Teri Anderson
Christmas would not be complete for me without adding a few new handmade ornaments to my tree.
I’ve been doing that now for five or six years, thanks to a small group of women I met online through a discussion group for scrapbookers and card makers.
It all started when one of the members suggested the group do an ornament swap. The rules were simple: Come up with an ornament and then make an identical one for everyone else who wanted in on the action.
Needless to say, that first swap was a hit, and the group has done an ornament swap every year since. I look forward to the annual swap. I love to see what my friends have dreamed up. Sometimes, the ornaments are really simple. Other times, they are a bit more complicated.
Because of the group, I’ve added monograms, bells, buckets filled with nuts and candy, beaded cactuses, seashells, angels, snowflakes, stars, gingerbread men and lots of snowmen to my Christmas tree.
As fun as it is to receive ornaments from my friends, it’s always fun to make ones for them. The ornaments provide a nice change of pace to the cards and scrapbook pages I usually make.
I’ve made angels from bottle caps, Santa tags and snowmen from sticks and felt over the years. This year, I again went with a snowman.
This is my ornament for the year. To make this guy, I covered two pieces of balsa wood with cardstock, glued them together and then just decorated my snowman up with chalk, brads, cardstock, pompoms and other crafts supplies.
This year’s ornaments are scheduled to arrive this week. I can hardly wait. For me, Christmas just wouldn’t be Christmas without the swap.
I’d love to hear from you today! Leave a comment here and you could win one of my snowmen ornaments. Two Paper Crafts Connection readers will each receive one. All comments must be received by midnight (MST) on Thursday, Dec. 10.
Teri Anderson,
Paper Crafts Go-to-Gal
What an absolutely adorable ornament! I’m always looking for new, interesting ornaments that I can make! I’ll have to try that one next year!! Great job.
too cute…great job and how fun to receive…..
Oh you are so talented! I think I might try my hand at one! Thanks for your great ideas!
I love the ornament! Very cute.
Totally adorable!
Fresh idea. It is really cute.
It’s a great idea, and this snowman is adorable!
This is adorable, I’d love to win one!
I love the idea of an ornament swap – I will have to make a note for next year.
These are super cute Teri! Love them. I need to start an ornament swap bad!
What a great idea!!
Very cute!
Your snowman is adorable!
Your snowman is super cute! I was thinking of how special handmade ornaments are just yesterday as I hung ornaments up that my husband made when he was a child! Adds a nice personal touch.
I particiapte in an ornament swap every year too! It’s another special part of the holiday!
The little earmuffs on the snowman are so cute!
What a great idea, a ornament swap. This little guy would fit perfectly in my Christmas tree.
Eveline.
Oh My Gosh! I love that little snowman! It makes me want to make some! I love the ear muffs!
Very cute!
Oh so cute:) I love love love snowmen!!! I love the green muffs! Cute stuff:)
he is such a cutie! Love the earmuffs
Those snowmen are absolutely ADORABLE!! Thanks for the chance to win. I’d love to hang that on my shelf by my door!! One of the first things to see when I walk in.
DUDE! I just bought those little hearts at Target this week!! And now, I will put them to good use when I totally copy this idea.
Awww! That snowman is adorable. I love ornaments and decorating with them each Christmas. Our grandparents give us ornaments each year, and I look forward to them!
Thanks for the chance to win!
OH…. I love this adorable lil guy!!! I have a thing for snowman…I’ve amassed quite a collection!
What a sweet ornament, or a great tag for a gift! Love him!
Totally adorable! I love them.
Oh my, is that CUTE!!!
What a cute little snowman ornament. In my mom’s family my grandma decided that instead of a gift exchange every year we would do an ornament exchange. They’re supposed to be handmade, but they don’t alway get done that way, but it’s fun and you don’t have to spend a lot of money you don’t have.
I love it – it has just given me the best idea to create ornaments for the ladies I serve with on the women’s ministry team at my church – along with a goodie back of peppermint bark. I plan to make use our logo in place of the heart which has the shape of a heart – you are a God-send, Teri! Blessings and hugs – Mary H
Oh my goodness! I love snowmen and this one is so cute!
That snowman is absolutely adorable. Almost looks like its made from marshmallows. Hmm maybe I’m just hungry for lunch. LOL
I would be honored to hang one on my tree.
This is adorable. My daughter’s Girl Scout Troop is making ornaments for the local nursing home. This looks like a candidate. Off to Hobby Lobby to see what I can find! Thanks for sharing!
Those are so cute! i love them! great job
It’s very cute. Did the balsa come pre-cut or did you cut and shape it yourself?
nice…
These lil’ snowmen are really cute and make a fun addition to any christmas tree, real, plastic, or metal (sorry, flashback of a Charlie Brown Christmas, lol).
Teri, What a fantastic idea with the ornament swap! Your snowman is such a cute little guy and what a great addition to your tree and everyone else’s.
thanks for sharing,
Liz
Very cute snowman! I think I will have to get some girls to do an ornament swap with me next year. How fun!
That is adorable, I might have to try that for next year.
Your snowman is sooo cute! I think your ornament swap is a great idea. I hope you show us pictures of what you receive in the swap.
Thanks everybody!
You all are too nice!
Carol, I cut the larger piece with my scissors. The balsa wood is super thin and cuts really easy. Think really heavy cardstock.The wood usually comes as a sheet. I want to say the one I got was 6″ x 36″.
The smaller piece came that way. Our local store has packs of the small size cut up so I grabbed those. I easily could have cut them though.
Teri
Paper Crafts Go-to-Gal
love it!!! so cute….. would look great on our tree
Too cute, I love it!! I will be trying this one!!
These snowmen are adorable. What a fun group you must belong to! Happy Holidays to you Teri!
Love it…
What a great idea – and your ornament is so sweet and simple. They’d be great as tags, too!
I am a snowman freak anyways, but this is just adorable! This would also be cute as a card!
Can’t wait to try it!!
How fun to have an ornament swap! I love snowmen, and yours is so cute with his carrot nose and ear muffs!
love the ear muffs! i can’tresist snowmen because i can keep them around long after christmas decor is put away!
He is too cute! Love it!