove the top cap and wire loop of glass ball.

12. Carefully roll the completed design side-to-side

with vinyl on the inside . . .

. . . then insert the roll through the ball stem.

When the acetate unrolls, make sure that it

self-adjusts to be in the center of the ball

with the "stem" extension in the ball's neck.

Straighten, if necessary, with tweezers.

13. Replace cap and wire loop.

14. If desired, add some fake snow flakes

into the bottom of the ball prior to

re-attaching the cap and loop.

Embellish with ribbon at stem as desired.

Magi 3d Myrrh Bottle

Commemorate the arrival of Balthazar with his myrrh gift 

on "Three Kings Day" January 6 (Epiphany) with this narrow-neck vessel 

that can be filled with loose "goodies" as a gift container, 

or simply used as decor.  Measures approx. 7.25" tall x 3.25" wide x 3" deep. 

Coordinates with other Magi gold chest or pyramid boxes.

(This tutorial is under construction.

Please return soon to view the completed tutorial.)

ASSEMBLY: 1. Identify and cut the shapes:
A main bottle base 
B base reinforcing ring
C upper bottle base   D front bottle neck shape with rim
E bottle neck shapes (5)
F stopper stem  G lower stopper section
H upper stopper section  I petal accent shapes for base
J leaf accent shapes for bottle neck
K scallop accent shapes for upper bottle neck
L stopper accent side shapes
M stopper accent top flower and hex shapes
NOT SHOWN: 
bottle neck squiggle accent shapes
bottle neck top hex shape with smaller opening

You can identify the shapes in this design

by locating the tiny cut numeral in the side tab.

The bottom section is 1; the middle section is 2;

bottle neck section is 3; stopper 4-6.

2. Prepare the bottom section by bending back 

on all perforations. Allow the tiny "stop" nibs

to bend outward slightly.

3. Bend the segments of the base shape inward
toward each other to bring the straight edge to
overlap the opposite tab perforation line.
Align the edge and perf line of the inner segment and glue.
Repeat the process for the outer segment.
Complete all the segment seams.

4. Form the bottom section into a tube to bring together
the final side seam edges. Overlap the straight edge
at the corresponding tab perf lines and complete the
three portions of the seam.

5. Bend the bottom tabs inward, then bend bottom panel 

into place over the bottom opening, align straight

hex end edges along the perforations,

and glue in place.

It may be helpful to press along the bottom hex seam edges
by pressing from the inside against a flat surface.

6. Prepare the reinforcement ring by bending the

edge tabs upward.

Insert the ring into the top opening of the

lower base shape . . . 

. . . align upper straight edges of each and glue in place.

7. Prepare the upper base section in similar manner

to the lower section, then bend edges and tab perfs

into position and join seams. 

8. Form a tube and join the

final three side edge seams.

9. Fit the upper base over the lower base . . .

. . . apply glue along the lower margin of the 

center segment above nib tabs, and on the underside

of the nib tabs, then push the upper base into position

and apply pressure to join.

10. Prepare the lower petal accent shapes by

bending slightly at the perf cuts located approx.

1/3 down from top and up from bottom.

Position and attach each accent in a section of the 

bottle base, lining up bottom straight edges, 

perf bends at base angles.

11. Prepare the neck sections by bending on perf lines

as shown (tabs back, top two perf lines back,

bottom and middle horizontal lines forward.

12. Line up the bottle front shape segments,

to overlap center straight edge at corresponding

center tab perforation line, adjust, and glue in place.

Repeat the alignment and gluing of the other segments

of the edges: one below center, two above.

13. Continue to add bottle neck sections to the assembly

in similar manner, to join all 6 into a single unit,

then form the unit into a tube to complete the final

seam sections.

14. Bend top tabs inward at horizontal angle,

then bend the top ring into position and attach to tabs,

using the hex larger opening to reach finger tips

inside to assist with the joining process.

15. Position and attach the top hexagon
with opening to better fit the bottle stopper stem.

16. Apply glue to the underside of the lowest
sections of bottle neck unit, then insert over
the top of the bottle base assembly.

17.  Prepare the leaf accent shapes by bending

top eyelet ring portion forward, lower leaf tip portion back.

Position and attach each at lowest two bends of

bottle neck section all around.

Also position and attach the squiggle line accent

shapes in the facets below the leaf accents

(refer to top image on this tutorial to see squiggle shapes).

18. Prepare the stopper upper shape by bending

back on all perforation lines.

19. Bend on perf between segments to bring

straight angled edge to overlap adjacent tab perf line,

and join. Repeat for the remaining four similar seams.

20. Form the shape into a tube to bring the end

straight edge to overlap the opposite tab perf line and join.

Complete the final angle seam.

21. Bend the stopper top hex into position and attach

to bend-inward tabs.

22. Complete the assembly of the lower stopper shape

in similar fashion, except there is a lower "hollow" hex lid

to bend into position and attach to tabs.

23. Prepare the stopper stem by bending upper

tabs opposite the hex "lid" (at the bottom of this image) 

outward, bending back on all other perforation lines.

24. Form the stem into a tube to overlap straight edge
at opposite tab perf line, and join. Fold bottom hex "lid"
into position and attach to bent-inward tabs.
25. Insert closed end first through the stopper bottom assembly
hex opening (from the inside), and push through to seat
the tabs at the inside surface. Glue tabs in place.

26. Apply glue to the underside of upper stopper

rim, then fit over the lower stopper assembly

and hold/apply pressure until secure.

27. Prepare and attach side face (punched rectangle)

accents, top flower and hex shapes to the stopper.

28. To complete the bottle design,

embellish with studs and jewels as desired.

Fit the stopper into the top opening to "close" the bottle.

NOTE that stopper stem will remain a loose fit.

To assist the stopper to stay in position,

consider using a clear adhesive tape such as 

Kool Tak tape applied to the stopper bottom hexagon

as shown.