Sunday, November 30, 2014

DIY! Simple Fabric Angels (No Sew!)

In spite of my ability to complicate everything, I LOVE simple crafts. In fact, these are so simple that the kids can make them too! I also LOVE that you can use what you have - doilies, ribbon, fabric, denim - whatever suits your own personal style (and is in your craft stash) works so well for these cuties! So, let me introduce you to my little angels.

I have been making these angels forever...I have made them for Christmas, I have made them for my friends when they had babies...I seriously do not know exactly for how long other than I can tell you that there are a few teenagers that have these hanging in their rooms. I adore their simplicity and ease and even with that simplicity there are so many ways you can personalize the.
{I adore {almost} anything denim!}

This craft is all about easy. I do not even put faces on my angels...My son insists they need faces, so that is up to you! Each of my kiddos has one {my son made my daughters...it has a face!}
 

SUPPLIES
I had all of the supplies on hand - and none of them are hard to find either. 
  • Rags or fabric: t-shirts, muslin, denim, etc.
  • Styrofoam ball OR Sock OR stuffing OR newspaper
  • Rubber band
  • Glue (white)

Optional: 
  • Ribbon, twine for decorating or hanging
  • Halo: Ric rac, Star garland, Ribbon
  • For wings: Paper bag, Lace, Burlap, Raffia, Book page, Scrapbook page, Wax paper
  • To Hold/Adorn: Jingle bells, Crystals, Buttons, Baskets, cones, stars {use your imagination!}

DIY IT!
Here's a PDF!
  • Tear/cut rags into strips. For a 2" diameter head 1" strips will work. For smaller angels, make the strips 1/2" +/-. If you are using a woven rag/fabric you should be able to easily tear your fabric...cut small slits along the selvage edge (the lengthwise finished edge of the fabric) and then grab both sides and tear...it should tear easily and the rough edges add to the character.

  • If using a sock/crumpled newspaper: Turn the sock inside out and roll into a ball. You may wish to secure the "neck" to keep it from unrolling with a rubber band or tie. Start wrapping and overlapping the rags up and over the head, holding with the other hand at the "neck." 
  • If using a Styrofoam ball: Start wrapping and overlapping the rags up and over the head, holding with the other hand at the "neck."
  • When the head is covered and you are happy with the size/length of the angels body...you can continue to go over the pieces you have already used to give the angel a thicker body...tie off with a small piece of rag, ribbon {make it long enough so that you can tie on the wings and then knot it for a hanger} or use a rubber band to hold the fabric in place and the neck "in." {the rubber bands work well if you are doing this with kids}.
  • If using a rubber band, take a smaller piece and tie it around the neck to hide the rubber band {make it long enough so that you can tie on the wings and then knot it for a hanger}. 
  • Gather, fold or ruffle your wings {i.e., if you are using paper, a fan fold will work, for fabric wings you may be able to just tie off the wings and they will "ruffle" or you can pleat them}.
  • Lay the angel face down, place the folded/gathered wings in the neck tie and then knot off the tie to hold the wings in place. 
  • Then take the two ends of the ties and knot them together to form a loop for hanging 
  • Flip the angel over and take 2 to 3 strips on each side to create arms.  
  • Twist those strips together and then secure in front of the angel with a smaller tie or ribbon. You may trim the length of these strips once you are happy with the arms.
  • Choose your embellishment {bell, flower, crystal, etc.} and tie it to the angels hands {sing the tie you used to secure the arms) 
  • Now you can trim up the angels body length is desired and any other strings. 
  • Add halo {ric rac} and secure with glue. 
  • If desired, it is really fun to ad jingle bells onto the bottom of the strips that make up the body.
Be creative with your embellishments. I love a simple single jingle bell.


There are so many ways to style and personalize your angels.


So what will you use to make your angels?

 
Signature
 
This post is written and created at 504 Main by Holly Lefevre

32 comments:

  1. Very cute !! I think I can make it :)
    Thank you for sharing

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  2. A great craft to make with the kids! Love this idea.

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  3. I want one of these angels.. I am serious.. this is so perfect for my ecofriendly.. christmas.. LOl I show cased your wreath.. and talked about your angles on my blog.. come by to say hi...

