69 DIY Christmas Ornaments Your Family Will Treasure for Years
They're not just beautiful—they're also incredibly meaningful keepsakes.
When it's time to put up and decorate your Christmas tree this year, we know you will want to grab those tried-and-true ornaments that you've been using for years, and for good reason, the memories they hold are priceless. And while they're a surefire way to spruce up your, well, spruce or pine or cedar, we think DIY Christmas ornaments can be just as meaningful. (Especially if you can turn making handmade ornaments into a fun Christmas activity for the whole family and create memories together!) Whether you're already in the holiday spirit and can't wait to get to get your hand messy and the glitter scattered about, or want to hold off on making them until you've picked out your tree, there's never a wrong time to start thinking about what homemade Christmas ornaments you want to create this season.
To help get you inspired, we've put together some of our favorite easy-to-make DIY Christmas ornaments. Salt dough Christmas ornaments are super fun to make and the kids will love getting their hands messy helping out. And when you're done using the cookie cutters to cut out the ornaments, transform them into sweet twine covered ornaments. With so many DIY Christmas decorations and options to choose from, you're bound to find something that suits your taste. From options that are perfect for rustic trees, like tiny ornaments made of twine, to modern, metallic clay ornaments, and even Christmas cookie ornaments, there's a Christmas craft in here for everyone. So if you're looking to add a merry twist to your tree this year, we suggest you take a peek at some of these homemade ornaments.
Yarn Ball Ornaments
Gift a few of these simple to make yarn ball ornaments to family or friends who love to knit and what their faces light up!!
To make: Wrap yarn around a clear plastic Christmas ornament, holding the beginning of the yarn in place with a dab of hot glue, until the ornament is completely covered. Thread bamboo cocktail picks through the yarn to mimic knitting needles. Hang as desired.
Yarn Stars
Make these cute ornaments with whatever yarn you have on hand or color coordinate with the rest of your holiday decor. Whatever you choose you can't go wrong and you have fun DIYing.
To make: Cut a star shape from a piece of cardboard using an X-acto knife. Wrap the star in yarn, using dabs of hot glue to help hold the yarn in place near the points of the star, until fully covered. Glue the ends of a length of yarn to the back on one point to create a loop for hanging.
Shiny and Bright Cookie Cutter Ornament
After a run to the craft store, raid the baking supply drawer for materials to create a super sparkly, baking themed ornament.
To make: Hot-glue tinsel and mini Christmas notions in solid backed aluminum cutters to create sparkly ornaments
Mini Bell Ornaments
Hang these pretty ornaments on your front door or drape on your tree.
To make: Stack mini molds and Bundt pans to form bell shapes; affix together using epoxy. Hot-glue small ornaments to the bottom to create the clappers. Glue ribbon loops and a bow to the top for hanging. Add a swag of greenery, if desired.
Twine Wrapped Cookie Cutters
After you have gifted, or been gifted, this cute present topper makes a perfect and sweet Christmas ornament.
To make: Wrap a cookie cutter with baker’s twine (if your twine is thin, wrap two strands at a time). To hang on the tree, use a extra length of twine or a piece of ribbon.
Mini Santa Sleigh Ornament
Santa will delight all who spy him on the tree in his mini walnut shell sleigh.
To make: Draw eyes on the face of a small wooden peg doll with a fine-tip black marker. Wrap the body of the doll in red felt, holding it in place with hot glue. Create a small hat from red felt, gluing it to the doll's head with hot glue. Attach a mini pom pom to the hat. Cover a mini wooden cube in green felt, holding it in place with hold glue. Tie a ribbon around the present. Drill small holes on either end of half of a walnut shell. Thread a piece of thin twine through each hole, securing it on the inside of the shell with hot glue. Knot the twine at the top for hanging. Use hot glue to secure Santa and the present in the shell.
Clothespin Ornament
Turn a classic country item, the clothespin, into a sweet Christmas ornament. Our version is made with mini clothespins, but you can use the regular sized variety if you prefer.
To make: Remove the springs from 14 mini clothespins. Turn the pieces from each clothespin around and glue them back to back. Glue the pins together to create a circular shape. Glue a piece of gold twine to one pin for hanging.
Felt Olaf Ornament
Kids love Frozen, and this ornament will surely get them dancing around the tree signing "Let It Go" again and again (sorry parents!).
To make: Cut body shapes from white felt; attach to a tongue depressor with hot glue. Cut buttons, mouth and eyebrows from black felt; attach to body with hot glue. Glue mini googly eyes below the eyebrows. Cut a carrot nose from orange felt; attach below the eyes with hot glue. Glue mini twig arms and a piece of twine for hanging to the tongue depressor.
