Homemade ornament ideas needed...

[marshallandcartersmo]

My mom has requested all the grandchildren make some homemade ornaments this year to put on a special tree she's putting up. Cute idea---however I am not crafty in the least.

Mine DS's are 9 & 6, but are not crafty either, I think getting them to do this will be like getting them to do homework


any ideas!?! Budget minded please....

 

[Swimalie]

Buy some cookie cutters and some felt. Have the kids trace the cookie cutters on to the felt and cut out 2 of the same shape. Cut or glue the felt shapes together and let them decorate the ornaments.

 

[rlovew]

If you want something really easy- stop by a craft store and buy and ornament kit- look to see if it makes 2 different ornaments and I would look for ones that are self sticking instead of needing glue.

 

[simonsmom]

I always use the plain frosted onaments and let the kids draw/decorate with fine point sharpies then you can add glitter glue- lokk great!

 

[MichelleinMaine]

Buy some cookie cutters and some felt. Have the kids trace the cookie cutters on to the felt and cut out 2 of the same shape. Cut or glue the felt shapes together and let them decorate the ornaments.

Agreed this is an easy one- but make sure you get felt glue -our Walmart carries it, or somewhere like Michaels or Hobby Lobby would.

Regular Elmers glue doesn't work for felt.

We did these one year- pretty easy. We did the white paint, but then just used colored sharpies for the decorating after.

http://www.betterbudgeting.com/christmasornaments08/handprintornaments.htm

 

[tchrrx]

The picture above (snowman handprints) is what I make with my class every year. However, since I looped with them, I need something new this year.

 

[torinsmom]

I am doing the snowmen ornaments with my class, but found this one I am doing with the kid I babysit for. You use clear ornaments and drip paint inside, then swirl it around. SOunds pretty simple...

http://www.dltk-holidays.com/xmas/painted_ornaments.htm

Here are some more you could try...

http://crafts.kaboose.com/holidays/christmas/

 

[carrie1626]

Do you save old Christmas cards? I always did and then every year my kids would cut out the pretty designs and glue them unto construction paper leaving enough extra space for added embelishments like glitter, sequins, yarn, etc.

You could find a variety pack of cards if you don't have any old ones.
Places like Party City, Walgreens, WalMart would have the cheapest ones

 

[Colleen27]

We buy clear glass ornaments and fill them. Last year it was potpourri, the year before we used decopage glue to coat the inside then poured in glitter and shook them up. The come out really nice but are simple enough that kids can do them. The only part I needed to do was with the potpourri ones, putting a hot glue plug in the neck of the ornament so the contents won't spill if the top comes off. With the glitter ones you tap out the excess glitter so you don't even need to do that.

 

[zoemurr]

Use the metal lid from a juice can and use a nail to punch a hole in it. Place the child's photo inside and decorate around it with glitter. We do this with my class every year.

made reindeer out of candy canes (I can send directions.. very easy)
bells out of small terra cotta pots
Santa out of an upside-down handprint
Trace their hands on fun-foam and cut them out and write their name/date on them
Use sculpey and have them make something.. a self protrait, wreath, tree etc. My kids are 9/11 and make some awesome things with this
make a paper chain to wrap around the tree
String red/white beads on a pipecleaner and make candy canes
use popsicle sticks to make a frame, decorate it and put photo inside
fill clear glass balls with popcorn kernals and then pop it in the microwave.. decorate with fabric paint
fill clear balls with acrylic paint and swirl around
make cinnamon/applesauce dough and cookie cutters to make "smelly" ornaments.. decorate with fabric paint
paint and glitter wooden curtain rings.. place photo inside

My kids love this kind of stuff.. and I teach preschool..

 

[design_mom]

We made "crystal" ornaments with borax and pipe cleaners last year. My kids (10 and 6 and not particularly crafty either), enjoyed it. I'll post a link to instructions below, but basically you need a jar, a pipecleaner, a pencil, some string/ribbon/fishingline, borax and hot water.

You bend the pipecleaner into the shape you want and use the string to hang it from the pencil. It needs to hang in the jar without touching any of the sides. Mix borax into the hot (almost boiling) water till it won't accept anymore. Pour the hot water/borax into the jar, and let it sit overnight. As it cools, the crystals form on the pipecleaner.

http://www.marthastewart.com/article/crystal-snowflake

Here's one that we did last year (we used a blue pipecleaner):

Another cute one that we've done is to glue two candy canes together (tip to tip) to form a heart shape. Then you can glue a picture behind it and make it a "frame." Or, you could just have them string red/white beads onto a pipecleaner, then bend it to make a candy cane shape.

