11 Ornament Crafts for Kids That’ll Make Your Tree Pop with Personality

We all know those wild days when the kids are bouncing off the walls and we just need something—anything—to keep their hands (and our sanity) busy with some fun christmas crafts using basic craft supplies. .

That’s where super easy ornament crafts swoop in to save the day, especially when we think about christmas decorations . Crafting together is one of those rare parenting wins where the mess totally feels worth it.

A table displaying 11 colorful handmade ornaments and crafting supplies with children’s hands working in the background.

Making easy christmas ornaments with our kids is an easy way to create memories, get creative, and add a personal touch to our holiday decor.

Plus, it’s a great excuse to bust out the glitter for colorful ornaments and let those messy, unscripted moments shine.

Let’s grab our supplies and make some magic together!

1) Salt Dough Ornaments – bake, paint, and glitter them up!

Children painting and decorating salt dough ornaments on a table with paint and glitter.

Let’s be real, diy ornaments like salt dough ornaments are totally the classic go-to for kid crafts.

We absolutely love that all you need is flour, salt, and water to get started with these kid friendly activities . No fancy ingredients, no stress, and usually, we’ve got everything in the pantry already, plus some budget friendly supplies .

Once we’ve mixed and rolled out the dough, the fun really kicks in with cookie cutters. Reindeers? Stars? Something totally random that only our kids could imagine? Yes, please.

Seriously, the creativity is unlimited. After cutting out the shapes, we pop them in the oven and the waiting game begins.

We won’t lie, this is the hardest part for our littles—and maybe us, too. When they’re cool, it’s time to get our paint on.

Think bright reds, sparkly greens, and maybe some wild neons. We love adding glitter, because, let’s face it, everything’s better with glitter (and yes, it’ll be on our table forever now).

If you need tips or a step-by-step for making diy christmas ornaments where kids decorate. , check out this easy salt dough recipe and fun decorating ideas.

2) Popsicle Stick Train Ornament – chugga chugga choo choo, fun and easy!

Okay, who doesn’t love a craft that feels like play?

This popsicle stick train ornament is seriously a win for us and our little makers. We just need some popsicle sticks, paint, glue, and stuff we already have lying around.

Perfect for days when we want less mess and more smiles. Let’s just say our trains do not need to look Pinterest-perfect.

Wobbly wheels? Crooked smoke stack? Even better! It’s all about letting our kids’ creativity run wild.

Some of us even pop a tiny family photo right in the window, which makes it extra cute for the grandparents. We can follow step-by-step directions from this handy popsicle stick train ornament guide.

There’s no stressing over perfection—just a lot of gluey fingers and laughs. Plus, these little trains look adorable dangling from the tree or even stuck to the fridge!

3) DIY Gnome Christmas Ornament – cute little dudes with hats and all

A group of small handmade gnome Christmas ornaments with colorful hats and beards arranged on a wooden table with crafting supplies around them.

Okay, let’s be real—gnome ornaments are basically the peak of cuteness for our Christmas tree.

These little guys come with fluffy beards, tall hats, and so much personality. Plus, they look way harder than they actually are.

Our secret: felt or fabric scraps, a wooden bead for the nose, and a hot glue gun. That’s it!

We can bust out a batch of these in about 30 minutes. The best part is letting the kids pick out their hat colors and add silly details.

If you don’t want to sew, you don’t have to! There are no-sew gnome ornaments and even one-sock gnome hacks for making santa ornaments , so nobody needs to worry about pulling out a sewing machine.

Let’s be honest, the best part is giggling over the beard styles (curly, messy, sparkly—go wild, friend). These mini gnomes are super giftable too.

4) Glitter Glue Foam Ornaments – sparkle without the mess!

Children's hands decorating colorful foam holiday ornaments with glitter glue on a white table surrounded by crafting supplies.

Alright, who’s ready for some sparkle that actually stays put?

We all love glitter, but nobody wants to be finding it in their hair for weeks. Enter glitter glue foam ornaments for holiday decorations —our not-so-secret weapon for keeping the house (and our sanity) mostly intact.

All we need are some foam sheets, glitter glue, scissors, and ribbon. Cut the foam sheets into fun shapes like stars, trees, or hearts.

Trust us, the kids will get super creative with this step, and no two ornaments ever turn out the same. Time to break out the glitter glue!

Let everyone grab their favorite colors and squiggle away. The best part? The glitter stays in the glue, so we’re not endlessly sweeping up sparkles.

When the designs are dry, punch a hole in the top, add some ribbon, and boom—adorable ornaments ready to hang.

This is one of those crafts that’s totally doable even if we’re short on time or energy. Looking for extra inspiration? Check out some similar glitter foam sheet ornament ideas for even more sparkle!

5) Magic Color Scratch Ornaments – scratch off for cool surprise designs

Eleven colorful scratch-off Christmas ornaments on a wooden table with children’s craft tools around them.

Okay, these scratch ornaments are seriously like magic for kids (and hello, for us too—no shame).