Unicorn Ornament
Delight the kids and grandkids with this sweet and friendly DIY unicorn ornament
To make: Remove the cap from a glass or plastic ball ornament. Lightly water down a small amount of light pink acrylic paint. Carefully pour the paint in the opening of the ornament. Rotate the ornament until the inside is fully covered with paint; pour out excess. Allow to dry then reattach cap. Press desired color sculpting clay into a silicone unicorn mold to create ears and horn; allow to dry completely. Attach a mini unicorn horn, ears, and fake flowers with hot glue. Draw eyelashes just below the horn with a gold paint pen.
Walnut Rudolf Ornament
Greet Santa with this fresh and friendly faced Rudolph ornament. His shiny red nose will lead Santa right to the cookies you left under the tree.
To make: Drill a small hole toward the top of a half of a walnut shell. Attach mini googly eyes, a mini red pom pom, and brown felt ears with hot glue. Thread a piece of twine through the hole and knot.
Velvet Wrapped Ornament
Elegant and so simple, this DIY only takes 4 supplies to complete.
To make: Cut a square of velvet fabric. Wrap around a ball ornament, cinching it at the top. Tie a piece of ribbon around the cinch to hold closed and create a hanger. Tie a bow from the same ribbon and attach with hot glue. Attach small pearl craft bead with hot glue.
Wooden Bead Snowman Ornament
We promise this sweet DIY Frosty won’t melt while he hangs on your tree this holiday season.
To make: Paint three wooden craft beads with white acrylic paint. When dry thread a piece twine through the holes of the beads and knot to hold together. Attach two black gem mini crystal rhinestones for the eyes and four for the buttons with hot glue. Snip a short lengths of orange felt and attach just below the eyes with hot glue. Attach stick arms to the side of the middle bead with hot glue. Flock arms, if desired. Wrap a thin length of red felt to a mini black top hat with hot glue. Glue a string to the top of the hat for hanging. Glue hat to snowman’s head.
Decoupaged Tissue Paper Ornament
As simple as tearing and gluing this sweet and colorful ornament will take longer to dry than it does to make.
To make: Tear colorful tissue paper into small pieces. Attach to a clear glass or plastic ball ornament with glossy Mod Podge. Attach a small piece of ribbon or fabric over the ornament cap. Hang to dry.
Gumball Machine Ornaments
Turn a clear, plain ornament into a brilliantly vivid mini gumball machine, complete with tiny candies (or pom poms if you prefer). People will be amazed that you made these cute replicas!
Get the tutorial at Aww Sam.
Wood Slice State Ornaments
Celebrate your family's travels with these ornaments that have painted state decals on each wood slice. We think these also make the perfect gift for friends or family who travel often—and it doesn't have to be limited to states!
Get the tutorial at All for the Memories.
Pom-Pom Christmas Character Ornaments
Make your own pom-pom-tastic Santas, reindeer, elves, and more with these adorable ornaments. The instructions include steps to make your own pom-poms too!
Get the tutorial at Lovely Indeed.
Painted Nut Ornaments
Nothing says Christmas more than snowmen, decorated trees, and...llamas? Why not! Your kids will love painting these cute ornaments made out of assorted nuts.
Get the tutorial at Handmade Charlotte.
DIY Cross-Stitched Sleigh Ornament
What's more charming than a handmade ornament? One featuring a delightful Christmas scene, of course! This sleigh piled with presents fills the bill.
DIY Dried Citrus Ornaments
Citrus ornaments look almost like stained glass when the light shines through them. To string your own strand, all you need are navel and blood oranges, parchment paper, two cookie sheets, jute or natural twine, a skewer or nail, and decorative hooks.
Make the Ornaments:
1. Preheat oven to 250°F.
2. Cut oranges crosswise into 1/4-inch slices (four oranges make a six-foot garland).
3. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper. Pat orange slices dry with paper towels, and place them on cookie sheets in a single layer.
4. Bake for approximately 3 hours or until dry. (To ensure the slices dry flat, turn them over at the midway mark.) Remove from oven.
5. Using a skewer or nail, poke two holes into the top of each orange slice.
6. Thread twine through each hole, evenly spacing the oranges on the garland. Tie off each end with a loop, and hang from hooks.
DIY Paper Candle Ornaments
These timeless paper ornaments almost look like real candles from a distance. Luckily for parents of small children though, these ones are far less dangerous.
Get the tutorial at The House That Lars Built.
Chloe Gorman is the lifestyle writer for Country Living who covers food, décor, entertainment, and more.
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