15 Homemade Christmas Ornament Crafts for Kids to Hang on the Tree

Kids love Christmas most when their own hands help make it. A lopsided handmade ornament means more to them than any shiny store bauble.

These homemade Christmas ornament crafts for kids keep things simple, cheap, and fun. Most use supplies already sitting in your craft drawer, kitchen, or recycling bin.

Little ones can glue and paint, while older kids handle cutting and threading. Each project below is sturdy enough to hang on the tree and sweet enough to save for years.

Expect a little mess. Set out a tray of supplies, put on some carols, and let the making begin.

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1. Popsicle Stick Fireplace Photo Ornaments

• Materials: Craft sticks, paint, textured faux leather or foam, felt scraps, and a mini bottle brush wreath.
• Make: Glue the sticks into a mantel shape, then back the opening with a black panel.
• Finish: Add flames, a felt stocking, a tiny gift, and a cutout photo of your child.
• Display: Loop red and white baker’s twine behind the wreath and hang it near eye level.

Your child becomes the star of this cozy scene. Their photo sits cross legged by a little fire, topped with a felt Santa hat and fluffy pom pom. Painted frames in navy, sky blue, and mint help siblings spot their own ornament on the tree.

Kid friendly: Print photos on plain paper and let kids trim around the outline. Gluing on the tiny felt hat is a fun job for small hands, and the whole build takes about an hour.

2. Stacked Button Christmas Tree Ornaments

Best for: Rainy afternoons and kids with steady fingers.

Old buttons turn into tiny trees with this clever stacking trick. Every tree runs from the widest button at the bottom to the smallest at the top, with brown ones underneath as a trunk.

Gold glitter star buttons cap most of them, and a gold cord appears to run through the holes as the hanger.

Sorting the button jar becomes half the fun. You’ll spot cherry red, lime, mint, blush pink, and even a rainbow tree in purple, blue, yellow, and orange.

Projects like this make easy Christmas crafts for kids who are still learning to count and match sizes.

Accent upgrade: Swap the star for a pearl or jeweled shank button, like the white tree here, for a vintage feel. Dab a little glue between layers so they stop spinning.

3. Glitter Foam Snowman Ornament

Glitter foam sheets do most of the work on this cheerful snowman. Two white circles make his body, with a black glitter top hat tilted on his head.

Brown foam twigs stick out as arms, and three silver sequins run down his belly like buttons.

Bright blue glitter foam wraps his neck as a scarf, with fringe snipped into the ends. Safety scissors handle that job well, so it doubles as cutting practice. Black dots for eyes, an orange carrot nose, and a red smile finish the face.

Foam weighs almost nothing, so even a thin branch holds it without bending. Here it hangs from a silver cord on a frosted tree, where the sparkle catches the string lights.

Plan on roughly thirty minutes, and use foam glue dots so little fingers stay clean.

4. Hand Stitched Felt Christmas Tree

You’ll need: Green felt, cream embroidery floss, felt scraps, seed beads, a blunt needle, jute twine, and a bit of stuffing.

Sewing practice hides inside this cozy felt tree. Cream blanket stitches circle the whole edge, and the slight puff suggests stuffing between two layers.

Across the front, two rows of zigzag stitches play the part of garland.

Decorations come from tiny felt cutouts: red dots, blue stars, and yellow crescent moons. Between them sit glass seed beads in gold, green, red, and clear.

Handmade tree ornaments like this one suit older kids, roughly eight and up, who can manage a needle.

Make it easier: Punch holes around the edge first, then let younger kids lace yarn through them. Fabric glue can hold the beads and felt shapes in place of stitching.

5. Painted Clear Cone Ornaments

Clear plastic cones become tiny painted bells in this cheerful set. On them you’ll find a reindeer, a gingerbread man, a snowy red cottage, a wreath, and a snowman in a top hat. Strings of colorful bulbs and white snowflakes fill the gaps.

Why it works:

• Clear surface: Light passes through, so the scenes glow by day.
• Simple motifs: Bold shapes like clouds and gifts suit beginner painters.
• Mix and match: No two cones repeat, so every child can paint a favorite.

Paint tip: Acrylic paint pens or enamel paint grip plastic better than tempera. Seal each design, then hang a few on lower branches where the tree lights can shine through. The cones here look like clear plastic cups, though the exact base isn’t clear from the photo.

6. Popsicle Stick Holiday Characters

Plain craft sticks star as a whole cast of holiday friends here. Santa, an elf, a snowman, a reindeer, and a gingerbread man each get paper hats, collars, or belts. Coloring looks like crayon or pencil, so the wood grain still peeks through.

Skill level: Preschoolers can color the sticks while a grown up cuts the paper hats and beards. Twenty minutes per character is a fair guess.

Grouping tip: Hang all five side by side on one branch so they read like a little parade. Odd numbers look natural on a tree, and this mix of red, green, and brown keeps things balanced.

Budget swap: Markers work just as well as crayons. Scrap paper from old greeting cards covers every hat and beard.

7. Glitter Craft Stick Stars

• Materials: Five colored craft sticks per star, glue, loose glitter, sequins, and flat back gems.
• Make: Lay five sticks in an overlapping star and glue each joint, then dry it flat.
• Finish: Coat a few sticks in glitter, then dot the rest with stickers, pearls, and tiny pom poms.
• Display: Tie ribbon through one top point and hang it where light hits the sparkle.

Pastel pink and lilac sticks keep these stars soft and sweet. Some arms wear chunky pink glitter, others silver or holographic flakes, and a few stay bare.

Mixing textures like this gives DIY Christmas ornaments for kids a playful charm.

