Ornament Review: Toymaker Santa #3 - Bike - 2002 Hallmark Ornament

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Very fun ornament that brings to find your first bike

Cons: Tips at a very odd angle

The Bottom Line:
Ornament looks great

Until you try to hang it

The tip just looks odd

Toymaker Santa Has Just Finished a New Bike for Some Lucky Child

Many a child has been given their first bike by Santa, and this milestone is captured in the third ornament in Hallmark's Toymaker Santa series.

Like the others in the series, Santa is wearing a tan apron over a green shirt and red pants.  In this case, he's wearing his trademark red hat to cover the bald spot on his head.  He's still smiling under his white beard.

He's just finished making a bike and is taking it out for a spin.  It's actually a little comical to see him sitting on a bike that is too small for him.  The bike is green and has a bell on the handlebars.  Santa must not be quite done because he's got a horn in his right hand.  And yes, there are training wheels on the back.

It's the details that I love about this ornament.  While the training wheels don't spin, the big wheels on the bike actually do.  2002 is painted on the bike since that's the year this ornament was released, but it's put on there in a way that gives the numbers just slight wings; it almost looks like a logo for a bike company.

Because of the training wheels, you can get this ornament to stand up if you are careful with it.  Once you do, it seems fairly steady.  Santa's leaning back on the bike quite a bit, and that really messes with things when you go to hang it.  The ornament tips so that Santa looks like he is sitting up, but the bike is at a strange angle.  It's a shame, too, because otherwise, I love the ornament.

Since there is no good base for this ornament, Hallmark hid their little series marker on the ornament.  It's pretty small, but it's there.  Also look for artist Ken Crow's initials.

I really wish that the third Toymaker Santa ornament didn't tip at such an odd angle.  That is the only flaw it what is an otherwise very fun ornament.

Be sure to check out the rest of the Toymaker Santa series.

Original Price: $14.95