That magical time of year is here! You want to kick off the holiday season with a fun, festive activity that brings the whole family together. But so many craft ideas end up being too messy, too complicated, or just too much for little hands. 🎄✨
You find yourself wondering, “Is there a simple, low-mess Christmas craft that everyone from my toddler to my teen will actually enjoy?” You just want an achievable weekend project that creates happy memories, not a glitter-covered disaster.
I’ve got you! This curated list of 7 easy DIY Christmas ornaments is the perfect solution. These ideas are designed for family bonding, creating beautiful homemade decorations that will fill your tree with love and memories for years to come.
🛒 My Must-Have Ornament Craft Supplies
Air-Dry Clay
Clear Fillable Ornaments
Christmas-themed Cookie Cutters
Acrylic Paint Pens
Festive Baker’s Twine
✨ Click each item to explore affordable options for your Christmas fun!
My Top 3 Favorite Ornament Ideas
- Easiest for Toddlers: Beaded Pipe Cleaner Candy Canes
- Most Meaningful: Classic Salt Dough Handprint Ornaments
- Most Fun for All Ages: Nature-Filled “I Spy” Ornaments
1. Classic Salt Dough Handprint Ornaments 🎄
This is a tradition in our house, and it’s one of my absolute favorites. There’s nothing sweeter than capturing a moment in time and remembering just how tiny their hands once were. Using simple ingredients from your kitchen, you can create a truly personalized ornament that you’ll cherish forever.
Activity Snapshot: Difficulty: Easy | Prep Time: 15 mins (plus baking/drying) | Cost: $ |
🎯 Best For: Creating a timeless keepsake with toddlers and young kids.
Image-1: A child’s hand gently pressing into a circle of rolled-out salt dough next to a Christmas cookie cutter.
2. No-Bake Air-Dry Clay Imprints 🎄
I love these for a more modern, minimalist look. You get the beautiful matte finish of a ceramic ornament without ever having to turn on the oven! The kids have so much fun pressing cookie cutters, stamps, or even a small sprig of evergreen into the soft clay.
Activity Snapshot: Difficulty: Easy | Prep Time: 10 mins (plus drying) | Cost: $$ |
🎯 Best For: Kids and teens who enjoy a clean, modern crafting project.
Image-2: A finished white, air-dry clay ornament in the shape of a star, with delicate imprints of a fir needle branch.
3. Nature-Filled “I Spy” Ornaments 🎄
This craft is an adventure from the very beginning! We start with a walk around the neighborhood to gather tiny treasures like pinecones, acorns, and colorful leaves. Then, we fill clear, shatterproof ornaments with our findings for a decoration that is both beautiful and natural.
Activity Snapshot: Difficulty: Very Easy | Prep Time: 5 mins (plus nature walk) | Cost: $$ |
🎯 Best For: A two-part activity that gets toddlers and kids outdoors first.
Image-3: A clear, fillable plastic ornament filled with tiny acorns, red berries, and a small sprig of pine.
4. Beaded Pipe Cleaner Candy Canes 🎄
When I need a super simple, no-mess activity for the little ones, this is my go-to. It’s an excellent way for them to practice their fine motor skills, and they feel so proud of their finished work. All they have to do is thread red and white beads onto a pipe cleaner before you bend it into a candy cane shape.
Activity Snapshot: Difficulty: Very Easy | Prep Time: 2 mins | Cost: $ |
🎯 Best For: A quick and easy craft for toddlers and preschoolers.
Image-4: A close-up of a toddler’s hands threading red and white pony beads onto a fuzzy pipe cleaner.
5. Adorable Cinnamon Stick Reindeer 🎄
These little reindeer are just the cutest, and they make the whole house smell wonderfully festive! It’s amazing how a few simple supplies can create something so adorable. We just glue on googly eyes and a red pom-pom nose, then twist some pipe cleaners for antlers.
Activity Snapshot: Difficulty: Easy | Prep Time: 5 mins | Cost: $$ |
🎯 Best For: A charming and sensory-friendly craft for kids of all ages.
💬 Quick Question!
Of the ornament ideas we’ve covered so far, which one are you most excited to try? Let me know in the comments below!
Image-5: A finished cinnamon stick reindeer with googly eyes, a red pom-pom nose, and brown pipe cleaner antlers, hanging on a Christmas tree.
6. Scrap Ribbon Christmas Trees 🎄
Don’t throw away those old gift ribbons from last year! This is the perfect upcycling craft that turns scraps into something beautiful. It’s a simple and satisfying process of tying shorter and shorter pieces of green ribbon onto a twig or cinnamon stick to form a mini Christmas tree.
Activity Snapshot: Difficulty: Easy | Prep Time: 10 mins | Cost: $ |
🎯 Best For: Using up leftover craft supplies with kids and teens.
Image-6: A rustic-looking scrap ribbon tree ornament, made with various shades of green ribbon tied to a small twig, topped with a tiny star.
7. Personalized Scrabble Tile Ornaments 🎄
This is such a fantastic craft for older kids and teens who want to add a personal touch to the tree. We love digging through the tiles to spell out family names or festive words like “JOY,” “PEACE,” or “NOEL.” Simply glue the tiles onto a popsicle stick or a sturdy piece of ribbon.
Activity Snapshot: Difficulty: Easy | Prep Time: 5 mins | Cost: $$ |
🎯 Best For: A personalized craft for older kids, teens, and adults.
Image-7: Scrabble tiles glued to a red ribbon spelling out the word “PEACE,” with a small holly embellishment at the top.
Crafting Memories, One Ornament at a Time
The best decorations are never the ones that come from a store; they’re the ones that hold a precious memory. Spending a weekend making these simple homemade ornaments is the perfect way to start a new family tradition. You’re not just decorating a tree—you’re filling it with little moments of laughter, creativity, and love that you’ll revisit every single year.
Which one of these easy ornaments are you excited to try with your family this weekend? Let me know in the comments below
