Guest Author - Diane Claus

Guest author Jeanette Norman

Homemade Christmas Ornaments are always a joy to make with children to give as gifts to their parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles. My mom still has every single one my brothers and I made throughout school and they get hung on the tree every year. My mom loves to tell the story of the ornament as it gets hung on the tree. The following crafty ideas were sent to me by some readers. If you have a favorite ornament or homemade holiday decoration idea to share, I would love to add it here!

Playdough Ornaments

Submitted by Rachel in South Carolina

One big bowl of dough mix can be made or you can give each child a large Ziplock type bag and put 1 cup of flour, ½ cup of salt, and 1/3 cup of water into each baggie and let the children mix their own dough. Food color can be added to the mixture if desired. Ornaments can be painted or glitter added after you cut shapes out. Holiday cookie cutters are perfect for this. Don’t forget to use a straw to poke a hole where a tie with go to hang the ornaments up. The ornaments should be left on a flat surface to dry for at least 24 hours before being hung up.

Christmas Pine Cone Tree Ornament

Submitted by Hanah in Oklahoma

You will need to gather:
Pine cones
Glue or Glue Gun
Sequins and/or glitter
String or ribbon
green paint or white paint
small amount of garland any color

If it isn’t too cold, a nature walk would be fun for the children to collect their own pine cones. Take pine cones and dip them in green or white paint. After it is dry let students put sequins and/or on it to look like ornament on the tree. After they have dried glue on little bits of Garland and tie the string or ribbon to the top of the pine cone. The bottom of the pine cone can be painted brown to look like a bottom of a Christmas tree. Let dry and spray with Hairspray to keep it together and let it dry.

Snowman Picture Christmas Ornament

Submitted by Barb in Pennsylvania

This turns out really cute! Cut out 2 circles for the bottom and belly of the snowman. Take a picture of the face of each child. Cut into a circle for the top of the snowman. After all the circles are glued together, the children can decorate with hats, scarves, etc. I recommend using heavy paper stock for this and laminating or using clear contact paper so the ornament keeps for years and years!

3D Snowflakes

Submitted by Emma in New York

You will need:
Foamies (soft, cushioned construction paper)
Hot glue gun w/glue and regular school glue
Sequins (can be Christmas shapes or to your liking)
Glitter
Scissors
Snowflake outline (large and small)
Magnets (Optional if you wish to turn this into a gift for the fridge) or ribbon
Scotch tape

You or the child can cut out a snowflake shape of one large snowflake and then one that is slightly smaller. Glue the smaller on top of the bigger one. Decorate. Add the ribbon or magnet.

Picture Frame Ornaments

This one is my idea.

Cut a shape out of construction paper then make an identical small cut shape in the middle of the paper to make a picture frame. Let children decorate however they wish. Take a picture of the child doing an activity, etc. and glue the picture into the frame.

Applesauce Ornaments
Judy from Ohio told me about this one!

Need: 1/2cup cinnamon, 1/2cup applesauce, 2 teaspoons glue, straw, string

Directions: Mix all ingredients together. Let children mold into a shape or you could use cookie cutters. Poke a hole at the top of ornament with a straw for string. Let air dry for 2-3 days. The smell great for a long time!!