Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Simple Steps to Make Dough Ornaments with the Kiddos

Making these cute bread dough ornaments with your kids can be a fun family tradition.  I remember making these with my kids when they were young. Include extended family too so cousins can share those memories when they are older.

Here's a simple Dough Ornament Recipe for your new family tradition:

1 c. flour
1/4 c. salt
1/2 c. warm tap water

You can add colored tempera paint to your dough or you may paint them when baked.

Combine flour, salt and powder tempera (if desired).  Add part of the water, stir and add the rest as needed to make a ball.  Knead with flour till it is a soft ball that is not sticky but not too stiff.  TIP:  Since I make lots of ornament dough, I use a food processor, which is a great option but not necessary.

Now that you dough is complete, follow these simple steps to make your own personalized DIY ornaments!

Step 1 - Cutting process:  Lightly flour surface of cutting board, roll dough out to about 1/4 inch.  Take a cookie cutter and cut out.  With your spatula move to cookie sheet.  Continue cutting your ornaments till you have the desired number.  Take a straw and cut hole in top of ornament for ribbon to hang or add a small wire hook.

Step 2 - Baking process:  Bake at 225 degrees for 4 hours or until ornaments are hard.

Step 3 - Painting and finishing:  If you have not colored your dough, I used the following acrylic colors to paint my ornaments:
  • Mitten: Ceramcoat Cardinal Red
  • Tree:  Ceramcoat Christmas Green
  • Star:  Ceramcoat White
For mitten:  After red has dried, use an unsharpened pencil dipped in white acrylic paint to apply polka dots.  FYou will probably want to dip the pencil for each dot.  Test it on a piece of paper before you start.  Allow the mittens to dry completely and then seal with a clear polyurethane sealer.  After the sealer has dried measure the white ric rack and glue onto top of mitten.

For Christmas tree:  After the green has dried, embellish your tree with a package of stars and dots that you can pick up at any craft store.  After these are dry you are ready to seal with a clear polyurethane sealer.

For star:  After white has dried, this ornament is ready to seal with a clear polyurethane sealer.  After the sealer dries, you can bling it up with glue and glitter.


Printable Tag
Now you are ready to cut the printable tags attached and have your child sign their name. Just click on the image to the left and print!!  Be sure and add the year and/or their age so you will have a special keepsake.  Cut 8 inch pieces of red ribbon and tie the ribbon and tag on the ornament.

Your children will be so proud of these!  They will make a great addition to your family tree or would make wonderful gifts for parents, grandparents, school classmates or special friends.  

How to store bread dough ornaments:
  • Store in a cool, dry place
  • Do not store in damp basement or attic
  • I store all my ornaments in Rubbermaid type containers on the main floor of my home.
Happy crafting and I hope these ideas help!  Since my first craft show in 1981, customers here at home and from around the United States continue to add to their collections and to buy these personalized gifts for family and friends.


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Phone: (573) 893-3272
info@ornamentsforkeeps.com

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Personalized Family Ornament Options

Personalized family Christmas ornaments are a great way to chronicle your family year by year as it changes.  You can start the tradition anytime because it's never too late.  

But you might want to start it sooner than later! You can look back over the years and fond memories will be sparked. You will see there are various options when it comes to customized family ornaments.  In addition to styles a number of different themes exist.  

Whether your preference is a specific Christmas character or a sports theme we cover the gamete.  As family members are added over the years, you can adjust your ornament to accommodate it so they are included. 

These also make great gifts.  Whether it is for a friend or family member this customized gift shows you were thinking of them in a special way.  You can also begin a collection for each family member as the years progress so they have the same mementos for their trees.  

I hope these ideas help!  Since my first craft show in 1981, customers here at home and from around the United States continue to add to their collections and to buy these personalized gifts for family and friends.


Connect with us for the latest inspired, 
creative ideas! 

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CONTACT US
Phone: (573) 893-3272
info@ornamentsforkeeps.com

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

5 Places with the Most Christmas Spirit

Regardless of where you travel in the United States, you will find a wide variety of customs and traditions... And there is not better time to appreciate those customs and traditions than during the Christmas Season!!  Here are five places that go above and beyond to celebrate the Christmas season.

Pigeon Forge, Tennessee nestled in the heart of the Smokey Mountains offers a picturesque back drop to a down home country Christmas.
Dollywood lights up for the season and all of the shows have a Christmas theme.  
See five million shining lights while you're on a Winterfest Trolley Tour of Lights. The heated, enclosed trolley comes complete with a personal tour guide who will share stories about Pigeon Forge's history and famous Winterfest displays.

Frankenmuth, Michigan is also know as Little Bavaria.  It embraces old world traditions and shares them all year long.  The Old Christmas Station is a German Christmas museum offering Christmas antiques and a European Cafe.  And of course Bronner's Christmas Wonderland who boasts to be the largest Christmas store in the World.  Everything in this quaint town takes you back to Old World Bavaria and it's customs.

Solvang, California will sparkle with thousands of sparkling white lights, creating a gorgeous scene that earned "Little Denmark" its title.  
Things kick off with a tree lighting then the Julefest Parade fills the streets.  An ice rink and holiday wine walks round out activities.  Most events are open to the public and some events are free. 


Branson, Missouri rounds out our list with the numerous light parks and trails lighting up the night sky throughout the season.  While it may borderline on overkill, when Branson dresses up the streets for the season they go all out! The ever popular entertainers take on a Christmas tune as well transforming their shows to have holiday themes.

