Crafty Kids: 25 Homemade Ornament Ideas for Family Fun

Looking for creative ways to decorate your home for the holidays without breaking the bank? Why not involve the little ones in making homemade ornaments? Not only is this a fun and engaging activity for kids, but it also helps them understand the true spirit of the season. Here are some delightful and easy homemade ornament ideas that are sure to bring joy to your home and create lasting memories.

Before we dive into the ideas, remember that safety should always be your top priority. Choose age-appropriate materials and supervise young children during the crafting process. Now, let's get started!

Nature-Inspired Ornaments

There's no shortage of natural materials that can be turned into beautiful ornaments. Embrace the great outdoors and let your kids' imagination run wild with these nature-inspired ideas.

Don't forget to make use of any leftover materials from your holiday meals. For instance, pine cones can be transformed into adorable reindeer ornaments with just a few craft supplies.

Pine Cone Reindeer

Materials needed: Pine cones, googly eyes, red pom-poms, brown pipe cleaners, and hot glue.

Instructions: Glue a red pom-pom at the base of the pine cone for the reindeer's nose. Attach googly eyes above the nose using hot glue. Twist a pipe cleaner around the pine cone to create antlers, and you've got a festive reindeer ornament!

Salt Dough Ornaments

Salt dough ornaments are a classic holiday craft that's easy and fun to make. Plus, they have a wonderful, homemade scent that will fill your home with warmth and nostalgia.

To make salt dough, simply mix together 1 cup of all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup of salt, and 1/2 cup of water. Knead the dough until smooth, then roll it out and use cookie cutters to create your desired shapes. Make sure to poke a hole at the top of each ornament for hanging. Bake the ornaments at 200°F (93°C) for 2-3 hours or until hard. Once cooled, paint and decorate them as desired.

Recycled Crafts

Teach your kids the importance of recycling and upcycling with these creative ornament ideas made from everyday household items.

Don't toss those empty toilet paper rolls just yet – they can be transformed into festive snowmen ornaments with a little bit of paint and some embellishments.

Toilet Paper Roll Snowmen

Materials needed: Empty toilet paper rolls, white paint, black construction paper, orange construction paper, glue, and scissors.

Instructions: Paint the toilet paper rolls white and let them dry. Cut out black circles for the snowmen's hats and orange triangles for their noses from the construction paper. Glue the hat and nose onto the top of the roll, then draw on a smiling face with a marker.

Egg Carton Angels

Egg cartons are another versatile crafting material that can be turned into adorable angel ornaments. Simply cut out individual egg carton cups, paint them white, and let your kids decorate them with markers, glitter, or other embellishments.

To create the angel's head and halo, cut out a small circle from a separate egg carton cup and a larger circle from cardstock or foam board. Glue the smaller circle onto the larger one to create the halo, then attach it to the top of the egg carton cup. Poke a hole at the top of the angel's head for hanging.

Encourage your kids to get creative and have fun with these homemade ornament ideas. Not only will you have beautiful, one-of-a-kind decorations for your tree, but you'll also be creating cherished memories that your family will treasure for years to come. Happy crafting!