“I’m just not crafty.” I hear this every December, and I’m here to tell you it isn’t true.
You don’t need special talent to make beautiful ornaments. You need a simple idea, a few basic supplies and an hour or two. The rest is just following easy steps.
That’s why I picked these 12 DIY Christmas ornaments that anyone can make. Some use materials you probably have at home, like fabric scraps and paper. Others, like macrame and resin, look impressive but are surprisingly beginner friendly.
There’s something here for kids, total beginners and anyone hoping to make a few to sell.
Quick Picks
- Easiest: Kids Felt and Button Ornaments (idea 11)
- Most impressive: Decoupage Ornament Balls (idea 3)
- Uses scraps: Fabric Scrap Ornament Balls (idea 8)
- Best to sell: Rustic Painted Wood Ornaments (idea 12)
1. Macrame Mini Tree Ornaments
Macrame sounds tricky, but a mini tree uses just two simple knots. The finished ornament looks soft, boho and so pretty on a natural or white tree.
I’d suggest soft 3 mm cotton macrame cord. It’s easy on your fingers and brushes into a fluffy fringe.
⏱ 30 minutes each💲 Low🛠 Easy
Materials Needed
- 3 mm cotton macrame cord
- A small wooden dowel or stick, about 3 inches
- Sharp scissors and a fine comb
- A small star bead or wooden bead
How to Make It
- Cut 8 cords about 12 inches long.
- Fold each cord in half and attach it to the dowel with a lark’s head knot, so you have 16 strands.
- Tie a row of square knots across, using 4 strands per knot.
- On each new row, skip 2 strands at each end so the knots form a triangle.
- Comb the loose strands into fringe and trim them into a neat tree shape.
- Tie a cord loop to the dowel for hanging and glue a star bead on top.
Tip: Tape the dowel to the table while you knot. It stops the ornament from spinning and keeps your rows even.
2. Beaded Star Ornaments
Beaded stars catch the tree lights beautifully. Thread beads onto five pieces of wire, then twist the ends together into a star shape. It’s calming work, perfect for an evening with a movie.
You can buy simple wire star frames made for beading, which makes it even easier. Keep loose beads away from toddlers.
Best for: sparkly trees and relaxing evenings
3. Decoupage Ornament Balls
Decoupage turns plain ornament balls into something that looks hand painted. The secret is pretty paper napkins. You use just the thin printed top layer and glue it onto the ball.
Honestly, it’s one of the best results for the least effort. Use shatterproof plastic balls, especially if kids are helping.
⏱ 30 minutes plus drying💲 Low🛠 Easy
Materials Needed
- Plain white shatterproof ornament balls
- Christmas printed paper napkins
- Decoupage glue and a soft flat brush
- Small scissors
- Ribbon for hanging
How to Make It
- Peel the napkin apart and keep only the thin printed top layer.
- Tear or cut out small pieces of the design, since small pieces wrap around curves better.
- Brush a thin coat of glue on a section of the ball.
- Lay a napkin piece on top and gently brush more glue over it, smoothing out wrinkles from the center outward.
- Keep going until the ball is covered, then let it dry.
- Add one more thin coat of glue to seal, let it dry, and tie on a ribbon.
Tip: Hang the balls on a skewer stuck in a cup while they dry. It keeps every side smooth and fingerprint free.
Printable Bundle
Christmas Printable Bundle
Christmas planner, 24 advent activity cards, 36 gift tags, handmade labels, Santa letter and family games.
4. Resin Ornaments With Dried Flowers
Resin ornaments look like little glass windows with flowers trapped inside. Set pressed flowers and gold flakes in a silicone mold, pour resin over them, and let it cure.
UV resin is the easiest for beginners, since it hardens in minutes under a small lamp. Always wear gloves, work in an aired room, and keep resin away from kids and pets. This one is an adult project.
You’ll need: a UV resin kit with lamp, round silicone molds, pressed flowers, gloves
Best for: adults who want a stunning keepsake
Printable Games
Christmas Party Games Pack
9 fun games for family, friends and office parties: trivia, charades, gift swap and more.
5. Memory Keepsake Ornaments
Memory ornaments hold a little piece of your story. Fill a clear ornament with something meaningful: a scrap of a loved one’s shirt, dried flowers from a wedding, a tiny photo or a handwritten recipe.
These are some of the most treasured ornaments on any tree. They also make a heartfelt gift for someone missing a loved one this Christmas.
You’ll need: clear flat disc ornaments, keepsakes, ribbon, small tags
Best for: sentimental gifts and family memories
6. Giant Outdoor Ornaments
Go big this year. Giant ornaments made from large plastic balls or bowls look amazing hanging from outdoor trees or piled on the porch. They’re cheap to make and impossible to miss.
Paint them with outdoor spray paint, outside, and glue on a painted cap made from a plastic cup. Tie them on firmly with outdoor cord so the wind can’t carry them away.