We start off with these black ornaments, and honestly, they just look plain. But once we hand out those little wooden sticks, let the scratching begin!

We never know what wild rainbow swirl is going to pop up. The colors underneath are so bright and happy, and every swipe reveals something new.

Our crew loves doodling their names or random hearts, stars, and smiley faces—basically whatever weird thing comes to mind. The best part? There is absolutely no messy paint to clean up.

We just scratch away, hang them up, and it looks like we spent hours crafting (even though it only took like five minutes). These are perfect for a classroom, a playdate, or when we just need to keep the kids busy on a rainy day.

You can grab packs in shapes like stars, circles, and hearts. Check out these Magic Color Scratch Ornaments if you want to try them out.

6) Craft Stick Snowflakes – twist those sticks into wintery shapes

Handmade snowflake ornaments made from colorful craft sticks arranged on a table with crafting supplies.

Okay, so craft sticks and winter? Total BFFs.

We grab our popsicle sticks (yes, the ones from those snack emergencies) and get ready to channel Frozen vibes. Honestly, our kitchen table turns into a blizzard—but the fun kind, not the “find your mittens” kind!

First, we’ve gotta lay out three sticks and glue them together in a snowflake shape. No need for rulers or perfection—wonky snowflakes are just as cute as perfect ones.

When the sticks dry, it’s painting time. Cue the oohs and aahs for whimsical blue, white, and basically any glittery shade we can find.

Once the paint is set, let’s decorate like it’s our job. Stick on gems, sequins, or even leftover buttons from that mystery drawer.

If your glue gets everywhere, congrats—you’re doing it right. Need a step-by-step guide? We love the craft ideas over at this popsicle stick snowflake craft tutorial, too.

Our favorite part? Popping a string on top and showing off our snowflakes on the tree or window.

7) Homemade Painted Stars – add some shimmer with glitter spray

Close-up of colorful homemade painted star ornaments with glitter on a wooden table surrounded by craft supplies.

Let’s get real—who doesn’t love a craft that leaves the kitchen table looking like a disco ball?

Painted stars are a must-try if our kids want all eyes on the tree (and maybe their sparkly hands).

We just need some sturdy cardboard or pre-cut wooden stars. Let the kids go wild brushing on their favorite colors.

No rules, just pure creativity. The messier, the cuter, right?

Once the paint is dry, we break out the glitter spray for that extra wow. Even the littlest hands can help with this step—just maybe wear old shirts.

We’re obsessed with how awesome these look in the sunlight. If you want step-by-step ideas for shimmer, check out this easy shimmering star ornament craft.

Hang these sparkling stars up, and suddenly our homes feel a little more magical (and just a tad bit messier—worth it!).

8) Felt Christmas Tree Decorations – soft, squishy, and easy to sew

A collection of colorful felt Christmas tree decorations and sewing supplies arranged on a wooden table.

Let’s be honest, we all want craft projects that don’t end in tears—ours or the kids’. Felt Christmas tree decorations totally fit the bill. They’re soft, squishy, and perfect for those of us who peaked at sewing teddy bears back together.

These felt ornaments come together so easily. We can cut out trees, stars, or whatever shape happens (wonky circles count too).

Grab some chunky yarn or embroidery thread and let the kids do their thing. If you’re feeling bold, toss on some buttons or tiny pompoms for extra flair.

No fancy tools needed. Just felt, a little stuffing for puffiness, and kid-safe plastic needles.

If you’re searching for ideas or want a step-by-step, check out these adorable projects at Sew a Softie and Living Well Mom.

These little trees give us those cozy, handmade vibes and let the kids shine—with zero pressure to color inside the lines.

9) Pom-Pom Santas – tiny fluffy Santas that kids love making

Honestly, pom-poms might be the best thing ever invented. We’re huge fans of turning those fuzzy little balls into Pom-Pom Santas—soft, fluffy, and ridiculously cute on the tree.

Making pom-pom Santas is about as chill as crafts get. Grab some red and white yarn, a scrap of felt, and a couple of googly eyes.

If your kids have never made pom-poms before, they’re in for a treat. There’s something weirdly satisfying about trimming them into perfect, poofy circles.

These can be as simple or as over-the-top as you want. We’ve seen mini hats, felt beards, and all kinds of creative touches—pure magic.

Need a walkthrough? Try this DIY Pom Pom Santa Ornament tutorial for some visual inspiration.

Honestly, get ready for a sprinkle explosion and probably a few stray pom-poms under the couch. Messy and unscripted, just the way we like it!

10) Paper Plate Wreath Ornaments – recycle and create a cutie wreath

Colorful handmade paper plate wreath ornaments decorated with craft supplies on a wooden table.

Let’s use what we’ve got lying around and make something cute. We’re turning plain old paper plates into mini wreaths—crafts and recycling in one go, perhaps with some jingle bells . Win-win, right?

First, just cut out the middle of the plate. Perfection is overrated; “handmade charm” is where it’s at.

Grab paint, markers, or crayons and go wild coloring the ring green. There aren’t any craft police. Splatter, dot, splotch—whatever works.

