Crystal Ornaments and Gifts for All Seasons!

A very simple video of how crystal/glass ornaments can be made by hand.  Of course, he has MANY years of experience and makes it look easy!

Take a look at the more ornate version by  Bombkarnia ,personalized ornaments at Ornament Shop, sports themes at FansEdge; and Chaukah themes at Hannukah Ornaments.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU AND YOURS!

Junie Moon: BYOB 2009 Ornaments

We had a huge group for this year’s annual BYOB (Blow Your Own Ball) party my sister Connie and I host each year at Sonoran Glass Art Academy. We love this annual opportunity to make our own glass ornaments.

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The Ornament Shop Delivers!

I’ve featured The Ornament Shop here already, but they have really added to their range of ornaments for the ’09 season.  Hee are a few of their speialty items:

Glass Ornaments
You asked for more glass items and we got them!  We have European glass as well as collectible brands like Old World Christmas.  We have more vacation destinations, country flags, sports, transportation and holiday  selections that will have your tree twinkling.

Occupation Ornaments
We have added new occupations so you can find something for everyone, especially if you need a thoughtful gift for a boss or coworker this holiday season.  Our ornaments make great presents for those who help us or take care of us, such as our doctors, dentists and mail carriers.

Military Ornaments
Our new exquisite glass ball ornaments for military are painted entirely on the inside, and have the military branch’s seal on the front with a patriotic picture on the back.  We also have many other new military ornaments for patriotic families who support our troops.

Family Ornaments
We have expanded our family offerings and carry more handmade ornaments, made both around the world, and from a local crafter’s kitchen, to keep the nostalgia of the holidays close to your heart.  Our selections range from couples to christmas trees of 25!  And, since our furry friends are really part of the family, we have exclusive OrnamentShop.com selections of families with dogs.  Even expecting Moms can get a personalized ornament!

Children’s Ornaments
Christmas wouldn’t be the same without the sheer excitement and joy that children experience during this time of the year, so we have added some new milestones like potty training and new characters like Elmo from Sesame Street to remember the precious moments that go by so quickly.

Dog Ornaments
Our new line of dog ornaments has a larger variety of breeds than we have ever had, so if you are looking for a special dog like a Havanese, Chow Chow or mixed breed like a Labradoodle, we’ve got them!

 There is FREE shipping when you buy five or more from the Ornament Shop, so get  that order in NOW so you have your set ready before the 25th!

Th-INK-ing of You: Silvery Poinsettia Glass Ornament

I have a real quick little ornament to share with you tonight. I stamped the Poinsettia image from Our Daily Bread design’s Luke 2:11 with VersaMark and embossed with silver Ranger Super Fine Embossing Powder on Acetate. 

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A Crystal Ornament Made With You In Mind!

Ornaments have been used for generations as a way to mark special times, additions to families, eventful years and milestones achieved.  Hundreds of years ago, small, handmade items were given to mark an event and that has transitioned into our commercialized Christmas of today. Since we have moved beyond the simple gifts of years past, we can make it more personal with decorations not available to prior generations.

Luckily, we can now mark those special events without making them ourselves AND we don’t have to break the bank for a custom ornament either.  Personal Creations has been making all sorts of items to commemorate various achievement, holidays and specials days for over 13 years.  While this is the time to acquire a custom ornament for a newborn, new city or new attitude, they can create personalized jewelry, wall items, graduation gifts and Santa’s stockings!

GET YOUR PERSONALIZED ORNAMENTS HERE!

I like their simple, but elegant, glass ball using birthstone to outline a name and/or date of birth.  This should turn into a heirloom for your family as well as be handed down to your child as he/she matures.  Just think how this antique ornament will be cared for each Christmas as it is brought out and added to the tree!

So if you need a personalized ornament, stocking, gift for a new or old loved one plus Hanukkah or Kwanzaa, Personal Creations can handle your need.  Check them out HERE.

Hand Blown Glass Ornaments

I’ve been blowing glass for a very short amount of time, and figured it would be nice to show a simple tutorial.

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STAR TREK AND BEYOND!

Though it may seem silly, there is a whole section of glass ornaments based upon space and space travel themes.  For the astronaut in you, or your children, you can pick up space themes ornaments or ones from sci-fi oriented shows at several places.  I have been a fan of Star Trek and its many offshoots since I saw the first episodes, so Live Long and buy here!  A few good shops are:

The Space Store – yes Virginia, there is a Space Store and they carry all sorts of goods as well as crystal ornaments.  The space shuttle, astronauts in suit and your basic rocket are part of their collection.  Granter there aren’t a lot of ornaments, but the other space oriented stuff is cool like telescopes, star maps, etc.

The Smithsonian – vintage glass ornaments based up the 50-60’s mechanical robots.  Not a wide selection, but they do make you reminisce for the days prior to “Alien” and “Star Wars”.  The Smithsonian has a HUGE gift shop beyond space ornaments, so do basic searches for your interests and you may find something there!

