Easy Handmade Ornaments to Spruce Up Your Christmas Tree

Every year you get out the Christmas tree, string it with lights, and fill the branches with your favorite ornaments. Chances are you have a story that goes with each one too. Opening the boxes or ornaments each year is like opening gifts before the big day. It’s fun to remember past Christmases and look at the ornaments given to by special people in your life. Easy handmade ornaments give you a fun project to do, by yourself or with the kids, and gives you some new and fun items to decorate with for years to come. You’ll probably never forget making them either.

Supplies

To get started, you’ll need to gather your supplies. If you’re an avid crafter, you might have some of these items on hand already. If not, head to the nearest craft store and stock up on holiday craft supplies for a variety of easy handmade ornaments. Once you get started, you won’t want to stop to go get more. Ribbon, sequins, pipe cleaners, felt, holiday fabrics, garlands, pine branches, yarn, beads, and tinsel are good choices. Glass ornaments, Styrofoam balls, and miniature grass wreaths are other fun items that can be easily customized. Sometimes just looking at all the stuff will give you so many ideas you won’t know where to start.

Ornament ideas

Use a hot glue gun to stick ribbon to Styrofoam balls. Wrap the ribbon around the ball in a random pattern until the Styrofoam is completely covered. Add a loop of ribbon for hanging it on the tree. Use one color or mix and match Christmas colors and patterns to make a funky ornament you’ll always want front and center on your tree.

Empty clear glass ornaments are inexpensive, easy to find, and fun to fill up with different festive materials. Carefully remove the ornaments hanging piece and set it aside. Stuff the cavity of the ball with tinsel, glitter, sequins, or Christmas-themed beads. Replace the ornament’s top and hang it on the tree or pile several in a bowl as a table centerpiece. If you get tired of the filling, simply remove it and change it out with something new.

If you enjoy knitting or crocheting, make tiny handmade Christmas ornaments, such as stockings or mistletoe to hang as a garland on your tree. Or, create simple stuffed snowmen, santas, or nativity scene people. This works well with felt shapes as well. Sew them together and fill with a bit of cotton stuffing. Hang the ornaments on the tree or over doorknobs, kitchen cabinet knobs, or on the ends of your bed frame. Make bigger versions to pile on the couch and under the tree to make your living area festive and fun.

Wrap small wreaths with Christmas ribbon and glue on silk Poinsettias or Holly leaves. Hang the wreaths on the ends of your Christmas tree limbs. For a whimsical approach to this project, glue beads or small craft puffballs on the wreaths. Make a larger wreath and slip it over the top of your tree as a different and interesting tree topper.

The options are limitless when it comes to creating handmade Christmas ornaments. Go wherever your imagination takes you and you’ll have so much fun you might have a hard time finding a place to put all the ornaments. If this happens, they make great gifts too. Carry them to parties as hostess gifts, wrap them up for your kids’ teachers, or share them with your co-workers. It’s a fun and easy way to share the spirit of the holidays with others.