Homemade Christmas Ornaments

  My favorite holiday decorations are the homemade Christmas ornaments that the kids make for our tree.  Homemade Christmas bell ornaments, toy ornaments, cookie-inspired decorations and so many other favorites. Every year after Thanksgiving our family gets together and we make several of the ornaments for our tree.  Year after year these are my favorite ornaments to pull out of storage because each of these sweet homemade ornaments contains memories of when it was made.

Easy Homemade Christmas Ornaments

Here are five, super simple ornaments that entertained and engaged my 2-5 year olds.  Ornaments that can be made by 2-5 year olds? Yes! These easy DIY Christmas ornaments are so simple that even toddlers and preschoolers can participate in making them.  But don’t overlook the older kids or adults in the house because each of these favorite ornaments was chosen because they look awesome hanging on the tree!

Homemade Cinnamon Star Ornament

To make the DIY cinnamon star ornament you will need the following craft supplies:

1. Cinnamon sticks that are all about the same length
2. Glue gun, glue dots or strong craft glue
3. {optional} Glitter with glue and a paint brush <–although, is glitter REALLY optional? 

Steps for creating your homemade star ornaments:

1. Place the cinnamon sticks in the shape of a star to see which stick should be above/below the others
2. Start with one triangle and glue the apex
3. Repeat with each of the star’s corners
4. {optional} Brush with glue and sprinkle on glitter

My four year old, with supervision hot glued the pieces of cinnamon sticks together. My five year old drizzled on the glue while my newly three year old drizzled on the glitter. We love natural ornaments!   This one was inspired by Rosy Posy.

DIY Glittery Toy Ornament

Glitter is huge at our house… and glue!   The more the better! We dug out some of our old tiny toys and coated them with glue then doused them with glitter. Love the effect!

To make the homemade toy ornament you will need the following craft supplies:

1. Paint brush
2. Glitter
3. Old toys
4. {optional} spray paint in a holiday color to paint the toys before adding glitter

Steps for creating your DIY toy ornaments:

1. {optional} If spray painting the toys all one color, do that the night before or an hour or so before everyone gathers to make ornaments.
2. Brush toys with glue
3. Sprinkle with glitter

We used tacky glue and I was not impressed with how well the glue “stuck” – the kids pealed the glitter off a few days after we hung them.   If any of you make similar ornaments, let me know what glue would be more lasting. Our glittery toy ornaments were inspired by Martha.   Love her.

Homemade Jingle Bell Ornaments

These were my youngest’s favorite ornaments.   Seriously, she is constantly trying to get “her bells”.

To make the DIY Christmas bell ornament you will need the following craft supplies:

1. Bells
2. String
3. {optional} Plastic upholstery needle

Steps for creating your homemade Christmas bell ornaments:

1. Add several Christmas bells to a thread.  
2. Knot the ends together bunching the bells.  
3. Hang on the tree!

Tip for making with younger kids:   If you make them with preschoolers, use a plastic upholstery needle for them to thread the bells.   My kiddos were frustrated with the yarn until I remembered we had a stash of needles hidden away! Bonus:  You will know when the kids are playing with the tree.

Cinnamon Ornaments “Recipe”

I first made cinnamon ornaments when I was a child, the ornaments pictured I made with my oldest when she was a toddler.   They have seen a number of Christmases and still look and smell great! I spritz them lightly with water each season to help rejuvenate the scent.

To make homemade cinnamon ornaments:

• Add 1 cup cinnamon to 2/3rd cup applesauce and 1/3rd cup of glue
• Bake in oven at 170 degrees {flip them once} until dry.

P.S.   Make sure your kiddos know that while these ornaments may be non-toxic, and they may smell really good – they are not food.   One of our stars is “missing” one of it’s “points”.

Homemade Felt Wreath Ornament

This ornament was inspired by Junk Garden Girl.   She featured a felt wreath ornament and my kiddos had to make one!   We had lots of leftover felt from previous projects. This ornament is a great way to put scraps to use!   String the felt squares into a stack then tie the ends together.   Easy.  Check out her instructions on how to make them to add to your Christmas tree!

More Homemade Ornaments for Kids to Make

Love these ornaments?

• We have more make it yourself Christmas ideas which include some additional ornament ideas and homemade things to make for your mom for Christmas!  
• You know those clear plastic balls that hang on a tree?  We have clear ornament ideas for kids to make…even the youngest kids can participate in this simple Christmas idea!
• Oh so many cute DIY ornaments for kids.  <–can’t wait to see which one you choose to make!
• Part Christmas decoration, part best homemade Christmas ideas…these Christmas fridge magnets are fun to make.
• And no tree would be complete without a handprint ornament.  This one is super cute and could be done every year!

Cheers and Merry Christmas!