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5 DIY Christmas Ornaments to Make With Your Kids

By Kyrie Collins, Macaroni KID Highlands Ranch-Parker-Castle Rock-Lone Tree Publisher December 18, 2022

We have the perfect Christmas tree. 

It doesn't look like the ones you see in the stores with color-coordinated ornaments among carefully positioned bows. Those trees are beautiful, but they aren't perfect like our tree.

Our tree is decorated with a mishmash of memories — and that's what makes it perfect.

We have three hand-painted antique ornaments. They were given to me by my mother, who got them from her mother, who got them from her mother. There used to be twelve, but scores of Christmases filled with excited children — and at least one very playful cat — have narrowed it down to three. And they are precious to me.

We have ornament frames with pictures of babies with Santa, not just of my own babies (who are now nearly grown) but of our nieces and nephews too. They aren't fancy frames. In fact, one is a plastic keychain with a hook where the keys would go. And they make my heart smile.

But the very best decorations we have are the homemade ones made by our children. Gingerbread men and angels and a drawing of our Elf on the Shelf, carefully trimmed by tiny hands so it could proudly hang on our tree with all the other ornaments.

My husband and I even have a few decorations we made when we were children, including a salt dough drum that is so big and heavy we joke that it will cause the tree to tip over if it isn't carefully balanced by other ornaments on the opposite side.

Below are five simple ornaments you can make with your children. You'll create magical memories and precious keepsakes. You might even end up with a tree as perfect as ours!   


Handprint Snowmen Ornament

Supplies: a plain round ornament, white paint, permanent markers, and a paintbrush

Paint your child's hand, thumb, and fingers with white paint. Place the ornament in the palm of their hand and press their fingers and thumb around the ball.

Let the ornament dry. Use permanent markers to add details like faces, a scarf, and a hat.

Get complete instructions here.





Christmas Gnome Ornament

Supplies: pine cones, small wooden balls, mini Santa hats, hot glue gun and glue, embroidery thread and needle, and embellishments (optional)

Peel back a few of the top pine cone layers to make room for the Santa hat. Use hot glue to attach the wooden ball, Santa hat, and embellishments.

Sew thread through the back of the hat, form into a hanging loop, and tie it into a knot.

Get complete instructions here.





Santa Handprint Ornament

Supplies: flour, salt, water, a straw, acrylic paint, black paint pen or permanent marker, embellishments, sealant (e.g., Mod Podge), and ribbon

Mix together one cup each of flour, salt, and water to make a salt dough. Add more flour or water as needed until the dough is smooth and no longer sticky to the touch. Flatten the dough (not too thin) to make a circle large enough for your child's hand.

Press your child's hand into the dough. Use the straw to make a hole at the top for the ribbon. 

Bake for 2-3 hours at 200˚F or until dry. Let your ornaments sit for a day, then paint and decorate as desired.

Get complete instructions here.





Peppermint Candy Ornament

Supplies: round peppermint candies, cookie sheet, parchment paper, cookie cutters, toothpick or wooden skewer, ribbon

Preheat oven to 350˚F. Remove the candies from their wrappers and place them on a parchment-covered cookie sheet in the shape of the cutter you will use.

Put the cookie sheet in your oven and bake for 5-9 minutes. Watch closely; they are ready when melted but not bubbling.

Remove from oven and let cool for about 3 minutes. Cut through the candy with the cookie cutters. Use a wooden skewer to make a hole at the top for the ribbon. Leave cookie cutter and skewer in place until completely cool. Carefully remove candy from the cookie cutter and skewer, add your ribbon, and hang.

Get complete instructions here.





Rudolph Ornament

Supplies: mini clay pot, brown acrylic paint, foam brush, googly eyes, red pom-pom, brown chenille stem, glue, string, tape

Paint the clay pot with brown paint; let dry. Twist the chenille stem to look like antlers, push it into the bottom opening of the pot, and tape it in place on the inside of the pot.

Glue on the googly eyes and red nose, then add string for hanging.

Get complete instructions here.