The tree goes up every year, but somehow it’s the ornaments that make it feel like home. Store-bought baubles are fine, but there’s something different about a branch strung with pieces you made yourself — a little uneven maybe, but full of character.
That’s the beauty of diy christmas ornaments: they turn an ordinary craft afternoon into something that ends up hanging on the tree for years. Whether you’re working with scraps of felt, a bag of wooden beads, or oranges drying slowly in the oven, the options go in every direction — rustic, glam, whimsical, all of it. Here are fifteen ideas worth trying this season, from quick weeknight projects to ones you’ll want to sit with over hot cocoa.
1. Twine-Wrapped Mason Jar Lid Wreaths
Start with something you probably already have in the recycling bin: a Mason jar screw-on lid. Wrap it in green twine or jute until the metal disappears completely, then hot-glue a few tiny faux berries, mini pinecones, or a plastic holly leaf around the ring. Add a small bow at the bottom for a finished wreath shape. Thread a loop of ribbon through the top for hanging, and keep a few extras on hand — they double as gift toppers when tied onto a wrapped present.
2. Orange and Clove Pomander Ornaments
There’s a reason this one goes back generations. Wrap thin ribbon around a whole orange in a crisscross pattern, knotting it at the top into a hanging loop. Push whole cloves into the peel along the ribbon lines, working in rows or a simple pattern until the surface is covered. The orange dries and shrinks slightly over a week, tightening the ribbon in place and filling the room with a warm, spiced scent. Hang a few near a doorway or tuck them into a bowl on the table.
3. Salt Dough Cutout Ornaments
If kids are helping this year, put this one at the top of the list. Mix flour, salt, and water into a firm dough, roll it out, and cut shapes using your favorite cookie cutters. Poke a hole near the top for hanging, or press in a screw eye before baking low and slow until firm. Once cooled, paint with acrylics and add a light dusting of glitter for shine. Write the year on the back before hanging — it turns a simple craft into a dated keepsake.
4. Dried Orange Slice Fox Ornaments
For a nature-inspired look that costs almost nothing, slice oranges thin and bake them at a low temperature for several hours until leathery and dry. Paint a small fox or owl face onto each slice with off-white and black acrylic paint. Cut ears from an extra slice and glue faux pine sprigs on either side of the nose for whiskers. A twine loop at the top finishes the look, and kids love painting the faces themselves.
5. Wood Bead Snowflake Ornaments
Scandinavian-style trees lean heavily on natural texture, and this ornament nails that look. Thread wooden beads of a few different sizes onto craft wire bent into a snowflake or star shape, twisting the ends to secure everything in place. A small loop of ribbon or cord at the top gets it onto the branch. Mix mostly natural wood-tone beads with just a few painted gold ones for a subtle shimmer without going overboard.
6. Marbled Wood Slice Ornaments
Water marbling sounds fancier than it actually is. Fill a shallow container with water, drop a few colors of craft paint onto the surface, and swirl gently with a toothpick to create a pattern. Dip a wood cutout slice into the swirl, lift it straight out, and let it dry flat overnight. Finish with a small metal ornament hook and a satin ribbon at the top. No two turn out exactly alike, which is half the appeal.
7. Yarn-Wrapped Ball Ornaments
This is the ornament every leftover yarn ball has been waiting for. Wrap yarn tightly and evenly around a clear or foam ball ornament, securing the start and end with a small dab of hot glue underneath the wraps. For a playful touch, thread a wooden skewer or bamboo cocktail pick through the yarn to mimic a pair of knitting needles. It’s a sweet, low-cost gift for anyone in the family who knits or crochets.
8. Felt Gingerbread Cookie Ornaments
Nothing says holiday quite like a cookie shape hanging from a branch. Cut two matching gingerbread shapes from brown felt and stitch or glue the edges together, leaving a small gap open. Add cream-colored felt icing details and a couple of tiny buttons before tucking in a little cotton stuffing for shape. Close the opening, then attach a ribbon loop at the top. These hold up year after year without chipping or cracking like the real thing would.
