Welcome to the 2017 Ornament Exchange & Blog Hop! This year, there are 47 amazing bloggers participating in the exchange. The rules of the challenge were simple: be partnered with a fellow blogger, create a handmade ornament for $15 or under, create a tutorial, and ship the ornament off to a new home!
My partner this year was Pamela Smith. She blogs at Home on the Corner. It is a delightful blog full of great ideas for your home. Pamela's Christmas tree has a beachy theme, with coastal colors of white, turquoise, blues and greens. I knew I wanted to make her something with seashells, and then I saw it!
"Friends are like the seashells we gather along the way."
I knew I had to find a way to incorporate that beautiful quote into an ornament. I have a friend who cuts vinyl and then we were off and running!
Meet the 2017 Ornament Exchange Hosts
Erlene ⋅ My Pinterventures Kim · Made In A Day Amanda · The Kolb Corner
Shirley · Intelligent Domesticatons Michelle · Our Crafty Mom
Beverly · Across the Blvd. Christene · Key to Inspiration Pili ⋅ My Sweet Things
Nicki · Sweet Parrish Place Megan · C'mon Get Crafty
Hilary · Raising Fairies and Knights Emily · Two Purple Couches
Tina · One Crafty Mess Marie · The Inspiration Vault Debra · Shoppe No. 5
Trisha · Rosewood and Grace Jeanie · Create and Babble Katrin ⋅ Kreativ K
Terri · Christmas Tree Lane Maureen · Red Cottage Chronicles
Toni ⋅ Small Home Soul Ula ⋅ Lulu & Celeste Sue ⋅ A Purdy Little House
Pamela · Home On The Corner Lorelai ⋅ Life with Lorelai Cindy ⋅ DIY Beautify
Debbie ⋅ Tweak and Style Stephanie ⋅ Swoodson Says Chelc ⋅ Inside the Fox Den
Susan ⋅ Super Mom - No Cape! Molly ⋅ Just a Little Creativity
Roseann ⋅ This Autoimmune Life Angela ⋅ Simply Beautiful by Angela
Vicki and Jenn ⋅ 2 Bees in a Pod Joanne ⋅ Our Unschooling Journey
Tylynn ⋅ Bitterroot DIY Sam ⋅ Raggedity Bits Mary ⋅ The Boondocks Blog
Cyn ⋅ Creative Cynchronicity Dione ⋅ Clever Chameleon Quilting
Erica ⋅ Erica Ever After Chelsea ⋅ Love Paper Crafts Evija ⋅ From Evija with Love
Samantha ⋅ Little Bits of Home Hope ⋅ Hopes Crafty Niche Anne ⋅ Orange Bettie
Pam · P.S. I Love You Crafts
To make this adorable ornament yourself, here's what I did.
1. I purchased an empty, clear, ball ornament. I removed the top and washed it with hot, soapy water and let it dry, upside down, on a towel.
1. I purchased an empty, clear, ball ornament. I removed the top and washed it with hot, soapy water and let it dry, upside down, on a towel.
2 . I ordered the quote from a friend who cuts vinyl. However, a person who does handwriting could easily use a permanent marker and write this quote on the ornament. My friend placed the letters on the ornament for me.
4. I mixed sand with a little glitter and poured it into the ornament by forming a paper cone and pouring the sand into the open ornament. Then I added seashells I had gathered into the ornament. I fastened the top back on.
5. I next created a little tag and then hot glued some twine around the top. I tied the tag on with some extra twine.
There you go! Isn't this the cutest?
The best part, though, is making new blogging friends along the way. Pam and I share a lot of common interests and I truly love her blog! Go and check her ornament that she made for me, here.
The best part, though, is making new blogging friends along the way. Pam and I share a lot of common interests and I truly love her blog! Go and check her ornament that she made for me, here.
FIND ALL 47 HANDMADE ORNAMENT TUTORIALS BELOW AND SHARE YOURS TOO! Use Hashtag #2017OrnamentExchange so we can see your creations on social media.
Gah - I love it. I am all about coastal decor (because I live on the coast and it's everywhere)! Ornament exchanges are so much fun.
ReplyDeleteI love this so much! I love the idea of an ornament exchange. This is a great tutorial.
ReplyDeleteI love this so much! I love seeing all the different ideas and maybe I will have to try some of these!
ReplyDeleteThis has inspired me to make an ornament like this! I have pretty much everything BUT the ornaments!
ReplyDeleteThose ornaments are all outstanding and hand made. I liked your sea/beach ornament and it is great way to share ornamens and make friends.
ReplyDeleteThis looks like a gorgeous gift to give your friends and I think it's extra cool because you made it! I'll have to give it a go! You've got me in the festive spirit!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun idea! I love homemade Christmas ornaments. I made some last year out of little wooden coasters, now to find where I put them so I can hang them up on my tree for this year.
ReplyDeleteThese are really lovely ornaments. I like the one that you featured the most. It reminds me so much of home and how the beaches are there!
ReplyDeleteYou're right, your ornament and mine are similar. It just shows that great minds think alike...lol.
ReplyDeleteThat is adorable and I love that saying! Pinned.
ReplyDeleteThis is so lovely and thoughtful.. I absolutely love it!! You did a great job #2017OrnamentExchange
ReplyDeleteSuch a fabulous round up of gifts. It is so nice to have a exchange of ornaments.
ReplyDeleteI love everything beach décor! The ornaments with the sea shells are super cute!
ReplyDeleteThanks again Terri, for the wonderful ornament! I have it hanging on my tree!
ReplyDeleteSo many beautiful ornaments. I really love the beachy theme, it's not something you see all the time, which makes it so unique.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun idea to make ornaments for each other. The homemade and personal touches will makes these treasured pieces for years to come.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun thing to do!! I love the personal feeling and the craft time around christmas!
ReplyDeleteThis is definitely something I think we could do after Thanksgiving dinner this week with the rest of the entire family. Thank you for the steps.
ReplyDeleteThrifting Diva
www.thriftingdiva.com
Such a fun ornament! We visit a favorite beach in California often and would love to make something similar.
ReplyDeleteI love the inspiration saying and how it inspired you to create a fantastic ornament. It is truly a lovely gift.
ReplyDeleteThat is such a great quote and I love how you incorporated it into the ornament you made for your partner. I'm sure she'll treasure it for years to come.
ReplyDeleteI adore beach ornaments, but you have lifted it to a whole new level with your thoughtfulness. I'm sure your partner will be so thrilled to remember this swap every year her ornament comes out for her tree.
ReplyDeleteThat is such a perfect quote for the ornament you created! It turned out beautifully!
ReplyDeleteThat is such a beautiful ornament. It would be great for every vacation to commemorate!
ReplyDeleteI love all the ideas I get from the Ornament Exchange :)