You’ll need: large plastic balls, outdoor spray paint, plastic cups, outdoor cord
Best for: front yards and big porches
7. Mexican Folk Art Inspired Tin Ornaments
These ornaments are inspired by the bright, joyful tin art of Mexico. Draw a design on soft craft metal foil with a dull pencil to emboss it, cut it out, then color it with bright markers or glass paint.
Pink, turquoise and sunny yellow look gorgeous against green branches. Fold the cut edges under so nothing is sharp.
You’ll need: craft embossing foil, a dull pencil, scissors, permanent markers
Best for: bright, colorful trees
8. Fabric Scrap Ornament Balls
Have a pile of fabric scraps? Turn them into cozy patchwork ornaments with no sewing at all. You simply tuck the fabric edges into thin lines cut into a foam ball.
They look like little quilted treasures. In my experience, mixing one plaid, one floral and one solid in the same colors looks the most charming.
⏱ 45 minutes💲 Very low🛠 Easy
Materials Needed
- A 3 inch craft foam ball
- Cotton fabric scraps
- A butter knife and a craft knife (adult use)
- Thin ribbon and straight pins
How to Make It
- Draw lines on the ball like orange segments, dividing it into 6 or 8 sections.
- An adult cuts along the lines about a quarter inch deep with the craft knife.
- Cut a fabric piece a little bigger than one section.
- Lay it over the section and push the edges into the cut lines with the butter knife.
- Repeat with different fabrics until the ball is covered.
- Pin ribbon over a few seams and add a ribbon loop at the top.
Tip: Push a dab of glue onto each pin before inserting it. It keeps the ribbon secure for years.
9. Folded Paper Ball Ornaments
Paper ornaments cost almost nothing, and they look so clever. Cut 8 to 10 paper circles, fold each in half, and glue the halves back to back into a round ball.
Use old book pages, sheet music or patterned scrapbook paper. A tip I picked up: a round cookie cutter makes perfect circles fast.
Best for: budget crafting and big batches
10. Faux Candy Polymer Clay Ornaments
Candy themed ornaments are pure fun, and these ones last forever. Shape peppermint swirls, gumdrops and wrapped candies from polymer clay, then bake them hard.
Because they look like real sweets, hang them up high and tell little ones they’re not for eating. Bake on a tray used only for crafts, at the temperature on the clay package.
You’ll need: red, white and pink polymer clay, eye pins, gloss glaze, ribbon
Best for: candy themed and pink trees
11. Kids Felt and Button Ornaments
This is the easiest ornament on the list. Cut a tree shape from green felt, then let kids glue on colorful buttons as baubles and a little star on top.
Use thick white craft glue instead of hot glue for kids. Buttons are a choking risk for toddlers, so this one is best for kids around 4 and older.
You’ll need: green felt sheets, assorted buttons, craft glue, twine
Best for: young kids and quick crafts
12. Rustic Painted Wood Ornaments to Make and Sell
Wood ornaments are cheap to make and sell well at craft fairs. Paint small wooden stacking blocks as tiny houses or snowmen, decorate simple wooden tree cutouts, or tie twigs into rustic stars.
If you plan to sell, make matching sets of three. They look more polished on a table and people love buying them as gifts. Seal everything so the paint stays fresh.
You’ll need: unfinished wooden blocks, wooden tree cutouts, acrylic paint, small eye screws, twine
Best for: rustic trees and craft fair sales
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the easiest DIY ornament for beginners?
Felt and button trees and folded paper balls are the easiest. Decoupage balls are next, and they look the most impressive for the effort.
Is resin safe for making ornaments at home?
It is when you follow the label. Wear gloves, work in a well aired room and keep resin away from kids and pets until fully cured.
What can I put inside a memory ornament?
Try fabric from a loved one’s clothing, dried wedding flowers, a tiny photo, a handwritten note or a copy of a family recipe.
Which handmade ornaments sell best?
Rustic wood, resin and personalized ornaments sell well. Matching sets of three and neat packaging help them stand out.
How do I make ornaments without sewing?
Fabric scrap balls tuck fabric into a foam ball, and felt ornaments can be glued. No needle needed.
How can I make giant ornaments for outside?
Paint large plastic balls or bowls with outdoor spray paint, add a cup as the cap, and tie them on firmly with outdoor cord.
Final Thoughts on DIY Christmas Ornaments Anyone Can Make
Every idea here is truly doable, even if you’ve never made a craft before. Start with the easiest one that catches your eye, and you’ll be surprised how good it looks. Then hang it on the tree and enjoy saying “I made that.”
Amir Ali is the founder and site administrator of HomeDecorEdge, a modern home decor and interior design platform. Since starting the site, he has combined his passion for interior design, practical styling, and color coordination with hands-on content strategy and site management. He guides authors, curates high-quality articles, and ensures readers have access to actionable, visually inspiring, and user-focused home decor advice for apartments, small rooms, and family homes.