Craft Techniques for Making Ornaments

Making Christmas ornaments is such a cherished tradition. By using a variety of craft techniques, you can not only learn new skills but you can also create some pretty amazing hand crafted decorations. Keep reading while we explore over 25 different craft techniques for making tree ornaments.

3-D Printing

I don't recommend buying a 3-D printer just to make Christmas ornaments but if you already own one, this is one thing I would definitely want to try. Thingiverse already has several free Christmas ornament digital designs ready to get you creating quickly. And with some practice, you could be making fully customized ornaments from your own designs in no time.

Beadwork

Beading is an intricate artform consisting of stringing beads onto string or wires. A beginner can easily create an ornament using this technique with a few basic tools such as beads, pliers and hooks. Popular designs for Christmas include stars and snowflakes and with patience and practice many more intricate patterns are possible.    

Button Crafting

Button crafting generally repurposes old buttons into creative ornaments although you can always buy bags of buttons at various retailers and thrift stores if you don't already have a collection. Buttons can be strung or glued into many different shapes or fastened to canvas or wood discs. Button crafting does not use any special skill or tools making it a terrific activity for all ages.  

Clay Sculpting

If you have abundant creativity and truly like to work with your hands, clay sculpting may become one of your favourite craft techniques. You can create traditional ornaments such as gingerbread men and snowflakes or more intricate designs and custom ornaments using a variety of sculpting tools and techniques. If you can dream it, you can probably create it using clay. 

Crochet

Crochet is a heritage handicraft utilizing threads and yarns to create custom Christmas decor. From stockings to garlands to baubles and everything in between, crochet is a versatile craft for beginners to even the most experienced crocheter. To get started, you will need to learn simple crochet techniques and stitches and how to read a pattern. Once you learn the basics, there is a whole world of crochet Christmas ornaments to explore. 

Decoupage

Decoupage is a fun, inexpensive artform that consists of decorating surfaces by gluing and sealing paper cutouts onto them. It is popular to use beautiful paper napkins or vintage imagery for traditional looking Christmas ornaments although any printed paper will work (think maps or comic books).  You can even combine paper mache with decoupage for one-of-a-kind custom ornaments. For this craft technique, you'll need wood, plastic, glass or paper mache ornaments, decorative papers of your choice, scissors, glue and a sealant such as varnish or mod podge.  

Embossing

Embossing is a technique that adds a raised pattern to a surface using pressure. The process requires the use of cutting tools known as dies to create intricate designs on surfaces such as metal, paper and leather. To get started you'll need a clear vision for what you intend to make to ensure you invest in right embossing tools. As you advance with the craft, you can even learn to make your own dies.  

Embroidery

Although embroidery can sometimes be confused with cross stitch, they are actually nothing alike other than the use of a needle and embroidery thread. Cross stitch generally involves following a printed pattern on a piece of mesh plastic (kind of like the paint by numbers of fiber crafting). Embroidery is a free-form technique that requires the crafter to learn some basic stitches to create beautiful works of art. Like painting, virtually every festive scene you can think of, can be created with embroidery. Basic tools for this craft include the fabric you are embroidering onto, some embroidery thread (sometimes called floss), embroidery needles and a hoop. 

Felt Crafting

If you have ever had a school-aged child, you have probably been the recipient of a felt creation. Felt crafting involves cutting, sewing and gluing felt pieces to create whimsical ornaments. Popular festive designs include snowmen, trees and santa. You can follow a pattern, make up your own or even purchase kits with all the felt cut for you, ready for assembly. All the materials (and kits) for this beginner-friendly activity are readily available in craft stores, making it ideal for all-ages. 

Foam Crafting

Similar to felt crafting, foam crafting is a fun, easy activity for creating playful, lightweight ornaments. This craft technique is simple and great for kids. You'll need foam sheets, scissors, craft glue and embellishments to enhance your design such as beads, sequins and googly eyes. 

Gingerbread Baking

This is such a fun activity to do with kids and it fills the home with such a magnificent aroma. All you need is a straw (for cutting a hole for the ribbon to hang), a cookie cutter and some dough. Many recipes are identical for making ornaments as for making cookies. But if you don't plan on eating them and want to save a bit of money on ingredients, HGTV has a basic recipe that uses spices, applesauce and glue. 

Glass Blowing

Glass blowing is a traditional technique where the artists heat up glass until it is maleable and then blow into it to create a variety of shapes. You can add frit, metal oxides and even gold or silver leaf before you add heat to make interesting colours, textures and patterns. Glass blowing can take a long time to master and it is not generally a craft technique that you can do from home. There are glass blowing studios in nearly every town where you can take a few lessons and before long, you'll be blowing beautiful round baubles. Add a metal cap and you've made a glass Christmas ornament. 

Knitting

Similar to crochet ornaments, knitted Christmas decor gives off vintage, traditional vibes. Personally I find learning to crochet is easier than learning to knit so if you've never done either, I recommend you start with crochet. Once you master basic knitting stitches of knit and purl and can read a pattern, you are ready to make basic holiday ornaments such as mini stockings, santa hats and baubles. 

Laser Cutting

Laser cutting uses machinery to cut intricate designs from materials like wood, acrylic and metal. Laser cut ornaments often have a modern and professional look and are easily customizable. A local school here in Victoria makes custom ornaments every year as a fund raiser. I love that the kids are exploring technology in such a fun and productive way. Laser cutting does require a laser cutter, some design software and materials to cut.  

