DIY Ornaments Guide for the Whole Family

There’s nothing quite like decorating the holiday tree with ornaments you've made together as a family. DIY ornaments are creative, fun to craft, and filled with sentimental value that store-bought decorations just can’t match. The best part? Making ornaments at home is simple, cost-effective, and perfect for families looking to spend some quality time together.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to crafting three unique homemade ornaments that are sure to bring a smile to your family’s faces year after year. Get ready to roll up your sleeves and make some memories!

1. Salt Dough Ornaments

Materials Needed:

  • 2 cups of all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup of salt
  • 1 cup of water
  • Rolling pin
  • Cookie cutters (holiday shapes like stars, trees, and hearts work well)
  • Acrylic paints
  • Paintbrushes
  • Clear varnish or mod podge
  • Twine or ribbon for hanging

Instructions:

Make the Dough:

  • Mix the flour and salt in a large bowl, then slowly add water while stirring until the mixture comes together to form a soft dough.
  • Knead the dough on a floured surface for about 5 minutes until it’s smooth and pliable.

Roll It Out:

  • Using a rolling pin, spread the dough evenly until it’s about ¼ inch thick.

Cut Out Shapes:

  • Use cookie cutters to cut out fun shapes—stars, snowflakes, gingerbread men, or even custom shapes using a knife.
  • Don’t forget to poke a small hole at the top of each shape (a drinking straw works great for this) to thread the ribbon later.

Bake:

  • Place the shapes on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake at 250°F (120°C) for 1.5 to 2 hours, or until the dough is completely dry and hardened. Set aside to cool.

Decorate:

  • Once cooled, paint your ornaments with acrylic paints. Use your imagination—add stripes, polka dots, or even write names or dates.
  • Once the paint is dry, seal with a clear varnish or mod podge to preserve your designs.

Thread and Hang:

  • Attach twine or ribbon through the hole, tie a loop, and your salt dough ornaments are ready to hang on the tree!

These durable ornaments are a perfect keepsake and fun for younger kids to get involved with, too!

2. Pinecone Decorations

Materials Needed:

  • Pinecones (collected from the outdoors or store-bought)
  • Craft glue
  • Glitter (gold, silver, or multicolored)
  • Small pom-poms (optional, for a playful design)
  • Twine or ribbon for hanging
  • Paintbrush or sponge brush

Instructions:

Prep Your Pinecones:

  • If you’ve collected pinecones from outside, clean them by shaking out any loose debris and baking them at 200°F (93°C) for about 20 minutes. This removes any insects and hardens the scales.

Decorate with Glitter:

  • Use a brush or sponge to apply a thin layer of craft glue to the edges of the pinecone scales.
  • Sprinkle glitter generously over the glue-coated areas. Shake off the excess glitter and set aside to dry.

Add Pom-Poms (Optional):

  • To give your pinecone a colorful look, glue small pom-poms to random spots on the pinecone for a playful touch.

Attach the Ribbon:

  • Cut a piece of twine or ribbon and tie it to the top of the pinecone, creating a loop to hang it. Secure it with a dab of glue if needed.

That’s it—your sparkly pinecone ornaments are done! These natural-inspired decorations bring a touch of rustic charm to your holiday tree.

3. Handprint Keepsakes

Materials Needed:

  • Air-dry clay or salt dough (you can use the same recipe as for the salt dough ornaments)
  • Rolling pin
  • Acrylic paints in various colors
  • Paintbrushes
  • Ribbon or twine for hanging
  • Clear varnish (optional)

Instructions:

Prepare the Base:

  • Roll out your air-dry clay or salt dough until it’s about ½ an inch thick.

Make the Handprint:

  • Have your child press their hand firmly into the dough or clay, leaving a clear imprint.
  • Use a round or oval-shaped cutter (or a knife) to cut around the handprint, leaving a slight border.

