10 Ways to Personalize Your Christmas Tree with these DIY Projects

December 25, 2020

With all the Christmas shopping going on, most families become strapped for cash. If your tree is lacking but money is short, fear not!

These DIY ideas are totally simple, easy, and cheap and will give your tree the style and charm you envision! All you need is a little extra time, some cheap craft supplies, and possibly some little hands to help you out!

10) Family Ornaments

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This is a great way to give your family members a well deserved spot on the tree that suits a festive, holiday theme. Get the gang together and have everyone make one of their own -- this is an awesome family project!

You will need:

Acrylic Gel

Flat Wooden Discs

Paintbrush

Mod podge

Ribbon

Hot glue

Family member photos (printed on normal paper)

How it's done:

  1. Using the paintbrush, give a flat wooden disc a nice, even coating of the gel medium.
  2. Place the photo of your choice face down onto the gel medium- making sure that your favorite part of the photo is the part that is in contact with the wooden disc.
  3. Leave to dry overnight.
  4. The next day, wet a clean kitchen towel or paper towel (the stronger the better).
  5. With the wet paper towel or kitchen towel, begin to rub the paper. It should start to reveal the photo on the wooden disc.
  6. Once you have completely rubbed away the paper, tie a piece of ribbon in a circle and hot glue it to the back of the disc. This is how you'll hang the ornament from the tree.
  7. Paint Modge Podge over the photo to give it a seal.
  8. Let the Modge Podge dry.
  9. Hang on the tree.

Pro tip: We think the pictures look best if done in black and white, as this gives the tree a beautiful rustic appeal.

9) Scrabble Ornament

Scrabble tiles are great for lots of craft project, but they look absolutely darling on the tree! You can find them at your local craft store, thrift shop, or watch for them at garage sales. Thankfully, they are pretty easy to come by!

You will need:

Scrabble tiles that spell festive phrases (some we like are "Let it Snow", "Merry and Bright", and "Deck the Halls")

Glue gun

Cotton balls or snow texture paint

Ribbon

Paper plate

White glue

How it's done:

  1. Arrange your Scrabble tiles on a paper plate to spell out the phrase in a way which looks nice.
  2. Trace around the scrabble tiles.
  3. Remove the scrabble tiles and cut out the shape, making it a little smaller than the outline is so it won't show when hanging on the tree.
  4. Glue the scrabble tiles to the shape that you've cut out, applying pressure until they dry (about 2-3 hours).
  5. Glue pieces of cotton or apply snow texture paint to the tops of the letters to make them look as if they've been snowed on.
  6. Let the cotton balls or snow texture paint completely dry.
  7. Make a circle out of a piece of ribbon and fasten it to the back of the ornament with the glue gun.
  8. Once the ornament is entirely dry, hang it on the tree.

8) Mason Lid Ornaments

This super simple tutorial is also totally custom! Just choose your materials wisely and you can match them to whatever holiday decor or theme you already have going on in your home.

You will need:

Mason jar lid (including screw ring)

Fabric scraps to match your decor

Scissor

Hot glue

Ribbon

Sticker, image, or some sort of cutout to place on the ornament

How it's done:

  1. Cut your fabric into a circle a little bigger than thelid insert.
  2. Wrap the fabric around the screw lid and fasten it by gluing it down on the underside.
  3. Tie a piece of ribbon into a circle and fasten it around the screw lid. This is what your ornament will hang off of.
  4. Create a thin layer of hot glue around the inside of the screw lid.
  5. Squish the lid insert into the the screw lid so that the pretty side is showing through the hole. The hot glue should fasten the lid insert to the screw lid.
  6. Using the hot glue again, embellish the center of the ornament with your chosen sticker, image, or cut out.
  7. Once the ornament has completely dried, hang it on the tree.

Pro tip: Work fast because hot glue sets fast!

7) Clothespin Snowflake Ornament

Who knew the same thing you use to dry your clothes could be used to craft a delicate snowflake ornament? If you don't happen to have any wooden clothespins on hand, you can look for them at your local Dollar Store or super center.

