A tree covered in ornaments you made yourself looks different from a tree dressed straight from a shop. The pieces are a little uneven. The colours don't quite match. And that is the whole point. Each one carries a bit of the afternoon you spent making it, which is more than any boxed set can offer.
Below are 20 handmade Christmas ornaments from real makers, each with its own tutorial linked. There are quick ten-minute makes and slower weekend projects, cheap scrap-bin ideas and a few worth buying proper supplies for. Salt dough, dried citrus, cinnamon, felt, clay, wood, paper, fabric and yarn all get a turn. Pick one to start tonight, or work through a few across December and let the tree fill up gradually.
1. Molded salt dough ornaments
Salt dough is the classic for a reason. Flour, salt and water turn into a dough you can press into wooden molds or cut with cookie cutters, and the finished pieces look like something from a country shop. This version uses a basic mix of two cups of flour, one cup of salt and one cup of water, kneaded until it forms a stiff ball. Thicker molded pieces need about two hours in a low oven, so this is a good one to start in the morning.
Credit: Miss Mustard Seed — Molded Salt Dough Ornaments: Recipe & Tutorial
2. Dried orange slice ornaments
Few ornaments earn their place as easily as a dried orange slice. Slice oranges about an eighth of an inch thick, pat them dry, then bake them at 200 degrees, flipping every half hour or so until no moisture is left. The drying run can take up to four hours, but most of that is hands-off time. Thread twine through a small hole and they are ready to hang, glowing amber against the lights.
Credit: Seasoned Sprinkles — Dried Orange Slice Ornaments
3. Cinnamon stick star ornaments
Five cinnamon sticks, a length of baker's twine and fifteen minutes is all this one asks. The trick is threading the twine through the hollow sticks with a bent wire as a needle, then folding the row into a star and fixing the joins with two dots of hot glue. A sprig of greenery and a couple of holly berries finish it.
Credit: Debbie Chapman of One Little Project — Cinnamon Stick Star Ornaments
4. Embroidered felt baubles
If you like slow, quiet crafts, these felt baubles are a good evening project. The tutorial walks through transferring a pattern onto white felt, stitching it with red, green and gold floss, then sewing the pieces into soft rounded ornaments. A free printable pattern is included, and the finished baubles are light enough to hang anywhere.
Credit: Practical Embroidery — Felt Embroidered Christmas Ornaments: PDF Pattern & DIY Tutorial
5. Felt angel ornament
This little angel is hand-stitched from wool felt and measures about three inches across and four and a half tall, not counting the hanging loop. She has a tiny front pocket, just right for a small treat or a folded note. Blanket stitch does most of the work, and the template is free to download. Make her in pink or peach as shown, or switch to red and green for a more traditional tree.
Credit: Lauren Wright of Molly and Mama — Stitch a Felt Angel Christmas Ornament
6. Stamped air-dry clay tags
No kiln, no oven, no fuss. White air-dry clay is rolled out, cut with cookie cutters and stamped with alphabet stamps while it is still soft. The maker suggests short words, six letters or fewer, so "peace", "joy" and "noel" all fit nicely. Let each tag dry for a full day, flip it, and give it another day before threading the twine.
Credit: On Sutton Place — DIY Air Dry Clay Christmas Ornaments
7. Embroidered clay ornaments
This one mixes two crafts into one ornament. Air-dry clay shapes are cut first, a tree, a wreath and a bauble stamped with "FA LA LA", and left to dry flat for a day or two. Then embroidery thread is stitched through pre-punched holes, with optional glass beads for a bit of sparkle. Free hole templates are included for each of the three shapes, so you can follow along exactly or design your own.
Credit: Pillarbox Blue — How to Make Unique Embroidered Clay Christmas Ornaments
8. Photo-transfer wood slice ornaments
A photo printed from a laser printer can be transferred directly onto a wood slice with Mod Podge photo transfer medium, which gives a soft, slightly faded finish that suits old family photos. The same tutorial also covers a second method using vinyl lettering cut on a Cricut, or hand-painted letters if you don't own a machine. Either way, a plain wood slice becomes a keepsake.
