Homemade Christmas Ornaments: 10 Easy DIY Ideas

Every year my tree ends up with a strange mix of ornaments. A few boxed sets from the store, some hand-me-downs, and one or two handmade pieces that somehow always become everyone’s favorite. There’s something about a homemade ornament a store-bought set just can’t compete with. It has a story behind it, and usually a slightly wonky shape that makes it better, not worse.

If you’re hunting for homemade ornaments for your Christmas tree this year, you’re in the right spot. These ten ideas are simple enough for a weeknight with the kids, cheap enough that most cost less than a coffee, and pretty enough to actually hold their own next to your nicer ornaments. No craft room or fancy tools required. Just a kitchen table, a glue gun, and a little patience while things dry.

This year’s trees are leaning toward deep jewel tones like emerald and merlot, warm metallics like brass and copper, and natural textures like dried citrus and knit fabric instead of the bright red and gold combos of past years. I worked a few of those colors into these ideas so your handmade pieces feel current, but every project here works in any color scheme you already love.

What You’ll Need Before You Start

You probably have most of this already. Keep it nearby so you’re not stopping mid-project to dig through drawers.

A hot glue gun and extra glue sticks
Sharp scissors and a craft knife
Twine, jute, baker’s twine, or ribbon for hanging loops
Small ornament hooks or paperclips (bent into an S shape works too)
Parchment paper for anything that needs to dry or bake
A baking sheet
Acrylic paint and a few small brushes
A skewer, straw, or toothpick for poking hanging holes before things dry

Now let’s get into the ornaments.

1. Cinnamon Spice Dough Ornaments (No Real Baking Needed)

These smell like the holidays the second you walk past the tree, and the “dough” is just pantry staples. Kids can help with almost every step.

What you’ll need

1 1/2 cups ground cinnamon
1 cup applesauce
1 tablespoon white craft glue
Waxed or parchment paper
Holiday cookie cutters
A straw for the hanging hole
Ribbon or twine

How to make it

Mix the cinnamon, applesauce, and glue in a bowl until it forms a stiff, workable dough. Add a splash more applesauce if it’s too crumbly.
Roll the dough between two sheets of parchment paper to about 1/4 inch thick.
Cut shapes with cookie cutters and transfer them carefully to a lined baking sheet.
Use a straw to poke a hanging hole near the top of each shape before they dry.
Let them air dry for two to three days, flipping once a day so they dry evenly on both sides and don’t warp.
Thread ribbon through the hole once fully dry and firm.

Mistake to avoid: Skipping the daily flip. Cinnamon dough that dries on one side only tends to curl at the edges, and a curled ornament won’t sit flat against the branch.

2. Dried Orange Slice Ornaments

This is the one that shows up in every cozy Christmas mood board, and it’s genuinely one of the cheapest ornaments you can make. A single bag of oranges makes a dozen or more.

What you’ll need

3 to 4 oranges
A sharp knife
Paper towels
A wire cooling rack
Jute twine or a cinnamon stick for hanging

How to make it

Slice the oranges about 1/4 inch thick. Thinner slices dry faster but tear more easily, so don’t go thinner than that.
Pat both sides dry with paper towels to pull out excess juice.
Lay the slices on a wire rack set over a baking sheet so air can move underneath them too.
Bake at 200°F for 2 to 3 hours, flipping every 45 minutes, until they feel dry and slightly leathery with no wet spots left in the center.
Let them cool completely, then loop jute twine through the top or tie a cinnamon stick alongside for extra scent.

Mistake to avoid: Pulling slices out too early. If the center still feels tacky or damp, they’ll mold in storage. Slightly overdried and brittle is safer than underdried.

3. Jewel-Tone Yarn Wrapped Ornaments

These are the easiest project on this list and the most forgiving for beginners, since there’s no cutting shapes or measuring dough. Just wrapping.

