101 Easy Handmade DIY Christmas Ornaments + Tutorial

Decorating the Christmas tree is the epitome of Christmas time and you know what makes it even better? Some DIY Christmas ornaments.

Disclosure: I do use affiliate links in this post from which I make a small commission.

Whether the DIY ornaments are made by yourself, kids, or grandkids, they are all so special. What is so fun about them is that they can make for a fun Christmas craft solo with the kids or can make for a great holiday season gift for the whole family.

Do handmade ornaments hold a special place in your heart? If your tree doesn’t have enough already or you’re looking for a new project, this list of 101 easy handmade DIY Christmas ornaments has you covered.

Below you will find a personalized DIY cement globe Christmas ornament tutorial followed by 99 other beautiful ornaments.

Now, dive head first into the holiday season and get to crafting some of these easy DIY Christmas ornaments for yourself and family members!

DIY Matte Globe Christmas Ornament Tutorial

This year I decided to get creative by making my own Christmas ornaments.

Connor is at the age where arts and crafts are super fun and I feel like any excuse to create and have him be involved makes it that more special. He’s super into the solar system right now, so….that became our tree theme this year.

After scrolling Pinterest and Instagram for some ideas, I decided to put my own spin on the very popular DIY matte ornaments or “velvet” ornaments that have exploded onto the feeds of social media this year.

They turned out to be incredibly easy to make and a perfect way to recycle old ornaments if you want a different look. They’re elegant and oh-so easy to make at home with just a few easy steps.

Here is what I did to create our “Planet Earth Matte Ornaments.”

Supplies:

Plastic clear shatterproof ornaments - I got mine from Hobby Lobby but Walmart, Target, and Michaels have them.
Acrylic paint – acrylic craft paint comes in so many colors. We went with earthy matte tones such as matcha green, cornflower blue, and chocolate brown.
Paint brushes – any paint brush will work, but the wider the tip the better. I like these sponge tips to get the job done more efficiently.
Baking Soda – any brand of baking soda will work
A tin foil baking pan to collect your ornaments
Wooden dowels or skewers for drying
A foam block or floral foam that you’ll use to put your dowels or skewers into for drying

Step-by-Step Instructions:

Step 1. Take off the metal hook part so that you can hold your ornament with both fingers. Keep the metal hook piece off to the side to reattach later

Step 2. Get painting. Quickly coat your ornament in the desired paint, it shouldn’t be dripping wet but do apply liberally and fast. I did a few strokes of matcha green and then went over it with a bit of chocolate brown. And lastly, blend the cornflower blue.

Step 3. While still wet, roll your ornament into baking soda on either a plate or a baking pan. I applied quite liberally to get a really dusty coating on there. This creates the matte effect. The more baking soda that’s applied, the more matte it becomes which I absolutely love.

Step 4. Stick your skewers into your floral foam block and put your dusted ornament on the skewer to dry.

Step 5. Once dry (overnight) dust all the excess baking soda off into your baking pan or trash can. Once dry you can attach your hook piece back on and tie it with a ribbon!

What I love about the look of these ornaments are that they are really simple, elegant, and most of all foolproof. You can’t mess these up and your toddler will have so much fun doing a craft that both of you can enjoy for years to come. Connor calls these ornaments his “urrfff balls” I think we nailed em!

Keep reading for many more homemade ornaments to try out this year!

DIY Christmas Ornaments

1. DIY Glitter Ornaments Using Mop & Glo

These adorable and festive DIY glitter ornaments are a hoot! They are super easy top make and don’t make a mess because the glitter is inside.

2. Cute Clay Angel Ornament to Make or Give as a Gift

These cute clay ornaments are perfect for making your own tree or for gifting to the family.

3. Keepsake Ornaments with Clothing

Learn how to make adorable ornaments with recycled clothing with this easy-to-follow tutorial! I think an old sweater (an ugly Christmas sweater to be exact) would be perfect for this craft.

4. Cute Gnome Christmas Ornaments to Make for the Holidays

Celebrate the holiday season with some festive gnomes thanks to this fun Christmas ornament craft!

5. Wedding Invitation Ornaments

Making DIY keepsake ornaments is such a special thing. If you or someone close to you celebrated marriage this year, continue on the celebration with these ornaments made up of their wedding invitations.

6. Bottle Brush Jar Lid Ornaments

Recycle those old jam jars and put together some adorable Christmas scenes with some small bottle brush trees with this easy-to-follow DIY.