You will need:

Glue gun

8 wooden clothespins

Glitter or paint, if desired

Ribbon

How it's done:

  1. Take your clothespins apart by sliding them out of their metal clips.
  2. Pair up all your clothes pin pieces.
  3. Using the glue gun, glue each pair together by connecting their flat sides. They should be put together symmetrically.
  4. Connect each pair by their fatter sides. You will notice that their fat sides are angled, and you can align them by their flat angles.
  5. Repeat step 4 until you have created an X.
  6. Where each pair is attached, there should be a triangular shape. Insert the remaining clothespin pairs into this triangle shape and fasten with the glue gun.
  7. Decorate your snowflake with glitter or paint if so desired.
  8. Once this dries, tie a piece of ribbon into a circle and fasten it to the snowflake with your glue gun. This is what your ornament will hang from.
  9. Once the snowflake has dried completely, hang it on the tree!

Pro tip: Feel free to use stain instead of glitter or paint to highlight the wood features of your clothespins.

6) Fingerprint Snowmen Ornament

These are perfect as a craft project if you have little ones at home, not to mention a totally creative way to remember how little their fingers used to be! Not only will they have fun creating them with you, but they'll also be able to look back at them in fond memory for years to come!

You will need:

Clear glass ornament

White paint

Blue paint

Black paint

Orange paint

Other paint and glitter if desired

Paint brushes

How it's done:

  1. Apply the blue paint all over the ornament. Hang it somewhere to dry.
  2. Once the blue paint has dried, apply a layer of white paint to the bottom of the ornament. This will provide ground for your "snowmen" to stand on.
  3. Paint yours or your little one's index finger with some white paint and have them place it on the ornament. The finger joints should create a 3-tier snowman shape. Hang this to dry.
  4. Once dry, use a tiny paint brush to create eyes, a smile, and arms with the black paint. Hang this to dry.
  5. Once dry, use your paint brush to create a carrot nose with the orange paint.
  6. Using a tiny paint brush, make dots with white paint to create the illusion of snow fall.
  7. Add details like scarves hats, mitts, or other miscellaneous items with your other paint or glitter, if you desire. Hang this to dry.
  8. Once completely dry, feel free to hang the ornament on the tree!

5) Cat Toy Ornaments

These fuzzy ornaments will add a certain cozy appeal to any Christmas tree. Plus, you can totally customize them to fit your already existing themes and decor! The best part? You quite possibly already have all the materials on hand...

You will need:

Yarn of your color choice

Styrofoam ball (keep in mind these will be the size of your ornaments)

White glue

2 wire ornament hangers

Scissors

How it's done:

  1. Bend one of the wire ornament hangers into a long V.
  2. Stab your Styrofoam ball with it so that only about 1/3 of it is still showing.
  3. Cover this half of the Styrofoam ball with a thick layer of white glue.
  4. Place an end of the yarn into the glue between the wire spokes.
  5. Start wrapping the yarn around the wire spokes.
  6. Keep wrapping until you start to create a larger circle. Make sure that the yarn is sticking in the glue as you go.
  7. Once all the glue is covered by yarn, spread an even layer of glue on the other half of the styrofoam ball.
  8. Continue wrapping the yarn around the stryofoam ball until completely covered.
  9. Once you reach the end, snip the yarn leaving a little tail. Stick this tail into the glue.
  10. Let the glue completely dry.
  11. Once dry, hang the ornament on the tree using the other wire ornament hanger.

Pro tip: Don't worry if you notice the glue on the yarn while it's wet. It will dry clear and you won't be able to see it!

4) Snowy Cupcake Ornament

These are oh-so cute, and the perfect DIY gift for anyone who loves to eat and/or bake cupcakes! Alternatively, you could give them to anyone really, saying that they're your "cupcake". How sweet!

