Create Lasting Memories with these Easy-to-Make Christmas Ornaments for Kids

'Tis the season to unleash our inner creative elves and make some magical memories with our little ones! Christmas ornaments hold a special place in our hearts, reminding us of cherished moments as we trim the tree each year. So why not let your kids join in on the fun and create their own masterpieces? In this blog post, we're here to inspire you with an array of easy-to-make Christmas ornaments that will bring joy and sparkle to your holiday season. Get ready for laughter-filled crafting sessions, glittery messes, and most importantly, creating lasting memories that will hang on your tree for years to come!

The Importance of Homemade Ornaments for Kids

Christmas is a time of joy, love, and tradition. For many families, one of the most cherished traditions is decorating the Christmas tree with homemade ornaments. Not only do these ornaments add a personal touch to your holiday decor, but they also hold sentimental value and create lasting memories for children.

In today's fast-paced world, it can be easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. However, taking the time to make homemade ornaments with your kids is not only a fun activity but also an important way to instill values and create meaningful experiences.

Here are some reasons why homemade ornaments are so special for kids:

1. Creativity and Self-Expression:

Making homemade ornaments allows children to unleash their creativity and express themselves through art. They can use various materials such as paint, glitter, beads, and more to bring their unique visions to life. This process encourages imagination and helps in developing fine motor skills while creating something that they can take pride in.

2. Personalized Touch:

There is nothing quite like the feeling of pride when hanging an ornament on your Christmas tree that you made yourself. It adds a sense of ownership and personal touch to your holiday decorations that store-bought items cannot replicate. Children will feel proud seeing their creations displayed for all to see.

3. Family Bonding:

The holidays are all about spending quality time with loved ones, and making homemade ornaments together is a perfect way to do just that.

Materials Needed for Easy DIY Ornaments

If you're looking for a fun and creative way to add some handmade charm to your Christmas tree this year, why not get the whole family involved in making DIY ornaments? Not only will it be a great bonding activity, but you'll also have a unique and personalized touch to your holiday décor. Plus, these easy-to-make ornaments are perfect for kids of all ages!

To get started, here are some materials that you'll need for creating your own easy DIY ornaments:

1. Craft Supplies: The first step is to gather all the necessary craft supplies. This can include things like scissors, glue, paintbrushes, markers or pens, glitter, and any other decorative items you want to add to your ornaments.

2. Clear Plastic Ornaments: These clear plastic ornaments are the perfect base for any DIY project. They come in various shapes and sizes such as round balls or flat disks which can be easily filled with different materials.

3. Felt Sheets: Felt sheets are an excellent material for creating cute and colorful ornaments. You can cut them into different shapes like stars, hearts, or even characters like Santa Claus or reindeer.

4. Popsicle Sticks: These simple wooden sticks are versatile and can be used in many ways when it comes to ornament-making. You can use them as a base for building structures or attach them together to create unique shapes.

5. Pom-Poms: Add some texture and dimension to your ornaments with pom-poms! These fluffy little balls come all different colors.

6 Simple and Fun Ornament Ideas

Christmas is a time for creating cherished memories with loved ones, and what better way to do that than by making your own ornaments together? Not only is it a fun activity for the whole family, but these ornaments also make great keepsakes that you can bring out year after year. Here are five simple and fun ornament ideas that kids will love to make:

1. Salt Dough Ornaments

Salt dough ornaments are a classic Christmas craft that never goes out of style. To make them, all you need is flour, salt, water, and some holiday-themed cookie cutters. Mix equal parts of flour and salt in a bowl, then slowly add water until the mixture forms a smooth dough. Roll out the dough on a floured surface and use cookie cutters to create festive shapes like snowflakes or gingerbread men. Make a small hole at the top of each ornament with a straw before baking them in the oven at 200 degrees Fahrenheit for about an hour. Once cooled, let your kids decorate the ornaments with paint, glitter, or markers.

2. Popsicle Stick Snowflakes

Popsicle stick snowflakes are not only easy to make but also look beautiful hanging on your Christmas tree. All you need are popsicle sticks (colored ones work great too!), glue, and any embellishments you want to add such as pom-poms or sequins. Start by gluing four popsicle sticks together in an "X" shape, then add two more diagonally. Then decorate as your heart desires.

3. Handprint Snowmen Ornaments

Handprint snowmen ornaments are a fun and easy craft that kids of all ages can enjoy making during the holiday season. These ornaments not only make great decorations for your Christmas tree, but they also serve as a cherished keepsake that captures the size and growth of your child's hand over the years.

To make these handprint snowmen ornaments, you will need some basic supplies such as white acrylic paint, construction paper or cardstock, scissors, glue, and markers. You can also add some extra embellishments like glitter, sequins or pom-poms to make them more festive.

