How To Make An Easter Family Ornament Tree

What a cute, fun and easy Easter ornament tree to make! It has made a great centerpiece for my Easter holiday table. I am excited to share this with you...so let's get started!!

I used a tall, round clear vase (recycled from some flowers I received) and filled half full with clear marbles from Hobby Lobby. I tied a green with white polka dot ribbon around the vase and made a big bow. I added a clear jeweled brad to the center of the bow to give it that classy touch. I purchased five green flower branches from Hobby Lobby (when they were 50% off) and snipped off the bottoms as needed. I arranged them in the vase so it was full and I had plenty of room to tie the ornaments on.

Next I made the photo ornaments. I chose to put my children and grandchildren on my tree.

Supplies needed:

2 1/2 x 3 inches rectangle wood pieces (I found mine at Hobby Lobby)
Pretty spring scrapbook paper
Embellishments such as stones, brads, buttons and ribbon
Small photos of your family
ModPodge
Adhesive
Scissors
A drill to drill holes through the top of the wood pieces

First, I painted the edges of the wood rectangles with white paint. Then I cut out the photos and the paper. I layered each wood piece and paper, positioning the photos until I was happy. I used the adhesive to glue together. I embellished each one to make them fun and whimsical. I drilled a small hole in the top and added a thin coat of matte ModPodge to the top for a finished look. After drying, I added a ribbon for hanging.

I hung each picture ornament on the tree and then added some small glitter Easter eggs (in the seasonal section at Hobby Lobby) to complete the tree. What a cute classy decoration this makes for Easter.

My grandchildren love to visit and see their picture hanging on our tree. It gives me a chance to talk to them about Easter and why we celebrate this holiday...not just for the Easter Bunny, colored eggs and candy but because Jesus died on the cross for us, arose to Heaven and if we believe we will meet Jesus in Heaven someday.

Do you have any favorite decorating ideas or holiday traditions for Easter? We would love to see or hear your ideas.

Happy Crafting and Happy Easter!!

Linda is the author of this post. Wanna know more about the doughlady? Click here:)

Do You Have a Favorite or Meaningful Ornament?

This past year as I was hanging my ornaments on my Christmas tree, I tried to pick out my most favorite or meaningful ornaments. Wow, that was hard!! I have several favorites but I have one ornament that stood out as my most meaningful.

In the mid 1980's I had a dear friend, Connie Awbrey, that received a diagnosis of cancer. She had three small daughters and a husband. A group of her friends got together and would take turns helping her out during chemotherapy treatments with cooking meals, watching the girls and offering support. It was very tough because we were the same age and I had two small daughters. I just couldn't imagine what she was going through.

For Christmas that year, Connie made each of us a cinnamon dough ornament.

The following year she lost her battle with cancer. That ornament became very precious to me. Each year I decorate my tree I always think of her. This past year her oldest daughter and her children joined our church. When I pulled out my ornaments, I felt I wanted to give that ornament to her daughter. I explained her mother had made it and given it to me as a gift. I asked if she would like to have it for her tree, she was touched! It has now become a meaningful ornament to her daughter...a little something of her mother. Even though I won't have that ornament to hang as I decorate my tree each year I will always remember Connie.

Just remember that some of the smallest and simplest ornaments given with love can become cherished memories.

Giving Gifts with Heart and Style

Good things come in all sorts of packages. Presenting them in creative and thoughtful ways can be fun and easy. Taking an imaginative approach in wrapping a gift will ensure your present is one they want to open first. Add an extra layer of personality to your gift with a personalized ornament. This will reflect and create a lasting memory for the recipient.

Wrap a gift in shimmering paper, using sheer or a print ribbon to tie it all together. There are so many wonderful items you can use to decorate a gift. How about using a boa or a vintage broach. You can incorporate buttons, flowers, or even sand dollars...basically anything you can imagine can be put on a package. Just the way you add the ribbon or tie the bow can make the entire look.

 

 

A quick tip...those empty toilet paper rolls - after you have opened your roll of wrapping paper, put the toilet paper roll on the wrapping paper to keep it from unrolling!

 

 

Remember just to think about the personality of the person you are giving to and for what occasion and your gift will for sure be the one that stands out! Check out our complete line of personalized ornaments to give your gift that extra WOW! www.ornamentsforkeeps.com



How To Personalize Ornaments Creatively

Personalized ornaments are a heartwarming way to show friends and family that extra time and thought went into your gift.

Personalize to make items stand out as being unique and creative. Think of the person that is getting the ornament, what are their interests and do they have any fun sayings or quotes.

This last weekend my husband and I took a vacation to the New Jersey shore of Wildwood Crest. We have some good friends that recently purchased a beach condo. I wanted to take them something special and what better than personalized ornaments!



I chose the beach ornament. They call their beach condo "The Happy Place," what a perfect saying to personalize on the ornament.

I picked the crab and sandcastle ornament and personalized "Wildwwod Crest, NJ 2012" to commemerate their year.

The tropical drink ornament is for their daughter that recently received her PHD and personalized it "It's 5 o'clock somewhere! Dr Koz."

They loved them!

During the week, whatever question we had, Kristin (Dr Koz), had an app for that on her iPhone. All week it was "I have an app for that." Since returning home, I have personalized an iPhone ornament with "I have an app for that!" and am going to mail it to her.

It can be so much fun and also help create special memories. As I continue to personalize creative and unique ornaments this season, I will keep you updated on these great personalization ideas. Have a great week!

Personalized Christmas Ornament Line for 2012

This is always a fun time of year when I finish my new line of personalized Christmas ornaments. There are 43 new designs added to our collection this year that are cute, whimsical, fun, and of course, personalized!

The most popular category is the personalized family ornaments. I have added a new Candy Cane Pole family handmade out of bread dough, this is one of my favorites. Be sure and also check out the Snow Shovel family, it is so cute! I have added a new Christmas door that is adorable and would make a great gift for a family that moved into a new home, a teacher, a special neighbor or how about giving it as a hostess gift. There are so many ways you can give personalized ornaments!

You can view the entire "New for 2012" line http://www.ornamentsforkeeps.com/category/NEW_FOR_2012.html.

Be watching soon for a special discount so you can get a head start on your Christmas shopping!!

Personalized Team Christmas Ornaments

Earlier this year I debuted my new MU Fans Family personalized ornament. Since then I have had many requests for different teams. I have added the photos of the teams I've done so far.

It's never too early to think about Christmas. These will make very unique one-of-a-kind gifts for that sports nut or student on your list. Please order early because quantities will be limited.

Personalized Glass Christmas Ornament

We're excited to introduce our new glass personalized Christmas ornament! This ornament has been hand painted by us of whimsical snowmen on a candy cane and will be available soon with two to six heads.

In the bottom of the ornament we have added beads, snow, and embellishments. The top has a ribbon tied in a bow for decoration and hanging.

This ornament is very unique! We have not seen anything like this in the stores or at market.

Next week we will be unveiling the rest of our 2012 line on ornamentsforkeeps.comwww.ornamentsforkeeps.com...be watching!!