You will need:

Styrofoam balls

Ribbon

Scissors

Pretty cupcake liner

Snow texture paint

Hot glue

Fake cherry, cranberry, or red bead

White glitter

How it's done:

  1. Coat the styrofoam balls with the snow texture paint.
  2. Sprinkle the white glitter over the snow texture paint. Let this dry.
  3. Once dry, line the inside of your cupcake liner with some hot glue.
  4. Press a styrofoam ball into the cupcake liner.
  5. Tie a piece of ribbon into a circle.
  6. Place a dollop of hot glue onto the top of the cupcake.
  7. Stick the circle of the ribbon into the dollop of hot glue. This is what your cupcake ornament will hang from.
  8. Fasten the fake cherries, cranberries, or red bead over top of the ribbon.
  9. Let the cupcake dry and then hang it on the tree!

Pro tip: Work fast because hot glue dries fast.

3) Spare Fabric Ornament

These are perfect for all you fabric scrap hoarders out there who love to make fun DIY projects with them! Use whichever colors you desire to match your already existing decor and feel free to get creative with embellishments. What we love most about this project? Although it involvs fabric, it's a no-sew!

You will need:

Styrofoam ball (this will be the size of your ornament)

2 different fabric scraps

Ribbon

Hot glue

Scissors

Rubber bands

Tissue paper

Sharp pencil

Butter knife

How it's done:

  1. Wrap two rubber bands around the Styrofoam ball, creating two even sections.
  2. Trace the outlines of the rubber bands with the pencil.
  3. Remove the rubber bands.
  4. Using the butter knife, create deeper lines over the pencil outlines.
  5. Wrap the Styrofoam balls in tissue paper and trace along the deep outlines.
  6. Remove the tissue paper from the Styrofoam ball and cut your fabric according to the measurements on the tissue paper.
  7. Apply your fabrics to the Styrofoam ball with hot glue.
  8. Glue ribbon over the fabric seams.
  9. Take another piece of ribbon and tie it into a circle.
  10. Hot glue this to the top of the ornament. Your ornament will hang from this.
  11. Once the glue has dried, hang the ornament.

Pro tip: If where you glue the "hanging" piece of ribbon looks a little messy, cover it with an embellishment such as a button or fake cranberry.

2) Rustic Pine Cone Ornament

This is another ornament which can be customized to suit your already existing decor and decorations. Just trade out the burlap fabric for ribbon of your choice! The painted white tips can also be traded out for another color.

You will need:

Pine cone

Burlap fabric

Twine

White paint

Tiny paint brush

How it's done:

  1. Begin by painting the tips of your pine cone's "spokes" with white paint. The goal here is to give it a frosted look. Hang this to dry.
  2. While your paint dries, you can begin on the burlap bow.
  3. Cut your burlap fabric into a long rectangle. The longer the rectangle, the bigger the bow.
  4. Tie the burlap rectangle into a bow.
  5. Tie a piece of twine into a circle. Fasten this aroundthe middle of the bow.
  6. Once your pine cone has dried, hot glue the box to the top of it. Let this dry.
  7. Once the hot glue dries, hang the ornament from the tree.

1) Naughty/Nice List Ornament

This one is both elements of cheeky and adorable, plus it's a fun craft for the kids to join in on. You can of course customize the list with the kids' names, that's what makes this project so fun! It's something which looks complicated, but it actually quite simple.

You will need:

Empty thread spool

Paper

Pen

Red paint

Paint brush

Ribbon

Glue gun

How it's done:

  1. Using the paint brush, cover the entire thread spoon in red paint. Let this dry.
  2. While the paint dries, cut your paper into a long rectangular strip which will fit between the ends of the spool.
  3. Once the paint is dry, hot glue an end of the paper to the middle of the spool and wrap it around the spool once. Make sure it dangles, much like toilet paper on a roll.
  4. Cut any excess paper off.
  5. On the paper that's hanging, write either "naughty" or "nice" on the top of the list and begin to write your kids' names on it.
  6. Thread a piece of ribbon through the hole in the spool and tie it in a circle. This is what the ornament will hang from.
  7. Hang and enjoy!

Pro tip: These are especially darling if you have your kids write the names on the paper. It gives it a childlike charm which they'll have fond memories of for years.

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