Step 1: Prepare the Materials

Start by gathering all the necessary materials in one place. Lay out some newspaper or old sheets to protect your workspace from any spills or messes.

Step 2: Create the Handprints

Pour some white acrylic paint onto a flat surface like a paper plate or tray. Have your child dip their hand into the paint and then gently press it onto the construction paper or cardstock. Make sure to spread their fingers apart to create five "snowman" fingers with the thumb being slightly shorter than the rest.

Repeat this process for as many handprints as you want to make ornaments. You can use multiple colors of paint for variety if you wish.

Step 3: Let It Dry

Allow the handprints to dry completely before moving on to the next step. This may take about an hour depending on how thickly you applied the paint.

Step 4: Decorate

Add you're embellishments to decorate the snow man and then hang them up in the tree.

4. Popsicle Stick Reindeer Ornaments

Popsicle stick reindeer ornaments are a classic and simple Christmas craft that kids of all ages can enjoy making. These cute decorations make perfect additions to your tree or can be given as gifts to loved ones. All you need are a few materials, some creativity, and a little bit of holiday spirit!

Materials:

- Popsicle sticks

- Brown paint

- Paintbrushes

- Googly eyes

- Red pom poms

- Glue (hot glue or white school glue)

- Scissors

- String or ribbon for hanging

Instructions:

1. Start by painting the popsicle sticks with brown paint and let them dry completely.

2. Once the paint is dry, take three popsicle sticks and arrange them in a triangle shape with the ends overlapping slightly. This will be the base of your reindeer ornament.

3. Use hot glue or white school glue to secure the popsicle sticks together at their overlapping points.

4. Next, take another popsicle stick and cut it into two small pieces for the antlers. You can also use pre-cut craft sticks if available, or pipe cleaners.

5. Glue these antler pieces onto the top corners of the triangle base.

6. Now it's time to add some personality to your reindeer! Glue on two googly eyes and a red pom pom for the nose.

7. To make your ornament more festive, you can also add glitter, sequins, or other embellishments as desired.

8. Finally, hang them up on the tree for years to come.

5. Salt Dough Gingerbread Ornaments

Salt dough gingerbread ornaments are a classic Christmas craft that is loved by both children and adults. They are easy to make, budget-friendly, and can be customized in endless ways. Plus, they make beautiful decorations for your tree or gifts for loved ones.

To get started, you will need the following materials:

- 1 cup of salt

- 2 cups of all-purpose flour

- 1 cup of warm water

- Gingerbread-shaped cookie cutter

- Rolling pin

- Baking sheet lined with parchment paper

- Acrylic paint (optional)

- Paintbrushes (optional)

- Ribbon or twine for hanging

Here's how to make your own salt dough gingerbread ornaments:

Step 1: In a large mixing bowl, combine the salt and flour together. Gradually add in the warm water while stirring until a dough forms. If the dough is too dry, add a little more water; if it's too sticky, add a bit more flour.

Step 2: Flour a clean surface and roll out the dough to about ¼ inch thickness using a rolling pin.

Step 3: Use the gingerbread-shaped cookie cutter to cut out as many shapes as you desire.

Step 4: Place the cut-out shapes onto the baking sheet lined with parchment paper and use a straw or toothpick to poke a hole at the top of each ornament for hanging later on.

Step 5: Bake in a preheated oven at 200°F (93°C) for about an hour

If you would like add some cinnamon to the ingredients to add a festive smell to the ornaments.

6. Pinecone Christmas Tree Ornaments

Pinecone Christmas tree ornaments are a simple yet beautiful addition to any tree. They are not only easy to make, but also eco-friendly and budget-friendly. These ornaments are perfect for kids to create as they can be personalized with different colors and decorations.

To make pinecone Christmas tree ornaments, you will need some basic materials such as pinecones, paint, glitter, ribbon or twine, and hot glue. You can find pinecones in your backyard or local park, making this a fun outdoor activity for the whole family.

The first step is to clean the pinecones by gently brushing off any dirt or debris. This ensures that the paint and decorations will stick properly. Next, choose your desired color of paint and cover the entire surface of the pinecone using a small brush or sponge. You can use traditional Christmas colors like red, green, gold or silver or get creative with pastel shades for a more modern look.

Once the paint has dried completely, it's time to add some sparkle! You can use glitter glue or loose glitter to create a shimmery effect on your ornament. Alternatively, you can dip the tips of the pinecone in white glue and then roll them in glitter for an even coverage.

Next comes the fun part – decorating! You can add small bows made out of ribbon or twine around the top of the pinecone for a festive touch. Another option is to hot glue on small beads or sequins for added texture and color.