14 Handmade Ornaments to Dress-Up the Christmas Tree
Get crafty this holiday season and make adorable ornaments that you’ll cherish for years to come.

Growing up, decorating the tree with my parents was a special activity that I looked forward to every year. We would listen to Christmas music, place our ornaments on the tree and cover it with mounds of tinsel (my favorite part).

Red Arrow Industries
Each ornament had its own significance — whether they were handmade by my siblings and myself as kids, hand-painted by my parents or given to us as a gift. And now, I look forward to decorating my own tree with keepsake ornaments.
My advice as we bring in this joyous season — spend time with your kids and make those memories. Let them craft their own ornament to put on the tree. It could be a fun tradition to start while they're still little.
Looking for inspiration? Luckily, we have plenty of kid-friendly DIY ornament ideas to help get you started.
Modern + Two-Toned
A striking trio in gold and bright magenta, these ornaments add a punch of color and chic, modern style to the tree. Plus, they're made of wood so they're light-weight and not easily broken.

Debbie Wolfe
Make it: Modern Geometric Ornaments
Victorian Silhouette
Add a dash of vintage flair with a beautiful traditional silhouette ornaments. Print our Christmas song paper template or make your own backdrop using festive scrapbook paper.

Vicki Lynn Photography
Pom-Pom Peace Signs
It's the most peaceful time of the year. Make these easy pom-pom peace signs with a piece of cardboard and fuzzy pom-poms in the color of your choice.

Susan Teare, Susan Teare
Make it: Peace-Sign Christmas Ornaments
Atlas Snowflake
Repurpose an old road map into a cool snowflake ornament that highlights a favorite travel spot. To make it, cut thick cardstock to size by tracing a snowflake silhouette with a pencil, then update it with a light mist of spray snow. Cut a map to size, then fold it accordion-style to add texture. Finish with a small, brass embellishment in the middle for a metallic touch.

Brian Patrick Flynn
Baby Spoon
In three simple steps, turn your baby's first spoon into a sweet ornament you'll treasure forever.

Make it: Baby Spoon Christmas Ornament
Upcycled Light Bulbs
Don't throw away those old school, burned-out light bulbs. Turn them into a cute little cluster of ornaments with fun ribbon and metallic spray paint.

Colorful Confetti
There are so many cute and easy ways to dress-up a clear ornament. Have the kids fill clear ornaments with multicolored paper confetti as a simple project they can tackle themselves. Another option? Try tinsel.

Flower Power
Buttons, pendants and leftover scraps of electrical wire make up these super cool flower ornaments that are great for the older kids to create.

Susan Teare
Make Flower-Shaped Christmas Ornaments
See All PhotosSmall Handprints
Create a lovely keepsake of your child's handprint using a homemade salt-dough recipe. String through a ribbon for hanging and write the name and age of your child with a permanent marker.

Cute as a Button
This one's a fun craft for the older kids. Stack together a variety of different-sized red and green buttons to form a family Christmas tree. Use a black or metallic permanent marker to write each family member's name.

Make it: Button Family Tree Ornament
Mini Terrariums
Simply take a clear glass or plastic ornament and fill with moss to create the look of a tiny terrarium. Add a mix of green and brown for a beautiful, natural aesthetic.

Marc Kelly
Craft Nature-Inspired Ornaments
See All PhotosSanta Claus
Make this adorable Santa ornament with basic craft supplies and whole walnuts. This is the perfect project for your little crafter.

Make it: Walnut Santa Ornament
Sweet Cinnamon
Bring in the scents of the season with these aromatic baked ornaments that will have your home smelling delicious.

Make it: Cinnamon Christmas Ornaments
Fingerprint Snowmen
Yet another wonderful craft for your little one's hands. Use kid-safe washable paint and place their painted hand on a clear ornament to create five precious snowmen. Embellish with black and metallic permanent markers as the finishing touch.

Make it: Handprint Snowmen Ornament