23 Easy DIY Christmas Ornaments

Making your own Christmas ornaments is one of the best ways to add a personal touch to your holiday decorating. Whether you’re crafting with kids, looking for budget-friendly options, or just want something unique on your tree, these homemade ornaments are perfect.

Most of these projects use materials you probably already have around the house, and they’re simple enough for beginners but fun for experienced crafters too. Get ready to fill your tree with handmade charm!

1. Cinnamon Stick Stars Tied with Twine

Gather ten cinnamon sticks of equal length and arrange them in a star pattern, overlapping the ends slightly. Use hot glue to secure the points where they meet. Once the glue sets, wrap natural twine or thin ribbon around each intersection point, both to reinforce the structure and add a rustic look. Tie a loop of twine at the top for hanging. These smell amazing and give your tree a cozy, farmhouse vibe. You can leave them natural or add a light dusting of fake snow for a wintry effect.

2. Salt Dough Ornaments

Mix one cup of salt, two cups of flour, and one cup of water to create your dough. Roll it out about a quarter-inch thick and make fun shapes like stars, trees, and gingerbread people. Poke a hole at the top with a straw before baking at 250°F for two to three hours until hard. After cooling, paint them with acrylics in whatever colors you like. Seal with a clear glaze or mod podge to protect your designs. Thread ribbon through the holes and they’re ready to hang.

3. Painted Pinecone Ornaments with Glitter

Start by cleaning your pinecones and letting them dry completely. Paint the tips of the pinecone “petals” with white acrylic paint to create a snowy effect, or go bold with metallics like gold or silver. While the paint is still wet, sprinkle glitter generously over the painted areas. Let everything dry thoroughly, then shake off excess glitter outside. Attach a small screw eye to the top or hot glue a ribbon loop between the top scales. These look gorgeous catching the tree lights and bring outdoor beauty inside.

4. Photo Ornaments in Clear Glass or Plastic Balls

Buy clear ornament balls that open at the top from any craft store. Print favorite photos sized to fit inside, then roll them up and slide them into the ornament. You can add extras like fake snow, small confetti, or glitter before sealing. Some people include the year written on decorative paper. Another option is cutting the photo into a circle that fits perfectly against the back curve. These make wonderful gifts for grandparents and create lasting memories. Every year you’ll remember that special moment when you see it on the tree.

5. Felt Gingerbread Men with Embroidered Details

Cut gingerbread man shapes from brown felt using a template you can find online or draw yourself. Use white embroidery floss to stitch on details like icing along the edges, buttons down the middle, and a smiling face. You can also glue on small buttons, ribbon bows, or tiny pom-poms for extra decoration. Stitch or glue two pieces together if you want a sturdier ornament, leaving the top open to add a bit of stuffing. Attach a ribbon loop at the top for hanging. These are soft, sweet, and safe for little ones.

6. Wine Cork Reindeer with Googly Eyes

Save your wine corks for this adorable project. Glue small twigs or thin branches to the top of a cork for antlers. Attach googly eyes and draw or glue on a red pom-pom nose. You can add a small ribbon scarf around the neck for extra cuteness. To hang it, either insert a small screw eye into the top or glue on a loop of twine. These work great as a set if you make several. They’re quirky, fun, and always get compliments from guests who spot them on your tree.

7. Popsicle Stick Snowflakes

Arrange eight popsicle sticks in a snowflake pattern, with four making an X and the other four placed between them. Hot glue all the sticks together at the center where they meet. Once dry, paint the entire snowflake white or winter blue. Add details with glitter glue, small gems, or dots of puffy paint. You can also keep it simple and elegant with just the white paint. Glue a ribbon loop to the back of one of the arms for hanging. These are great for kids to help with and look beautiful in groups.

