Monday, September 15, 2008

Family Holiday Tradition

Last year, we started a family tradition. My son made his first ornaments for our Christmas tree and even gave some to Grandparents for Christmas. He was so proud of them and couldn't wait to give them as gifts. I love how they turned out and they will be such a keepsake. I think it will be so much fun to look back on all the handmade ornaments that grace our tree years from now. So, when Nichole challenged the design team to create something with family traditions in mind, I wanted to create more ornaments with my kids (ages 2 and almost 5). The coloring may not be in the lines and the colors may be a little nontraditional, but I love how they turned out and my kids were so excited to get to stamp and use Mommy's stuff. *smile* They got to pick the stamp images, colors, ribbons, etc.

These ornaments are very simple to make. We stamped the images on 3.5 inch circle coasters using noir palette ink. (I got mine from americancrafts.com, but they are sold by the 1,000. I have enough coasters to last forever and they were a great price. I'm sure there are lots of other places where you could buy fewer at a time.) My kids chose what stamps they wanted like which snowman parts, etc. Then, they colored the images. They chose what ribbons they wanted and I punched a hole using my crop-a-dile and tied the ribbon through. They each made 6 ornaments and I have to share them all followed by my ornament at the bottom.


First up are Madison's ornaments:

She has a thing for the swiss dots plum pudding ribbon. I think I'm going to have to order more! The present the snowman is holding is from last year's Believe stamp set.
Recipe: Made of Snow, Believe (Papertrey Ink), plum pudding swiss dots ribbon (Papertrey Ink), glittery gel pens

Recipe: Made of Snow (Papertrey Ink), pure poppy swiss dots ribbon (Papertrey Ink), glittery gel pens

Recipe: Merry and Bright (Papertrey Ink), lavender moon satin ribbon (Papertrey Ink), chipboard snowflakes (American Crafts), glitter gel pen


Recipe: Merry and Bright (Papertrey Ink), silver tinsel weave ribbon (Papertrey Ink), glitter gel pens

Recipe: Merry and Bright, Believe (Papertrey Ink), aqua mist stitched ribbon (Papertrey Ink), glitter gel pen

Recipe: Believe (Papertrey Ink), plum pudding swiss dots ribbon (Papertrey Ink), chipboard tree (American Crafts), gel pen


Now, here are Tyler's ornaments:

Recipe: Made of Snow (Papertrey Ink), aqua mist swiss dots ribbon (Papertrey Ink), glitter gel pen

Recipe: Made of Snow, Believe (Papertrey Ink), spring moss swiss dots ribbon (Papertrey Ink), gel pen

Tyler added dirt below each of his trees. He has an eye for detail!
Recipe: Merry and Bright (Papertrey Ink), spring moss swiss dots ribbon (Papertrey Ink), chipboard snowflakes (American Crafts), gel pens

I love his two tone tree!
Recipe: Merry and Bright, Believe (Papertrey Ink), lemon tart swiss dots ribbon (Papertrey Ink), gel pens

I think he's been watching me layering ribbons lately and he wanted the layer his ribbons, too.
Recipe: Believe (Papertrey Ink), pure poppy stitched ribbon, spring moss twill (Papertrey Ink), chipboard tree (American Crafts), gel pens

This was the first tree Tyler made. He actually stamped all the pieces. Clear stamps make it so easy for everyone to use them. I let him color this tree with my copic markers while Madison was sleeping.
Recipe: Merry and Bright (Papertrey Ink), pure poppy satin ribbon (Papertrey Ink), copic markers, glitter glue

And here is my ornament for our tree this year. I used the new Home for the Holidays and Boards and Beams. I cut a circle the same size as my coaster and stamped my image. I colored everything with copic markers, sponged the sky with blue ink, and painted the entire circle with angel wings shimmerz paint to make it sparkly. It worked wonderful, but one word of caution. Be careful using it over the red copic markers as it wants to make the color bleed. It did not affect any other colors, just the red. Then, I adhered my image to the coaster. I added liquid applique to the eaves and ground, sprinkled it with glitter, and heated to make the snow nice and puffy. Let it dry for quite a while before turned it over and applying pressure when decorating the back or save this step for the very end because if you do it too soon, you will smoosh the snow. (Ask me how I know. )

Here you can see the shimmer on the ornament a little better. It's so hard to get a good photo of it, but it is shimmery without being overpowering.

