Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Need a unique neighbor gift? You've come to the right place!

We've been really excited to tell you about this Christmas idea.


Melissa and I were brainstorming what to do for neighbor/ friend/ VT gifts this year.


We were trying to think of something unique and special that we could MAKE for our dear sweet friends and neighbors


and then it hit us...


with a hammer, over and over and over...

Isn't it PURDY?!


This is what we used:

-1/8" steel stamping set (bought from habor freight back when the washer necklaces were all the rage)

- Two washers 1in and 2in in diameter

-Ribbon

Put any message you like and your friends and neighbors are sure to love these one of a kind ornaments!

******UPDATE*****

To answer your questions: 1. No, we did not paint the washers with anything. We bought them at Lowes and I just picked the ones that looked the best (not all scratched up).

2. The big washer is just a regular round 2 in. washer. (It is not smaller at the top)

3. We did not glue the washers together, we just tied them with the ribbon.

4. We followed this tutorial to stamp our washers and darken the letters.

Hope that answers all you questions. Good Luck and we would love to see yours when your done!

Your neighbors are going to love you. :)


and


Photobucket

at

45 comments:

  1. NatysNovember 11, 2009 at 11:25 AM

    WOW!! so easy, so personal sooo cheap

    Thanks for the idea, is genius

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  2. tinahead81November 11, 2009 at 11:41 AM

    GREAT idea!!

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  3. ValerieNovember 11, 2009 at 11:54 AM

    SOOOOO cute! I am filing this away at thecraftersfilebox.blogspot.com.

    Thanks for sharing!

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  4. Cheryl G.November 11, 2009 at 12:35 PM

    I LOVE that. I think my son would love to make those too.
    Thank you!

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  5. Lynn KellanNovember 11, 2009 at 12:38 PM

    Instead of measure twice, cut once, I will spell check twice, and then hammer once.

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  6. michelle@somedaycraftsNovember 11, 2009 at 2:27 PM

    very cute and easy! I featured this at somedaycrafts.blogspot.com Grab my "featured" button.

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  7. meganNovember 11, 2009 at 5:21 PM

    This is great!!!! Love it!

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  8. Room to InspireNovember 11, 2009 at 6:54 PM

    Love it, great idea. I am off in search of a steel stamping set!

    Chelsea

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  9. AnonymousNovember 11, 2009 at 7:30 PM

    This is such a cute idea! I've got to get me one of those stamp sets. :)

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  10. Randi~Dukes and DuchessesNovember 11, 2009 at 8:43 PM

    Can't wait to try these!

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  11. LeanneNovember 11, 2009 at 8:43 PM

    Great neighbor gift idea. I hope not too many of my neighbors read this or we might all end up with the same gifts. Thanks for sharing this. I'm having a giveaway this week, stop by if you'd like.

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  12. House QueenNovember 11, 2009 at 8:49 PM

    FAbulous!

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  13. Jen@Notes From the HeartlandNovember 11, 2009 at 9:25 PM

    Love this idea!! One question...the larger washer looks like it is narrower on the top than on the bottom...is that just the way the photo makes it look or is that a special type of washer? Thanks!!!

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  14. Company EIGHTNovember 12, 2009 at 9:07 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  15. KatieNovember 12, 2009 at 9:21 AM

    Love the washer ornaments! Think I'll send my husband to harbor freight to pick me up a stamp set!

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  16. SuesanNovember 12, 2009 at 12:28 PM

    LOVE IT!! Now I just have to get my hands on one of those stamping sets!

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  17. KatieNovember 12, 2009 at 6:05 PM

    Quick question... did you use anything to oxidize/change the color of the washers? They look bronzed a bit, plus the lettering really stands out. Any tips are appreciated!!!

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  18. laceyNovember 12, 2009 at 6:58 PM

    You know what I loved getting from you as my visiting teacher? Those thin mint cookies!!!! I thought they were "name brand"- tasted just as good.

    Love all your great ideas ;)

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  19. JenNovember 12, 2009 at 7:08 PM

    Yes i would like to know about the color of the washers too. Are they glued together???

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  20. NickieNovember 12, 2009 at 10:06 PM

    I think I have the same questions everyone else does...Did u paint the washers? Also for the lettering did you paint the letters black? The size of the second washer seems to have a narrow top on it does it?? I went to Harbor Freight today and picked up my stamping kit. I will wait and hopefully get my questions answered before starting this project. THANKS for the wonderful gift idea.

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  21. BeccaNovember 13, 2009 at 12:20 AM

    love this!Wish I were your neighbor!

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  22. Kathryn-nannygoatNovember 13, 2009 at 7:03 AM

    Hi Ladies, it's me Kathryn.
    I updated the post to answer all your questions so check it out!
    Good luck with your ornaments!

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  23. Amanda BrantleyNovember 13, 2009 at 4:26 PM

    This is so cute, thanks for a great idea! I am off to Hobby Lobby to see if they have stamping sets, otherwise I will have to make the 30 min drive to get one (with a three month old, haha). These could be great teacher gifts!!

