45 Easy DIY Christmas Ornaments for Kids

Before You Break Out the Glitter: A Few Smart Holiday Craft Tips

A fun ornament session starts with the right setup. For toddlers and preschoolers, stick with larger pieces, washable paint, paper, felt, and child-safe glue. Save tiny beads, buttons, bells, and anything that can pop off easily for older kids. If you are crafting near the tree, hang fragile ornaments high and keep kid-made ones low, where little artists can admire their work without turning the living room into a rescue mission.

• Use washable, non-toxic paint, markers, and glue whenever possible.
• Pre-cut tricky shapes for younger kids so they can focus on decorating.
• Trade hot glue for glue sticks or tacky school glue when kids are hands-on.
• Let ornaments dry fully before hanging them, unless you enjoy mystery smudges.
• Store each year’s ornaments in labeled boxes so you can revisit them like tiny time capsules.

45 Easy DIY Christmas Ornaments for Kids

Paper, Cardboard, and Felt Ornaments

1. Paper Plate Snowflakes. Cut the centers from small paper plates, paint them white or icy blue, then add glitter, stickers, or sequins. Punch a hole at the top and tie on ribbon.
2. Construction Paper Christmas Trees. Cut simple triangle shapes, let kids decorate with markers and foam stickers, then glue the trees to sturdy cardstock and add a hanging loop.
3. Accordion Fold Paper Fans. Fold strips of patterned scrapbook paper back and forth, fan them into circles, and glue on a button or pom-pom center for a classic vintage look.
4. Cardboard Gingerbread People. Trace gingerbread shapes onto cereal boxes, paint them brown, and decorate with white paint pen “icing,” mini bows, or felt scarves.
5. Paint Chip Trees. Cut green paint swatches into stacked triangle sizes, layer them into little trees, and top with a gold paper star. Budget-friendly and surprisingly cute.
6. Felt Mitten Ornaments. Cut two mitten shapes, glue the edges together, stuff lightly with cotton, and let kids decorate with ric-rac, stickers, or simple stitched lines.
7. Paper Straw Stars. Cut festive paper straws into equal pieces and glue them into starburst patterns. They look fancy, even though the process is wonderfully easy.
8. Scrapbook Paper Houses. Fold tiny house shapes from cardstock or patterned paper and add drawn windows, doors, and a dusting of fake snow for a cozy village vibe.
9. Foam Sheet Santa Faces. Use red, white, and peach foam sheets to build Santa’s hat, beard, and face. Great for little kids who love peel-and-stick crafting.
10. Felt Candy Canes. Cut candy cane shapes from white felt, add red ribbon or paint stripes, and finish with a loop of twine. Soft, simple, and very tree-friendly.
11. Paper Circle Reindeer. Combine brown paper circles for the face, tiny antlers from twigs or cardstock, and a bright red pom-pom nose. Rudolph never complains about creative liberties.
12. Mini Book Page Stars. Fold old book or magazine pages into simple stars for a charming handmade ornament that looks both crafty and nostalgic.
13. Washi Tape Cardboard Ornaments. Cut circles, stars, or trees from cardboard and let kids cover them in colorful washi tape. Minimal mess, maximum satisfaction.
14. Paper Chain Ornament Rings. Instead of making a full garland, create tiny paper chain rings and hang them individually as playful retro ornaments.
15. Laced Cardboard Shapes. Punch holes around cardboard stars or stockings and let kids thread yarn through the holes. It doubles as crafting and a sneaky patience exercise.