Credit: First Day of Home — How to Make Easy DIY Wood Slice Ornaments
9. Wood-burned wood slice ornaments
Pyrography sounds technical, but the idea is simple. A heated pen burns a design into a sanded wood slice. The maker here cut slices from the trunk of an old Christmas tree, which is a nice way to keep a tree going after the holidays. Let the wood dry fully before you start, or the slices can split later. Practice on a spare slice first, then burn snowflakes, trees or names.
Credit: Garden Therapy — Wooden Ornaments: How to Dry, Design, and Seal
10. Wood slice Rudolph ornaments
Ten minutes, one wood slice, and a face that makes everyone smile. A ribbon hanger is stapled to the back, pipe cleaners become antlers, and a smaller wood slice, googly eyes and a red pom-pom nose finish the reindeer. A black marker draws the mouth. Make a whole herd in one sitting; each face comes out a little different.
Credit: Made in a Pinch — Adorable DIY Wood Slice Rudolph Ornaments
11. 3D paper star ornaments
A flat sheet of card turns into a puffy three-dimensional star in under fifteen minutes, and the tutorial includes free printable templates in several sizes. The same star works as an ornament, a tree topper or strung into a garland. Patterned scrapbook paper gives the prettiest result, and a bit of distress ink around the edges adds an aged look if you like that style.
Credit: Craving Some Creativity — Easy Step by Step 3D Star Tutorial & Template
12. Book page star ornaments
Old books that are falling apart get a second life here. Nine three-inch squares of paper make one star, eight folded points glued onto a square base, with a gem, button or tiny jingle bell in the centre. Hymnal pages look especially good, but dictionary pages, sheet music or plain printer paper all work. Once you learn the fold, each star takes about fifteen to twenty minutes.
Credit: Harbour Breeze Home — Book Page Star Ornaments: Easy Folded Paper Stars for Christmas
13. German paper stars
Also called Froebel stars, these are folded from four narrow paper strips woven into a square, then folded and tucked into raised points on both sides. The tutorial includes a size guide: one-inch strips about two feet long make a star around four inches across, plus a video that goes slowly through every fold. A dip in wax protects the finished stars and gives them a soft sheen.
Credit: Grateful Prayer Thankful Heart — German Paper Stars Tutorial
14. Yarn ball ornaments
Leftover yarn is the whole point of this one. Scrap yarn is wrapped around a cardboard or foam ball, changing colour whenever you like, until the ball is fully covered. Wrapping in different directions keeps the shape round, while wrapping mostly one way gives a flatter, more rustic look. A final wrap of strands tied into a bow at the top finishes it. No knitting or crochet needed.
Credit: Petals to Picots — Yarn Ball Ornaments: Easy No-Crochet Christmas Craft
15. Yarn-wrapped letter ornaments
Pick a letter, wrap it in yarn, and you have an ornament with someone's initial on the tree. The tutorial uses a paper letterform, built up from layers of cardstock, wrapped tightly in yarn and fixed with hot glue. A yarn tassel and mini pom-poms add the finishing touch. Each one costs around three dollars in supplies and takes under an hour, and they double as stocking markers or gift toppers.
Credit: DIY Candy — Personalized Yarn Wrapped Ornaments for a Festive Christmas
16. Fabric scrap baubles
That bag of fabric offcuts in the cupboard finally has a job. Strips about half an inch wide are torn from woven cotton or linen, then wrapped around a plain bauble with a thin layer of Mod Podge, overlapping slightly until the whole surface is covered. Shorter pieces are fine, they just look scrappier, which suits the project. A ribbon loop through the top finishes it in about fifteen minutes.
Credit: Aboderie — How to Make Fabric Scrap Ornaments
17. Scrap fabric tree ornaments
Flannel and homespun strips are tied onto a cinnamon stick with square knots, about thirteen strips per ornament, then trimmed into a little tree shape. A yellow button or wooden star goes on top, and a twine loop is glued to the back for hanging. The frayed edges are the point, so choose fabrics that fray well. It is a good use for an old plaid shirt.
Credit: Melissa Lennig of Fireflies and Mud Pies — Scrap Fabric Tree Ornaments
18. "Let it Snow" embroidery hoop ornament
A three-inch embroidery hoop frames a small piece of felt stitched with the words "Let it Snow" in simple back stitch. Snowflake trim glued around the edge hides the join and adds a bit of sparkle. The pattern is free, and the whole project takes a few hours including drying time. It is an easy first embroidery project, and the hoop itself becomes the frame.