8. Paper Snowflake Ornaments with Intricate Cuts

Fold white or colored paper into triangles multiple times, just like you did in elementary school. Use scissors to cut various shapes along the edges and folds – the more intricate, the prettier the result. Carefully unfold your snowflake and flatten it under a heavy book for a few minutes. You can leave them plain or add glitter to the edges with a glue stick. Attach a thread or thin ribbon with a small piece of tape to hang them. These are practically free to make and look stunning hanging at different lengths.

9. Beaded Candy Cane Ornaments on Wire

Use red and white beads threaded onto craft wire or pipe cleaners. Bend the wire into a candy cane shape as you add the beads, alternating colors to create the classic striped pattern. Once you have the cane shape, twist the wire ends together securely. You can add a bow at the curved top with thin ribbon. These catch the light beautifully when hanging on the tree. Make several in different sizes or try other color combinations like green and white or silver and gold for variety.

10. Mason Jar Lid Ornaments with Fabric Centers

Remove the insert from a mason jar lid ring. Cut a circle of festive fabric or burlap slightly larger than the opening. Place the fabric over the opening and snap the insert back in, securing the fabric edges inside. Add embellishments to the front like buttons, small wooden shapes, or written messages on paper circles. Hot glue a ribbon loop to the top for hanging. These have a charming rustic look and you can match the fabric to your tree’s color scheme. They’re also great for using up fabric scraps.

11. Dried Orange Slice Ornaments with Cinnamon Sticks

Slice oranges about a quarter-inch thick and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Dry them in the oven at 200°F for about three hours, flipping halfway through. They should be completely dry and slightly darkened when done. Once cool, you can leave them natural or add a light coating of mod podge for shine. Hot glue a cinnamon stick to one side and tie a ribbon through the top for hanging. Your whole house will smell like Christmas while these bake.

12. Clear Ornament Balls Filled with Mini Bottle Brush Trees

Buy clear glass or plastic ornament balls that open at the top. Find miniature bottle brush trees at craft stores (they come in various sizes and colors). Arrange two or three small trees inside the ornament, adding a sprinkle of fake snow or white glitter at the bottom. You can also include tiny decorative elements like miniature presents or deer figurines. Seal the ornament top back in place. These create charming little winter scenes that look magical hanging on your tree, like tiny snow globes. Kids especially love looking into these miniature worlds.

13. Handprint Ornaments in Clay or Salt Dough

Use air-dry clay or salt dough (same recipe as earlier) and roll it flat. Press your child’s hand firmly into the dough to make a clear print. Use a cookie cutter to cut around the handprint in a circle or other shape, making sure to include the full print. Poke a hole at the top before it dries. Once hardened, paint and decorate however you like, and write the year and your child’s name on the back. These become priceless keepsakes that you’ll treasure as they grow. Every year you’ll remember how little those hands once were.

14. Miniature Wreath Ornaments with Ribbon Bows

Form small wreaths using mason jar lids, wire rings, pipe cleaners bent into circles, or even cardboard cut into ring shapes. Wrap them with green yarn, tinsel, or small artificial greenery secured with hot glue. Add tiny decorations like mini bells, berries, or beads. Finish with a small bow made from thin ribbon at the top or bottom. These look like tiny versions of door wreaths and add traditional holiday charm. You can make them uniform or give each one its own personality with different embellishments.

15. Button Tree Ornaments on Felt Backgrounds

Cut triangle shapes from green felt to form simple tree silhouettes. Arrange green buttons of various sizes down the center of the tree, starting with larger ones at the bottom and smaller ones toward the top. Sew or hot glue each button in place. Add a small yellow star button or felt piece at the very top. Glue a small brown felt rectangle at the bottom for the trunk. Attach a ribbon loop to the back for hanging. These are perfect for using up your button collection and have a cozy, handmade feel.

