Sewn Christmas Ornament

There was a question on the EMS Board about how to make a fabric framed ornament - this is my solution: (click on the thumbnails for a larger view)
1. Cut four squares of fabric - mine are 4' x 4"
2. Mark a circle in the center on the wrong side of one square - you can see my very scientific method of marking a precisely sized and placed circle!
3. Sew around the circle - I used red thread so the stitching line would show for the photo - normally I would use a thread that matched the fabric.
4. Trim the circle out to about a 1/4" seam and notch - be careful not to cut your stitching.
5. Turn the top layer thru the circle and match the corners. Pin them. When you have matched all four corners, the circle should lay flat.
6. And here it is, all turned.
7. Cut two pieces of batting (my British friends would say wadding) and use the same scientific method to mark a circle in the center of one of them. Cut out the circle from the center.
8. Insert the batting between the two layers - one for the circle piece, the other for the backing.
9. I wanted a hanger in the corner, and used a 1/4" grosgrain ribbon inserted between the circle piece and the backing piece.
10. Sew all around the four sides with a 1/4" seam - you are going to turn this thru the center circle, so you don't have to leave any side not sewn. Trim the corners and turn.
11. Ta-Da! I tucked a scrap of fabric leftover from a quilt I made in the center. I didn't have a cross stitch piece prepared :-(.

Things I learned:
A. This took about 45 minutes to cut out and assemble - it honestly took longer to upload all the photos than it did to make it. I expect the next ones will go faster, because I won't be stopping to photograph each step - lol!
B. Trim the batting squares 3/8" smaller than the fabric squares so the seams won't be so thick - I sewed right thru the batting, and it made it thick on the edges.
C. To make the center puffier, insert a circle of batting behind the insert.
D. It would probably be a good idea to make the lining squares in a solid color to match whatever you are going to insert - you can see the print if you look closely at the center.

Currently reading: Under the Mistletoe by Mary Balogh
Currently stitching: finishing ornament for EMS Board exchange.