We’ve sold these state cutout ornaments the past three Christmases. Wow! Where does time go? The first year we only had a handful of states available (that we cut out as they were purchased), but ended up setting up custom orders for other states upon request (there were several requests, y’all!). Then last year we pre-cut 46 states to sell (all but Alaska, Hawaii, Michigan, and Maryland), which made things way less chaotic on our end (and allowed us to get your orders out much faster!). This year we added the mitten of Michigan to the mix, and we’ve also sold a Maryland and an Oahu (Hawaii) ornament as custom orders. So what makes these ornaments so special? I’m glad you asked! ;)
o My AMAZING husband Tye hand cuts each ornament using a scroll saw. Some states are more detailed than others of course, but each and every detail is a labor of love, I can promise you that! We also handpick the oak plywood sheets that each state ornament is made from. Unlike a lot of other state ornaments out there, ours are half an inch thick, and the wood grain is just gorgeous.
o Although each state varies in size due to differing dimensions, they are all a good size so as to stand out on your tree (without being ridiculous, of course).
o You can choose between one of our *15* paint colors OR three wood stain options for your ornament. We also offer options to add a heart over the city of your choice, put the year on the back, and/or add custom wording (up to 25 characters)—you get to choose the color for these details as well. We’ve had a lot of unique custom wording requests! Just a few examples… “Our First Married Christmas” “[Family Name]s Move to California”, “1st Minnesotan Christmas”, “Where God Leads”, “Home”, “Road Trip”, and LOTS of names and dates (dates for things like baby’s birthday, engagement dates, anniversaries, years lived in that state, etc.). When you consider all the different personalization options we offer, your ornament is almost sure to be one-of-a-kind!
o We hand paint (or stain!) each one based on your color choice, using high quality paint. We’ve had a lot trial and error over the years with different paint, and are pretty happy with where we’ve landed. Once that part is finished, we let them cure for at least a day before we add the heart/year/custom wording. After the personalization is complete, we add a clear coat finish to preserve all the fun details of your ornament. From there the hook is attached to the top, and we use high quality baker’s twine for you to hang the ornament on your Christmas tree. My husband and I are both perfectionists about the things we make, and would never sell anything that we wouldn’t put in our own home. :)
o To finish off your ornament purchase, I gift wrap each one using a simple brown paper gift bag, red and white baker’s twine, and a hand stamped “Merry Christmas” tag. If you’re giving your ornament as a gift, you don’t need to wrap it yourself, and if it’s for you, then it’s like getting a present in the mail! #winning
o Our ornaments make excellent GIFTS! I’d estimate that more than 50% of the ornaments we sell are given as gifts. We’ve personally given them as gifts to everyone from friends who have hosted us overnight to my grandmama, and everyone in between! {Did I mention I gift wrap them for you? ;)}
o Additionally, we give at least 10% of all proceeds to a different charity each month. For October and November this money will go to help Louisiana flood victims. We are SO grateful for your help in providing this much-needed assistance to hurting families in our community!
So in sum, our ornaments are handcrafted with love from start to finish. They are high quality and versatile enough to commemorate any number of significant events in your life. Plus, you get all this PERSONALIZED handcrafted awesomeness, for less than the cost of most mass-produced personalized ornaments. Not only that, but each order helps support our family and allows us to pay down my student loans. And obviously bonus points because part of your purchase also goes to help those in need this holiday season! If you’re interested in purchasing one (or more) of our ornaments, head over to our ETSY SHOP now because this is the last week that we are selling them this year!!
…Just in case you think I’m a little biased, here are a few reviews taken directly from our Etsy shop:
“Love, love, love this ornament! Compared to other ornaments, I like that this one is a little large (without being too big), and not heavy. It will stand out on our tree, which is exactly what I wanted. I also got the personalization - I'm just in love. I appreciate all the details, all the way down to the packaging and the hand written thank you note! The perfect way to commemorate our new move to MN! Thank you so much Mary and Tye!!!” –Amy
“Beautiful ornament which we are excited to have for years to come!” –Kristen M.
“I could not be more pleased with the Mass. ornament! The heart is in the exact location I requested. The quality of the work is phenomenal. The packaging is GORGEOUS! So happy. Keep up the great work! I'll be ordering again :)” –Stefanie M.
“I love everything about this ornament and attention to detail! All of my requests were honored and I wish I had ordered a second one for myself.”
–Cyndi K.
“These ornaments are AMAZING!! The quality is top notch! I almost don't want to give them away and keep them for myself! Will def be ordering from this shop again!” –Megan J.
“I absolutely love the ornaments that I ordered. They were each individually wrapped and a handwritten holiday card was attached. I would say that this is the best customer service experience I have ever had. I was highly impressed and will definitely order from them in the future.” –Eden T.
“Beautiful ornaments!! I was very happy to place them front and center on the tree! Looking forward to putting them up again next year!” –Ashley B.
“The ornaments were so beautiful and well made. The seller packaged them very nicely and added personal finishing touches. I was very impressed in the attention to detail and highly recommend!” –Lucy
“I was so excited when I saw the package in the mail! I seriously screamed out loud when I opened the ornament!! It is so beautiful. The wood is thick and sturdy and the colors are perfect. This quality is superior. Thank you so much for making an ornament for me and my loved one that means so much! Merry Christmas, God bless, and go VOLS!” –Lindsey B.