Orm-an-ents

I wrote a few years ago about how special all of the ornaments on our tree are to me and what a special tradition it is that our ornaments all hold significance, memories and meaning.  Some of the ornaments I treasure the most are the ones that my dad made for me in the early 80s and they still get hung every year.  So, while I was creating a December bucket list (which never made it on this blog, sorry), making ornaments together was one of the things on my list.  Cheap, germ free and sentimental.  Sounds like a win!

We stirred up the salt dough, rolled it out and used cookie cutters (except for Robert who gosh darn it is craftier than I am and it makes me a wee bit furious) to make our ornaments.

 Popped them in the oven to bake...

And then waited for Clara to go to sleep before the painting party began (adults only, obviously).  Wine included.

 Here are Robert's finished ornaments.  Sadly, I did not take a picture of any of mine.  But they were pretty cute too!

We gave several to our nieces for Christmas and had some special ones for Clara, too.  It was fun to write the date on the backs of them and wonder if in thirty-some years she will still be hanging them on her tree with the same fondness I do!

Clara and I also made some painted glass ball ornaments. She had fun dancing and shaking with them to swirl the paint inside. 

Clara was so excited to admire, make, point out in public, touch, un-hang, re-hang, and generally adore Christmas "orm-an-ents" this year.  And we never got tired of her sweet little voice saying it.