Glue tip: Spread white glue over one stick at a time and shake glitter on right away. Tap off the extra over a tray so it pours back into the jar.

8. Fabric Scrap Patchwork Baubles

Floral fabric scraps cover these round baubles like a tiny patchwork quilt. Small pieces overlap in every direction, so no edge looks harsh. Silver caps and a glossy coat finish the look.

Color groups keep each ball calm. One leans blue and teal, one mixes navy with lilac, and the third glows in pink and coral.

Letting kids pick a palette before cutting helps them plan and keeps the scrap pile under control.

Decoupage medium or watered down white glue likely holds the fabric, though the photo doesn’t show the exact method.

Smaller patches hug the curve best, so cut pieces about the size of a thumbnail. Plastic baubles are safer than glass for little hands.

9. Salt Dough Handprint Santa

Best for: Grandparent gifts and first Christmas keepsakes.

Tiny handprints make the sweetest Santa beards. Fingers point down to form a long white beard.

Above it, the palm holds a peach face with pink cheeks, and a red hat dotted with gold snowflakes sits on top.

Salt dough looks like the base, judging by the matte, slightly rough surface.

Press a hand into rolled dough, trim around it, and poke a hanging hole before baking. Sparkly white tinsel at the hat tip gives him a jolly pom pom.

One small change: Write the name and year on the back with a paint pen. Years from now, homemade ornaments like this one will show how small those hands once were.

10. Pebble Reindeer and Snowman Wood Slices

Smooth river pebbles become a reindeer and a snowman on these rustic wood slices.

Gray stones form the bodies, while painted lines add antlers, legs, and stick arms. Jute rope forms a chunky hanging loop at the top of each slice.

Details stay simple. Look closely and you’ll spot a red nose on the reindeer, an orange carrot nose on the snowman, and black dots for eyes and buttons.

White paint along the bottom suggests a snowbank, with blue and white snowflakes scattered above.

Rock hunting on a family walk turns step one into an adventure. Strong craft glue or hot glue used by an adult should hold the pebbles, though the exact adhesive isn’t shown.

Because stones add weight, hang these on sturdy inner branches close to the trunk.

11. Mini Craft Stick Christmas Swing

Natural wood sticks form two sturdy legs, a top bar, and a little seat hung on red, green, and white twisted twine.

Pine sprigs, red berries, and a gold glitter star trim the top, while warm fairy lights wind around the frame. Shown here, it stands in faux snow beside tiny wrapped gifts.

Placement tip: Knot ribbon to both ends of the top bar so the swing hangs level from a strong branch. Leave space below so the seat can sway.

Holiday twist: Seat a small elf figure or felt mouse on the swing for a playful scene.

Lighting note: Battery fairy lights keep it glowing without a plug. Older kids can wind the wire around each leg on their own.

12. Painted Craft Stick Christmas Trees

Cut craft sticks stack into a classic tree shape on a plain wooden trunk. Streaky green paint shows every brushstroke, and gold glitter flecks sit on top.

Red glitter dots and colorful round gems act as baubles, while a yellow glitter star crowns the tip.

Why it works:

• Graduated sizes: Shorter tiers sit above longer ones, so the shape reads as a tree at once.
• Visible trunk: Bare wood at the base keeps the colors from feeling heavy.
• Loose painting: Messy brushwork looks charming, so kids never stress over neat coverage.

Tool tip: Snip the tiers with strong scissors or craft snips, then let the kids take over. Simple ornaments kids can make, like this one, work well for classroom parties too.

13. Melted Peppermint Candy Ornaments

You’ll need: Round peppermint candies, metal cookie cutters, parchment paper, a baking sheet, and thin ribbon.

Peppermint swirls fuse into glossy candy cutouts in this sweet project. There’s a heart, a tree, a gingerbread man, and a star, each packed with red, green, and white pinwheels. Narrow white ribbon forms each hanger.

Usually, makers bake the candies inside metal cutters on parchment, though the photo only shows the finished pieces.

Arranging the candies inside each cutter is the part kids love. Poke a ribbon hole with a skewer while the candy is still soft.

Safety note: Melted sugar gets very hot and clings to skin, so adults should handle the oven and unmolding. Toddlers and pets may try a lick, so hang these up high.

14. Craft Stick Nativity Family Ornaments

• Materials: Wooden craft sticks, fabric scraps, yellow cardstock, a fine marker, and twine.
• Make: Wrap two full sticks in fabric and a short piece in white cloth for the baby.
• Finish: Stick yellow paper halos behind each head, then draw smiles and a red star.
• Display: Bundle the three figures together and hang them from a loop of green cord.

Three smiling sticks read as Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus in this gentle nativity set.

In each bundle, a figure in floral fabric holds a swaddled baby, while a gingham figure stands taller beneath a red star. Christmas ornament crafts for kids rarely tell the holiday story this sweetly.

Upcycle idea: Outgrown shirts, worn pillowcases, and old dish towels supply plenty of robe fabric. Cotton prints with tiny patterns suit this small scale best.

15. Lacy String Ornaments

Stiff, lacy string forms a heart, a tree, a star, and a gingerbread man here. Pins stuck around an outline on a foam tray seem to hold the wet string in place while it dries. Once hard, each shape pops off in one piece.

Beginner shortcut: Draw the outline on the tray with a marker, using a cookie cutter as a guide. Cover the table first, because dipping string in glue gets messy.

Time needed: Wrapping takes about fifteen minutes, but drying can take a full day. Patience pays off, since peeling too soon bends the shape.

Color note: Yellow string lets the star shine against dark needles, while red and green keep the classic holiday mix.