Making your own Christmas tree ornaments?

Does anyone else do this? I do it every year, but have dealt with comments from people asking why I bother to do it. It's the same with making Christmas cards. They aren't crafty folks, but you know, they did sow the seed of doubt. I do it because I like the thought that someday, when my kids have grown up and left to start their own lives, I'll be able to cover an entire tree with picture ornaments of them. Every year I'll get to see them grow up all over again! I just made one I love, thought I might share it with other crafty people who will understand it better.


Joy ornament
By Byondbzr

I have watched you over the years make the most beautiful things...do NOT let the Doubting Debbie's get to you. Let them have their cookie cutter tree and decorations.

Wasn't it you that made the garland from the Bazzill chips a year or so ago?? I will always remember how gorgeous that was!!

Rebecca, I think it is awesome that you do that! I don't alter stuff, but I def understand the want to make more personal items for your decor! You tell em, well, I have the desire and the talent to make them, so I make them!

oh my gosh that is such a good idea, im gonna borrow it

You have to just remind yourself who your making it for? yourself or them? As long as your making for yourself and your happy DO IT! If your making it for someone else and they are not happy then you have to think about that.. boo to the meanies!

And it is funny you can go into an upscale boutique and find something like that but not as nice and with a tiny sticker tag made in who knows where... your is WAY BETTER, MADE WELL, and with LOVE!

Well, I say power to ya!

Isn't expressing your own creativity, style & sentiment what crafting is all about!

They are your creations & your special-made memories!

Every other location we live, we have always celebrated the tradition of handmade Christmas crafts.

This year since all our holiday ornaments & decor is in storage back in the states...you can guarantee that I am making my own ornaments!

I've since already finished my cards!



Sidenote: You just might be surprised as to how many other scrapbookers & designers for that matter, make all their own decorations! (in fact, some are creating every other month!)...just check the Gallery, various blogs & or the net!

I only have about 12 or so ornaments on my tree that weren't hand made by me or my kids. My family loves that. Other people come and look at the tree and the decorations around the house (also hand made) and they say "huh, these are different". If they like them good for me, if they don't so what! I don't decorate for them... just the family. So YES it's worth it!

YES, see, I need to hear from people that "get" what it's all about! I do it for me, for my kiddos, NOT anyone else!!! I love to do it, and I am happy to say that in just THREE short years, I am already well on the way with homemade decor for my tree!

And Miriam, thank you SO much for the sweet compliments! You've made me glow!

SO, ladies, do ya have any links to share of ornaments from your galleries? Or have any cool ideas? Would love to hear about/see them! I REALLY want to make a tree-topper, probably a star, and put photos all over it! I am thinking of using a small set of battery operated mini lights to make it really pretty.

My MIL's tree is all handmade. While I don't have any memories attached to the ornaments, her kids sure do. Everyone goes down memory lane while looking at their favorites. My tree is all color coordinated gold, maroon, glass, and pearl. To each their own. (I must also mention I worked in a Christmas store 13 years ago for fun. I now have 6 themed trees.)

I do the themed tree too, or I used to do it more... All gold! It was so pretty! My kids thought i was weird because of my ribbon on it.... Now I do Gold and Red and some others... I am not sure what I will do this year!

Rebecca, this is my first year for making my ornaments. I went the simple route....clear glass ornaments, filled with rolled paper or glittery tinsel, topped off with a bow. But next year I want to get an early start and really let the creative juices flow. Forget about the ones who "don't get it". We (you) are creating MEMORIES that your children and grandchildren will treasure for years and years!!!

I have never made ornaments for my tree, but I love the few my daughter has made in school. We have mouse and bear ornaments mostly on our tree. I collect mice and the bears are my daughters. I have also started adding Campbell soup ornaments to the collection.

The simple answer to why I do the crafts I do: I enjoy it. No other explanation should be necessary. No one else is asked to justify their hobby. Why do you golf? Why do you knit? Why do you woodwork? Why do you garden? I hope everyone's answer is because I enjoy it.

My mom told me my brother asked her this week why I make scrapbooks while he was looking at the one I had made for her and her answer was because she enjoys it.

I haven't made my own ornaments yet, but am going to attempt some this year. I love the idea of having home made ornaments with pics, and being able to see family, & your children, especially those who are not with us on Christmas.

i made a few ornatments last year. i gave some to family last year and they love it

My favorite Menorah (candleabra for Hanukkah) is handmade by my grandson.