Macrame

Macramé uses a variety of knotting techniques to create boho-chic style ornaments. Popular shapes such as snowflakes, stars and mini Christmas trees are relatively easy to make once you have mastered a few basic knots. After an explosion of plant hangers and wall art in the 60s and 70s, this craft seemed to have been lost with cotton cord and macrame accessories nearly impossible to find for several decades. Fortunately, it is making a comeback and the needed materials are once again relatively easy to purchase online and in craft stores. 

Metal Stamping

Metal stamping is a craft that has always intrigued me but I have yet to try. It involves imprinting designs or letters onto metal blanks. These ornaments are often personalized with names, dates or festive phrases. To get started with metal stamping you'll need to purchase the metal blanks, stamps of fonts and symbols, a hammer and some polishing tools. 

Needle Felting

Not to be confused with felting crafts described above, needle felting is the process of shaping wool into solid forms by repeatedly poking it with a barbed needle. It will take some practice to create items that look realistic but it is entirely possible with repetition and patience. Start with basic ornaments such as a stocking or tree and before long you'll be creating woodland creatures, holiday icons and more. To get started you'll need the wool, a felting needle and foam pad. I highly recommend you start with a beginner kit and a book for reference. 

Origami

Origami is the ancient Japanese art of folding a flat piece of paper into different shapes and figures without cutting or gluing. Because it is just paper, it is perfect for crafting lightweight ornaments. Popular designs include stars, cranes and holiday trees. For this craft technique, you'll need origami paper which is thin enough to fold multiple times in the same area and also creases well, as well as folding instructions for the particular item you are making.

Painting

While hand painting can come quite naturally to a few people, most of us would benefit from classes and years of practice. For those committed to learning proper technique, glass and wood ornaments can be transformed into stunning works of art that will be cherished by their recipients. Painting is such a broad field that makers should have a thorough understanding of their vision in order to ensure they buy the correct paint, brushes and blank ornaments.

Paper Mache

Much like clay, paper mache is a "get your hands dirty" kind of craft technique. It involves mixing ripped pieces of paper with a glue-like paste and shaping around an object such as a bowl. As the glue dries, the paper takes the shape of the item it surrounds. The more paper and glue you use, the stronger the item will be although it can take several days to dry thoroughly enough for finishing touches. Once dry, the paper mache item can be decorated with paint or using the decoupage technique we mentioned earlier.

Paper Quilling

Paper quilling (sometimes referred to as paper filigree) involves using thin strips of paper that are rolled, looped, curled and twisted to create different shapes and intricate designs. This technique is popular for making Christmas ornaments such as snowflakes and angels. You can purchase paper already cut and ready to use or make your own with a paper cutter or ruler and sharp blade. The key to making your own is cutting a straight and consistent size. Using the art of paper quilling, a crafter can create intricate, lightweight decorations that will require special care in storing to avoid damage.

Pinecone Crafting

Pinecones are such fun medium to work with and readily available to most people. They can be painted, glittered, combined with felt or foam to make novel decorations or simply hung from ribbons for more rustic appeal. A word of caution, pinecones gathered in nature must be baked at a low temperature for about 30 minutes to kill all the bugs. I learned this from first hand experience and trust me, you do not want to skip this step!

Pressed Flowers

Crafting with pressed flowers is a lovely way to display the vibrant colours and intricate shapes of flowers. Pressed flowers are frequently used in resin art and can also be encased inside clear baubles or glued onto flat surfaces. You can embark on the whole art of collecting and pressing your own flowers which includes carefully flattening and drying the flooms or you can purchase bulk dried pressed flowers and begin crafting right away. 

Punch Needle Embroidery

Create textured, cozy decorations with a craft technique known as punch needle embroidery. Unlike traditional embroidery that stitches through fabric, with punch needle you push thread or yarn into the fabric, while keeping the needle on the surface. I highly recommend you get a beginner kit and try it out before deciding to make your own ornaments. 

Resin Art

Casting, coating and creating with resin is a modern crafting technique where  resin is poured into molds or coated over non-porous items such as painted rocks. Items like glitter, photos, small toys or holiday-themed trinkets can be embedded inside the resin for a personalized touch. While there is a bit of a learning curve with resin, there is a helpful online community ready to help with tips and techniques. 

Salt Dough

Just like foam and felt crafting, if you have ever had a school-aged child in your life, there's a good chance you've been the recipient of a salt dough creation. Salt dough is a safe, non-toxic and versatile material for crafting ornaments that is beloved for its simplicity. Made from flour, salt and water, salt dough can be rolled and shaped into festive designs, then baked and painted. The ultimate kid-friendly crafting activity.

Sequin Art

Sequin art is a fun, relatively inexpensive and easy to learn form of crafting. It involves pinning or gluing sequins onto foam shapes. Use just one colour, create a pattern with compatible colours or choose random multicoloured sequins to create a one-of-a-kind, glittery decoration. 

Stained Glass

Stained glass ornaments are crafted by cutting coloured glass into shapes and soldering them together. These ornaments catch and reflect light beautifully. Creating stained glass ornaments take time, patience and an investment in materials. You'll need a variety of coloured glasses, glass cutting tools, soldering tools and lead strips to join the glass. If you've never tried it, I recommend you take a few lessons before committing to this craft.  

Wood Carving

How rewarding to transform a block of wood into beautiful Christmas ornaments. With basic carving tools available at your local hardware store, even a beginner can carve simple decorations such as stars and trees. And the more experience you have, the more intricate your carved designs can be. To complete the ornament you'll need some sandpaper and finishes that may include wood oils, stains and varnish.

I hope you enjoy exploring some of these crafting techniques and create beautiful ornaments for your home and loved ones.