16 DIY Christmas Ornaments That Are Simple to Make

DIY Christmas ornaments give your tree a personal look that store sets cannot match. Most use scraps you already have, like felt, yarn, wood slices, and dried fruit. They also make nice gifts and gift toppers. These sixteen DIY Christmas ornaments range from five-minute makes to slow weekend projects. Start with one that matches the supplies in your craft box.

In this post: 16 ideas

Dried orange hanging ornament
Felt stitched mitten
Wood slice painted cabin
Paper honeycomb bauble
Yarn wrapped star
Salt dough stamped snowflake
Clear globe with a paper village
Fabric scrap patchwork ball
Cork reindeer
Beaded wire star
Mini embroidery hoop tree
Pinecone owl
Macrame angel
Ribbon folded pinecone
Clay moon with gold accents
Cardboard gingerbread house

1. Dried orange hanging ornament

DIY Christmas ornaments, dried orange hanging slice

Slice an orange thin and dry the pieces in a low oven until stiff. The slices turn a warm amber color.

Thread a ribbon through the top and hang them on the tree. Pair them with cinnamon sticks for scent. These dried-orange DIY Christmas ornaments cost almost nothing.

2. Felt stitched mitten

Cut two mitten shapes from red or green felt and stitch around the edge. Leave the top open like a tiny pocket.

Add a white cuff and a running stitch border. Tuck a candy cane inside for a gift tag. Blanket stitch gives a clean handmade edge.

3. Wood slice painted cabin

Paint a small cabin scene on a sanded wood slice. Keep the design simple with a roof, a door, and a snowy ground line.

Seal it with clear varnish and add a jute loop. The bark edge frames the picture. Each slice looks a little different.

4. Paper honeycomb bauble

Paper honeycomb bauble Christmas ornament

Stack and glue tissue paper sheets, then cut a circle shape. Open the two halves to form a round honeycomb ball.

Pick two colors for a striped effect. A paper tab at the top holds the string. These paper baubles fold flat for storage.

5. Yarn wrapped star

Bend wire into a five-point star and wrap it tightly with yarn. Tuck the end under a few wraps to hide it.

Mix two yarn colors for stripes. A small bell in the center adds a chime. Felt-tip stars work for a quick version.

6. Salt dough stamped snowflake

Salt dough stamped snowflake DIY Christmas ornament

Mix salt dough, roll it flat, and cut circles with a glass. Press a snowflake stamp or a fork pattern into each one.

Bake until hard, then paint white with a touch of silver. Poke a hole before baking for the string. These DIY Christmas ornaments store well year to year.

7. Clear globe with a paper village

Fill a clear plastic globe with a tiny paper house and fake snow. Add a few small trees around the base.

Seal the two halves and tie a ribbon at the top. A cotton layer looks like a drift. These DIY Christmas ornaments turn into a shared project.

8. Fabric scrap patchwork ball

Pin small fabric scraps onto a foam ball in a patchwork pattern. Push the raw edges in with a butter knife.

Mix prints that share one color for a pulled-together look. Add a ribbon loop on top. No sewing is needed here.

9. Cork reindeer

Glue a wine cork body to twig antlers and add a red bead nose. Two tiny dots make the eyes.

A loop of twine hangs it on a branch. Save corks through the year for a set. This one suits a rustic tree.

10. Beaded wire star

Thread glass beads onto craft wire and bend it into a star outline. Twist the ends together to close the shape.

Clear and silver beads catch the light well. Vary the bead sizes for texture. A beaded star like this suits a glass tree.

11. Mini embroidery hoop tree

Stretch a scrap of linen in a small hoop and stitch a simple tree. French knots work well for ornaments.

The hoop itself becomes the frame and the hanger. Keep the stitches loose and relaxed. These make a sweet set of three.

12. Pinecone owl

Glue felt eyes, a beak, and wings onto a pinecone. The scales already look like feathers.

Add a twine loop at the top. A few painted tips look like snow. These easy DIY Christmas ornaments let children help.

13. Macrame angel

Tie a few square knots with cream cord to form an angel body and wings. A wooden bead becomes the head.

Trim the cord ends even at the base. A small gold ring makes a halo. The knots give a soft texture.

14. Ribbon folded pinecone

Pin folded ribbon squares onto a foam ball in overlapping rows. Each piece points down like a pinecone scale.

Stick to two or three ribbon colors. Start at the bottom and work up. A pin with a bead finishes the top.

15. Clay moon with gold accents

Roll air-dry clay and cut a crescent moon with a knife. Smooth the edges with a damp finger.

Once dry, brush gold paint along one side. A star charm can dangle below. These DIY Christmas ornaments feel modern and calm.

16. Cardboard gingerbread house

Cut small house walls from cardboard and glue them into a box shape. Paint brown and add white trim lines.

Dot on paper candy and a snowy roof. A loop of baker twine hangs it. This mini house pairs with the orange slices.

How to display your DIY Christmas ornaments

Group your DIY Christmas ornaments by color or material for a planned look. Hang the heavier makes on strong lower branches. Keep a few spares for gift toppers and place cards.

For more holiday making, see our Christmas wood craft ideas and DIY Christmas garland ideas. If you try the dough version, this salt dough guide covers the basics, and our Christmas collage ideas use similar scraps.