25 Insanely Easy-to-Make Holiday Ornaments

Turn newspapers or an old book into an elegant star ornament. Cut thin strips of paper and fold them into loops, then hot glue the loops into a circle. Top your creation with sparkly chipboard stars to finish.

A handsaw, a drill with a small bit, and sandpaper will help you craft this twig ornament. Cut twigs to size and drill holes in the center of each piece before sanding the ends with fine-grain sandpaper. Thread ribbon through the holes; make a loop at the top to hang and tie off the ribbon at the bottom. Keep it plain and rustic or use acrylic paint to decorate.

Who knew that plastic wineglasses could look so classic? To make these vintage-inspired DIY bell jar ornaments, enclose a timeless winter scene under the plastic dome of an upturned wineglass, then sprinkle glitter inside. These step-by-step instructions will help you create your own little holiday diorama this season.

Paint a three-inch Styrofoam ball in a dark natural tone. Press or hot glue acorn caps into the foam, getting them as close together as possible. Fold a twine loop and use a straight pin to fix it to the ball. Brush Mod Podge along the edges of the acorn caps, and sprinkle glitter while the glue is wet. Finish with a ribbon bow once the ornament has dried.

Roll red felt into a cone shape and hot glue in place. Then attach a pom-pom and a wooden bead nose with hot glue. When the ornament is dry, thread a loop at the top of Santa's hat, and this simple project is ready to hang.

Tie one end of 12-inch string to the top of a clear glass ornament and knot a loop on the other end for hanging. Then dip the ornament in a bowl filled with colorful glass stain and hang to drip dry. Once dry, dip again to create a layered, ombre look.

Grab some Scrabble tiles and spell out holiday-themed words of your choosing. Cut the Scrabble trays to fit. Then sand them smooth and hot glue the letters in place. Attach some twine or ribbon to complete this playful decoration.

Turn a ball ornament into a chocolate cupcake by wrapping the lower two-thirds with ribbon. Ice the top with Mod Podge and glitter, and glue the base into a few cupcake liners that have been glued together for stiffness. Top it off with a glittery cherry-like accent, lace with baker's twine, and this sweet DIY ornament is ready to hang.

Attach a loop of ribbon to a Styrofoam ball using hot glue and a straight pin. Then simply hot glue gumdrops in alternating colors to cover the entire ball. Although it's tempting, these sugary globes are for ogling, not consumption. 

Create your own peppermint twist ornament by kneading red and white polymer clay into two ropes and rolling them together before baking. Check out a full tutorial here.

Remove the top from a clear glass ornament and squeeze a bit of floor wax inside. Turn the ball ornament to coat all sides with wax and pour the excess back into the bottle. Pour in glitter and rotate to cover the wax. Allow to dry and replace the top.

Screw a small eyelet into the back of a plastic figurine, and then cover the entire toy in a solid color of paint. Allow the toy to dry, then coat with glitter spray paint. Finish with a layer of sealer, and you can have a menagerie of playful ornaments.

Using raffia or ribbon, bind together a handful of cinnamon sticks. Accent with rustic beads or seeds, or add a dried orange wheel to enhance the scents. Make your own orange wheels by drying slices in an oven for several hours at the lowest temperature possible.

We've seen the power of chalkboard paint on everything from furniture to coffee mugs, so why not ornaments? A fresh coat on a plastic ornament lets you add a personalized touch to your tree. Simply wipe with a damp cloth to change the message.

Write a name in cursive and cut a long piece of wire. Using pliers, bend the wire to match the curves of the written name, ending with a loop or heart. Finish by wrapping the wire with baker’s twine or yarn until each letter is covered. A few drops of glue will help keep the string in place.

Build a plump snowman in the warmth of your own living room with just felt, hot glue, and cotton batting. Personalize your snowman with colorful buttons, eyes, and a painted carrot nose. Find the full instructions here.

Cut two leaf shapes from cardstock or watercolor paper and glitter the outward-facing sides. String a ribbon loop through a bead and glue ends between the two leaves, then clamp together to dry.

These DIY feather ornaments can be created with air-dry clay. Here's a great tip: Drape your feathers over paintbrush handles to dry for a more 3-D appearance. You'll find more helpful details here.

Turn actual cookie cutters into decorative holiday ornaments by gluing a sheet of wrapping paper to card stock and tracing the shape on the reverse side. Cut out the shape with a scissor and, with just a dab of hot glue, secure the decorated card stock to the inside of the cookie cutter. 

Those no-longer-used shower curtain rings can find new life after all—and just in time for the holidays. Transform them into mini wreaths by wrapping them in colorful yarn. Personalize yours with ribbons or bells.

Turn clear glass ornaments into colorful decorations with acrylic paint. Start by placing a couple of drops of paint at the top inside of the neck; turn the ornament to create swirls of color. Continue adding more paint until you've created your very own, one-of-a-kind masterpiece.  

Save those burnt-out light bulbs and turn them into snowmen for the holidays. Begin by spraying the bulb with adhesive and then covering it with glitter. Next, attach twig arms with hot glue, and then use dabs of glitter gel to create the eyes, mouth, and buttons. You'll find a full tutorial here.  

For more holiday decorating, consider:

How To: Choose the Best Christmas Tree (and Keep It Fresh)

10 Easy-to-Make Holiday Cards

Bob Vila's 2013 Holiday Gift Guides

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