25 Easy DIY Christmas Ornaments Anyone Can Make

You’ll love how simple holiday charm can be when you make ornaments by hand—no fancy tools required. With a few basic supplies, you’ll paint wooden spoons into Santas, press salt dough handprints, and tie cinnamon-stick stars that smell amazing. I’ll walk you through quick projects for every skill level, from felt garlands to mason jar lid snow globes, so you can craft thoughtful decorations and keep going until your tree feels truly yours.

Painted Wooden Spoons as Mini Santas and Snowmen

If you want a quick, cheerful ornament project, painted wooden spoons turn into tiny Santas and snowmen with just a few paints and a steady hand; you’ll love how fast they come together and how cute they look hanging on the tree.

Choose painted spoon techniques that suit your skill, pick festive color palettes, add ribbon loops, simple faces, and varnish for durability.

Salt Dough Handprint Ornaments

Salt dough handprint ornaments make a timeless, hands-on keepsake you’ll treasure every year. Mix flour, salt, and water, roll to 1/4″ thickness, press a tiny hand, and cut around it. Bake, sand, and paint; add ribbon. You’ll create genuine handprint memories and simple holiday keepsakes that feel free, personal, and lasting—perfect for gifting or hanging on your tree.

Mason Jar Lid Snow Globe Ornaments

Moving from soft handprints to sparkly scenes, mason jar lid snow globe ornaments let you capture tiny winter worlds in a snap.

You’ll glue a tiny figurine into a lid, add clear resin or glue and sprinkle snow globe supplies, then seal.

Paint lids, tie ribbon, and hang. These mason jar decorations are simple, freeing, and great for gifting.

Cinnamon Stick Star Bundles

Cinnamon stick star bundles make a cozy, fragrant ornament you’ll love hanging on your tree or gifting to friends.

You’ll bind five sticks into a star with twine, trim ends, and add a loop for hanging.

Paint tips, ribbon accents, and optional clove or dried orange slices amplify cinnamon stick crafts.

These holiday scent decorations are simple, natural, and freeing to customize.

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Felt Ball Garland Ornaments

If you enjoyed the warm, scented charm of cinnamon stick stars, you’ll love how felt ball garlands bring a soft, colorful contrast to your tree or mantel.

Pick felt ball colors that spark joy, thread them in patterns or random mixes, and vary felt ball sizes for texture.

You’ll stitch quickly, hang freely, and customize length and palette to suit your space and spirit.

Glitter Clothespin Reindeer

Bright little reindeer made from glittered clothespins add instant whimsy to your tree or packages, and they’re so quick to make you’ll want a herd.

You’ll clip, paint, and test glitter application techniques for tidy sparkle, then assemble clothespin bodies, add googly eyes and pipe cleaner antlers.

Explore reindeer customization ideas—colors, noses, tiny scarves—to express your free, playful style.

Pinecone and Ribbon Baubles

When you gather a few pinecones and some ribbon, you’ll find making baubles is fast, affordable, and endlessly customizable.

You’ll glue, tie, and trim using simple pinecone decoration techniques that let you play with texture.

Choose ribbon color combinations to set mood — bold reds for joy, metallics for chic.

Hang from twine, gift them, or string a playful garland.

Beaded Snowflake Ornaments

Though delicate in appearance, beaded snowflake ornaments are surprisingly simple to make and let you customize sparkle, size, and symmetry with every kit of beads and wire you choose. You’ll bend wire branches, string beads, and tweak bead color combinations to match your vibe. Try varied snowflake shapes, secure a loop, then hang them—each feels personal, light, and free.

Clay Thumbprint Family Ornaments

Anyone can make Clay Thumbprint Family Ornaments that capture your loved ones’ tiny prints and turn them into a lasting, personalized keepsake—just press damp clay, add names and dates, bake or air-dry according to the clay you choose, then finish with paint, glaze, or a varnish for durability.

Use simple clay ornament techniques, stamp initials, hole for ribbon, and seal for long-lasting personalized family keepsakes.

Scrabble Tile Name Ornaments

If you love wordplay and personalized gifts, scrapbooking a name with Scrabble tiles is an easy, charming way to create ornaments that everyone will recognize and smile at.

You’ll glue tiles onto a backing, add ribbon, and seal for durability. Mix scrabble tile designs, paint edges, or stack initials for bold personalized gift ideas that celebrate independence and creativity.

Accordion Paper Christmas Trees

Accordion paper Christmas trees are a quick, delightful project that turns simple sheets of paper into festive, dimensional ornaments or tabletop decorations you’ll be proud to display.

You’ll learn accordion folding techniques to create layered branches, then mix festive color combinations for bold or subtle looks.

Cut, fold, secure with glue or a staple, add a trunk, and hang or set them anywhere you crave freedom.

Whisk Yarn Pom-Pom Baubles

Whisk up cozy, colorful pom-pom baubles using just yarn, a whisk, and a little patience — you’ll get soft, perfectly round ornaments in minutes.

Choose whisk types with wide loops, wrap varied yarn colors, tie tightly, and trim for shape.

Attach a loop, fluff, and hang. You’ll enjoy quick, free-spirited decorating that celebrates texture and color control.

