Winter Craft Ideas: Recycled Tie Snowflake Ornaments

These adorable snowflake ornaments incorporate recycled neckties into their crafting. A small set of these ornaments make a great gift idea or present topper this holiday season. This is also a perfect craft project for anyone who is a beginning crafter.

For this project, you will need:

- Several old neckties in any color or pattern
- Seam ripper (available at sewing supply shops)
- Fabric scissors
- Fabric marking pen
- Snowflake shaped stencils in a variety of sizes
- Iron
- Ironing board
- Krylon Crystal Clear Acrylic Finishing Spray
- 1/4 inch wide satin ribbon in a coordinating color
- Hot glue gun and glue sticks
- Newspaper and/or a large drop cloth

Before starting, cover your workspace with sheets of old newspaper or a large drop cloth. Remove any seams from the necktie using a seam ripper to create a solid piece of fabric. Place the fabric face down on the work area. With a fabric marking pen, trace a variety of snowflake shapes from stencil onto the fabric. Each necktie should be able to produce enough fabric for three to four medium sized snowflake shapes.

Carefully cut out each snowflake shape using fabric scissors. Heat up the iron on a low to warm setting. Press each of the snowflake designs with the iron. Cool completely. Lay the snowflake shapes out flat. Coat each snowflake with a moderate layer of Krylon Crystal Clear Acrylic Finishing Spray. Let each fabric design dry for three to four hours. Turn the snowflakes over and repeat the acrylic spray process on the opposite side. Dry overnight.

Cut a small piece of 1/4 inch wide satin ribbon in a coordinating color for each snowflake ornament. Apply a dab of hot glue to one end of the ribbon. Adhere the ribbon to the top of one snowflake. Glue the other end of the ribbon to the first end, creating a loop. Allow the glue to cool completely before hanging the ornaments, as desired.

TIP: If you do not already have a stash of neckties to use for this project, consider looking at yard sales, flea market, thrift stores, etc. The fabric of the necktie does not matter. Use colors and patterns that pique your interest. To use these ornaments as a present topper, incorporate the snowflake ornament into the bow portion of the gift wrap by threading it through the ribbon loop.