What you’ll need

Plain foam or wood craft balls (2 to 3 inches)
Yarn in emerald, merlot, or deep berry tones
A hot glue gun
Scissors

How to make it

Dab a small line of hot glue on the ball and press the yarn end into it to anchor it.
Wrap the yarn around the ball snugly, tucking each row close to the last so no foam shows through.
When you’ve covered the ball, cut the yarn and secure the end with a small dot of glue, tucking it under the wrapped layer so it’s hidden.
Add a ribbon or twine loop at the top for hanging.

Mistake to avoid: Not gluing the yarn end down. Loose ends unravel in the ornament box every single year, and you’ll be re-wrapping the same ornaments each December.

4. Upcycled Sweater Fabric Ball Ornaments

If you’ve got an old sweater that’s too worn to donate, this is where it gets a second life. It also fits nicely into the boucle and knit-texture look that’s popular on trees right now.

What you’ll need

An old knit sweater (wool or chunky knit works best)
Foam balls
Hot glue gun
Scissors
A small button or bead for the top

How to make it

Cut a square of sweater fabric large enough to fully wrap around the foam ball with a little extra to gather at the top.
Center the ball on the fabric and pull the edges up and together at the top, gathering it like a little sack.
Twist the gathered fabric tight and secure it with a dab of hot glue, then trim the excess.
Glue a button, bead, or small pom on top to cover the gathered point, and add a loop of twine or ribbon.

Mistake to avoid: Using fabric that’s too thin. Lightweight knits show the seams and gathering underneath, so save this project for a chunkier sweater.

5. Personalized Photo Memory Ornaments

These make the sweetest keepsakes and double as genuinely great handmade gifts for grandparents. This is one worth setting aside real time for, since it’s more about sentiment than speed.

What you’ll need

Clear plastic fillable ornaments (found at most craft stores)
Small printed photos, sized to fit
Baker’s twine or confetti in this year’s colors (emerald, merlot, gold)
Ribbon for hanging

How to make it

Print photos small enough to curl gently and slide through the ornament opening. Regular printer paper works fine and holds up better than glossy photo paper, which can stick to itself.
Open the ornament and slide the photo in, letting it curl naturally against the inside of the globe.
Add a small handful of twine confetti or shredded paper around it for color and texture.
Snap the ornament closed and add a ribbon loop.

Mistake to avoid: Overfilling with confetti. If you can’t see the photo clearly through the filler, it defeats the purpose. A light scatter is enough.

6. Salt Dough Handprint Ornaments

This is the classic keepsake project, and there’s a reason it never goes out of style. It’s especially sweet for a baby’s first Christmas or a young kid whose hand size will change every year.

What you’ll need

1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
1/2 cup water
Rolling pin
Acrylic paint in brass, gold, or a soft neutral
A straw for the hanging hole

How to make it

Mix flour, salt, and water into a smooth dough. Add water a teaspoon at a time if it’s too dry.
Roll it out to about 1/2 inch thick on parchment paper. Thinner dough cracks more easily during baking, so don’t go too thin.
Press the child’s hand firmly and evenly into the dough.
Use a straw to poke a hanging hole near the edge, not right at the top, so the ornament doesn’t tear off later.
Bake at 200°F for about 2 to 3 hours, until fully hardened and dry throughout, not just on the surface.
Once cooled, paint and seal with a coat of clear sealant or Mod Podge to keep it from crumbling over the years.

Mistake to avoid: Forgetting the sealant. Unsealed salt dough absorbs moisture in storage over the years and can start to soften or flake.

7. Brass Wire and Bead Star Ornaments

This one leans into the warm metallic look that’s everywhere in holiday decor this year, and it looks far more polished than the five minutes it actually takes.

What you’ll need

20-gauge brass or gold craft wire
Small wood or glass beads
Needle-nose pliers
Wire cutters

How to make it

Cut a length of wire about 20 inches long.
Bend the wire into a five-point star shape by hand, using the pliers to sharpen each point.
Slide a few beads onto the wire before closing the final point, letting them sit loosely along one or two of the star’s arms.
Twist the two wire ends together at the top to close the star and form a small loop for hanging.