Natural, Recycled, and Budget-Friendly Ideas

16. Pine Cone Snowy Owls. Paint pine cones white on the tips, glue on felt eyes and wings, and turn nature finds into adorable woodland ornaments.
17. Cinnamon Stick Bundles. Tie two or three cinnamon sticks together with ribbon, add a tiny faux berry sprig, and enjoy an ornament that looks festive and smells like December.
18. Twig Stars. Gather small sticks from the yard, trim them into equal lengths, and glue them into star shapes. Add twine for a rustic finish.
19. Orange Slice Ornaments. Use dried orange slices with a ribbon loop for an old-fashioned ornament that feels warm, simple, and naturally beautiful.
20. Brown Paper Bag Angels. Cut and fold plain paper bags into angel shapes, then add gold marker details and yarn hair for a sweet handmade look.
21. Egg Carton Bells. Cut individual egg carton cups, paint them bright holiday colors, add glitter and a hanging ribbon, and you have tiny faux bells.
22. Bottle Cap Snowmen. Glue three bottle caps vertically, paint snowman faces and buttons, then add a ribbon scarf. Recycled and irresistibly cheerful.
23. Clothespin Reindeer. Paint clothespins brown, add googly eyes and red noses, and hook ribbon through the top. They also make cute gift toppers.
24. Popsicle Stick Sleds. Layer sticks into mini sled shapes and decorate with paint, ribbon, or tiny bells. These feel more advanced but are still very manageable.
25. Cork Reindeer Heads. Use a wine cork as the face, twist in pipe cleaner antlers, and glue on a nose and eyes. One cork, one reindeer, one excellent conversation starter.
26. Cardboard Tube Stars. Flatten and slice paper tubes into rings, pinch them into petal shapes, then glue them into snowflakes or stars.
27. Walnut Shell Boats. Half walnut shells can become tiny sleds or boats with a small paper flag. They are quirky, charming, and wonderfully old-school.
28. Wood Slice Ornaments. Paint a snowman, tree, or initial on small wood slices for a classic farmhouse look kids can personalize with ease.
29. Birdseed Cookie Cutter Ornaments. Mix birdseed with gelatin, press it into cookie cutters, and hang the finished shapes outdoors for a kid-made gift to backyard birds.
30. Rustic Yarn-Wrapped Stars. Cut star shapes from cardboard and let kids wrap colorful yarn around them until the base disappears. Cozy and almost impossible to ruin.

Painted, Fillable, and Keepsake Ornaments

31. Clear Fillable Confetti Ornaments. Give kids plastic fillable ornaments and let them add paper confetti, mini pompoms, ribbon scraps, or fake snow inside.
32. Handprint Salt Dough Ornaments. Press little hands into salt dough, cut around the print, bake or air dry, then paint into Santas, reindeer, or angels.
33. Thumbprint Wreath Ornaments. Paint a child’s thumb green and stamp a wreath shape onto a wood circle or thick cardstock, then add a tiny red bow.
34. Fingerprint Light Bulb Ornaments. Use colorful fingerprint dots around a painted string line to create a “holiday lights” design on a flat ornament blank.
35. Photo Frame Ornaments. Decorate popsicle stick or cardstock frames, add a favorite photo, and create the kind of keepsake grandparents display like trophies.
36. Painted Ceramic or Wood Shapes. Buy plain ornament blanks and let kids go wild with paint pens, dots, stripes, names, and dates.
37. Marbled Shaving Cream Ornaments. Swirl washable paint through shaving cream, press paper or flat wood shapes into the mixture, and lift out a marbled masterpiece.
38. Snow Globe Lid Ornaments. Glue mini holiday figures into metal jar lids, add cotton batting or faux snow, and create a simple mini scene ornament.
39. Button Tree Ornaments. Glue green buttons in a triangle shape onto cardstock or felt and top with a ribbon bow. Best for older kids because of small pieces.
40. Pom-Pom Monograms. Write an initial on cardboard and cover it in colorful pom-poms for a bright personalized ornament that stands out on the tree.
41. Mini Canvas Ornaments. Paint tiny stretched canvases with stars, candy canes, Christmas trees, or abstract color swirls. Yes, your five-year-old is now an installation artist.
42. Beaded Candy Cane Shapes. Bend red and white beads onto pipe cleaners to form candy cane ornaments. Great for practicing patterns with older kids.
43. Sequined Foam Stars. Start with foam star cutouts and decorate them with sequins, gems, or metallic stickers for sparkle without fragile glass.
44. Stuffed Fabric Hearts. Use holiday fabric scraps, simple stitching or glue, and a little stuffing to make soft heart ornaments that feel handmade in the best way.
45. Name-and-Year Memory Ornaments. Any ornament can become a keepsake when you add the child’s name, age, and year. Suddenly that painted blob is family history.

How to Choose the Right Ornament by Age

Not every craft fits every child, and that is completely fine. Toddlers usually do best with painting, stamping, stickers, and chunky collage materials. Preschoolers can handle simple cutting, gluing, and shape assembly with help. Elementary-age kids often enjoy more detailed projects such as lacing, filling clear ornaments, threading beads, and painting personalized designs.

