Sometimes a gorgeous, symmetrical, perfectly decorated Christmas tree is exactly what you want. But other times, your Christmas tree needs something a little more unique or personalized, or you just need a thrifty way to fill it without having to sprinkle it with tinsel. Or maybe you want to get your kids and grandkids involved in the design.
Here are 5 easy handmade ornaments to decorate your Christmas tree or give as gifts:.
- felt pin cushion (shown above). Can be made into any shape! Cut stars, trees, snowmen or more out of red and white felt. Hand stitch a button or other ornament at the top with contrasting thread, then hand stitch around the edges and fill with a bit of quilting wadding. Change the size to suit your vision.
- a thousand ornaments. This Martha Stewart Living project shows how to use holiday-shaped cookie cutters as “frames” for pretty papers or family photos. It’s a quick project that kids can do, and even cheaper if you can find cookie cutters at Goodwill or the dollar store. Metal cookie cutters are prettier, but a smaller plastic cutter would be a great kid project.
- paintbrush people. I fell in love with this whimsical and unique idea for making paintbrush jewelry, found on the Upcycle blog. By threading some ribbon through the handle, it’s easy to hang these upside down brushes because they have built-in “whiskers”! You can let your imagination run wild to personalize them. If you have some artistic talent, you can make them look elegant, or for a kid’s project, just paint them Santa red, glue on some big eyes and a button for a nose.
- polystyrene foam “ball” ornaments. Love the classic “ball ornament” look, but maybe you have small children or dogs, or just don’t want to handle and store something so delicate? Buy basic polystyrene foam balls from your local craft store or Amazon (I found 2″ balls for $6.80 for 12; or 3″ balls for $39 for 50). Then go crazy with metallic paint, sequins, markers, stickers, stamps, etc. Loosen the paper clip (letting one end bend into a hook), tuck it into the ball, and secure it with a drop of glue from a glue gun for hanging. Find “foam polystyrene jewelry” on Pinterest for inspiration!
- lilac orange. It may not last long, but it will make your house smell great! The artist woman at Gail Bartlett shared a step-by-step tutorial with some pictures of turning orange and some lilacs into a delightful Christmas Orange Pomander decoration for the holiday season. Her kids have even turned it into an annual tradition. As a comment on her blog points out, whole lilacs can be purchased at very reasonable prices in the bulk food section of many supermarkets.
What are your favorite holiday handmade ornaments?
