Most hair dryers do use a portion of the heating element to drop the voltage going to the motor. Some hair dryer motors will run just fine on 12 volts DC.

As for what you are doing wrong- you are using a hairdryer well outside its designed use, when another device is bettter suited. A small blower would probably be more appropriate.

Here is a link that might be useful: blower

Might I recommend a small, 120volt air matress pump. They can be had for less than $20 in most places. No heat, less $ to operate.

everything i read about the air mattress pumps is that they do overheat. i am looking into waynes suggestion though. all the air pumps i had found previously were way to expensive

Aquarium pump.

i tried an aquarium pump but it just doesn't move the air enough

Vacuumm pump or cleaner.

How about a cabinet fan like this:

Here is a link that might be useful: cabinet cooling fans

Ideally you will have a blower rather than a fan so it will work well with some pressure. Inexpensive surplus blowers can be found easily. Just be sure to cable your new contraption carefully if it uses line voltage.

http://www.herbach.com/

http://www.sciplus.com/

Here is a link that might be useful: surplus

A vacuum sucking air out will have the same effect as a blower blowing air in.

That is a very good point that opens some good design alternatives. The ornaments and "contraption" must be able to withstand the vacuum as opposed to pressure.

Is the air going into these ornaments filtered to keep dust out?