Amazon – one can find darn near anything at Amazon or its various online partners.  Do a search on your favorite character, movie or book and they are sure to match you with an ornament!  Star Trek ornaments are particularly popular and there are a gazillion variations with the different TV series and movies.

some fun with sci-fi christmas ornaments

Since we don’t do Christmas, Greyman and i both being humbugs, i’ll be making a mobile from mine for all year round. I was raised on sci-fi by a voraciously reading mother and these are right up my alley:}  

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FIRST ORNAMENT FOR BABY’S FIRST HOLIDAY!

There are many way to be joyous around the holidays, but a new born can only have a "First Christmas"  once. Amidst all of the Grandparent squeezes, home decoration, new clothes and rattles, a once in their lifetime personalized crystal ornament will mar their entry into this brave new world!

One of the best places for personalized ornaments is the Ornament Shop.  They can make an ornament with name and birthday studded with birthstones so it has double the meaning!  Color is optional and you can order them for the entire family  :]

Lenox makes their traditional "Baby’s First Christmas" ornament which is updated each year.  Though it is not a crystal ornament, the ceramic version complements a tree well and will be a keepsake to cherish.  They have many other ornament styles as well including Santa, reindeer, trees and garlands.  The Department 56 Christmas villages are very collectible and have new additions every year.

DIsney is every child’s favorite and makes a whole series of ornaments based upon their lovable characters.  Kids love Pooh Bear, Tinkerbell, Mawgli  and the other classic animation roles that can be hung from the tree.  Parents beware:  kids WILL try to climb the tree to get to them!  Click below to see the range of Disney ornaments available.

No matter which choice you make, or even make a handmade ornament yourself, do something special for the first Christmas for each child.  I still have the stocking my Grandmother made which is now over 50 years old.  It is special beyond words and I treasure it the same.  Remember: you, and they, will never have another one quite as special!

Gift ideas Baby s First Christmas

Gift ideas for your Baby’s First Christmas!

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Crystal Ornaments From Bombkarnia

I came across Bombkarnia which has some remarkable crystal ornaments. Many appear to be hand decorated and have several unusual shapes like tunics, shoes, eggs, hearts, butterflies, postcards and bombs (aka round-type-we-all-know). I think it is the exquisite color and detailed work with sequins and beads that caught my eye.

I think they took the company name from the original Polish word for round glass ornaments -  "bombka" meaning "little bomb".  It is clear that they have progressed well beyond glass balls and have created specialty ornaments for motorcycles, pets, and even shoes!

The Original Collection has the most detailed and elaborate versions.  The beading and color combinations are reminiscent of old Europe and immediately reminded me of Faberge eggs.  Detailed for individuality, they are truly one of a kind!

Though they can range upwards of $100usd, Bombkarnia crystal ornaments start at around $5.00.  Yes, that is far above a Wal-Mart bakers dozen made in China, but thes are destined to become heirlooms.  You should order early as many of these are in limited supply and could easily sell out.

So take a look at Bombkarnia and start thinking about how a unique gift will be remembered by your loved one this Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or whatever holiday is your own!

Happy Holidays to you and yours!

 World Of W(ad)e: I Bought A Christmas Ornament This Morning…

I was standing in line at Starbucks picking up coffee for a coworker when I noticed that they had this year’s Christmas ornaments out. Naturally, I had to get one because I buy one almost every year. 

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Corporate Crystal Ornaments and Gifts

When companies have Holiday parties, they may want to mark a memorable year.  For the most part, companies are glad to survive these days and provide a keepsake showing their gratitude for hard work and positive customer experiences.  Along with other bonuses, a small crystal ornament would add a touch of class to a dinner place setting.  Think along the lines of:

• Star

• Ball with engraved year or site

• Crystal picture frame

• Engraved figurine

Many of the ornaments and figurines can be customized with company names, dates, accomplishments (record sales, client growth, etc.) or even individual employee names.  At the high end, one could have laser etched images of each employee on/inside crystals to mark an achievement.  One of my favorites is from Lenox – the Crystal Snowman accompanied by a snowflake.

Waterford (including Wedgwod and Royal Daulton) and Baccarat produce higher end items though they start around $35USD.  Crystal champagne glasses, small ornaments and figurines will be keepsakes long after the event is over.  I still adorn my Christmas tree with a former company’s ornament simply because it adds the right touch of color and light when tucked inside the branches!

REVENUE HERE

INEXPENSIVE OPTIONS

There are also plenty of inexpensive options such as plastic, engraved metal, silk screened and labeled version of ornaments or decorations.  There are tons of items to choose from:

• Pins  

• Mugs                    

• Shirts                    

• mouse pad        

• Stuffed animal

• Cross pens         

• Toasting glass   

• Clock                    

• Framed artwork 

Usually the engraved or personalized items can be produced in large quantities with a minimum order of 100 pieces.  Give yourself about three weeks lead time as many of these items are customized overseas.  Branders is a great source for bot personalized and large batch items along with the ability to turn them around quickly.

