DIY Christmas Ornaments: Festive, Affordable, and Fun Home Decor Projects

DIY ornaments are an excellent way to personalize your holiday home without breaking the bank. Handmade ornaments not only give your home a special feel but, can be great souvenirs too and then turn into a family heirloom piece. From natural pinecone ornaments to shimmery beaded snowflakes, there is no shortage of DIY varieties perfect for any skill level or decorating scheme. Here are some DIY Christmas ornaments you can try this season to spice up your home with some spirit.

1. Pinecone Ornaments

This evergreen holiday material will impart its earthy, rustic touch to your Christmas tree. They are cheap (or free for the taking in the garden) and can be fancified with a lick of paint and a bit of imagination. For pinecone ornaments, paint the tips of the pinecone with white, silver, or gold acrylic paint to create a frosted appearance. While the paint is wet, add glitter to give it some bling! Once they have dried glue a piece of ribbon or twine as a loop to the top with hot glue. They’re gorgeous on the tree, but you can also use them in garlands or wreaths and they make a great beginner or kid-friendly project.

2. Salt Dough Ornaments

Salt dough ornaments are a classic, family-friendly project. They are simple to create, highly customizable, and, when constructed correctly, durable for years. Begin by combining a cup of flour, half a cup of salt and half a cup of water forming a dough. Roll out dough to 1/4-inch thickness and use holiday cookie-cutters to cut out shapes such as stars, bells or snowflakes. Punch a hole at the top of each for hanging and then bake the shapes at a low temperature for several hours until they dry out. After they cool decorate with acrylic paint, and string ribbon through each ornament to top it all off. These are great for holiday keepsakes, as you can include names, dates, or unique designs.

3. Mason Jar Lid Ornaments

If you want to add a vintage style to your decor but your decor season is Christmas, you can use mason jar lids to create Christmas ornaments. Start by cutting out a circle of fabric or decorative paper that will sit inside the lid. Adhere it using Mod Podge or glue, then decorate with glitter, tiny photos, or stickers. You might even set up holiday scenes in the lids (via My Modern Met). Stick a loop of ribbon or twine in the top in a place that will make your ornament hang right, and you’ve got an ornament. Mason jar lid ornaments can be made to fit just about any type of décor, from rustic to modern, depending on the materials and designs used.

4. Cinnamon Stick Ornaments

Cinnamon sticks are not just a perfect material for rustic-style decorations but also a fragrant holiday-friendly addition to your decor. Arrange the cinnamon sticks upright in a triangle formation and glue them together to form mini trees or to a stiff, thin piece of cardboard in the shape of trees and shoes make mini bundle of these and tie up with a decorative ribbon.wrapper ribbon. If you need extra embellishments, top off with some small faux greenery, berries, or tiny pinecones. You can also hang them on your Christmas tree or use to decorate wreaths and garlands. These stylish decorations are easy to make (made in just a couple of minutes) and smell great—perfect for a cozy farmhouse chic vibe for the holiday.

5. Felt Ornaments

This is because felt is one of the most economical and simplest mediums to play with when it comes to mediums used in making ornaments. Cut out felt sheets into holiday shapes (like stars, reindeer, or trees) to make felt ornaments. Then sew the edges all the way up, leaving a small gap to add stuffing into it. Pinch each ornament opening closed, gently stuff with cotton or fiberfill, and sew closed. Decorate with buttons, beads, or sequins, and attach a loop of ribbon for hanging. Safe and soft with varying colors that could match with either your holiday palette or your children and pet choices, felt ornaments are perfect for apartments or homes with kids or pets.

6. Paper Star Ornaments

These paper stars are easy to create and add a simple and classy touch to Christmas decoration. Colored or patterned paper or adhesive metallic foil for an extra classy look! Using origami to fold the paper into star shapes or other complex designs. Use a tiny bit of glue between the layers to hold the stars in place. Punch hole on the top and string with a ribbon to hang These lightweight and easily handled ornaments look beautiful on the tree or in the window. Paper Stars is an inexpensive method of bringing an air of Scandinavian realism to your Christmas house.

7. Beaded Snowflake Ornaments

8. Cork Reindeer Ornaments

Corks are a great craft material for kids, and most people have a few wine corks hiding in a drawer somewhere (they can be crafty). You can make cute ornaments that are basically reindeer. Stick two corks together for the body and head of the reindeer and use small twigs for antlers. Gluing googly eyes and a red pom-pom as the nose can make it look cuter, like Rudolph. End with a piece of ribbon for hanging These cork reindeer ornaments are quirky, simple to create, and add rustic touch to your holiday decor—ideal for farmhouse style or nature trees.

9. Button Wreath Ornaments

These mini button wreaths are adorable little ornaments that feel vintage and quaint. You can just string buttons in festive colors on a thin wire or pipe cleaner in a circle to use as a wreath. Pinch and twist the ends of the circles to hold the shape, and then clip the little bow and ribbon loop for hanging. In fact, you can achieve a layered look using a variety of sizes and shades of buttons. Button wreath ornaments are another simple but lovely seasonal DIY that not only freshens up the look of your tree but also helps use up leftover buttons you always seem to have in your sewing kit—because of nostalgia.

10. Scrabble Tile Ornaments

If you want something unique, add some vendor personality and make ornaments from Scrabble tiles. Line up some tiles to write like “Joy,” “Noel,” or your family names, then glue them to a small wooden stick or cardboard piece to follow. After you attach a loop of ribbon to hang it, feel free to attach a bow if you desire some decoration. These scrabble tile ornaments are especially lovely if you use a farmhouse or rustic decor and a fun way to personalize your holidays.