Credit: Fleece Fun — Embroidery Hoop Ornament DIY
19. Mini macrame ornaments
Three knots are all you need here: the lark's head to attach the cords, the square knot for the pattern, and the double half hitch for the diagonal lines. Each mini ornament takes about half an hour once you know the knots, and a comb run through the fringe at the bottom gives that soft, fluffy finish. They suit a boho tree, and they make good gift wrap decorations too.
Credit: Life is a Party — Mini Macrame Christmas Ornaments: Easy DIY Tutorial for Beginners
20. Nutcracker cinnamon stick ornaments
Cinnamon sticks turn into nutcracker soldiers with a bit of paint. One long stick forms the body and two shorter ones become the arms, painted in sections: beige for the face, white below, blue for the jacket, black for the boots, with gold on the tips. Glue the arms on, add a ribbon loop, and you have a nutcracker that smells like Christmas. Change the jacket colours and no two soldiers match.
Credit: Jane & Sonja of Sustain My Craft Habit — Nutcracker Cinnamon Stick Ornaments
Supplies and tips for handmade Christmas ornaments
You don't need a craft shop haul to start. Most of these ornaments share the same few basics: a hot glue gun and glue sticks, sharp scissors, twine or ribbon for hangers, and a surface you don't mind getting glue on. Beyond that, pick one project and buy only what it asks for. A single bag of air-dry clay or a pack of wood slices will cover a whole batch.
A few things worth knowing before you start. Let salt dough and clay dry completely before hanging, or they can crack and warp. Dry orange slices until no moisture is left at all, since any dampness can turn mouldy in storage. Keep finished ornaments in a dry box with tissue between the layers. If you gather pinecones for decorating alongside these ornaments, pinecone Christmas crafts has the cleaning steps, including baking foraged cones before they come indoors.
Start with the easiest one on the list, probably the dried orange slices or the yarn balls. Once you have a few hanging on the tree, the slower projects feel less daunting, and by mid-December you will have a tree that looks like nobody else's.
Frequently asked questions
What are the easiest handmade Christmas ornaments for beginners?
Dried orange slice ornaments, yarn ball ornaments and cinnamon stick stars are the simplest places to start. They need few supplies, no special tools beyond a hot glue gun, and each one takes under an hour of active work. The orange slices need several hours in a low oven, but that time is mostly hands-off.
How long do handmade Christmas ornaments last?
It depends on the material. Felt, fabric, wood, clay and macrame ornaments last for years if they are stored dry. Salt dough and dried orange slices are more fragile: dried oranges usually last one season, while sealed salt dough can last several years if it is kept dry and handled gently.
Can I make handmade Christmas ornaments with kids?
Some of these, yes. Yarn balls, paper stars and fabric trees are good family projects, with an adult handling the hot glue gun. Salt dough is also a family favourite, though the dough is very salty and should not be eaten, and pets should be kept away from it. Wood burning and sharp craft knives are adults-only jobs.
What supplies do I need to start making Christmas ornaments?
A hot glue gun, scissors, twine or ribbon, and the main material for your chosen project are enough to begin. Most projects on this list cost only a few dollars in supplies, and several use scraps and leftovers you already have at home.
How do I store handmade ornaments so they last?
Wrap each ornament in tissue paper and pack them in a sturdy box with layers between them. Keep the box somewhere dry and cool, away from damp and direct heat. Dried orange slices should be stored in an airtight container, and anything with paint or glue should be fully dry before it is packed away.
How far ahead should I make Christmas ornaments?
Start in November if you can. Salt dough and clay need a day or two to dry, and orange slices need several hours in the oven. Making a few ornaments each weekend through November leaves December free for hanging them, and the tree fills up gradually instead of all at once.
Wrapping up
Twenty ornaments, nine materials, and not one of them needs a trip to a specialist shop. Start with whatever you already have at home, a few oranges, some scrap yarn, a cinnamon stick or two, and see where it goes. Handmade trees are supposed to look like someone made them.
If you are in a decorating mood, DIY Christmas wreaths has twenty more handmade ideas in the same spirit, from fresh evergreen to felt leaves and dried oranges, all from real makers with their own tutorials.
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