Add Holes for Hanging:

  • Make a small hole at the top of the ornament (a drinking straw works well) so you can thread a ribbon later.

Dry or Bake:

  • Follow the drying instructions for your chosen material. For salt dough, bake at 250°F (120°C) for 1.5 to 2 hours. For air-dry clay, leave to dry overnight.

Decorate:

  • Once the handprint is fully dried, paint it with acrylic paints. Use festive colors or add details like the child’s name and the year.
  • Optionally, coat it with a clear varnish to preserve your precious memory.

Thread the Ribbon:

  • Attach twine or a ribbon through the hole, tie a loop, and hang the ornament.

Handprint ornaments are a cherished memento and make wonderful gifts for grandparents!

4. Popsicle Stick Snowflakes

Materials Needed:

  • Popsicle sticks (3–5 per snowflake)
  • Craft glue or hot glue gun (adult supervision required)
  • Acrylic paints or markers
  • Glitter or small rhinestones (optional)
  • Twine or ribbon for hanging

Instructions:

Form the Snowflake Base:

  • Arrange popsicle sticks into a snowflake shape by layering them in a criss-cross pattern. Start with three sticks to form an asterisk shape, or add more sticks for a more intricate design.
  • Secure the sticks together at their overlapping points using craft glue. Allow the glue to dry thoroughly before moving to the next step.

Decorate the Snowflake:

  • Paint your snowflakes using acrylic paints or markers. Go for traditional colors like white and silver, or get creative with bright and bold hues.
  • While the paint is still wet, sprinkle glitter over your snowflake for a sparkly finish. You can also glue on rhinestones for an extra touch of elegance.

Add a Hanging Loop:

  • Cut a piece of twine or ribbon, loop it, and glue it to the back of your snowflake. Wait until the glue dries before hanging.

These popsicle stick snowflakes are a lightweight, cheerful addition to your tree and are easy enough for the youngest family members to enjoy.

5. Mason Jar Lid Ornaments

Materials Needed:

  • Metal mason jar lids (the flat insert or outer rings work)
  • Scrapbook paper or fabric in festive prints
  • Scissors
  • Hot glue gun or craft glue
  • Miniature decorations (like small bows, bells, or plastic holly)
  • Ribbon or twine for hanging

Instructions:

Prepare the Base:

  • If using the flat part of the mason jar lid, trace its shape on your paper or fabric and cut out a perfectly sized circle. If using the outer ring, cut a larger circle and tuck the edges inside the ring.
  • Glue the paper or fabric onto the lid to create your ornament's backdrop.

Add Decorations:

  • Attach miniature decorations to the front of the mason jar lid using hot glue. For example, you can add tiny bows, small bells, or seasonal cut-outs like snowmen or reindeer.
  • Personalize your ornament further by writing names, dates, or festive phrases with a paint pen.

Attach a Hanging Loop:

  • Thread a piece of ribbon or twine through the top of the jar lid or glue it to the back to serve as the hanging loop.

These mason jar lid ornaments are endlessly custo

A Few Pro Tips for Success

  • Keep the Mess in Check: Lay down old newspapers, use aprons, and provide kids with easy-to-use tools to keep crafting stress-free.
  • Make it Social: Turn this crafting session into a family event or invite friends over to join the fun.
  • Store Carefully: Wrap fragile ornaments (like salt dough or handprints) in tissue paper when storing them for next year.

Crafting homemade ornaments as a family is a wonderful way to get into the holiday spirit while creating something meaningful. Whether you choose the charm of salt dough, the rustic elegance of pinecone decorations, or the sentimental keepsakes of handprint ornaments—each ornament tells a story and strengthens the bonds of togetherness.

Looking for more creative ideas? Try experimenting with other materials like felt, paper, or popsicle sticks next year!

Make this holiday season extra special with these DIY ornaments, and don’t forget to show them off on your tree, door wreaths, or even as thoughtful personalized gifts. Happy crafting!