9. Pinecone Gnome Ornaments
Foraged pinecones get an instant personality upgrade with this one. Needle-felt a small cone-shaped hat from red or plaid wool roving and glue it over the top of a pinecone, then add a tiny wooden bead nose and a wisp of white roving for a beard underneath. Attach a twine loop through the top of the hat for hanging. Cluster three together at different heights on the tree for a mini gnome family effect.
10. Cinnamon Stick Bundle Ornaments
The smell alone makes this project worth doing. Bundle five or six cinnamon sticks together with kitchen twine or a thin ribbon, tying it off in a bow at the center. Tuck a small sprig of dried greenery or a mini pinecone into the knot for extra texture. Loop a longer piece of twine at the top for hanging, and consider making a few extra — they double nicely as rustic gift tags tied onto wrapped boxes.
11. Waldorf-Style Paper Star Ornaments
These folded paper stars look complicated but come together fast once you get the fold pattern down. Cut squares of colored paper, fold each into a pointed star shape along simple diagonal creases, and glue the layers together for dimension. Vary the paper colors and sizes so a cluster of them near the top of the tree feels layered rather than flat. Thread a thin piece of string through one point to hang.
12. Clothespin Star Ornaments
A bag of wooden clothespins turns into a farmhouse-style star faster than you’d think. Paint a handful in a single neutral color or a mix of soft tones, then arrange five or six with the pinch ends meeting at the center to form a star shape. Hot-glue everything in place and add a small button or wooden bead where the points meet in the middle. A twine loop at the top finishes it off for hanging.
13. Ribbon-Wrapped Cookie Cutter Ornaments
This one solves the “what do I do with my extra cookie cutters” problem. Wrap a length of narrow gingham or plaid ribbon snugly around a metal cookie cutter, securing the tail underneath with a dab of glue or a small piece of tape. Tie a little bow where the ends meet at the top. Loop a piece of bakers twine through for hanging, or skip the loop entirely and use it as a present topper instead.
14. Mini Embroidery Hoop Ornaments
Small embroidery hoops make surprisingly elegant ornament frames. Cut a circle of holiday-print fabric — or a swatch from an old sweater — slightly larger than a 3-inch hoop, stretch it taut inside, and tighten the screw closure. Trim the excess fabric close to the edge of the hoop for a clean finish. Tie a ribbon loop through the hardware at the top, and mix a few different fabric patterns for a collected, gathered-over-time look.
15. Glittered Seed Pod Ornaments
Save this one for a walk through the yard or a nearby park. Gather acorns, small pinecones, and other seed pods, then spray them with metallic gold or silver paint in a well-ventilated space. Once fully dry, twist a small screw eye or loop of wire into the top of each one. Group several together on a single branch for a foraged, glimmering cluster that costs next to nothing beyond a can of spray paint.
Final Thoughts
Pick one idea from this list and just start — that’s really the whole trick with handmade ornaments. You don’t need every craft supply at once; a bag of wooden beads or a few dried orange slices is enough to get going tonight. Set out felt and glue on the table, put on a holiday playlist, and see how far the evening takes you. Even a lopsided snowflake or slightly crooked star earns its spot on the tree once you know who made it and why. Next year, when the boxes come down from the attic, these are the ones you’ll reach for first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are the easiest DIY Christmas ornaments to make with kids?
Salt dough cutouts and yarn-wrapped balls are the simplest for young hands, since they only involve basic rolling, wrapping, or cutting and forgive small mistakes easily.
Q: How do you make DIY Christmas ornaments last for years?
Stick with sturdy materials like wood, felt, and sealed salt dough, and store finished ornaments in a padded box away from moisture once the season ends.
Q: What household items work well for homemade ornaments?
Mason jar lids, wooden clothespins, cookie cutters, and leftover yarn or fabric scraps all turn into ornaments with just twine, glue, and a bit of paint.