In today's busy world, the romantic 19th-century Victorian era holds an appeal for its beauty, elegance and simplicity. Using a Victorian theme for your Christmas, or even your home decor, can re-create that warm, homey feeling. Making your own Victorian ornaments is not difficult because, originally, most were made from materials that were readily available around the home.
Fabric and More
Fabrics, with the addition of yarn, embroidery, ribbon, beads, buttons, lace and feathers, were often used to create ornaments in the 19th century and you can create your own the same way. Cut shapes of Christmas trees, angels, stars, berry leaves, Santa, birds and other symbols of the season, a front and back piece, from whatever fabric scrap that you appeals to you. Embellish the shape with the addition of embroidery, ribbons, beads and lace sewn or glued on each piece in a decorative manner. The front and back are sewn together with a bit of stuffing between, and a piece of ribbon attached for hanging.
Because crocheting was a skill almost every Victorian girl and woman learned and used, crocheted snowflakes, angels and birds were made and stiffened for hanging by either soaking or by painting a heavy starch solution on the crocheted piece and allowing it to dry. You can do the same by either crocheting your own pieces or finding small doilies - even fabric trim might work - that resemble snowflakes and applying starch to stiffen them. Sew or glue a satin ribbon loop for hanging after the starch has dried.
Angels were a particularly favored subject for Victorian ornaments. Besides cutting the shape out of fabric, other household items that are available can be used to create angel ornaments. Old-fashioned clothespins that have a rounded top can be dressed to look like angels by adding fabric gowns, tinsel halos and wings of wide ribbon bows, lace or feathers. Tassels, usually of silk and normally used for home decor items, can be transformed by sewing a face and adding a halo, plus wings of wide ribbon, lace or feathers.
Paper
Paper was another source for making Victorian ornaments. Find scraps of old-fashioned-looking wallpaper and fold to resemble a fan to make a quite popular authentic Victorian ornament. Your paper fans, again, should be further embellished with ribbons, feathers or lace.
Saved greeting cards of the time were trimmed or cut out and hung. In some instances, the greeting card image was glued to a canning jar lid and the edge trimmed with ribbon or lace. You can do the same by using your old Christmas cards, or Victorian-themed wrapping paper glued to stiff card stock paper. These can be carefully trimmed with lace or ribbon, or left as is. Use the same type of canning lid to mount the printed images you selected and then glue ruffled lace along the edge with a ribbon or cord loop at the top for hanging.
Pomander Spice Balls
Victorian pomander spice balls are traditional to this era because not only were they easy to make from items around the home, but because they could be used as an aromatic gift. Today, most are made starting with a Styrofoam ball, but originally, these pomander spice balls started with an orange. You can use either one for your pomander spice ball.
Start by attaching a colorful velvet or satin ribbon to the ball by wrapping the ribbon around the ball from top to bottom and securing it with straight pins. After that, spices like clove are pushed into the orange skin. Nuts, berries and a variety of pretty beads can be added in-between and around the cloves using straight pins pushed into the orange skin. A loop of ribbon on top makes your pomander ready to hang anywhere around the house or in a closet after the holidays are over.
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