These Christmas ornaments DIY ideas look like boutique finds but cost a fraction of the price. Below are 25 handmade ornaments in felt, clay, paper and wood, plus personalized and keepsake ideas, each with the difficulty, cost and time.
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Felt Christmas Ornaments DIY
Felt Christmas ornaments are soft, unbreakable and beginner-friendly, so they’re perfect for homes with kids or pets.
1. Stuffed Felt Hearts and Stars
Cut two matching shapes from felt, blanket-stitch around the edge with embroidery floss and add a little stuffing before closing. Add a ribbon loop at the top. Contrasting floss makes the stitches part of the design.
2. Felt Gingerbread People
Cut gingerbread shapes from brown felt and add white rickrack “icing” and tiny buttons with fabric glue or stitches. Embroider a name on the belly for a personal touch. They look sweet in a set of three.
3. Felt Ball Garland Ornaments
Thread five or six felt balls onto a short length of floss with a large needle and tie it into a loop or a mini garland ornament. Choose a two-color scheme for a modern look. Felt balls are sold in craft stores and online in bulk.
4. Felt Mini Mittens
Sew tiny mittens from red or cream felt with a fluffy white cuff, then tie two together with ribbon. Tuck a gift card or note inside if you’re giving them away. They’re a classic Scandinavian-style ornament.
5. Felt Christmas Trees
Stack three or four felt circles in graduating sizes on a cinnamon stick or twig, folded into cones, to make a tiny tree. Top with a wood star bead. They’re quick to batch for gifts.
Clay Christmas Ornaments DIY
Clay Christmas ornaments DIY projects use air-dry clay, polymer clay or salt dough, and every one comes out a little different.
6. Stamped Air-Dry Clay Ornaments
Roll air-dry clay to about 1/4 inch, press in lace, leaves or rubber stamps, and cut shapes with cookie cutters. Poke a hole for ribbon and let them dry for a day or two, flipping once. Leave them white for a minimalist look or brush on gold paint.
7. Polymer Clay Mini Ornaments
Shape small candy canes, mushrooms, mittens or gingerbread houses from polymer clay, add an eye pin and bake according to the package. Polymer clay holds fine detail well. Use a dedicated baking sheet rather than your food pans.
8. Salt Dough Ornaments
Mix 1 cup flour, 1/2 cup salt and about 1/2 cup water, roll it out, cut shapes and bake at a low temperature until hard. Paint and seal them so they last. It’s a nostalgic, budget-friendly ornament.
9. Marbled Clay Ornaments
Twist two or three colors of polymer clay together, roll them flat and cut circles or stars for a marbled pattern. Bake, then add a gold string. Cream, blush and gold looks especially elegant.
10. Clay Lace Snowflakes
Press a piece of lace or a doily into rolled white clay, cut a snowflake or round shape and let it dry. The lace pattern looks delicate and expensive. Tie them on with thin silver ribbon.
Paper Christmas Ornaments DIY
Paper Christmas ornaments DIY ideas are easy and cheap, and many can be made in under 20 minutes.
11. Paper Strip Ball Ornaments
Cut eight equal strips of patterned paper, stack them and fasten both ends with a brad, then fan the strips out into a ball. Add a ribbon loop through the top. Scrapbook paper gives endless combinations.
12. Accordion Paper Fans
Fold a strip of paper accordion-style, pinch it in the middle and glue the edges together into a round medallion. Use sheet music, kraft paper or metallic paper. Hang them on the tree or along a garland.
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13. Paper Mache Ornaments
Cover small balloons or cardboard shapes with layers of newspaper strips and glue, let them dry, then paint. Add glitter, decoupage napkins or patterns. It’s a fun project to make with kids.
14. Origami Star Ornaments
Fold stars from origami paper and add a thin thread to hang them. Metallic or patterned paper makes simple folds look special. Follow a video tutorial for your first one.
Wooden Christmas Ornaments DIY
Wooden Christmas ornaments DIY projects give your tree a warm, rustic or Scandinavian feel.
15. Painted Wood Slice Ornaments
Paint simple trees, snowflakes or initials on wood slices, then seal them with a clear water-based finish. Drill or screw in a small eye for ribbon. They look lovely mixed with greenery and white lights.
16. Wood Bead Snowflakes
Thread wood beads onto three crossed pieces of wire to form a snowflake, twisting the wire ends into loops. Add a ribbon hanger. They’re quick and very hard to break.
17. Mini Wood Sled Ornaments
Glue craft sticks across two shorter pieces to form a tiny sled, stain it and add a twine pull rope. Write a name or year on top with a paint pen. They make sweet keepsakes for kids.
18. Wood Star Ornaments
Paint or stain unfinished wood stars and add a little gold leaf or glitter to the edges. Hang them with jute twine. Wood stars look good on any style of tree.
Personalized and Keepsake Christmas Ornaments DIY
Personalized Christmas ornaments DIY ideas become family keepsakes that come out every year.
19. Baby’s First Christmas Ornament
Press a baby’s footprint or handprint into air-dry clay, add the name and year with stamps, and let it dry before painting. Or add a small photo to a clear ornament. Write the date on the back.
20. Photo Ornaments
Print small photos, cut them to fit inside clear flat ornaments or wood frames, and add the year. Grandparents love them. Make one every year to build a collection.
21. Handwriting Ornaments
Copy a loved one’s handwriting from a recipe card or note onto a clear ornament with a fine paint pen or vinyl. It’s a touching way to remember family. Keep the original note safe.
22. Name Ornaments
Write names on matte ornaments with a paint pen or vinyl letters, then add a bow. Use them as place cards at Christmas dinner, then guests take them home. Practice lettering on paper first.
Macrame, Beaded and Vintage Christmas Ornaments
These macrame, beaded and vintage-style Christmas ornaments add texture and nostalgia to the tree.
23. Macrame Christmas Ornaments
Knot cotton cord into small trees, snowflakes or stars using square knots, then comb out the ends. Top with a wood bead and a loop. Cream cord fits boho, Scandinavian and farmhouse trees.
24. Beaded Wire Snowflakes
Twist three pieces of craft wire together at the center, thread clear and silver beads onto each arm and curl the ends. They sparkle beautifully under tree lights. Kids can help thread the beads.
25. Vintage-Style Glitter Ornaments
Brush Mod Podge on plain ornaments in soft colors and roll them in fine glitter or mica flakes for a vintage look. Add a velvet ribbon. Pastel glitter gives a 1950s feel.
DIY Christmas Ornaments FAQ
What is the easiest DIY Christmas ornament?
Name ornaments made with a paint pen, paper strip balls and felt hearts are some of the easiest. Each takes about 15 minutes and very few supplies.
What clay is best for Christmas ornaments?
Air-dry clay is easiest and needs no oven. Polymer clay holds fine detail and is more durable but needs baking. Salt dough is the cheapest option.
How do I make a baby’s first Christmas ornament?
Press a footprint or handprint into air-dry clay, stamp the name and year, then let it dry and paint it. A small photo in a clear ornament is another easy option.
How do I keep handmade ornaments from breaking?
Seal clay and salt dough with a clear finish, store ornaments wrapped in tissue in a hard container, and keep them in a dry place.
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Photos are illustrative stock images from Pixabay. Prices are approximate and were checked at the time of writing.