16. Wooden Slice Ornaments with Painted Designs

Find wood slices at craft stores or cut your own from fallen branches (be sure they’re fully dried). Sand the surfaces smooth if needed. Paint your designs with acrylics – simple options include snowflakes, Christmas trees, or festive words like “Joy” or “Noel.” You can also go for winter scenes or patterns like plaid or polka dots. Once dry, seal with a clear varnish or mod podge. Drill a small hole near the top or hot glue a ribbon loop to the back. These have a beautiful natural, rustic appeal.

17. Clothespin Angel Ornaments with Paper Wings

Take a wooden clothespin (the old-fashioned kind without the spring) as the angel’s body. Paint it in flesh tones for the face area at the round end. Add a face with fine markers or paint. Glue small paper or felt wings to the back – you can cut wing shapes from white paper doilies for a lacy effect. Add yarn hair by gluing small pieces to the top. A tiny halo can be made from gold pipe cleaner. These simple angels have old-fashioned charm and kids love personalizing the faces.

18. Paper Quilled Snowflake Ornaments

Cut thin strips of white or light blue paper about an eighth-inch wide. Roll these strips tightly around a toothpick or quilling tool, then let them expand slightly before gluing the end. Pinch the rolled circles into various shapes like teardrops and marquises. Arrange these shapes into snowflake patterns, gluing them together where they touch. Let everything dry completely before handling. Attach a clear thread or thin ribbon for hanging. These delicate ornaments look incredibly detailed and beautiful catching the light. They’re surprisingly easy once you get the hang of the basic rolling technique.

19. Fabric Scrap Patchwork Ball Ornaments

Start with styrofoam balls and cut small squares or triangles from various Christmas fabrics. Apply mod podge to a small section of the ball and press a fabric piece onto it, smoothing out wrinkles. Overlap pieces slightly as you work around the entire ball. Keep adding fabric pieces with mod podge until the ball is completely covered. Once dry, you can add a final coat of mod podge over everything for a sealed finish. Attach a ribbon loop with a pin or hot glue. These are great for using fabric scraps and create beautiful, colorful ornaments.

20. Sequin and Pin Styrofoam Ornaments

This classic craft uses styrofoam balls, sequins, and straight pins with ball heads. Start at the top and place a sequin on the ball, then push a pin through its center to secure it. Add the next sequin overlapping slightly, continuing in rows around the ball. You can create patterns with different colored sequins or cover the entire ball in one color. Work your way down to the bottom. Attach a ribbon at the top for hanging by pinning it securely. These sparkly ornaments catch every bit of tree light and have gorgeous vintage appeal.

21. Painted Wooden Bead Garland Ornaments

String large wooden beads onto strong thread or thin wire in groups of six to ten beads. Paint the beads before or after stringing – metallic paints look especially festive. You can paint each bead a different color, create patterns, or add details like dots and stripes. Tie the ends together to form a circular garland shape, or create a candy cane or tree shape with the beaded string. Add a ribbon or wire loop for hanging. These mini garlands look adorable on the tree and make great gift toppers too.

22. Coffee Filter Snowball Ornaments

Stack several white coffee filters together and fold them in half, then in half again. Cut petal or scalloped shapes along the rounded edge. Unfold them to reveal your pattern. Fluff and separate each filter layer to create a full, round snowball shape. Use white thread to tie the center tightly, which holds all the layers together and creates your hanging loop. These look amazingly like real snowballs and are incredibly lightweight. Make different sizes using regular and large coffee filters. They fill tree spaces beautifully without adding much weight to branches.

23. Pom-Pom Snowman Ornaments

Make or buy three white pom-poms in graduated sizes (large, medium, small). Hot glue them together vertically to form a snowman body. Cut a tiny triangle from orange felt for the carrot nose and glue it to the smallest pom-pom face. Add small black beads or dots for eyes and buttons down the middle pom-pom. Create a little scarf from a strip of felt or fabric and wrap it around where the head meets the body. You can add a tiny felt hat on top too. Attach a ribbon loop to the top for hanging. These fluffy little snowmen are adorable.