by Sherry Law
Though you may have plenty of tinsel and shiny Christmas balls for your tree, a unique Christmas ornament scattered here and there among the branches will turn your “ho-hum” Christmas tree into one that will have the whole neighborhood talking. Whether you shop for hours to find the perfect ornament or make something yourself, try to add at least one new and unique Christmas ornament a year and soon your tree will no longer be “just another tree on the block.”
Check the phone book and see if there is a shop in your area that specializes in Christmas decorations. Many of these specialty shops have unique Christmas ornaments. By spending an hour or so browsing their aisles, you are sure to find one that will look perfect on your Christmas tree.
Another great place to find a unique Christmas ornament is at an estate auction, flea market or on eBay. Though antique Christmas ornaments can be very pricy, it is not unheard of for a box of old ornaments to go for less than $20 or $30 dollars. Even older ornaments that are not in the best of shape can often be used in craft projects or stripped and repainted for your tree.
Several online merchants specialize in unique Christmas ornaments. With each web-site offering hundreds of different ornaments to choose from, you are bound to find one that you can’t wait to hang on your tree.
OrnamentShop, for instance, has wonderfully unique Christmas ornaments such as personalized ornaments for the musician in your life. You’ll find tiny musicians playing flutes, guitars, cellos and other instruments, and you can personalize these characters with a name. Or you can personalize a little musical instrument ornament, from bongo drums to grand pianos.
OrnamentShop.com also has tiny, pink ballet slippers and gingerbread houses fashioned from blown glass. Or if you’re spending Christmas in New York, Chicago, London, Paris or San Francisco you might want to choose a blown glass ornament of one of those city’s landmarks to commemorate this year’s holiday celebration.
For dog lovers, OrnamentShop.com offers over 130 dog-related ornaments and other personalized pet ornaments. If you’re getting married around the Christmas holidays and want an ornament for that, they offer either a wedding cake ornament of a pair of interlocked wedding rings that can be personalized with the date and your name. Do you want a unique Christmas ornament featuring Santa as a policeman or a fireman? You can find that here as well.
If you prefer something truly unique, consider making ornaments for your tree yourself. From the traditional gingerbread men or salt dough ornaments to jeweled and stained glass treasures, anything you craft at home is going to be customized and unique.
Don’t limit yourself to looking for that special Christmas ornament for only a few weeks before your Christmas tree goes up. Your search for a unique Christmas ornament can become a treasure hunt that can be enjoyed all year round.