Safety note: Tuck any sharp wire ends inward with the pliers before hanging, especially if kids or pets are near the tree.

8. Mini Embroidery Hoop Ornaments

These are a nice project if you want something a little more detailed without needing real embroidery skill. A felt applique version works just as well as hand stitching.

What you’ll need

3-inch embroidery hoops
Felt or scrap fabric
Embroidery floss and a needle, or fabric glue for a no-sew version
Small trims like pom poms or rickrack

How to make it

Stretch a small circle of fabric over the inner hoop ring and snap the outer ring in place, pulling the fabric taut.
Trim the excess fabric close to the hoop edge.
For the no-sew version, glue small felt shapes like a tree, star, or heart onto the fabric. For hand stitching, use a simple backstitch to outline a shape.
Loop ribbon through the hoop’s screw hardware to hang it.

Mistake to avoid: Not pulling the fabric tight enough. A loose, saggy hoop looks unfinished no matter how nice the design inside it is.

9. Pinecone and Dried Botanical Ornaments

This is the lowest-effort project on the list, and it works especially well if you’re decorating on a tight budget or want something that looks pulled from a walk outside.

What you’ll need

Small pinecones
Dried lavender, eucalyptus, or a small sprig of greenery
Jute twine
Hot glue gun (optional)

How to make it

Tie a length of jute twine around the base of the pinecone, just under the top scales, and knot it snugly.
Tuck a small sprig of dried lavender or eucalyptus under the twine, or secure it with a dot of hot glue.
Leave a loop of twine at the top long enough to hang from a branch.

Mistake to avoid: Using fresh greenery instead of dried. Fresh sprigs wilt and drop needles within days, while dried botanicals hold their shape for the whole season.

10. Painted Wood Slice Ornaments

This one has real staying power. Wood slices are sturdy, reusable year after year, and take painting or wood burning really well if you want to get more detailed.

What you’ll need

Small wood slices with a pre-drilled hole (or a hand drill to add one)
Sandpaper
Acrylic paint or a wood burning tool
Mod Podge or clear sealant
Twine

How to make it

Sand any rough edges smooth, especially around the hole where the twine will sit.
If there’s no hole yet, drill one near the top before doing any decorating, not after.
Paint a simple design (a tree, initial, or small holiday phrase) or trace a design lightly in pencil first if you’re not confident freehand.
Let the paint fully dry, then seal with a coat of Mod Podge to protect it from moisture and chipping.
Thread twine through the hole and knot it into a loop.

Mistake to avoid: Skipping the sealant. Unsealed painted wood chips and scratches in the ornament box, so this step is what makes them last for years instead of one season.

Mistakes to Avoid When Making Homemade Christmas Ornaments

A few general rules apply no matter which project you pick.

Add the hanging hole before drying or baking, not after. Trying to poke or drill a hole into a fully hardened ornament usually cracks it.
Don’t rush the drying time. Dough, wood glue, and paint all need longer than you’d think, especially in a humid kitchen. An ornament that feels dry on the outside can still be soft in the center.
Seal anything porous. Salt dough, wood, and dried citrus all benefit from a coat of Mod Podge or clear sealant so they survive being packed away in a bin for eleven months.
Match the ornament’s weight to the branch. Heavier handmade pieces like wood slices or filled glass ornaments belong on the sturdier inner branches, not the delicate tips.
Test paint or stain on a scrap piece first, especially with wood, so you’re not surprised by how a color absorbs.

Final Thoughts

Homemade ornaments for your Christmas tree don’t need to be complicated to feel meaningful. Some of the best ones on this list take fifteen minutes and a few pantry staples, and they’ll still be the pieces you reach for first when you’re unpacking decorations years from now.

Pick one or two to start with this weekend. You don’t need to make all ten to get that cozy, personal look on your tree this year.

Which one are you trying first? Let me know in the comments, and if you make any of these, I’d love to see how they turned out.

I kept the original wording and paragraph order intact, while organizing the article with H1/H2/H3 headings, spacing, and properly structured lists.