DIY Picture Christmas Ornaments

 I realize that Christmas is over and many if not most of you have your Christmas trees and decor packed up and back in storage by now. However, while you are still somewhat in thinking about Christmas, or possibly getting Christmas pictures printed keep these in mind. These are simple Christmas ornaments you can make for your tree or as a gift. 

Simply purchase wood tags at your local craft store or online.. print your favorite pictures of children or memories from the year, trace the shape of your tag on the picture, cut out, and use modge podge to adhere the picture to the wood. (Modge Podge is a glue that dries clear. You simple brush some on the surface of the tag. Place your picture where you would like it. Let dry. Add a layer of glue to the top of your picture to seal it down. Let it dry.) Add ribbon to the top of your wood tag to hang. Done and Done. You can also buy special shaped wood tags in the shapes of trees, gingerbread men, stars, etc. 

I intend to take a Christmas picture of my kids every year and turn it into an ornament so that as they grow up I'll have a picture ornament of them each year. Just a thought! So while you are still printing holiday pictures you may make a few or keep this in mind for next year. Either way. I've yet to make mine but hopefully this week.

Christmas Traditions: DIY Yearly Christmas Ornaments

I love Christmas, always have and always will. I have so many fun memories from my childhood with my siblings and family and everything that we used to do and still do today. Getting bundled up to look at Christmas lights, making ornaments, trying to stay up all night to hear Santa, and on and on.

One of my favorite traditions is a trip to a Christmas Tree Farm to pick out that perfect tree every year. Cutting it down and taking it home to decorate. This year my handmade ornaments were inspired by this yearly trip to the Christmas Tree Farm.

I found two plain wood trucks at Hobby Lobby for $1.50 each. Painted them and added small boughs to the truck beds to make it look like the trucks were hauling away fresh cut Christmas Trees. As you dive in headfirst to your Christmas Traditions see what you can do to make your favorite traditions even better and maybe start a few new ones. 

Making ornaments is such a great one because each year as you pull them out of a box to decorate the tree they bring with them a memory. I was reminded of that as we helped decorate my parents tree, and I wished the box was never ending with ornaments that had meaning and not just the store bought ones that were pretty but that was it. My goal is to make sure my tree is always full of memories not just ornaments.

DIY Ornament with Children's Hands/Feet

Handmade Ornaments to Warm Your Heart for Years

I loved making ornaments as a child and I think it is so fun to see little handprints, feet, and small thumbs on christmas ornaments. Years from now you'll be able to see their tiny hands or feet and these simple ornaments will become favorite family keepsakes. 

In case you need a few ideas scroll through the list and head over to the blog or website given for instructions. Maybe you'll find some inspiration to try something of your own. Either way Happy Creating.

Thumbprint Reindeer- Little thumbs make the head. Add nose, eyes and antlers.

www.Ivillage.com

Reindeer on Gift tags/Ornaments

Snowmen with Fingerprint Cheeks- I could not find a website for this one just the picture. Simply purchase or paint your own white ornaments. Add a face with paint or a black marker and use red paint for the rosy fingerprint cheeks. Kids would love making these.

Smiling Snowmen with Rosy Fingerprint Cheeks

Small Paint Handprint- Little hands on a glass ornament leave a cute imprint. Use Holiday colored paints or any other paint to match your tree.

babstripling.blogspot.com

Footprint in Salt Dough- Could do a hand as well. Simply make the dough, press in foot or hand, and let it cool. Remember a hole at the top for hanging.

www.ivillage.com

Hand Print Snowman Family- A twist on the handprint in salt dough this is adorable. Have children make the members of their family in snowmen or friends, or just snowmen. This would be a great ornament to gift to Grandma and/or Grandpa.

 Visit apartmenttherapy.com 

Painted Handprint Snowmen- Rather then baking the salt dough simply find a ball in your preferred size and color use paint to make a handprint and then turn fingers into snowmen. Very creative.

Snowmen Handprints

Hand Painted Palms- Colorful ornaments like these will spice up your tree. Remember to add names and years and/or ages to your creations.

Visit olivejuicemama.blogspot.com

Santa and Reindeer Thumbprints

http://www.chickabug.com/blog/

Paper Handprint- Skip the mess of salt dough and make an imprint of your child's hand on paper or card stock. Cut around it and add ribbon to be hung.

www.spoonfulofimagination.com

Give A LIttle Love Star

A few years ago my little sister gave me a paper star similar to this one that was attached to a birthday present. I loved the saying so much that I put it on my bulletin board and have kept it for years. I love having it there because it is so nice to see when you are having a down day and need a little cheering up.

This year I decided to pass on the love. :) I made one of these paper stars for my Grandma and gave it to her with a star dish for Christmas. Hopefully it means as much to Grandma as it means to me. So if you know someone that could use a little pick me up whip up a quick star or print one on the computer and pass it on. 