Time to decorate! Glue on pom poms, wrapping paper scraps, stickers, or sequins. If your kiddo loves it, it’s going on the wreath.

Tie on a ribbon and hang it somewhere special. It’s an easy way to get crafty and keep the kids busy when it’s cold out.

If you want a full walkthrough, check out this easy Paper Plate Christmas Wreath Craft for Kids for more inspiration. Let’s make a mess and call it art!

11) Salt Shaker Snowman Ornaments – repurpose salt shakers into frosty pals

Several snowman ornaments made from salt shakers decorated with painted faces, scarves, and hats placed on a wooden table with craft supplies around them.

Anyone else have a random salt shaker left from last summer’s chip bowl? Let’s give it a makeover and make some snowman ornaments. No fancy skills needed—just glue, paint, and a little sparkle.

We grab clean, empty salt shakers, paint cute faces on the front, and pop on tiny scarves or hats with scrap fabric. Go wild with buttons, mini pom-poms, or glitter. Messes are basically required here.

Kids can show off their personalities with each snowman. Every frosty pal ends up looking different, and honestly, that’s the best part.

Need inspiration for making unique christmas ornaments ? Check out these craft show-worthy salt shaker snowmen.

Tie a loop of ribbon or string around the top, and boom—adorable ornament ready to hang. Keep these quirky creations for years or gift one to someone who needs a frosty friend!

Choosing the Right Craft Supplies

Picking the right craft supplies can totally make or break our ornament-making fun. We want stuff that fits our budget and is kind to the planet, but still keeps crafting with the kids fun.

Budget-Friendly Materials

Let’s be real. Craft supplies get expensive fast, and we’re not here to empty our wallets for glitter and glue.

The good news? We can make adorable ornaments with what we’ve already got at home or stuff that’s cheap at the dollar store.

Some essentials we always reach for:

Pipe cleaners
Popsicle sticks
Cotton balls
Buttons
Yarn

We love grabbing basics like colored paper, glue sticks, and markers too. If you want more inspiration, check out these easy-to-find craft supplies for kids that won’t break the bank.

Bonus points if you raid the junk drawer for leftover ribbons or old holiday cards. Buying in bulk or picking up simple kits can save even more. We’re all about using what we have and saving our splurges for coffee—or, honestly, chocolate.

Eco-Conscious Crafting

Eco-friendly supplies are a win-win: good for the earth and a fun way for a resourceful mama to teach kids about reusing and recycling. to teach kids about reusing and recycling. We love using things around the house—paper rolls, cardboard boxes, fabric scraps, you name it.

Here’s a quick list of easy, earth-friendly swaps that may require adult supervision. :

Cut up egg cartons for ornaments
Use recycled newspaper for paper mache
Turn last year’s wrapping paper into confetti
Swap out single-use glitter for biodegradable kinds

We try to stick with water-based, non-toxic glue and paints when we can. Getting the kids involved in finding recyclables turns them into crafty detectives. Not only do we save money, but we also create less waste. That’s a total mom win, honestly!

Making Ornament Craft Time Extra Fun

Children sitting around a table making and decorating Christmas ornaments with various craft supplies.

Crafting easy diy christmas ornaments isn’t just about scissors and glue—it’s about having a blast with our kids and making those little moments that keep us laughing (and maybe tearing up, but only happy tears please). The vibe matters just as much as the glitter and googly eyes!

Setting Up a Craft Zone

Let’s be real—organized chaos is our BFF for crafting with kids. Before we even bust out the supplies, claim a space, any space, and make it our Creative HQ.

A big table works, but honestly, the kitchen floor with an old sheet thrown down does the trick for those inevitable glue puddles. Keeping essentials within arm’s reach is a gift to ourselves. Tubs for markers and scissors, a roll of paper towels for emergency glitter spills, and baby wipes because paint always finds faces.

Muffin tins are surprisingly great for sorting beads and small supplies. Setting the mood helps too. Some days we turn on music—holiday tunes, obviously—and let everyone wear an apron or old shirt to rock out in style.

Snacks nearby (for them and us) keep everyone happy. Little cups of hot chocolate make us feel fancy, even with glue on our hands. That’s the good stuff, right?

Encouraging Creative Confidence

Let’s be that hype squad our kids didn’t know they needed. When someone wants to make a blue snowman or a rainbow tree, our answer is, “Absolutely. That’s genius.”

We ditch perfection and let our kids’ ideas take the lead, even if things get a little weird. Honestly, weird ornaments tell the best stories anyway.

When a craft doesn’t look like the picture, we cheer for their effort, even if they used tissue paper. , not the outcome. Sometimes we do a quick “show-and-tell” round, letting each kid explain their masterpiece.

It turns up the excitement and gives everyone a big dose of confidence, especially when using patterned paper . Compliments fly, giggles break out, and everyone leaves the table feeling like a rockstar.

If anyone gets frustrated—or glues their fingers together (yep, been there)—we walk it off, breathe, and remember: it’s supposed to be messy. Every “oops” is just part of our crafty adventure.