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  24. KatieJNovember 15, 2009 at 3:43 AM

    Those are awesome, I think I need one of those stamping sets now...

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  25. Kelly @ turned UP to ELEVEN!November 15, 2009 at 3:45 AM

    I am so happy to have found your blog! This is a fantastic idea!

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  26. NickieNovember 15, 2009 at 5:59 PM

    Thanks for the update....And the other link

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  27. gail@My Repurposed LifeNovember 16, 2009 at 12:03 PM

    love, love, love these!
    washers... check!
    stamping set... check!
    definitely going to try this!
    gail

    ReplyDelete
  28. Jessica TauferNovember 16, 2009 at 4:30 PM

    I'd LOVE to use this in the Utah Baby Guide. I'll link back to you and give you credit for it. Can you email me and let me know that it's okay? Thanks!
    Jessica Taufer
    Editorial Director
    Utah Baby Guide
    j.taufer@utahbabyguide.com
    www.utahbabyguide.com

    ReplyDelete
  29. Tylersmom51304November 16, 2009 at 6:58 PM

    I am off to Harbor Freight tomorrow !!!!

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  30. marleneNovember 16, 2009 at 10:22 PM

    Kathryn love this idea I think some laddies in Idaho

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  31. SumoNovember 17, 2009 at 11:12 PM

    Great idea! I'll be featuring it on my blog next week:

    http://sumossweetstuff.blogspot.com

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  32. YannieNovember 17, 2009 at 11:50 PM

    This is cute idea.... I love it very unique!

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  33. NinaNaNaNaNovember 24, 2009 at 4:44 PM

    I just picked up my stamper set at Harbor Freight over the weekend. I'm on the hunt for some pretty ribbon right now. I can't wait to get started. I'm making these for family members this year...it's been a tough one and this project helped to inspire everyone to forget the $50 grab bag and focus on handmade and how we can help others. I know something so simple will and has made such a huge impression on my family already. Thanks so much!

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  34. Joy November 27, 2009 at 10:13 PM

    I love the ornaments. Is it ok if I post about you on my blog? Check me out at www.joyslightbulbs.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  35. TheMoncursNovember 30, 2009 at 11:18 AM

    What kind of washers did you use? Did you just pick them up from Home Depot? I got some but I don't know if I'm not hammering hard enough or they're a different kind of metal or what but my letters are super super faint.

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  36. JulieDecember 2, 2009 at 10:36 AM

    So cute! But they are way harder to stamp than I thought they would be. I can't seem to get them to stamp the letter evenly. The washer metal is much harder than I thought it would be. I am stamping on cement.
    Any tips?

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  37. Kathryn-nannygoatDecember 4, 2009 at 10:02 AM

    Hi Ladies, We bought the normal washers and we found that if we hammered on a cutting board on top of cement and we hit each letter 15-20 times with the hammer (hard) it worked. Try that and let me know if it works.

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  38. Kari SweetenDecember 8, 2009 at 2:18 AM

    Just wanted to stop by and let you know that I featured this in my favorite ornaments post on Ucreate!

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  39. Jill@Barnes YardDecember 8, 2009 at 10:25 AM

    Love it.
    PS I'm not seeing the tips for darkening on the link. Help.
    -Jill :)

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  40. Kathryn-nannygoatDecember 8, 2009 at 11:49 AM

    Hi Jill,
    Thanks for the heads up. They changed their link on sugardoodle so I fixed the link and it works now.
    :)Kathryn

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  41. CaMiMaDecember 8, 2009 at 2:46 PM

    I loved this idea when I saw it...HOWEVER...I had no luck what so ever. I tried three different kinds of stamping sets (including the one mentioned in the instructions) and all types of washers. I even had my husband try to hammer the letters. I couldn't get them to look at all like the pictures...the letters were barely visible. I did using my stamping sets to hammer some letters into some vintage metal cookie cutters to use as ornaments though and it wasn't a total loss.

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  42. Star @ A Load Of CraftDecember 5, 2010 at 1:15 AM

    Hey there! Thank you so much for this tutoiral! I used it and posted my result here:

    http://aloadofcraft.blogspot.com/2010/12/last-year-i-used-nannygoats-tutorial-to.html

    ReplyDelete
  43. Single PAPDecember 15, 2010 at 10:47 PM

    i bought all the materials, too and like cara miller matthews, i failed miserably. the letters aren't lined up and some are barely visiable. i think my washers were too thick?

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  44. JeannettaNovember 15, 2011 at 5:37 PM

    I LOVE these! My husband and my 15yos are giving me SUCH a hard time, but what do THEY know!
    Thanks for the AWESOME idea!

    ReplyDelete
  45. AnonymousJuly 12, 2012 at 11:25 PM

    Wow . . . great idea and the ornament is adorable!

    Debby, 57
    Jacksonville, FL

    ReplyDelete