Personalized Ornament Gifts

as a beekeeper, love these bee ornament gifts. (charlotte ekker wiggins photo)

Personalized Ornament Gifts

One of the best personalized gifts you can give are personalized ornaments. I should know, over the years Bluebird Gardens customers have blessed me with lovely ones.

Whether you are buying new ornaments or pre-loved ornaments from thrift shops, look for ornaments that mean something to the recipient that you can easily customize.

One of the easiest ways to personalize an ornament is to date it and note why you are giving it with the story on a little added tag. A friend gives her nieces and nephews a dated ornament with a story every year so by the time they are leaving home, they have a nice set of Christmas ornaments for their own tree with childhood memories attached. Literally.

Add a little bee to personalize this ornament for a beekeeper. (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)

This particular ballerina Christmas ornament was picked up because it was for a fellow ballerina who had a family member dancing in a “Nutcracker” production.

Another way to easily personalize an ornament is to add a date and the location of where something happened. The location is a good trigger for the memory attached to the ornament.

If the ornament like this pink ballerina needs a defining addition, head to your local hobby shop and see if there is a miniature you can add to the ornament.

If the ornament marks a special event such as a wedding or anniversary, consider picking up an ornament display hangar so that it can be enjoyed all year around.

Also shop after Christmas sales for ornament storage boxes and display hangars.

If giving ornaments every year to family members, it is helpful to keep a list of what ornaments you have given so that you don’t duplicate the memory. You also won’t have to struggle about gift-giving since you’re establishing a tradition of giving ornaments.

For more tips on gardening, beekeeping, cooking and easy home decor, subscribe to my weekly Garden Notes.

Charlotte

Personalized Ornaments

A sweet ballerina mouse ornament personalized for the receiver. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Personalized Ornaments

The month after Christmas is a good time to shop for ornaments you want to personalize as gifts. Whether you are buying new ornaments or pre-loved ornaments from thrift shops, look for ornaments that mean something to the recipient that you can easily customize.

One of the easiest ways to personalize an ornament is to date it and note why you are giving it with the story on a little added tag. A friend gives her nieces and nephews a dated ornament with a story every year so by the time they are leaving home they have a nice set of Christmas ornaments for their own tree with childhood memories attached. Literally.

This particular Christmas ornament was picked up because it was for a fellow ballerina who had a family member dancing in a “Nutcracker” production.

This charming ornament is holding a nutcracker. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Since the recipient is also a beekeeper, it was pretty easy to personalize this charming Christmas ornament. Do you see it?

No one had to date this one to know who was getting it!

Add a little bee to personalize this ornament for a beekeeper. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Another way to easily personalize an ornament is to add a date and the location of where something happened. The location is a good trigger for the memory attached to the ornament.

If the ornament like this pink ballerina needs a defining addition, head to your local hobby shop and see if there is a miniature you can add to the ornament.

Since three is the charm I added another bee on the foot. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

If the ornament marks a special event such as a wedding or anniversary, considering picking up an ornament display hangar so that it can be enjoyed all year around.

One last bee on the back of the ornament. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

If giving ornaments every year to family members, it is helpful to keep a list of what ornaments you have given so that you don’t duplicate the memory.

Have you ever given Christmas ornaments as personalized gifts?

Charlotte

Popsicle Stick Tree Ornament

We all have them, jars and stashes of extra buttons we could use if we could just find them.

Ok, maybe it's just me but what a wonderful use of those unused extra buttons. This charming popsicle stick tree Christmas tree ornament was hanging in the center of a tree at our local city hall. My friend Millie guessed some staff youngster must have added it to the tree since it's not only the only one but is hanging about midway up the tree.

Handmade popsicle Christmas tree ornament hanging at Rolla City Hall.

The popsicle tree ornament looks simple enough to make. After gluing three popsicle sticks into a triangle, paint green and allow to dry. Add buttons, a top star, a trunk at the bottom and paint. Add something to tie it to the Christmas tree.

I would encourage signing the back with a date to ensure this is an heirloom ornament.