 

[crisi]

We buy clear glass ornaments and fill them. Last year it was potpourri, the year before we used decopage glue to coat the inside then poured in glitter and shook them up. The come out really nice but are simple enough that kids can do them. The only part I needed to do was with the potpourri ones, putting a hot glue plug in the neck of the ornament so the contents won't spill if the top comes off. With the glitter ones you tap out the excess glitter so you don't even need to do that.

Pieces of curly ribbon work well for this as well. And really easy.

When I was really broke I went to the dollar store and got styrofoam balls and ribbon. I got really cheap Christmas fabric. Then I just wrapped the styrofoam balls with the fabric and tied with a ribbon. For years, that was what I had on my tree. (Now, one of my few luxury vices is ornaments - I like hand blown glass balls - also crafty - if you happen to be a glassblower.)

 

[sameyeyam]

Buy small packs of gum (think Wrigley's Juicy Fruit, Big Red, etc.). Cover them with colored construction paper...red for Santa, brown for Reindeer, white for Snowman, green for Elf. Use small pieces of scotch tape to put the construction paper on...basically wrap it like a xmas package.

Use pretty ribbon or yarn that you attach with tape to the back for a hanging loop.

Then decorate...use whatever craft supplies you can find. Pom Poms, little sticks from bushes in the yard (snowmen arms), glitter, markers to draw faces, cotton balls for santa's beard, etc...get creative. The local Dollar Tree is a great place to get cheap craft supplies if you don't have any on hand.

If you want to make them personalized, you can put your kids faces on them. You know those tiny pictures you get each year from the school pictures...the ones you never use! Cut out the faces and glue them on for the faces.

Another fun one we have done is use the old style Christmas light bulbs (C9 & C7). Put them pointy side up, hot glue a ribbon to the back for hanger, paint a reindeer face on front and use tiny sticks for reindeer antlers. It's a good way to get rid of those old outdoor lights that you never use anymore. But if you don't have old lights, then most stores sell individual ones for just a few cents each.

 

[Brancaneve]

The picture above (snowman handprints) is what I make with my class every year. However, since I looped with them, I need something new this year.

With my class, I always make a small wreath shape out of tag and then the kids glue puzzle pieces around the circle about 2 to 3 pieces thick. Sometimes I spray paint over the pieces or I leave it as is, if the colors of the pieces are pretty. I add a ribbon at the top. Easy and cheap!

 

[Bren's Mom]

Here are a couple of easy ideas:

http://www.mccormick.com/Recipes/Other/Cinnamon-Ornaments.aspx

http://www.mccormick.com/Recipes/Other/Scented-Pinecones.aspx

 

[blackforest]

We made "crystal" ornaments with borax and pipe cleaners last year. My kids (10 and 6 and not particularly crafty either), enjoyed it. I'll post a link to instructions below, but basically you need a jar, a pipecleaner, a pencil, some string/ribbon/fishingline, borax and hot water.

You bend the pipecleaner into the shape you want and use the string to hang it from the pencil. It needs to hang in the jar without touching any of the sides. Mix borax into the hot (almost boiling) water till it won't accept anymore. Pour the hot water/borax into the jar, and let it sit overnight. As it cools, the crystals form on the pipecleaner.

http://www.marthastewart.com/article/crystal-snowflake

Here's one that we did last year (we used a blue pipecleaner):

Another cute one that we've done is to glue two candy canes together (tip to tip) to form a heart shape. Then you can glue a picture behind it and make it a "frame." Or, you could just have them string red/white beads onto a pipecleaner, then bend it to make a candy cane shape.

How easy does the borax "flake" off?

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

made these in 4H when I was in about 5th or 6th grade. I love them and am glad to have the instructions again. You can do small ornaments or enlarge the circles to make kissing balls to hang from ceiling!

http://www.marthastewart.com/good-things/holiday-card-ornaments

my DD13 wants to do a theme tree in her room this year and I told we are not going out and buying new ornaments. I don't mind buying a few craft materials to have fun making some though, so am also looking for ideas!

 

[design_mom]

How easy does the borax "flake" off?

There were a few loose crystals that brushed off right away, but after that it hasn't flaked at all. It's similar to "rock candy" in hardness. I think you could break it if you tried, but it's pretty sturdy.

(ETA: I tried to pick the crystals off the ribbon and couldn't get them off. That's how much they're stuck! Next time, I think I'll try fishing line as the hanger.)

 

[luckey-lasvegas]

I remember making these when I was a kid.

http://creationcorner.blogspot.com/2010/11/handmade-christmas-day-13-with-oopsey.html

and these

http://www.ehow.com/how_4453662_make-baby-sock-snowmen.html

these are a more advanced
http://www.scoutiegirl.com/2009/12/...keepsake-ornament-by-nicole-of-lillyella.html

 

[luckey-lasvegas]

I found another one

http://www.marthastewart.com/photogallery/christmas-ornaments-for-kids