2011 Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments

A Family Tradition

My husband and I have been married for twenty-six wonderful years, and when I look back at our first Christmas together I can't help but smile. We were stationed in Charleston, SC, 1,500 miles from my family and a thousand from his. Our apartment was little but there was still more bare space than furniture, and the two weeks between pay days felt like a lifetime.

Determined to make our first Christmas together special, we bought a tree, a couple sets of Christmas lights, a package of tinsel, and one dated Hallmark Christmas Ornament. Once we finished decorating the tree we thought it was the most beautiful Christmas tree in the world.

Christmas

Christmas, 2010 

Christmas Through the Years

We have added a lot of ornaments to our collection since that first Christmas. Ornaments were given to us as gifts by friends and family, ornaments I've made, my sons brought home several from school, and we continue to add at least one dated ornament every year.

My Top Three Picks for 2011

QXE3037 The Golden Snitch Harry Potter 2011 Hallmark Keepsake Ornament

Amazon Price: $55.00 (as of 05/31/2012)Buy Now


Harry Potter was a big part of my children's youth. We started by reading the books and then waited impatiently for the movies to be released. When Hallmark started releasing Harry Potter Christmas Ornaments we couldn't resist.

Father Christmas

Hallmark 2011 Father Christmas #8 Ornament - QX8769

Amazon Price: $9.00 (as of 06/01/2012)Buy Now


We have been collecting the Father Christmas ornaments for seven years now. We will continue to do so until Hallmark finish the series.

Father Christmas

Father Christmas, 2011 

Sent From Above 2011 Hallmark Ornament

Amazon Price: Too low to display (as of 06/01/2012)Buy Now


The Holy Family. Don't forget the meaning behind the season.

Christmas

Father Christmas, 2010 

A Visit From Santa

Switzerland Santa's Around the World Limited Edition 2010 Hallmark Ornament

Amazon Price: $13.99 (as of 06/01/2012)Buy Now


Absolutely beautiful!

Harry

Harry Potter, 2009 

Mele Kalikimaka 2011 Hallmark Ornament

Amazon Price: $18.95 (as of 05/31/2012)Buy Now

Hallmark Santa Comes to Town 2011 Ornament

Amazon Price: $36.88 (as of 06/01/2012)Buy Now

Checking It Twice #1 2011 Hallmark Ornament - QX8929

Amazon Price: $4.99 (as of 06/01/2012)Buy Now

Additions to the Tradition

When our first son was born, we continued to buy one ornament a year, but when the second one came along we started buying two. The ornaments may not be a hundred years old, but we consider them family heirlooms. My oldest son decorated his own Christmas tree last year. As a housewarming gift he got one dated ornament for each year of his life. When our second son buys his first house, we will be doing the same for him.

Two?

I would like to say we limit it to just two ornaments a year, but my husband is nuts about trains. He sneaks an extra one in every time.


I can't say much. I add at least one angel to my collection every year as well.

Trains

My Husband's Trains 

Baby's First Christmas


A baby's first Christmas is special. Commemorate the event with an ornament. Every time you hang it on the tree the memories will surface. What a beautiful reason to smile!
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Shopping Today

When we first started collecting the Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments, we bought them at the Hallmark Card Store or at the bookstore in the mall. We started checking them out right after Labor Day, but didn't make a decision until after Thanksgiving. Unfortunately when we went back to the store prepared to buy, the ones we wanted were often sold out.

For the 2010 Holiday Season Hallmark has oodles new, dated ornaments. I doubt that any one store carries them all.

Today we buy our ornaments online. We can check out all the ornaments before making our decision. It's convenient, and I never have to settle for my second or third choice.

Star Wars

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Santa

Father Christmas, 2009 

A Partridge In a Pear Tree

Partridge In A Pear Tree #1 2011 Hallmark Ornament - QX8919

Amazon Price: $54.24 (as of 06/01/2012)Buy Now

Wise

Three Wise Guys 

Disney

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One More Thing

We often used the ornaments to commemorate a phase in our children's lives. We have a surprisingly large number of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Ornaments. The boys laugh when they see them, and then we start talking...

Bella, Edward, and Jacob

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Back Off! They're Mine! 

What Kind of Ornaments do You Collect?

  • baby-strollers Dec 12, 2011 @ 9:10 pm | delete
    Big ones, small ones, flat ones, round ones, green ones, red ones!
  • fanfreluche Nov 4, 2011 @ 7:45 am | delete
    I do buy vintage glass ornaments, I find them beautiful! I do also have a soft spot for the Star Trek ornaments, even if these are not vintage at all.
  • RocklawnArts Nov 7, 2011 @ 6:03 pm | delete
    Funny, I was just going to say that I've gotten quite a few Star Trek ornaments over the years. :)
  • mermaidlife Oct 31, 2011 @ 5:11 am | delete
    Nice collection! I'm glad I checked this lens out because of the Harry Potter Snitch Ornament, for one thing, it's so cool!
  • Sep 14, 2011 @ 9:21 am | delete
    WoW! Isn't the collection beautiful. I don't really collect Ornaments but liked your collection of Hallmark Ornaments a lot.
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About the Author

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This Happy Snowman page written by

ElizabethJeanAllen

I tell my students to Learn from the Past, Live in the Present, and Plan for the Future. With Squidoo I can do all three.
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