7. Festive Chalkboard Ornaments

This simple Chalkboard DIY is a fun one. Make small chalkboard ornaments with different holiday season greetings on each one!

8. DIY Clay Leaf & Nature Impression Ornaments for Kids

This is a great Christmas season craft idea for the kids to try out. Head out on a nature walk and then use little natural elements that they find, like leaves and pinecones, to impress into clay to make up these easy ornaments.

9. DIY Gingerbread Ornaments

Love the look of some freshly made gingerbread cookies this time of year? Recreate that image with these adorable salt dough ornaments!

10. 3D Printed Ornaments to Make with Kids

This is another fun kid-friendly ornament idea! They make for some adorable keepsakes.

11. Oversized Dollar Tree Christmas Ornaments

For this DIY, you are going to take a trip to the Dollar Tree and snag some of their holiday decor. Then you are going to piece it all together into large ornaments. Cheap and fun!

12. DIY Cinnamon Ornaments

Cinnamon Ornaments is a simple and easy homemade holiday craft or Christmas tree adornment with an amazing aroma. Made with only 3 ingredients, this recipe is a fun way to make a memorable gift.

Other DIY Christmas Ornament Ideas

Here are some other creative Christmas ornament ideas to make this year:

Personalized photo ornaments with family pictures
Glitter-filled glass ball ornaments
Miniature wreaths made from twigs or faux greenery
Pinecone angels with ribbon wings
Button-covered ornaments in various shapes
Fabric scrap ornaments using leftover holiday fabric
Cinnamon stick stars tied with festive ribbons
Wood slice ornaments with hand-painted designs
Beaded snowflake ornaments
Felt animal ornaments like reindeer or penguins
Sequin-covered Styrofoam ball ornaments
Paper quilling snowflakes
Wine cork reindeer ornaments
Ribbon-wrapped candy cane ornaments
Rustic burlap and lace ornaments
Pinecone owls with googly eyes
Vintage-inspired mercury glass ornaments
Yarn-wrapped ornaments in vibrant colors
Button and felt gingerbread people ornaments
Paper mache ball ornaments with decoupage designs
Origami paper crane ornaments
Clothespin snowflake ornaments
Glitter-dipped feather ornaments
Button wreaths in assorted sizes
Scrapbook paper-covered star ornaments
Mini mason jar lid ornaments with tiny scenes inside
Fabric-covered styrofoam ball ornaments
Twine-wrapped monogram ornaments
Beaded icicle ornaments
Popsicle stick sled ornaments
Scented sachet ornaments with holiday scents
Sheet music-covered ornament balls
Macrame Christmas tree ornaments
Puzzle piece snowflake ornaments
Satin ribbon rosette ornaments
Hand-painted ceramic ornaments
Melted crayon ornaments on clear glass balls
Felt ball garland ornaments
Upcycled light bulb penguin ornaments
Glittery starfish ornaments for a beachy theme
Button and twine snowman ornaments
Feather-filled glass ball ornaments
Birch bark reindeer ornaments
Quilted fabric ball ornaments
Scrapbook paper and woodblock ornaments
Woodland creature pinecone ornaments
Tassel and bead keychain ornaments
Acorn cap and felt acorn ornaments
Sheet music and wood star ornaments
Twine-wrapped jingle bell ornaments
Beaded wire ornament hangers
Burlap and lace angel ornaments
Cross-stitch hoop ornaments with festive patterns
Dried citrus slice ornaments
Wine cork snowman ornaments
Felt and pom-pom garland ornaments
Miniature knit stocking ornaments
Clothespin nutcracker ornaments
Painted seashell ornaments for a coastal vibe
Floral wire and bead snowflake ornaments
Wood-burned snowman face ornaments
Moss-covered letter ornaments
Fabric-covered foam ball ornaments
Sealed dried flower ornaments
Button and ribbon Christmas tree ornaments
Yarn-wrapped holly berry ornaments
Paper bag star ornaments
Mini ornament filled with sand from your favorite beach
Memory globe ornament with something you want to remember from the year
Display Christmas cards as decorations on your tree

I hope this list of homemade Christmas ornaments inspired you to get into the holiday spirit with some creativity. I tried to include something for every skill level and hope I lived up to my goal!

101 Easy Handmade DIY Christmas Ornaments + Tutorial