If you are crafting with mixed ages, set up stations. One table can have washable paint and big paper shapes for younger kids, while another holds more detailed supplies for older siblings. This helps everyone feel included and saves you from repeating “please do not give the baby the jingle bells” every forty-seven seconds.

Tips for Making DIY Christmas Ornaments With Kids More Fun

• Keep supplies visible. Muffin tins, trays, and clear cups make it easier for kids to choose materials without dumping the entire craft cabinet onto the floor.
• Limit the options. Three paint colors and two embellishments usually work better than a mountain of supplies that causes decision paralysis.
• Let imperfect be perfect. A lopsided reindeer is not a mistake. It is personality with a ribbon loop.
• Play holiday music. Crafting feels instantly more festive when the room sounds like a movie montage.
• Date the ornaments. This tiny detail becomes a huge gift to your future self.
• Make extras. Teachers, neighbors, grandparents, and family friends love receiving handmade ornaments that feel personal and heartfelt.

Why Handmade Christmas Ornaments Matter

Store-bought ornaments can be beautiful, but kid-made ornaments do something different. They freeze a moment in time. A tiny handprint, a misspelled name, a wildly over-glittered snowflake, a popsicle stick frame with a missing pom-pom somehow becomes more valuable every year. These projects are not just seasonal crafts. They are memory markers.

That is part of what makes easy DIY Christmas ornaments for kids so appealing. They combine holiday decorating, creative play, and family tradition in one simple activity. You are not only filling the tree. You are building a collection of stories.

Experience: What It’s Really Like to Make DIY Christmas Ornaments With Kids

If you have never made Christmas ornaments with kids before, let me paint the scene for you. It usually begins with excellent intentions. You set out the supplies neatly. The paint cups are lined up. The ribbons are curled. The table is covered. You have a vision. Maybe you even imagine a peaceful afternoon in which everyone calmly creates adorable ornaments while cinnamon-scented music floats through the room.

Then reality arrives wearing mismatched socks and asking if reindeer can be purple.

And honestly? That is where the magic starts.

Making ornaments with kids is rarely tidy, perfectly scheduled, or remotely Pinterest-level in real time. Glue gets on elbows. Someone uses twelve stickers on one ornament and none on the rest. A child who claimed to be “done” five minutes ago suddenly wants to make seven more snowmen. Another one becomes deeply committed to covering a cardboard star entirely in green paint and announcing it is “abstract Christmas.” You learn very quickly that holiday crafting with children is less about control and more about invitation.

What surprises many adults is how much kids remember from these small moments. They remember the year they made the salt dough handprints. They remember whose ornament had the giant red pom-pom nose. They remember laughing because the pine cone owl looked more like an angry potato. Long after they forget which toy topped their wish list, they often remember the feeling of sitting at the table and making something with you.

There is also something wonderfully grounding about it for grown-ups. During a season that can become busy, expensive, and overly polished, a craft session brings things back to what actually feels warm and human. You are not chasing perfection. You are passing scissors, wiping paint, tying ribbons, and hearing little voices explain why a Christmas tree should absolutely have blue polka dots. It turns decorating into a shared experience instead of just another task on the holiday checklist.

Over time, those ornaments become a visual timeline of childhood. The scribbly preschool snowflake. The first neatly painted wooden star. The year everything was dinosaurs, so naturally there is a T. rex wearing a Santa hat hanging between two classic glass ornaments. Trees decorated with kid-made ornaments feel personal in a way that coordinated designer themes never can. They tell the truth about the family who lives there.

So yes, making DIY Christmas ornaments with kids can be messy. It can take longer than expected. It may involve glitter showing up in June like an uninvited holiday ghost. But it is also joyful, funny, sentimental, and surprisingly meaningful. The best part is not the finished ornament. It is the moment a child holds it up proudly and says, “I made this.” That sentence is the real decoration. Everything else is just ribbon.

Conclusion

The best DIY Christmas ornaments for kids are not the fanciest ones. They are the ornaments children can actually make, enjoy, and remember. Whether you choose paper snowflakes, painted wood shapes, pine cone animals, handprint keepsakes, or clear fillable ornaments, the goal is the same: create something festive, personal, and fun. Start simple, choose age-appropriate materials, and let the finished tree reflect your family’s real holiday spirit. A little handmade charm beats perfection every time.