The holiday season is the perfect time to get crafty and add a personal touch to your Christmas decorations. DIY ornaments are not only fun to make, but they also bring charm, creativity, and warmth to your home. From sparkling glitter baubles to rustic pinecone angels, there are endless ways to decorate your tree and spread festive cheer. These 13 creative ornament ideas are easy, budget-friendly, and perfect for crafting with family or friends. Whether you love traditional styles or playful, whimsical designs, these ornaments will make your holiday décor unique, memorable, and full of joy.
1. Glitter Baubles
Glitter baubles are a classic way to add sparkle to your Christmas tree. You can use clear plastic ornaments and fill them with glitter in your favorite colors. Mix fine glitter for a delicate sparkle or chunky glitter for a bold look. These baubles are perfect for personalizing with names, tiny stickers, or miniature festive objects inside. Kids love helping with this project, making it a fun family activity. Hang them on branches using colorful ribbon or twine to make your tree shine. They’re simple, festive, and eye-catching.
Product Ideas: clear ornaments for crafts fillable
2. Pinecone Angels
Turn ordinary pinecones into charming angels. Collect small pinecones and attach felt or paper wings and tiny wooden beads or buttons for heads. Paint the pinecones with gold, white, or silver for a snowy or sparkling effect. Add small ribbon loops to hang them on your tree. These ornaments bring a rustic, natural feel to your decorations and are perfect for using what you already have at home. They’re also a great craft for kids and make lovely gifts for friends and family.
Product Ideas: Natural Pinecones Pack
3. Button Christmas Trees
Button Christmas trees are a creative and colorful DIY ornament. Gather buttons in various sizes and colors and glue them onto small triangular cardboard or felt shapes to mimic a tree. Decorate with tiny stars, beads, or sequins as ornaments. Attach a ribbon or hook for hanging. These ornaments are lightweight and versatile, perfect for both traditional and whimsical Christmas themes. They’re also budget-friendly, making use of leftover buttons around the house, and they can double as a fun holiday craft for kids to practice fine motor skills while creating festive decorations.
Product Ideas: Assorted Color Buttons
Read Also: 7+ Creative Christmas Craft Ideas
4. Candy Cane Reindeer
Candy cane reindeer are adorable and easy to make. Use small candy canes as the reindeer’s body and bend pipe cleaners to form antlers. Add googly eyes, tiny red pom-poms for noses, or felt accents to complete the look. These sweet and fun ornaments can hang on your tree or double as stocking stuffers. They’re perfect for kids’ crafts and are ideal for parties or classroom activities. Combining the festive colors of candy canes with whimsical reindeer shapes makes your decorations playful and charming while spreading holiday cheer in a simple, creative way.
Product Ideas: Pipe Cleaners Craft Pack
5. Snowflake Ornaments
Snowflake ornaments bring a wintery touch indoors. You can use paper, felt, or wooden cutouts to create beautiful snowflake shapes. Decorate with glitter, paint, or sequins to make each piece unique. Attach ribbon loops or hooks for hanging. These ornaments are versatile and can complement any tree style—from rustic to elegant. They’re also inexpensive and provide a fun activity for kids or adults. Making different designs and sizes allows you to create a layered, magical effect on your tree, giving your Christmas décor a sparkling and snowy winter vibe.
Product Ideas: Wooden Snowflake Cutouts
6. Jar Lid Photo Frames
Transform old jar lids into personalized photo frame ornaments. Paint or decorate the lids, then add a small family photo or festive image inside. Seal with clear adhesive or glue and attach a ribbon for hanging. These ornaments are sentimental and make perfect keepsakes for years to come. They’re also ideal gifts for friends and family, preserving memories in a creative and festive way. This DIY project is simple, budget-friendly, and customizable to match any holiday theme, adding a personal touch to your tree while showcasing cherished moments.
Product Ideas: Mason Jar Lids Set
7. Cinnamon Stick Stars
Cinnamon stick stars are fragrant and festive. Gather six cinnamon sticks and glue them together in a star shape. Add twine or ribbon loops for hanging. You can also decorate with small beads, glitter, or paint for extra flair. These ornaments bring a warm, spicy aroma to your holiday décor, making your home smell like Christmas. They’re budget-friendly, easy to make, and offer a rustic, natural charm that fits any tree theme. Kids enjoy helping create them, and they make wonderful gifts or additions to gift packages for a seasonal touch.
Product Ideas: Whole Cinnamon Sticks Bulk
8. Mini Wreath Ornaments
Mini wreath ornaments are small, charming, and versatile. Use wire, small artificial greenery, or even paper to create circular wreath shapes. Decorate with tiny bows, beads, or bells and attach ribbon loops for hanging. These mini wreaths are perfect for your tree, mantel, or even as gift tags. They’re easy to customize with different colors and materials to match your holiday décor. This craft is simple yet elegant, bringing a cozy, festive vibe to your home. Kids can help make them, turning your holiday decorating into a fun, family activity.
Product Ideas: Green Floral Wire Set
9. Pom-Pom Garlands
Pom-pom garlands are colorful and playful DIY ornaments. Create small yarn pom-poms and string them together to form garlands for your tree or mantel. You can mix colors, sizes, and textures to create a vibrant, festive look. These garlands are lightweight, safe for kids, and easy to store for future holidays. They add a whimsical touch to your decorations and can also double as fun party décor. Pom-poms are inexpensive and perfect for using leftover yarn, making this a creative, budget-friendly craft that brightens up your holiday space.
