Add a touch of rustic charm to your tree with these DIY ornaments made from natural materials. The kids will love tying their faces to these cute, frosty friends, too!
This easy DIY decoration gives inexpensive glass ornaments rich color. Tear colorful fabric and attach it to a clear ornament with a glossy Mod Podge.
Felt Monogram Ornaments
Embroider an initial or a family name on these pretty felt ornaments. They’ll add a personal touch to any tree or make a wonderful gift for someone special.
These ornaments combine natural wood and lustrous gold for a classic and modern look. Trace the letter you want to use on paper, then cut it out. Glue it to the front of a contrasting felt color, then sew around the edges.
Roll out paper clay like cookie dough, then press in seasonal sprigs for a festive DIY ornament. Tie a ribbon to the top for hanging.
Wooden Bead Ornaments
This easy-to-make ornament will add a bit of shimmer to your tree. Use gold spray paint and wooden beads to create a simple yet elegant look.
Enlist the kids to help paint this cute fox ornament. Glue on whiskers cut from faux pine branches and finish with a twine loop for hanging.
If you’re looking for a fun way to display family photos, these DIY ornaments are the perfect solution. Use the first or last initial of your loved ones to make unique Christmas gifts.
Gnome Ornaments
Add a whimsy to your holiday decorations with these cute and easy-to-make gnome ornaments. The gnomes look adorable hanging on your Christmas tree or adorning a gift package.
Make a simple hat for your gnome using some beige and contrasting yarn. Cut a length of twine, then glue the ends into the open top of the hat so they create a string loop for hanging your gnome ornament.
Countdown Ornaments
Countdown Ornaments are a fun way to build excitement for Christmas. Use them to count down the days until Santa arrives, for a special family celebration, or the joy of opening presents.
Make this simple ornament advent calendar for yourself, your spouse, or your kids! It’s an easy craft that will bring everyone a smile.
Add a new number to this ornament every day until Christmas. It’s easy to set up: install two AAA batteries, then press the “MONTH” button until the correct month is displayed on the front of the ornament. You can also use this ornament to count down the days until a birthday, holiday, or other occasion!
Handprint Ornaments
Handprint ornaments are a delightful way to create cherished keepsakes for the holidays. They are also a great baby shower craft to celebrate a new life.
Place salt dough on a floured surface to create an ornament, and roll it to about a quarter inch thick. Press your child’s hand into the dough, splaying out the fingers as much as possible.
Poke a hole in the top for hanging with a straw or skewer, and bake on a cookie sheet at 250 degrees for about 2 hours (or longer, depending on thickness). Once cool, paint and decorate.
Seal if desired to help preserve the finish and color.
Scalloped Top Ornaments
Add a touch of the outdoors to your holiday decorations with these elongated ornaments inspired by winter icicles. The textured ornaments are easy to craft by painting a plastic shell in metallic paint and then decorating it with ribbon, buttons, and other embellishments.
Recycle paper from old holiday cards to craft these paper tree ornaments. Punch a hole in the center of each paper circle and thread a narrow piece of ribbon through for a hanger.
To create these paper ornaments, all you need is a rub-on transfer sheet and layered cardstock. Use a glue bottle to coat an outline, then sprinkle with ultra-fine glitter for a festive effect.
Clothespin Ornaments
Turn wooden craft clothespins into adorable handmade Christmas ornaments for your tree. This low-mess project is easy for even young kids to tackle with help from an adult.
Cover your work surface with craft paper or a drop cloth to protect it from spray paint spatter in a well-ventilated area. Twist the top clothespin and wiggle loose the metal fulcrum spring.
Glue each of the four remaining pieces together by adding a bead of glue to each angled tip, then connecting them. Outfit the final spoke as the ornament’s hanger by threading a piece of ribbon through its screw eye ring and gluing it in place.
Paper Ball Ornaments
Whether you want to add some sparkle or keep it simple, these paper ornaments are easy for kids to create. Make a bunch and hang them from the tree, or string them together as a festive garland to decorate your home.
Paint one side of each piece of paper with stripes, squiggles, dots, or whatever design you like. Once the paint is dry, trace a circle on the paper and cut it out. Use the equilateral triangle you cut out as a template for each circular piece. Each time you glue two circles together, alternate the points to point in different directions.
Cinnamon Bird Ornaments
This is a cute ornament project for kids; they smell amazing when finished. This recipe uses ground cinnamon and non-edible applesauce to create an ornament dough that can be rolled out and cut into shapes like cookies, then dried and adorned.
Dust your work area and rolling pin with extra cinnamon to prevent sticking. Roll out the dough to about 1/4-inch thickness, then use cookie cutters to cut out desired shapes or a knife to hand-cut custom ones. Poke a hole at the top with a straw to thread ribbon or string through after drying.
Summary
In addition to being an enjoyable way to personalize your holiday décor, these do-it-yourself ornaments offer an opportunity to make enduring memories with those you care about.
Crafts can satisfy every skill level and taste, from bright fabric masterpieces to rustic wooden decorations. These handcrafted gems will add warmth and charm to your house, whether you’re making them as gifts or ornaments for your tree.