Popsicle Christmas tree ornament hanging mid-tree.

Charming project for little hands to make over the holidays!

Charlotte

Tiny Santa Hats

Don't try to find any of these; I think my friend Margaret in St. Louis has cornered the market on these tiny Santa Claus hats she turned into holiday fascinators then shared a few with me.

My tiny Santa hat fascinator with a slight bend to give it a little extra panache.

Not that one remembers one has them on. Once firmly attached, it's far too easy to go through life without remembering what's on one's head. People either scowl or smile. The ones' that smile might be awarded a tiny Santa hat of their own, like my friend Ina.

My gardening friend Ina was the first one to get one of the extra tiny Santa hat fascinators.

I also gave one to my beekeeping friend Cheryl. Her daughter Jordan quickly appropriated the tiny Santa hat so Cheryl asked if I had a second one. To make sure she wouldn't loose it, Cheryl wore both when she was at my house for a holiday drop-in. The punch wasn't spiked - really.

Cheryl HInchman, left, wore two tiny Santa fascinators so that she wouldn't loose them. Punch isn't spiked - honestly.

Ina had an even better idea. She sent me a thank you with best wishes for a happy Christmas with this picture:

Ina Bicknell loans her tiny Santa fascinator to her cat Oscar.

So hats off and may Ina, Oscar - Margaret - and I wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas!

Charlotte

Ok, maybe that's going too far but these tiny Santa Claus hats have the same vibe as the fancier head gear made popular several years ago by Princess Kate. The tiny Santa hats are attached to hair with tiny glued-in hair clips, much as fascinators are.

Once glued-in hair clips are allowed to dry and attached with a tiny Santa hat to one's head, it's easy to forget one is wearing it. Trust me, I know. Until someone spots it and gives you a quirky smile. Better yet, they point to the tiny Santa hat and ask where did you get it because they would love to have one.

Margaret gave me mine during a weekend visit to her house in St. Louis. She had thought ahead and made extras. It was her, and my call, she said, on who should get one as we shopped for fabric for one of my customers custom quilt project. It had to be someone who demonstrated that inner joyful spirit just waiting to be crowned. Such a little thing but so much fun, nothing quite like passing these out and bringing smiles to people's faces. 

Thanks, Margaret, it was Ho Ho Ho fun!

Charlotte

Handmade Snowman Christmas Tree Ornament

So cute and so easy to make, another easy project for kids to tackle during the holidays.

This snowman was on a Christmas tree at the Henry Shaw country home at Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis. Shaw was the founder of the Gardens and only used this home in the summer.

The snowman Christmas tree ornament was made out of round paper circles with holes punched at either end connected with red yarn. Little hands could safely help with hole-punching.

Handmade Snowman Christmas Tree Ornament at Henry Shaw's Country Home, St. Louis.

With a box of crayons or markers, these paper snowmen could get a very colorful and fun wardrobe!

Charlotte

Handmade Paper Christmas Tree Ornaments

Who said Christmas tree ornaments have to be expensive or complicated?

At a December 13, 2015 visit to Henry Shaw's country home in St. Louis, one of the Christmas trees reminded me that ornaments can be as simple as hand-decorated papers on a string.

Shaw was the founder of the Missouri Botanical Garden. His country home is on the Garden grounds and is open for tours during the annual Garden Glow event where lights form a magical wonderland.

These handmade ornaments reminded me of some of the children's artwork we have printed on fabric to make custom kid's artwork quilts.

Handmade Christmas tree cat ornament at Henry Shaw's home at Missouri Botanical Garden.

Although I like the idea of the round paper ornaments, not all of them have to be round.

The square handmade Christmas tree ornaments were just as charming.

All together, the collection of handmade Christmas tree ornaments had a charming effect.

One of the Christmas trees with handmade ornaments at Missouri Botanical Garden.

Wouldn't this make a great project for kids out of school over the holidays?

Don't forget to sign and date them, these unique ornaments are little works of art!

Charlotte