Some of the most precious ornaments that hang on our family Christmas tree are hand made. We made ornaments last year from metal cookie cutters,,,,,spray painted them and tied ribbons to them,,,,,simple, fast, old fashioned looking and very country,,,,(JHawkeye you made me laugh with your "cookie cutter tree", lol, I have a cookie cutter tree, but I made it myself!!!)

Hallmark had crystals with ribbons on them selling for pricy amounts this year, and it struck me that I could buy crystals at J's 3 for 1.50 and stick ribbons on them myself,,,,(although Hallmark had several sizes for sale and I can only find the small ones at J's, still, the bigger ones are simply too large and heavy IMHO anyway,,,)

i make those martha stewart balls every year for gifts, they're easy to make and a great way to recycle christmas cards. when i have my own place again and get my own tree i think i want to decorate entirely in homemade paper ornaments. why not, it's cheap, it's fun, it looks awesome, and if one breaks no big deal just make another one.

If I took notice of what other people said, I'm sure I'd never do anything!

When I started a photography course, my mother said "Why? Are you planning on starting up a business?" and I got a similar comment from my aunt. When I went to a recent crop night my mother said "I couldn't think of anything worse". And when I told a friend last week that I was thinking of doing Project Life next year, she said "Why on earth would you want to to do that, it sounds like too much hard work". Such great encouragement. At least my husband supports my ventures.

• JHAWKEYE Said:

Ohhhhh I remember that garland...... just beautiful

That ornament is just adorable! And it is those special ornaments made with love that your children will cherish in years to come. So don't listen to them...be creative and enjoy what you do.
I hate to admit this...I make ornaments to sell at Craft Fairs every year...but buy my kids Hallmark...so you made me realize that it is the ones made from the heart that they will cherish!

I love handmade ornaments and have even been in some swaps over the years. It's all what you like. I think people are critical because they don't understand or they are just jealous they can't (or think they can't) create as well. Just keep on doing what you do!

• lifeinthefastlane Said:

Thank you ladies, yep that was me! I can't believe this will be the THIRD Christmas I'll be putting it up, and my kids look so young on that one! It's held up perfectly too!

Hey, I want to see the garland made with Bazzil chips,,,,,,

what are Bazzil chips?????????

And how do you make garland with Bazill chips????

Wow, not sure I ever loaded it back to the gallery after it was pubbed, let me go check on that...

OK, I had to reload the pic, I did just the main view, will have to do closeups later as I have to go get my dd from preschool..


Christmas tree garland
By Byondbzr

I love handmade ornaments..my mom has kept the ones we have made when we were younger and its my favorite part of decorating the tree. I have yet to make any for my current tree, but my aunt makes very elaborate and cute paper ornaments every year.

It gives the tree a more personal look instead of the commercial ornaments everyone has!

OK here's a closeup. It's made with oval Bazzill chips, which are chipboard shapes. I just covered with pp and decorated them, then made holes on each end and tied them together with ribbon.


Garland closeup 3
By Byondbzr

I usually lurk, but I had to answer this one! When I was 7, my mom and I made some sew and stuff Halloween decorations (the kind that are pre-printed on the fabric and then you cut them out, sew them, and stuff them). That was, ahem, 30 years ago. I went to visit my mom and step-dad this Halloween. They are raising my niece and nephew and those stuffed decorations were hanging up around the house, just as cute. I told my 9 yo nephew and 3yo niece that grandma and I made those when I was little and they pointed out the decorations they made and asked if theirs would be hanging up when they were big like Auntie Ann (thank goodness they didn't say old). They asked if the Christmas stuff was also stuff I had helped make and if I would be sending them something new to hang up this year (I send something every year). I encouraged them to send me something they had made so that I could remember them every time I saw it.

My point? Don't underestimate the appreciation your family and those important to you will have, and do have, for the items you make, regardless of the holiday. Don't bother for those who have to ask, they don't get it. It wouldn't even occur to me to not make some sort of holiday decoration for each member of my family, it's always been our tradition. And selfishly, I enjoy doing it, whether I think anyone else will appreciate it or not.

Get down with your crafty self - and give your gifts to those who appreciate them for what they are.

Ann