Dec 10, 2025 · Abby Allen
Deck the Halls with 7 FREE ornament crafts to make this holiday season
The holiday decorating season is officially here, and if you’re like the parents on our team, you’re probably thinking one of two things:
1) It would be lovely to make holiday crafts with the kids.
2) How the heck does anyone make time for holiday crafts with the kids?!?!? We know the holiday season is busy, AND you want to make time for some quality bonding time with the family. That’s why GlueStick is featuring seven legitimately easy, genuinely fun ornament projects in the app this week.
Why Make Ornaments with Your Kids?
Store-bought ornaments are fine, but homemade ornaments are memories. GlueStick’s founder still lovingly hangs the salt dough ornaments she made over 30 years ago on her tree with her daughter every year. Why? Because they remind her of the people and places that made Christmas special growing up, and it’s important to her to pass those stories on to her daughter. Every ornament has a story, and every year is a new opportunity to pass the stories down to the next generation. It’s an important tradition that you can start in your own home this year.
Not so sentimental? Homemade ornaments are way cheaper, infinitely more personal, and honestly? Kids are way more likely to hang something they made themselves, saving you time trimming the tree year after year.
The 7 ornaments we’re making with our kids this year
These ornaments aren’t Pinterest-perfect, but they are kid-tested and mom-approved for holiday fun. All use supplies you probably have lying around the house, making them an affordable, sustainable activity the whole family can enjoy.
Button Angel Ornaments
Ages: 6–12 | Time: 15–30 min
Stack vintage buttons on a gold pipe cleaner with a pretty bead and boom! You’ve got a sweet little angel for your tree. This one is perfect for kids who are learning about big and little or just love fine detail work. Age range: 3+ Your littlest makers will need help twisting the pipe cleaner wings, but even toddlers will love stringing beads and buttons on pipe cleaners.
Make this project
Sparkly Contact Paper Ornaments
Ages: 3–10 | Time: 15–30 min
Fill contact paper with sequins and confetti, frame it with a cookie cutter shape, and watch the light dance through it. These are pure magic. Seriously, they catch the light in a way that makes your whole tree shimmer. We LOVE this craft from our partner Katie over at A Little Pinch of Perfect. Age range: 3+. Little makers will need help tracing the cookie cutter shapes, but adore sticking things to the contact paper.
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Canning Jar Lid Owl Ornaments
Ages: 3–10 | Time: 10–25 min
These owl ornaments are a hoot to make. Bonus: they help you use up all that leftover tissue paper and are made with glue sticks, so there’s very little mess! The small ears, eyes, and beaks may be a challenge for our littlest crafters, so we recommend this one for ages 5+.
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Glitter Clay Christmas Ornaments
Ages: 3–10 | Time: 180–240 min
Another one from our friends over at A Little Pinch of Perfect, you can whip up a bunch of home made clay and spend a whole day making these super easy, sure-to-be-heirloom ornaments. Katie and her team made trees, but you can easily make them any shape you wish. While all of the clay ingredients are taste-safe, they should not be eaten.
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Golden Disco Ball Ornaments
Ages: 7–12 | Time: 15–30 min
Styrofoam ball + gold brads = pure sparkle. This one's for the kids who love a little glamour and fine detail work. If you really want to keep them busy, get the biggest ball you can find. We’re not judging.
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Painted Salt Snowflakes
Ages: 3–10 | Time: 20–30 min
Our kids’ preschool loved doing painted salt crafts. This version from A Little Pinch of Perfect does not disappoint. Grab the printable, glue, salt, and watercolors and you’ll soon have a masterpiece the kids will never want to throw away.
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Simple Pipecleaner Candy Cane Ornaments
Ages: 3–10 | Time: 5 min
These are the easiest ornaments on the list, and yet still so fun and sparkly. Our family loved using the sparkly pipe cleaners for an extra special holiday twist.
Make this projectThe Real Talk
These ornaments don't need to be perfect. In fact, the wonkier they are, the better. Your kid's lopsided button angel? That's called "character." The contact paper ornament with way too many sequins? That's called "enthusiasm." These are the ornaments Grandma will treasure forever because they're theirs. Make more memories, together.
Ready to Craft?
Sign up or log in to your GlueStick account for access to these tutorials and more. Your tree (and your kids) will thank you.