Spun cotton is a Victorian era craft that originated in Germany. They took spun cotton as an inexpensive material and a glue binder and created ornaments ranging from fruit to figurines. Many times it starts with a base of hardened spun cotton . We cut out a step in this tutorial and are using a plastic ornament to make the project much, much easier! This step by step easy sugared spun cotton orange ornament tutorial will make it easy for your to create and bedeck your own tree with glittery and sweet with a vintage style. Once you’ve mastered a spun cotton orange, you can branch out to other fun items such as plums, pears at more!
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Supplies for Spun Cotton Oranges
-Spun cotton batting
-White craft (PVA) glue or decoupage medium mixed with a little water
-Crystal or white sparkly glitter
-Brush
-Small Plastic Ornament
-Orange craft paint in dark orange, light orange and yellow
-Dark green multi-purpose paint
-Foam pouncer
-Paint palette or plate
-Dark green and light green craft felt
Prepare your Plastic Ornament
If you want to try another spun cotton craft, try making these spun cotton candles with this tutorial -link opens in a new window.
It’s important to use a plastic ornament for this project since you are going to be putting a lot of pressure on these with pouncing. Remove the cap on the ornament, paint it with the green multi-surface paint and set aside.
Get the Cotton Batting and Glue Ready
If you are using a roll of cotton batting, separate the layers of the batting so you have a very thin layer. Cut the batting in a circle that is just large enough to cover the ornament and set aside. If you are using white craft glue create a mixture of 1 part glue to 3 parts water. If you are using decoupage medium you can use that right out of the container or thin it slightly.
Use a brush to brush your glue mixture or decoupage medium onto the outside of the ornament. Make sure to cover the entire outside of the ornament with glue.
Create the Spun Cotton Ornament Orange Base
Once the plastic ornament is completely covered, wrap it in the thin layer of cotton batting making sure there is good contact between the ornament and the batting. Trim off any extra near the top so that where the hanger goes back in is clear of cotton batting.
Once the batting is adhered to the ornament, brush the batting with the glue/decoupage medium until it is completely covered. We found it was helping to let it dry upright on a dowel rod over night until the glue/decoupage medium is completely dry.
Paint the Spun Cotton Orange
Squirt a dime size amount of light orange, dark orange and yellow craft paint onto a plate, holding the ornament at the hanger base opening, use the pouncer to paint the spun cotton with the orange and yellow paint to resemble and orange. Once the orange is painted let dry.
Add Glitter to Resemble Sugar
One of the sweetest things about these ornaments is the glitteriness that resembles the look of sugar. Use a brush to add a layer of glue and then lightly sprinkle the clear crystal glitter over the top. Let dry upside down.
Cut out the Leaves
While the orange is drying, Cut leaf shapes out of the felt and set aside. Once the orange is dry, replace the now green painted cap, and use a few drops of craft glue to adhere the leaves to the orange.
Hang your New Sweet Vintage-Style Sugar Spun Orange Ornament!
Just add a hanger and add to your tree! There are so fun and sweet, and once you get the hang of it, easy and fun to make! If you are giving them as a gift, you can package them really cute in some paper shred and a box like they are real fruit.
If you love crafts with fruit, make sure to see how to make this orange wreath with faux oranges
