Homemade Christmas Ornaments

Brenda - posted on 11/11/2010

I remember when my first child was very small, we didn't have much money. But I went to the store and found fabric ornaments. You just cut & sew around the outside, and stuff them with fiberfill. The babies loved them because they were soft & colorful. And if they get dirty - just throw them in the washing machine. They hold up wonderfully - I still have them 35 years later. Sure brings back a lot of good memories.

Elizabeth - posted on 11/11/2010

Felt, you can buy kits or just make you own, cookie cutters make great templates, either glue, or sew. Decorate, with buttons, beads, pompoms, ribbon etc.
There are craft magazines with templates for felt Christmas ornaments.

Barbilee - posted on 11/11/2010

I LOVE the glass square ornaments from Micheal's. My daughters make 4 "scenes" from their memories for the past year. They draw them or print a picture of them. Each year holds a special family memory for us.Maybe not so much for your 18 month old, but you could start a tradition with her. She can still draw pics to put inside.

Heather - posted on 11/10/2010

Some websites I have found are
http://littlemisscraft.com/crafts/Christ...
http://www.robinsfyi.com/holidays/christ...
this second one has more homemade ornaments. Looks fun. Haven't tried them yet I had just been looking this past weekend to get ready. Love decorating & getting the kids involved, so fun! Have a blast!

Sandra - posted on 11/09/2010

just google homemade christmas decorations and there will be all sorts of pages coming up...........try......http://www.allfreecrafts.com ..........i found some amazing things for making own christmas decorations......

Amy - posted on 11/08/2010

I did find a applesauce recipe [not edible, but for decorating] I think we will certainly do this! We found a box of old wooden beads in the woodshed [must have been there from previous owners] So we are going to use those to decorate also. My daughter wants to use buttons and make little people/snowmen. I can't wait. Tree goes up tonight and then decorating begins. Thank you all so much! If I come up with something else cool, I'll let you know! [ps, daughter is painting our paper sparkly and white dotty before we cut them into the rings for the paper chain. she's so creative.] Wishing everyone a wonderful Christmas!

Shannon - posted on 11/05/2010

applesauce and cinnomon cookie cutters and bake fun and smells good

Jennifer - posted on 11/04/2010

got any old jigzaw puzzles and some paint? you can make wreaths and candy canes and tons of others (goggle puzzle crafts) my son and I will be making some to give away to family this year

Vicki - posted on 11/03/2010

We use to make popcorn garland when I was a little girl. Very easy...all you need is string a needle( be careful with younger children using a needle) and popcorn. You can also add cranberries every so often if you would like to add some color.

Nicole - posted on 11/02/2010

may ordiments out of flour.. i made picture frames with then this year

Ink - posted on 11/02/2010

JOLLY RANCHER CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS!

I've ALWAYS loved doing this at Christmas time!

you don't have to use JOLLY RANCHER candy...but I love them because they are clear...and make pretty ornaments. Hard candies...butterscotch, peppermint work too.



Have on hand:

Lots of candies...clear colored candies..jolly ranchers, peppermints, butterscotch...cinnamon discs....anything and everything colored that is hard now...that will melt in the oven.

A BIG can of cheap cooking spray...like Pam.

Tin Foil in a cookie sheet (avoid ANY wrinkles in the tinfoil A severe case of OCD helps here)

A collection of cookie cutters....alternatives too. Biscuit cutters, tuna fish cans with both ends removed...grill rings (that restaurants use to make your hashbrown patties stay round and perfect) Basically, anything metal that will hold the candy in a shape while it melts and cools.



Line the cookie sheet with tinfoil...be VERY careful to keep ALL wrinkles out of the tinfoil...the wrinkles will hold onto the candy when it has been melted. Spray the tinfoil WELL with the cooking spray.

Arrange your 'molds' on the cookie sheet...spray them down with cooking spray too. Everything needs to be good and greasy!

Shatter the candies and arrange them in the metal molds you have arranged on the cookie sheet. This is where your kids imagination comes in.

Set the cookie sheet in the oven...(we set it on 325 earlier) and DONT walk away! Maybe 5 minutes...7 or 8 at the most....the candy will be melted down. Remove it from the oven and play with it. They will get to the perfect temp so you can 'pop' them out of the molds. Use a straw to push the candy out of the way and make a hole for your new ornament to hang from. Use toothpicks, spoons and forks to drag the different colors of candy around to make new designs and colors.

Peppermint melted down and stirred really good can take on a pretty pink color. (stir it in the mold while it's still hot with a toothpick)



It's just messy fun...My mom did with us for years. I've been known to drag out all the mess with not even ONE kid around to impress. I loved this as a child..and have continued it with my own family :)







forgot to mention....spray your hands when its time to pop them out and handle them!

Linda - posted on 10/31/2010

google a recipe for applesauce/cinnamon dough, roll it out and use cookie cutters, room will smell wonderful and they last quite a few years, have fun!!!

Sara - posted on 10/30/2010

Growing up my mom had us make 16 pointed stars from 4 long strips of paper.

Jill - posted on 10/30/2010

I remember sitting with my mum just before christmas making little boxes, get some pretty wrapping paper, glue it to some cheap card, cereal boxes are great for this, make a template for the box, each side no more than 2 inches square, glue it all together to make the box, then hang with pretty ribbons, or if money is really tight, try some old shoe laces, works just as well. If you have older children, then can help to make them and decorate them together. Hope you have a great christmas.

Tracy - posted on 10/29/2010

get some popsicle sticks & do some picture ornaments. or if you go to a craft store or even like target/walmart & get like the foam paper (u can a pack of like 100 for $5.00 or less) & make like candy canes or snowmen.