36 Classic Homemade Christmas Ornaments Ideas

Loraine loves arts and crafts and used to volunteer at an elementary art class. She loves sharing fun and easy craft tutorials.

One of the nicest traditions to begin in your family is that of making a couple of new Christmas ornaments each year. Be sure you add the year somewhere on the ornament so you can recall when you made them.

I've done a thorough Google search to help decide which Christmas ornament crafts are available. In order to help with making Christmas ornaments, I limited the crafts that I'm sharing in this article to the ones that include directions and/or patterns.

To make the Baby Jesus ornament shown above, go to Megpie Designs.

1. Scripted and Painted Bird Ornaments

I love the idea of making Christmas ornaments that become family heirlooms. These beautiful hand scripted and painted bird ornaments are a great example of ornaments that will be fun to make and to treasure. Find the tutorial for this outstanding ornament at Craft test dummies.com.

2. Wooden Block Ornament

Imagine all the ways you can make wooden block ornaments by following the tutorial at tatertots & jello. After making the beautiful JOY ornament, consider making other block ornaments with smaller blocks and the words: NOEL, LOVE, etc.

3. Winter Birds Printables

I'm thinking about printing these birds once in the way they are facing and then another copy by flipping the prints over. Then I'll glue the edges, leaving a small area open so I can stuff a small amount of tissue inside the bird and then finish gluing the edge. Adding a string hanger. You'll find the printables for the winter birds at rebecca’s misc.

4. Matchbook Car Ornaments

You'll make some little boy mighty happy if you make these car ornaments for your tree. Find the tutorial for making the car ornaments at Wine and Glue.

5. Cinnamon Spice Ornaments

Don't you love the fresh spicy smell of cinnamon ornaments? These are very easy to make following the tutorial at SIMPLY NOTABLE.

6. Wrapped Ball Ornaments

7. Felt Santa

You can never have too many ideas for making felt Santas. Felt is so easy to work with and it seems all the crafts made with it turn out great. For making the Santa shown here, go to Praktic Ideas for the tutorial.

8. Twine and Rag Balls

Beautiful! When I saw these twine and rag balls I thought, "I'm going to have to make a bowl full of them for this coming Christmas for a centerpiece. I love them! They seem very easy to make. The instructions are found at the BY STEPHANIE LYNN site.

9. Monogrammed Ornaments

If you need stocking stuffers or small exchange gifts, here is the answer to what to make. You'll find out how easy they are to make at THE creativity EXCHANGE.

10. Cinnamon Stick Christmas Tree Ornament

11. Photo Ornies

Scroll down below the tutorial that you'll find at {scrapper girl} and you'll see that she includes site address for a tutorial on how to make photo strips.

12. Pocket Snowman

Tuck a tiny gift into the snowman's pocket and gift this snowman to a special someone. Get the directions from the Craft Elf site.

13. Aluminum Can Angel

You'll find the tutorial for making angels from aluminum cans at saved by LOVE CREATIONS. Imagine how pretty these would be on a lighted Christmas tree.

14. Glue Snowflakes

This is an outstanding snowflake ornament that looks like stained glass. You'll find a great tutorial at Holiday Crafts.

15. Spool Ornaments

Very cute little spool Christmas ornaments. Go to being Crafty for the instructions.

16. Beads and Buttons Snowman

I love this project. Would be easy to make a bunch of these without a lot of expense. Go to Megpie Designs to see how they are made.

17. Skiing Penguin

Make a skiing penguin ornament like this one by following the instructions at Craft Elf.

18. Canning Lid Snowman Ornament

Be sure to start saving your used canning lids so you can make a treeful of these snowman ornaments. CRAFTS BY Amanda shows you how they are made.

19. Lavender Stalk Christmas Ornament

Learn how to make this lavender stalk ornament by following the tutorial at Everything Lavender.

20. Felt Snowmen Ornaments

Find the directions for making these easy to make ornaments at DIY GUIDES.

21. Snowman and Santa Ornaments

You'll need flannel and felt to make the snowman and Santa ornaments shown here with instructions found at favecrafts.

22. Reese's King and Queen Angels

I'm afraid I'd have a hard time making these ornaments without eating the supplies. You'll find the directions for making these ornaments at Free Kids Crafts.

23. Glove Reindeer

Very cute little reindeer made using a glove. Really nice. Get the instructions at Kleas.

24. Baby Sock Snowman

Really cute snowmen can be made using baby socks. The instructions are found at Just a Little Creativity.

25. Christmas Card Ornament

Very nice, easy ornament to make with the kids at home or in a classroom. Find the instructions at The Ornament Girl’s Blog.

26. Light Bulb Christmas Ornaments

27. Corrugated Snowmen

Make a bunch of these and give them as gifts. Nice and easy craft. Go to CRAFTS BY Amanda to see how they are made.

28. Christmas Elves

To make these precious Christmas elves, go to Parents to find the instructions.

29. Snowy Thread Ornaments

You'll find lots of uses for these beauties other than hanging on the tree. Arrange them in a beautiful bowl or add them to a wreath. I love these. Go to Martha Stewart for the directions for this project.

30. Photo Block Ornament

What a beautiful way to keep and display photos of the family members. It Happens In a Blink is the site where you'll find the instructions for making the photo block ornament.

31. Cookie Cutter Ornaments

Have a fun family craft night to make ornaments and be sureto add the year somewhere on the ornament. Go to Simply Me to find out how they are made.

32. Baby Sock Ornaments

What could be cuter than a baby sock ornament to decorate your tree? Especially if you are also celebrating baby's first Christmas.

33. Embossed Clay Ornament

These embossed clay ornaments have a definite vintage look to them. They are beautiful!!

34. Mickey Mouse Ears Ornament

Guess what the outstanding feature is on the Mickey Mouse ornament. The ears of course.

35. Pine Cone Gnome Ornaments

I have fallen in love with any and all gnomes, so naturally we need to include these pine cone gnome ornaments. Very easy to make and so cute.

36. Glittery Shell Ornaments

If you have sea shells waiting to be made into something fantastic, consider making these glittery ornaments. You'll find the easy to follow directions for making these glittery shell ornaments at MOD PODGE ROCKS.

© 2012 Loraine Brummer

Do You Make New Ornaments Each Year? - or leave a comment.

RTalloni on December 03, 2015:

Some cute ornament projects here. I'd like to try the glue snowflakes!

Loraine Brummer (author) from Hartington, Nebraska on December 03, 2015:

Memories, as well as ornaments, are made when we make our own Christmas decorations. Such a great opportunity for family fun. I'm so pleased that you found ideas that you want to include in your holiday preparations. Merry Christmas to you and yours.

Laura Ross on November 30, 2015:

So many great ideas here to try. My Christmas tree is going to look amazing with some of these fun ornaments added to it!

essentiallymom on December 17, 2012:

These ornaments are so cute! My son's class did the puzzle piece Christmas ornament and I love it!

anne mohanraj on December 05, 2012:

These are such lovely ornaments! I am inspired to start making some of them for Christmas.