Next, I added the lace to the back of the coaster. Then, I used nestability circle dies to cut out a pure poppy circle and a white circle. I stamped my sentiment and the stars from Merry and Bright. Then, I simply added the circle to the back of my ornament. Then, I punched a hole using the crop-a-dile and added the sheer dot ribbon.
I encourage everyone to make some ornaments with your kids. They have so much fun and they look so adorable on the tree.
Have a great day!
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19 comments:

Kimberly Crawford said...

those are really sweet! what a marvelous idea! I really like the ornament you made!!! the backside is just a lovely touch!

and, I am not surprised that you need more purple ribbon-you seem to like that color! :)

Charlene Austin said...

Aaaaadorable!! I think the kidlets are on their way to DT stardom!! They did a wonderful job! Yours is good too!

Lorraine said...

Niki, your kids are going to love these when they get older. We have always put up two trees during the Christmas holidays, one was for me and the other was for all of the ornaments that the kids have made over the years. Their tree always gets commented on.

Unknown said...

These are adorable Niki - we make ornaments too but this will be the first year we have stamping supplies to do it with - guess who's ornaments I'll be copying first!!! Lol.

Conibaer said...

Awwww! This is so sweet! I just love them all!

Marilyn Nimmo said...

Making ornaments with your kids is such a fun thing. I remember doing that one year - we had glitter all over the place!!!! Lots of fun, though!

Jessica said...

Wow, Niki, I gasped when I saw your ornament! It's just stunning! And what a wonderful tradition to share with your kids!

Anonymous said...

Your kid's ornaments have brought tears to my eyes. Those are beautiful and priceless. What a wonderful tradition.

Your ornament is also stunning.

Chris Scrappin and Stampin in Texas said...

Great idea. Your children will love and enjoy this special tradition. I love family traditions, and hopefully somedeay they will share this with there children. My tree is sprinkled with many ornaments handmade over the years, and I adore each of them and the memories they bring. I would add a date on them...Have a great holiday season..

Lauren (mytime) said...

Oh I love your kids ornaments. So super cute.

Robyn said...

Love your children's ornaments....it would be cool to add a picture on the back so you could see their physical growth as well as their artistic growth...just speaking from a Mom that wishes she had more pics of my baby.....she is all grown up at 23 and married my oh my why didn't I have this brainstorm 23years ago?

Pia said...

What a great idea. I have tons of coasters around. I think you solved my issue of what the kids can make for Christmas!

Anonymous said...

What a great tradition to have with your children. Their ornaments are so cute! Yours, of course, is beautiful!! Just to let everyone know, I order my coasters from www.stamponthis.com. They have very reasonable prices.

Lee said...

Those are just so precious!! Definitely a warm and cozy tradition that you will treasure forever!!

Anonymous said...

Really sweet idea and your ornament is incredible!!!! I'm falling in love with the Boards & Beams set the more I see it!

Michelle said...

Oh Niki, how precious!! I love the ornaments your kids made, that little girl of yours has great taste, picking out that Plum Pudding ribbon :) Your ornament is just gorgeous, love all the sparkle!

Cynde said...

The ornaments are adorable. Your right you will always cherish them . I have some from preschool ages and up from my children. (My son is now 30) and when I get them out each year to decorate, I still ooowe and awwwe over them.
I really love your ornament done on the coaster size circle, with the new stamp set to decorate the house. Your ornament is Beautiful!! Thanks for the instructions and all your talented ideas.
Cynde

Kristin Eberline said...

OMG...soooo adorable! I love the freedom that kids feel and share in the things they do and create. Their imaginations are endless and their excitement is fun to see :O) Your babies' ornaments are just precious.

Of course your ornament is amazing as well! I love the tip on not smooshing the snow :O) Hee hee...

Katharina Frei said...

Love this idea Niki!! I am definitaly going to try this with my kids. I am sure they are going to love it!!
Katharina x