Upcycled Sweater Mittens

Give an old sweater new life by turning its cozy sleeves into warm, eco-friendly mittens you’ll actually want to wear.

Cut sleeve sections, stitch seams, and hem the openings—no pattern needed. Add cuff trims or buttons from upcycled materials for flair.

Hang a pair as cozy decor on your tree or gift them; you’ll feel free creating practical, stylish ornaments that celebrate resourcefulness.

Burlap Button Stars

If you loved turning sweater sleeves into mittens, you’ll enjoy making rustic Burlap Button Stars that use the same upcycled spirit.

You’ll cut stars from burlap, stitch layered points, and stuff lightly for dimension. Try simple burlap star techniques and mix festive button options for centers.

You’ll wire or ribbon them for hanging, creating free-spirited, homespun ornaments that celebrate creativity.

Popsicle Stick Nativity Scene Ornaments

When you glue a few painted popsicle sticks together and add tiny painted faces, you’ll have a simple, charming nativity scene that’s perfect for kids and adults alike.

Choose popsicle stick colors freely—earth tones for robes, gold for halos—then plan your nativity scene arrangement: stable, Mary, Joseph, baby.

Add twine for hanging, seal with varnish, and display your independent, handmade joy.

Origami Paper Crane Ornaments

Although origami looks delicate, you’ll find folding crane ornaments is simple and surprisingly meditative, making them great for kids and adults alike.

You’ll learn basic origami folding techniques step-by-step, pick colorful paper choices that express your style, and add a tiny loop for hanging.

Follow clear folds, breathe, and enjoy creating lightweight, symbolic cranes that freely flutter from your tree or gift packages.

Coffee Filter Snowflakes

Keep the calming focus of folding cranes as you switch to a different kind of snowbound craft: coffee filter snowflakes. You’ll layer, fold, and snip unique coffee filter designs to create airy snowflake patterns. Work freely—experiment with folds and cutouts, hang them in windows, or string a garland. You’ll enjoy how simple tools yield delicate, personal winter decor.

Miniature Photo Frame Ornaments

Tiny keepsakes bring big smiles—miniature photo frame ornaments let you display favorite faces on the tree or in garlands. You’ll cut tiny frames from cardstock or buy small bezels, slip in photos, add ribbon hooks, and seal with glue. They’re quick personalized photo gifts that celebrate festive family memories. Hang them confidently, swap photos yearly, and enjoy handmade charm.

Tinsel-Wrapped Mini Wreaths

When you wrap a few simple materials together, you’ll make sparkling tinsel-wrapped mini wreaths that dress up any tree, garland, or gift tag in minutes. You’ll twist wire rings, choose bold tinsel color combinations, and secure ends quickly. Add tiny bells, ribbon bows, or bead mini wreath embellishments for flair. Hang with twine or hooks and enjoy creative, carefree decorating.

Wine Cork Reindeer and Trees

If you’re looking for a quick, charming project, wine cork reindeer and trees turn recycled corks into whimsical ornaments and tabletop decorations in just a few simple steps.

You’ll glue, paint, and add tiny accents—antlers from twigs, bead eyes, mini hats—using basic wine cork crafting supplies.

They’re light, portable, and perfect for casual holiday décor or gifting to friends who love handmade freedom.

Embroidered Hoop Ornaments

Embroidered hoop ornaments bring a timeless, homemade touch to your tree and are perfect for stitching small scenes, initials, or festive motifs.

Pick fabric, trace a simple pattern, and choose hoop sizes that suit your design. You’ll love experimenting with colorful threads and quick stitches to create varied embroidered designs.

Finish edges neatly, add a loop, and hang or gift freely.

Fabric Scrap Patchwork Hearts

After stitching delicate scenes into hoops, you can put leftover fabric scraps to lovely use by making patchwork heart ornaments.

Cut scraps into triangles, sew them into simple patchwork, and press flat. Choose bold fabric color combinations that reflect your mood, stuff lightly, and top with ribbon.

Add playful heart embellishments—beads, buttons, or tiny bows—to finish free-spirited, cozy gifts.

Dried Orange Slice and Clove Ornaments

When you want a simple, fragrant ornament that looks as good as it smells, dried orange slices studded with cloves are a perfect choice.

You’ll slice, dry, and thread them easily, enjoying dried orange benefits like long-lasting natural color and aroma.

Press cloves into each slice to release clove scent properties.

Hang solo or clustered for a free-spirited, natural holiday look.

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Salt Crystal Icicle Ornaments

If you loved the warm, fragrant charm of orange-and-clove ornaments, you’ll also enjoy making salt crystal icicles that sparkle with wintry simplicity.

You’ll mix a simple salt crystal recipe, shape icicle molds, and suspend with twine. Let crystals form for days, then dry and trim.

For effortless icicle hanging, knot securely and position freely on branches to catch light.

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LED Tealight Lantern Ornaments

LED tealight lanterns bring cozy glow to your tree without the worry of real flames, and you can customize them in minutes with jars, paper, or tins.

You’ll pick LED tealight ideas like patterned vellum, painted mason jars, or punched-tin silhouettes.

Follow simple Lantern designs: secure the light, attach a hanger, and mix colors for a liberated, handmade feel that’s safe and lovely.