Product Ideas: Multi-Color Pom-Poms Craft Kit
10. Beaded Icicles
Beaded icicles are elegant and sparkling ornaments. Use beads, crystals, or pearls strung on thin wire or string to create icicle shapes. Twist or bend the wire to form unique designs, then attach hooks or ribbon loops for hanging. These ornaments catch the light beautifully and add a shimmering touch to your tree. They’re perfect for a sophisticated or winter-themed décor. You can also mix colors or sizes for variety. This DIY project is simple but impressive, giving your Christmas decorations a professional, sparkling look without breaking the bank.
Product Ideas: Glass Beads Assortment Kit
11. Scrabble Tile Messages
Scrabble tile ornaments are fun and personal. Spell out holiday words, names, or short phrases using Scrabble tiles glued together or attached to ribbon loops. You can paint the tiles, add glitter, or decorate with stickers for a festive look. These ornaments make meaningful gifts for friends and family and are a great way to personalize your tree. They’re lightweight, budget-friendly, and easy to customize. This craft is perfect for word lovers and provides endless creative possibilities. Kids and adults alike can enjoy designing their own messages for a special holiday touch.
Product Ideas: Wooden Letter Tiles Pack
12. Felt Santa Hats
Felt Santa hat ornaments are simple, cute, and festive. Cut small triangles from red felt, add a white felt trim, and a tiny pom-pom at the tip. Glue the pieces together and attach a ribbon loop for hanging. These ornaments are lightweight, safe, and perfect for DIY holiday décor. You can make a bunch in different sizes to scatter across your tree or even hang them on garlands. They’re budget-friendly and kid-friendly, making them a fun craft for the whole family. Add glitter or sequins for extra sparkle.
Product Ideas: DIY Felt Fabric Squareshttps://amzn.to/4no1B19
13. Twine Wrapped Balls
Twine-wrapped balls are rustic and stylish. Take small foam or plastic balls and wrap them tightly with twine or jute. Secure with glue and add small decorative accents like beads, buttons, or tiny bows. Attach a ribbon loop for hanging. These ornaments are perfect for a farmhouse or natural-themed Christmas tree. They’re inexpensive, easy to make, and provide a handmade charm. Kids and adults alike can enjoy creating them, and they can also be used as part of holiday table décor or gift toppers for a cohesive festive look.
Product Ideas: Natural Jute Twine Roll
Conclusion
DIY Christmas ornaments are more than just decorations—they’re a way to create lasting memories, express creativity, and bring loved ones closer during the festive season. Each handmade piece tells a story, whether it’s a child’s first craft project or a thoughtful gift for someone special. Unlike store-bought ornaments, DIY creations carry a personal touch that makes your Christmas tree feel unique and heartfelt.
With these 13 ideas, you now have endless ways to transform simple materials into magical holiday décor. From rustic pinecones and cinnamon sticks to sparkling beads and glitter, the possibilities are as limitless as your imagination. Amazon makes it even easier by providing all the essential supplies at your fingertips, so you can start crafting without delay.
Whether you’re looking for fun activities to enjoy with kids, thoughtful handmade gifts, or ways to give your home a cozy festive charm, DIY ornaments are the perfect solution. So this holiday season, let your creativity shine, embrace the joy of making, and decorate your home with ornaments filled with love, warmth, and cheer. After all, the best part of Christmas is not what’s under the tree—but what’s hanging on it.
FAQs
1. Why should I make DIY Christmas ornaments instead of buying them?
DIY ornaments add a personal and creative touch to your holiday décor. They allow you to customize colors, styles, and themes to match your tree. Plus, making ornaments can be a fun, budget-friendly family activity. Unlike store-bought pieces, handmade ornaments carry sentimental value and become cherished keepsakes for years to come.
2. What materials are best for making DIY ornaments?
The best materials are ones that are affordable, safe, and easy to work with—such as clear plastic ornaments, felt, buttons, pinecones, twine, beads, and pom-poms. Many of these supplies are available in multipacks on Amazon, making them cost-effective. You can also repurpose items at home like jar lids or fabric scraps for eco-friendly ornaments.
3. Can kids help with making DIY Christmas ornaments?
Yes! Many DIY ornament ideas are kid-friendly and easy to create. Children can safely decorate with pom-poms, buttons, felt, and stickers. However, adult supervision is needed for hot glue guns, scissors, or small beads. Involving kids in crafting ornaments encourages creativity, improves motor skills, and creates fun bonding moments during the festive season.
4. How long does it take to make DIY ornaments?
It depends on the design. Simple projects like pom-pom garlands or glitter baubles can take 10–15 minutes, while more detailed ones like beaded icicles may take up to an hour. The best part is that you can make ornaments at your own pace, making it a relaxing and rewarding holiday activity.
5. Are DIY ornaments cost-effective compared to store-bought ones?
Yes! DIY ornaments are often much cheaper than pre-made decorations, especially when buying bulk materials from Amazon. With a single pack of supplies, you can create multiple ornaments, saving money while adding a personal touch. Plus, DIY projects let you reuse leftover materials for future crafts, making them both budget-friendly and sustainable.
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