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  4. I LOVE this idea. It is so sweet and my girls would LOVE something like this. What a great craft!

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  5. holly... sooo sweet! Handmade ornaments are so special, great teacher gifts!
    gail

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  6. Holly those are just beautiful!! SO creative and original! You are so talented my dear!!

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  7. This may be my favorite project of all (although I really don't want to have to chose a favorite because all of your projects are so clever!). I'm one of those people who keeps even the tiniest scraps of fabric when a project is completed because I can't bear to throw them out. I think my daughter and I will be putting them to good use making these adorable angels! I'm thinking I might be able to add some of my vintage buttons, too.

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  8. Too cute, Holly! These remind me of the angels my grandmother used to make for us. I still have mine! Simply adorable!

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  9. You are the QUEEN of thrift, Holly!

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  10. These are so pretty!!! I love them Holly! They are so sweet and rustic - wow. You are so creative!

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  11. these are so cute and would actually work well after christmas to hang in a garden as a garden angel, or garden fairies.

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  12. so cute! I love the denim one, just great!

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  13. They are all so pretty. I love the one with the doily wings. Pretty.

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  14. Holly,

    These are so gorgeous. ...and so original too. I haven't seen anything like them before.

    I want one!!!

    Sarahx

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  15. A craft even I can do??? Thank you. :)

    Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

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  16. Right up my alley because I like simple too! I have a friend who LOVES to find different ways to make angels. I just have to send her this link. She'll love these.

    She will probably put faces just like your son. Me? I'd leave them off too.

    Great craft!

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  17. Anonymous8:37 PM

    Holly, what darling primitive angels. They're so unique...each one a bit different. What a wonderful bragable. Thank you so much for sharing on the Boardwalk Bragfest!

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  18. Cute and easy - fabulous! I might try these with our Brownies next year (we've only got the Christmas party left, this year!). I'd love it if you came across and linked it to my Creative Christmas Countdown event - I think everyone would love this :)

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  19. Come on. You're already as awesome and awesome can be...I mean we have that whole Hockey Player thing going on, and now you're telling me I can take a rag and turn it into something freakin' adorable.

    LOVE YOU!

    Lots of yummy love,
    Alex aka Ma What's For Dinner
    www.mawhats4dinner.com

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  20. I love it! They're so cute.

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  21. These are cool! I'd love for you to link this up to my Thrifty Thursday if you have a chance.

    http://htbhome.blogspot.com/2010/12/thrifty-thursday-chapstick-lotionbar.html

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  22. You are skilled with EVERYTHING lol. I love love these!! These are just adorable and so unique. Perfect for the holidays...

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  23. Oh Holly! These are beautiful! So cozy-like! I just love them! Fabulous!
    Thanks for linking up to Making It With Allie! I can't wait to see what you have for next week!
    AllieMakes.Blogspot.com

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  24. How sweet - I like the variety you can make from basic directions. Just tying the fabric for the wings makes a nice pouf for each side.

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  25. So cute! I love this look.
    Brenda

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  26. Oh. em. gee. I love these, Holly! I on a huge angel & angel wings kick right now and this totally gave me a fix. lol Thank you for linking them to my party too. :)

    xoxo,
    Jami

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  27. Those are really cute....the ones with the burlap are my favorite. No wonder they are still loved by the 12 year olds. Who knows, maybe they will become heirlooms that are past down to their children someday.

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  28. Hi
    Just wanted to let you know that I “ Featured” you on Santa’s Gift Shoppe Blog Hop today for your great project & inspiration! Be sure to grab the “I was featured” on Santa’s Gift Shoppe Button/Code for your sidebar! You deserve it! Thanks so much..If you’re not a follower already we’d love for you to join us...
    Barb

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  29. Beautiful!

    New follow on GFC, follow back at
    http://closertolucy.blogspot.com/

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  30. Adorable! My tween is home sick (again) so I am going to have her try making some of these tomorrow to keep her entertained!

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  31. What are the dimensions of the fabric you started with for the angel in this picture? These are adorable.

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    Replies
    1. I "ripped" my fabric across the width of the entire piece (36" I believe). I trimmed up the bottom pieces as needed based on how long I wanted the angel to be

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Thanks for stopping by and joining the conversation! I sure hope you come back for more!