How to Make Christmas Memory Ornament GIfts

You can turn your Christmas tree into a memory-themed tree with these and other memory ornaments. You can start with new clear glass balls or recycle old ones. See my article on How to Decorate a Tree with Recycled Christmas Ornaments. Your tree can reflect your family's personality and history this Christmas and for many years to come.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Clear Glass Christmas balls
• Old glass ornaments
• Memory objects-see article

1. Collect items you can use. Tartan plaids for the Scot, school colors for the sports fan, scraps (yarn, fabric, ribbons, etc) for the seamstress or crafter, newspaper or book pages for the reader, natural items (dried flowers, grasses, seeds) for the outdoor lover are all good examples. Think of what your family likes. You can use anything - a lock of hair tied with a ribbon, the A+ from a test paper, a tiny flag and some khaki fabric for the serviceman are all good choices.
2. Use matching or contrasting glitter before you put your items in for a touch of glitz. Tiny colorful confetti is available in every imaginable form--try ones for weddings, Easter, graduations, and more for balls that celebrate particularly special events. There are also tiny pom poms and other miniatures of all kinds in any hobby store.
3. Know how best to put things inside. Paper items can be folded forward and backward like tiny fans and inserted closed and then opened with a flattened bobby pin or similar object once inside. Make sure that the wrong side of things looks good--that it's plain or decorative on both sides like newsprint. Fabric should be folded like a small umbrella around the tip of the bobby pin and pushed in and worked open. Start a baby ornament with a tiny piece of flannel from a blanket. Then a lock of hair tied can be tied with a ribbon which is carefully threaded through the metal hangar so it hangs inside.
4. Embellish the balls further by using short lengths of ribbon or plastic pearls (nothing too heavy)or colorful raffia. you probably have lots of things that would be great around the house.
5. Make a set of them for a special gift. For dad, make one with service related items, one with fishing, one with outdoorsy items and one with his favorite football team as a theme. Wrap them up with a note saying something like 'Since you've given me so many memories over the years, here are some of your favorite memories from me.' It's guaranteed to be a hit.