Crystal Healthy Healing Holiday books and Gifts | Crystal Healthy …

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Crystal Ornaments Share The Light! 

Light refracted through a crystal has fascinated man for ages. Our eyes are drawn to the seemingly magical way that crystal both transmits and breaks up the surrounding light into many colors.  With the advent of laser etching, 3D images can be added without destroying the crystal itself while creating depth and sparkle.

Today’s crystal ornaments are no exception. 3-dimensional, handcrafted crystal ornaments not only are beautiful, but they also are great for collecting. Whether you start by adding them to your Christmas tree, to hang in your windows year round or display in a case with other collectibles, collecting crystal ornaments is a fun and rewarding hobby. Here are some ideas on how to add a little crystal magic to your own life:

Start a Christmas Collection

The most obvious use for an ornament is on a Christmas tree. Crystal ornaments are elegant, sophisticated and beautiful as they complement other family heirlooms. The crystal catches the light from the string of Christmas lights and throws it between the branches and on surrounding walls thus adding a whole new dimension of light and color to the room.

Although ornaments for a tree can be in any shape, you may want to think about focusing on one or two shapes for your collection. For instance, you might choose to collect crystal snowflakes, Bombas, teardrops or icicles.  With the advent of modern glass blowing techniques, you can also theme a tree with a particular movie or TV series, sets of cars, snowmen or just about anything that reflects your personality.

Start Your Child’s Collection

Many companies that make crystal ornaments put out an annual ornament as part of their collection. For instance, Swarovski and Waterford have Christmas ornament collections that they release each year.  You can also mark special occasions, such as marriage and family moves, by having a custom ornament made with dates, names, etc.   A newborn is ideal for the “Baby’s First Christmas” collection and will be an heirloom that will stay with them the rest of their lives.

If you have a young child in your family, it can be fun to start a collection for them by buying them the annual ornament each year. As they grow older, each ornament will mark a particular time in their childhood as well as remind them of family and places.

Start a Collection on Shape or Theme

Although snowflake and stars are some of the most popular shapes for crystal ornaments, other shapes like hearts, butterflies and crosses are also quite common. I met a lady once that had over 400 crystal snowflake ornaments and it took her nearly 60 days to decorate her tree.  I’d imagine it took another month to take it down!

As above, themes are popular and you can focus on your personality for ideas.  Do you like to ride Harleys, snow ski, teach school, write poems or work in the yard?  Each of these could be a tree theme that may serve up a nice scavenger hunt to add to your collection!  The tree and cystal ornaments are for YOU and should reflect YOU.

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Swarovski Crystal Ornaments for over 100 Years!

Swarovski, founded by Daniel Swarovski in the Austrian Alps, has been at the forefront of selling crystals for over 100 years. Daniel Swarovski founded the company in 1895 and since then has developed the business into producing goods with real quality. More specifically, some of these goods include a whole range of crystal collectibles that are desired by many across the world.

So what exactly are these crystal collectibles? Collectibles are normally little ornaments that people like to own. They are usually kept in the home, though they are also kept at other places too. There are many different types of collectibles and these are sold in many different retailers across the high street and on the internet. Crystal collectibles are a particular type of collectibles and these are made by Swarovski.

Swarovski Annual Edition 2009 Christmas Ornament <-click here!

Swarovski crystal collectibles are very individual and very different. Each crystal collectible is designed around a particular object, animal or character. Some of the objects include a gift box made out of crystal with a bow tie on the top while others are crystallized key rings. The animal are particularly popular and there are hundreds of variations – some of the most memorable ones include a baby frog with its big gaping eyes looking up towards the sky, a rocking horse which is every girls dream, no matter how old they are, and a flamingo, perhaps for the more exotic consumer. Some of the crystallized characters include piglet, from the famous children’s classic Winnie the Pooh and Goofy, from the magical world of Euro Disney.

There are many other stunning crystal collectibles too that Swarovski have engineered, however there are simply too many to name. Despite this however, Swarovski’s regular consumers are always in line to receive updates as to the latest collectible or ornament to hit the market. Swarovski’s crystal collectibles are sold in various places including H.Samuel who have a beautiful range. Products can be bought at any time but are extremely popular for noteworthy occasions including birthdays and anniversaries. Due to the beauty but maybe more so the cute factor, Swarovski crystal collectibles are also bought for Valentines Day and are received especially well.

Buying a Swarovski crystal collectible is also a great thing to do as crystals are sometimes perceived as being magical. This however, is more a myth than anything else as Swarovski’s crystal collectibles are not quite the same as Mystic Meg’s crystal ball. That said, they certainly seem to keep people interested and entertained. Swarovski crystal collectibles are truly wonderful and will continue to be so well into the future.

9½-Foot Swarovski Star To Adorn Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree

Too much Swarovski is never enough, especially during the holidays, when we all want sparkle. And during the holidays in New York City, the most popular sparkle can be found at Rockefeller Center.

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