It has become our custom at Happy Acres to make homemade Christmas ornaments each year, and to unveil our ornaments on Christmas morning, before we open our presents. I have been making ornaments since I was a kid, and I still have most of the ornaments I have made over the years.
This bell ornament in the photo below features sequins, beads and braid over a foam base. It was made in the 1970’s, when I was still living at home with my parents.
homemade ornament from the 1970's (click on any photo to enlarge)
The scroll saw dove ornament below is made of maple wood and birch plywood, and dates from the late 1980’s.
scroll saw dove from 1980's
For 2010, I branched out into unfamiliar media and techniques. Using needle and thread is not my specialty, but I borrowed the necessary items from my wife and managed to get the job done. This mitten ornament is made entirely from materials we had on hand at home. The base is red felt, decorated with ribbons, bells, glitter glue and some metallic garland. I picked up on the “joy” theme from our homemade Christmas cards.
2010 mitten ornament
My wife made this Christmas box ornament using acrylic paints and glitter over a chipboard base, with some ribbon for a hanger.
decorated box ornament
Both of our ornaments show it is easy to make personalized, homemade ornaments using inexpensive and readily available materials. If you’ve never tried making ornaments, you might want to give it a whirl for 2011. Who knows, you might even wind up starting your own tradition!