Nativity Activities for Kids

As a child I loved hearing my Dad read the Christmas Story from the Bible every Christmas Eve. Still do. I remember picturing Mary on the Donkey and Joseph trying to find a place for them to stay. The older I get the more the story means to me and the more I enjoy the true meaning of Christmas. I've been trying to start a collection of Nativity scenes so over the years I'll have different ones. I love to see them on display in homes and in stores and see how different they all are. 

I've also been thinking about kids lately and how the holidays are more and more geared toward Santa, and all that goes along with him. I wanted to think of some simple things that kids could do during the season that go along with the Christmas story. So along with writing letters to Santa, and baking sugar cookies they could do a few things to help them remember why we celebrate Christmas. So just a few ideas below. Like I said very simple. I'll try and add to them a bit next year. 

Make Your Own Star Christmas Tree Ornaments

Supplies Needed:

• Popsicle Sticks
• Glue-I used hot glue
• Twine or ribbon
• Paint or markers

Directions:

Glue two popsicle sticks together in a "V" then add one stick at a time to complete your star.

Add a loop of string to the top 

Have children decorate their star

Hang it on the tree when finished

-Talk about the star that the Wisemen saw in the east and followed to the baby Jesus.

Gingerbread "Wisemen"

• Using cookie cutters make gingerbread or salt dough shapes. 
• Once they are dried you can let the children decorate them to look like the 3 Wisemen. You could also add ribbons to the top and make them ornaments as well.

• Add ribbon to your gingerbread shapes to make them "Angels"

 Shepherds Treat

• Candy Canes resemble the shepherds staffs/hooks that they use when watching over their flocks.
• Give children a treat or using bread stick dough shape it to look like a staff.

 Make or Decorate a Crown

• One of Jesus many names was King of the Jews. Find a template online or create your own crown and have the kids decorate them.

 Make your own Puzzles
Print a picture online of the Manger Scene, or the gifts the Wisemen brought, or any other Nativity scene. Cut it up into puzzle pieces and let the kids put it together and then color it. Do it on poster board  or card stock for it to be a little more sturdy.

DIY Dove Ornaments

I can't get enough of Better Homes and Gardens Christmas Idea Issues. This year as I was skimming an old issue I stumbled across a  cute little tree decorated in white bird ornaments in the Do It Yourself section. They looked simple but at the same time quite complicated as they had little headpieces, wings, and a little tail feather. I was intimidated only because I do not own a sewing machine and so thought it impossible for me to make them. I looked at them several times and decided I'd use the basic pattern and create my own as I would have to sew them by hand. That year I was watching money very closely and did not have a lot to spend on Christmas ornaments so I thought this would be perfect if I could get them to work.

Supplies:

• Felt of your choice
• Embroidery Thread of your choice
• Stuffing of your choice
• Needle 

Instructions:

• I purchased a few sheets of Ivory felt and cranberry embroidery floss from the store and got to work.
• I cut traced and cut out the pattern from the magazine.
•  Left off the head piece, tail piece, wings, and eyes. 
• Traced the paper patter on the Ivory felt.
• Cut it out and sewed around the edges of the dove until I had 3 sides put together. 
• I stuffed the little dove with toilet paper as I had no bunting and sewed up my final side. 
• I then added a loop at the top to hang in to the tree and looked at my final product.

As I like many things quite simple I adored how the little bird turned out. I set out to make a few more so I would have a set. 5 birds later I had new decorations for my tree that I have used every year since.

Here is the finished product. Just a friendly reminder to not be afraid to use ideas from places and then make little tweaks to make them your own. Change what you need to fit your skill level, supplies, or time constraints. You might be pleasantly surprised with the outcome. Scroll down to see the original ornament.

From the Front

My Finished Ornament-A Dove

The following link is I believe the link to the original Partridge Ornament that I used the body pattern from. If you'd like to give them a try or get the pattern for the basic bird and then change it up on your own. Good luck!
http://www.bhg.com/christmas/ornaments/pretty-partridge-christmas-ornament/

Original Ornament from BHG Magazine

Check out other unique Christmas Projects on one of my favorite blogs. http://diyshowoff.com/2012/12/19/diy-holiday-highlights-party/

DIY Initial Christmas Ornaments

I've always been a fan of the big family Christmas Trees that have a variety of ornaments on them that blend together in theme, color, or pattern but stand out a little bit on their own. Making the tree a visual masterpiece that can be looked at over and over as your eye picks up different ornaments each time.

Do it yourself Christmas ornaments are a great way to add those personalized touches to your tree that make it different then all the others and give it different points of interest to focus on.

An idea for you and/or the kids to try.

Supplies needed:

• Wood Letter Initials
• Paint
• Ribbon
• Hot Glue
• Greenery and or Berries if desired

Directions:
Paint the letters. Add ribbon to the backs to make a loop to hang from the tree. Glue the letters together if you want one large ornament or use seperately for many ornmants if you will be doing all of the kids and parents individually. Add greenery or berries to add some color if you would like.

Check out some other great DIY Christmas projectsa at The Shabby Creek Cottage. Link below!
http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com/2012/12/transformation-thursday-no-182.html

Easy Snow Drenched Pinecones

Snow Covered Pinecones and Greenery 

This season I've seen quite a few pine cones covered in "snow" in decorations. I don't know if people are making their own or buying them that way but I thought I'd try making my own with a large basket of pine cones I have.

