I'm all about a Funky Junky Christmas. Homemade kiddie ornaments are my absolute favorites and Elijah's kept me in good supply, as he's been the only child around here for most of the last decade. Here are a few of my favorites funky junkies. They bring a smile year after year.
The tree stump was our first family ornament. Pathetic, but funny... Our first tree was a serious splurge, as we were in college and had no income. (Our weekly grocery budget was $15!) We set the tree up in our living room and promptly realized that we had nothing to dress it with. As a joke, I tied a humble bit of yarn around the sawed-off stump and hung it on the tree. Somehow that ornament has stuck around all this time. Makes me laugh.
The stuffed angel was inherited from Isaac's mom. She has the most outrageous collection of funky junkies. It's from the 60s or 70s and makes me happy.
The other ornaments are all Elijah originals. Painted Blue Face is huge and hilarious. Sparkly Pinecone sports a random green ribbon, placed just-so. And then there's TP Santa. TP Santa, what can I say? An obvious favorite. Felt Snowman was begged for after Elijah made one for his teacher a couple years back and the others are holiday school crafts from over the years. They still need official names.
And, as fabulous as all of these are, they are nothing compared to my most favorite Elijah ornaments, Hamburger Angel and Cheez-It Santa. So, stay tuned. I'll post those two treasure tomorrow. Till then, happy late-night gift-wrapping and last-minute I'm-going-to-make-that-present-afterall insanity!
Even bigger smiles tomorrow :-)
Oh, those are the best! I used to be into the "perfectly matching" trees until I had kids. Now I love trees that tell a story..
Perfect post!
Posted by: Sandi | December 21, 2006 at 01:05 PM
Those ornaments are so great. And what a great story about the stump ornament. Those kinds of holiday treasures really are the best kinds.
Posted by: Candace | December 21, 2006 at 01:12 PM
Your ornaments are so cute! I am new to reading your blog and enjoy it so much! Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: emma | December 21, 2006 at 01:40 PM
The ornaments are delightful Heather - that's what Christmas is all about - memories and special moments. I love getting the decorations out each year and remembering when they were made or bought. I love the big blue face.....it's just gorgeous! Looking forward to tomorrow's post.
Posted by: Di | December 21, 2006 at 01:55 PM
dang, those are definately more funky than junky I love them....he's a super star ornament maker!!!
Posted by: joy | December 21, 2006 at 04:17 PM
how fun are those! i have homemade ones all over my tree, my fav is the one my daughter made with popsicle sticks paint and cotton puffs... cant wait to see your other ones :p
Posted by: Dee | December 21, 2006 at 05:43 PM
And yet it looks so great in YOUR pictures:)
Posted by: moki | December 21, 2006 at 11:37 PM
What perfect decorations!! Fun! Fun!!
We are in the midst of creating some of our first child-made ornaments. They go well with the lack of power (ahem) and make for a perfectly playful tree!
Thanks for the peeks. I will have to check back for the angel. After i finish those last projects for presents i decided to do. I had to giggle when i read that. So we all do it, hey!?!
~gyl
Posted by: gyl | December 21, 2006 at 11:47 PM
My favorite ornaments are some of the ones that I made as a child too. One of my most favorite is one that my mother made with me that is my handprint cut out of an old Christmas card. There is just something about that 5 year hand that is totally irreplaceable.
Posted by: Yvonne | December 22, 2006 at 12:12 AM
How wonderful! This is my baby boy's very first Christmas, but I just can't wait until he is old enough to make me some treasures like these!!
Posted by: Jess | December 22, 2006 at 06:48 AM
"last-minute I'm-going-to-make-that-present-afterall insanity!"-- So that's what its called?! :) Thanks for wishing me well, as I am one of those insane folks who still has 2 pillows, wait, make that 3 pillows to make and a quilt to finish binding. I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...
Posted by: Saige | December 22, 2006 at 09:09 AM
I have to confess all our Funky Junky trimmings that the boys have made over the years are used to fill up the back of the tree. The boys always ask "why is my trimming back there?" and I say "so the people walking past the window can see them". I know this means I'm officially on the naughty list, sniff sniff.
Merry Christmas Heather and thanks for a great bloggy year.
Posted by: Maddy | December 22, 2006 at 01:16 PM
What can you tell me about the photos you take? They are all so fabulous - are you a trained photographer, or do you take a million photos? Do you have any recommendations for us? I want my photos to be as beautiful as yours.
Posted by: Jen | December 23, 2006 at 11:21 AM
I love those. My favorite at our house is a creche made from peanuts (in the shell). BTW, how do you get your close up pictures so clear?
Posted by: Alisa Benay | December 23, 2006 at 11:59 AM
I love how you documented and proudly display your "funky junkies", I have some great ones too, always my favorite part of Christmas is anticipating the handmade ornamente from my two lil men. I may have to let them know, it will be required of them to make me an ornament even when they are 32..lol :)
Posted by: lucy | December 31, 2006 at 11:18 AM
Wow, so cute!
Posted by: Kumi | January 24, 2007 at 02:34 AM
I'm torn between the toilet roll Santa and the little alien angel... would happily steal either one to go with my own cluster of black feathers from great-granny's hat, the paper doll elf from when Emily was in preschool, and a fistful of tin-and-felt-marker ornaments from a Mexican market stall. Love it all!
Posted by: Jen / domestika | December 02, 2007 at 04:34 PM