Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle (TMNT) Sequins Ornament

Sequins ornaments are really fun to make, and I have been wanting to do Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle sequins ornaments since last year. I decided to give then a go. They are great decorations for your Christmas Tree or for anytime of the year.

If any of the directions don't make sense, or you have any questions, please let me know in the comments. Everything makes sense to me because I made it, but that doesn't mean it will make sense to you :)

Ornament:

• Styrofoam Balls (need 4) (2 1/2 inch for Large; 1 1/2 inch for small)
• 8mm Sequins in Green (you'll need at least 220 per head), Red, Orange, Blue, Purple, White and Black (you will only need a few black, another alternative is to use black pearl beads or just cut out small circles of paper)
• 3/4 inch Sequins Pins (large pack if you are going to do many, it will take more than one pack for just one large TMNT ornament)
• Seed Beads in Green, Red, Orange, Blue, Purple, White and Black - I bought this bead kit from Michaels with a coupon
• Marker

For Hanging:

• Ribbon (1/4 inch for large ornaments; 1/8 inch for small) Color of choice, I used green to match ornaments, other option is to do the color that matches their masks
• Scissors
• Fray Check (optional, I like it so it doesn't fray while I'm working on it, and so it won't fray and pull off the ornament later)
• E-6000 Glue - or just glue, I just like this one
• Toothpick (for the glue)

Time to do the eyes.

I actually ended up doing them in three different ways with different amounts of white sequins. You can see the eye whites compared to the final results.

I prefer the version that uses 8 white per eye (with Michelangelo). I think if you use 6 per eye (with Raphael) it would look best if you put the white on top of the mask. Six together looks pretty circular.

1. To do the eyes, you want to first try to draw a straight line around the ball.
2. Put on the sequins for the eyes, you don't want the eyes too far apart (you want to be able to fit a sequins between them, but still cover up enough of the white sequins that you won't have any gaps).
3. Once you have the whites on, put a black in the center of each (or use a white sequins with a black pearl bead).

To do the mask, I took the color I was using and overlapped the white. You want to shape the mask and the eyes as you go.

Once you have the mask in place, you can outline them in green. I slid the green under the mask because I like the way the shape looked with the mask on top.

On the edges of the eyes, you want to leave a space for a two sequins tall mask that will go all around the ball (you can see this in the last two images).

*when you see some of the pins still sticking out, I did that on purpose because I knew I would be slipping other sequins (the green) behind them and it was easier than trying to stick them under sequins that are stuck down tight

To finish the mask, take the green and go around the head in two rows leaving room for two sequins to fit between them. You can see how they will overlap. In the second image.

I tried to put the mask sequins on in a diagonal type pattern so that they filled in the space better.

Go all the way around the head, and then you can put away all the colors, because all you need now is the green.

You can do this how you wanted, but I picked out which side was the top of the head and which was the bottom. I filled in the bottom first and then did the top. I went in a circular pattern around the head in rows. You can fill in however you want, but I think this gives the ornament a more organized look.

With the top, you want to leave space for the final sequins at the very top of the head. Leave this blank for now. This is where the ribbon and final sequins will go.

This is done similarly to the large one except I put the eye on top of the mask because it is only one single sequins and the mask has only one row of sequins going around the head instead of two rows. I also used a 5mm black sequins for the pupil and I just put that on top of the white sequins.

Just follow the pictures to make this one.

This is what they will look like finished.

Now you can see the size comparison between the large and small ones.

Ribbon time!

Get out your supplies as shown.

I started by cutting the ribbons and fray checking the ends.

Once the ribbons are ready, pour some of your glue onto a surface (I used the ribbon spool) so it is handy.

Act quickly as you do this as the ribbon will want to fall off the ornament. It helps if you can hold it up while you are working.

1. Put a dab of glue in the empty spot on top of the ornament using the toothpick.
2. Put one end of the ribbon on that spot (make sure the ribbon is going perpendicular to the mask. You want to be able to put the ornament on the tree so the face faces out).
3. Put a dab of glue on the ribbon and attach the other end of the ribbon as shown. A hoop should form.
4. Now take a sequins and stick that on the ribbon.
5. Take a pin with a bead on it and stick it through the sequins and make sure it also goes through both ends of the ribbon.
6. Push down firmly and let dry overnight.

Don't put it up too soon or you might pull the ribbon off.

Don't they look cute.