Really Really easy. And they turned out great. This one is easy enough to let the kids help out.

Supplies Needed:

• Pine cones
• White Paint
• Brush
• Wax Paper

Directions:
Lay out the wax paper on your working surface. Use a sponge brush. Dip it lightly in paint and beginning at the top of the pine cone drag your brush down hitting the edges of the cone. Repeat around the entire pine cone until you have the desired effect.

Make it as light or heavy as you wish by adding coats or paint.

Sit on wax paper to dry. Add glitter to edges if you wish.

You are done. Pine cones that look like they have been snowed on.

Uses: 

• Tree ornaments or stuck in between branches.
• Add to a green wreath.
• Glue them together to make a pine cone wreath.
• Put in a bowl, basket, or large glass vase and use as a centerpiece or accent on a mantel.
• Add to almost any decoration you wish-see above stocking.

Footprint from Salt Dough

Wanting to have a baby imprint of little feet and toes I found a salt dough recipe online and made an imprint of my babies feet to put in his room.

Here is the link where I found the recipe and instructions. Give it a try if  you have kids of any age. It is also fun to do with hands.

Have fun!

My Finished Product! 

http://www.mysweetarts.com/sweet-buzz/

Sweet Ingredients!

2 1/4 cups of all-purpose flour (do not use self-rising flour)

1 cup of salt

1 cup of water

2 teaspoons of cream of tartar (optional: cream of tartar makes dough more flexible)

1 tablespoon of oil (vegetable or mineral is fine; optional: oil makes the dough easier to knead)

Mix ingredients well, kneading the dough for 10 minutes. If the mixture is too sticky, add flour. If too dry add a bit of water. Please note that the dough should be stiff (not runny or soft; otherwise air bubbles will form during baking). Roll out dough on flat, smooth surface and form desired shape about 1/2 inch thick. *Hint* You can use a shallow bowl to shape into a circle. Once desired shape achieved, place on a foil-lined baking sheet.Press child’s clean foot or hand into dough. Press hard enough to make a deep impression without going through to the bottom of the dough. *Hint* If child bears weight on legs, have child bear weight on one leg in dough for a good impression.

Place dough foot/hand impression into 200F oven for 3 hours (check on to ensure it doesn’t burn; turn around half-way through baking). If dough is not completely dry, set out to air dry. Please note that you do not have to use the oven and can have your salt dough air dry over several days.

You can customize the design many ways:

• Use straws to make symmetrical holes for hanging
• Pre-color dough by adding food coloring to water
• Paint after dough is fully dried (a nice toddler/pre-schooler art activity)
• Write child’s name and date with a sharpie or paint after baking process

The footprint/handprint plaque can be displayed in different ways: hang on nursery wall, set inside deep/shadowbox frame, or as a decorative plaque for everyone in the family to enjoy.

Depending on how much dough is used for each plaque, this recipe can make at least two plaques if not more.

Homemade Gingerbread Ornaments

Megan H. 

Guest Blogger of the week Megan H. shares tips from her home to making homemade gingerbread ornaments that don't fall apart in a crumbling mess before you can get them on your tree. Hope you enjoy!

Homemade Gingerbread Ornaments

Our tree was looking pretty bare on ornaments this year so my husband and I decided to whip up some cookies to beef up the tree a bit and fill in some of the bare spots. I searched for a gingerbread recipe online for a while I chose this one and I am so glad I did, it is so easy to put together and smells delicious in the oven and on the tree.

Here is the cookie link:

http://www.thekitchn.com/-holiday-guest-post-from-4-104132

Cookie Tips:

Be sure to roll out the dough to a 1/4", this allows the cookies to be lighter so they won't weigh down your tree branches. Be sure to poke a hole in your cookie, we used the end of a chop stick, it worked great. Don't poke your hole too close to the edge of the cookie.

Here is the icing link:

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/royal-icing-i/

 Icing Tips:

I didn't have a pastry/piping bag so I used a gallon sized zip-lock bag and cut the smallest hole possible in the bottom corner. Be patient with your designs/patterns on the cookies. A few of my first ones I struggled with until I could get the feel. I looked online for some icing pattern inspiration but couldn't seem to find any so we thought up some on our own. Here are a few we really liked:

Starfish

Simple Outline

Double Star

Snowflake

Dot

Swirl

Although the icing sets up really quick, I put mine in the fridge for a few minutes to ensure they were hard before I tied on the raffia. Any kind of holiday ribbon would look great on the cookies as well, I love how the raffia gives it a rustic country look (and we already had it some on hand).

Hope this simple decoration helps warm your home this Christmas Season as much as it has ours. Enjoy!

Bonus ornament tip:

 

We kept the stump of last years tree and made it into one of our first ornaments. 2012 stump is in progress. 

You could also use cookie ornaments to make a garland, put in a wreath on your table or door, or use on your mantel. They look great anywhere.

We chose to do stars-you can do any shape that you have a cookie cutter for.