New York City, New York kicks off the season every year with the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade.  Then captivates a nation when the tree is lit at Rockefeller Center.  Broadway even celebrates every year with the Radio City Hall Rockettes, a Christmas tradition for sure!
If your travels take you to any of these destinations don't forget to create a special memory by picking up a unique Christmas Ornament for your tree!  If you don't have the chance to travel during the holidays, be sure to check out all the Personalized Christmas Ornaments that we have available!! 

Since my first craft show in 1981, customers here at home and from around the United States continue to add to their collections and to buy these personalized gifts for family and friends.

Connect with us for the latest inspired, creative ideas!


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CONTACT US
Phone: (573) 893-3272
info@ornamentsforkeeps.com

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Moms Connect and offer a GREAT Way to Network Their Businesses

In today's fast paced world you need a large network to continually grow your business.  The more people talking about your products or services keeps your name top of mind.

One of the best opportunities we have found to connect with similar type business owners is by being featured on Business Among Moms (BAM) blog.  

Business Among Moms offers moms running a business support to balance the unique needs of motherhood and entrepreneurship. This is done through:
  • Weekly blog posts on a variety of business topics. 
  • Promoting your business and connect with other mompreneurs. 
  • Advertising opportunities exist that are both unique and affordable. 
  • membership program that will allow you to further grow as a mom and a business owner.
If you are a business of a similar design check it out!  It may be another avenue for you to affordably grow your business!  

At Ornaments for Keeps we value the information as well as networking opportunities we have gained through BAM!

www,ornamentsforkeeps.com
We look forward to sharing our ideas with you!!  We are passionate about creating unique ornaments that will be treasured for a lifetime.  Since my first craft show in 1981, customers here at home and from around the United States continue to add to their collections and to buy these personalized gifts for family and friends.

Connect with us for the latest inspired, creative ideas!


Like us on Facebook 
Follow us on Twitter 
Follow us on Pinterest

CONTACT US
Phone: (573) 893-3272
info@ornamentsforkeeps.com

Thursday, October 17, 2013

Create Special Keepsakes with Personalized Ornaments

Every family has family traditions - why not pair those with a treasured keepsake?  We have a wide variety of Personalized Christmas ornaments that are sure to fit just about any of your loved ones!!

There are several different ways you can personalize ornaments to have special meaning.  You can choose an ornament that's associated with a hobby or interest or one that shows the growth of a family over the years.  The options are endless!!  

Here are some different ways you can create cherished mementos for your loved ones.
  • Use the year in the ornament to chronicle the growth of your family over the years.  
  • Pick a theme for different family members that will span over a few years.  This can be sports, hobbies, aging for a baby, etc.
  • Chronicle milestones in your family.  The birth of a child, a wedding or anniversary, and so on.
  • Pick a character or set of characters to create a specific collection over a few years.  Reindeer, snowmen, angels are all options.  Or you could look at a cast from a favorite TV show or cartoon series.
These are just a few ideas of how to create lasting memories for all to enjoy for many years.  

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CONTACT US
Phone: (573) 893-3272
info@ornamentsforkeeps.com

Monday, October 14, 2013

Get to Know Ornaments for Keeps!

We are Ornaments for Keeps and we offer Personalized Christmas Ornaments. But more than that - we offer you a special keepsake that will be treasured forever!

Christmas ornaments are considered heirlooms in many families.  They can mark a momentous occasion like a birth, wedding or anniversary.  They can chronicle time with a new one added to the collection marking each passing year.

Personalized ornaments make wonderful gifts too - Especially for that 'hard to buy' person in your life.  We have many different themes and styles available to choose from.  Consider picking a favorite team, hobby or sport and you have a winner!
Ornaments are available in ceramic, resin, clay, glass and bread dough. You can see the full gallery at www.ornamentsforkeeps.com.  

Like us on Facebook to get crazy good deals too!  You can also find out when and where we will be on location during the  holiday craft season.  

Follow us on Pinterest for great ideas throughout the holiday season!!


We look forward to sharing our ideas with you!!  We are passionate about creating unique ornaments that will be treasured for a lifetime.  Since my first craft show in 1981, customers here at home and from around the United States continue to add to their collections and to buy these personalized gifts for family and friends.

Connect with us for the latest inspired, creative ideas!


Like us on Facebook 
Follow us on Twitter 
Follow us on Pinterest



CONTACT US
Phone: (573) 893-3272
info@ornamentsforkeeps.com

Monday, September 16, 2013

Have You Started Thinking About Your 2013 Christmas Card?


I love to send and receive photo Christmas cards! I proudly display them so we can enjoy them throughout the Holiday Season.

Many families make the creation of their Christmas card a part of their family traditions. It has become very popular for families to design and create their own Christmas card by adding personal touches of family photos and holiday snapshots. The greeting in the card can be personalized but brief or may include a "Christmas letter" updating everyone on the years’ events.

I have started planning our photo Christmas card for 2013. Creating a personal card was one of the holiday traditions I began in 1980 after our first daughter was born in 1979 on Christmas Day. Looking back on the cards from each year brings back smiles and great memories.

My mother sent her first photo Christmas in 1954.
 


These have been a few of my favorite photo Christmas cards.
 
 
 

 
 
Pinterest offers a wealth of ideas and inspiration on photo Christmas card ideas. Look at "Ornaments for Keeps" on Pinterest and check out our "Christmas Card" board for a few great ideas!
We would love to see your favorite photo Christmas cards throughout the years! Please share them with us...
 
 
 

 
Linda is the author of this post. To read more about the doughlady, click here!