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. All of them are completely FREE. No subscription needed. You can snag the step-by-step instructions on our website, or download the app and find them highlighted in our library.
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.
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.
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.
These adorable 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!
Age range: The small ears, eyes, and beaks are hard for our littlest crafters, so we recommend this one for age 5+.
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.
Age range: All ages will be able to help with this craft. Clay ingredients are taste-safe, but should not be eaten.
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.
Age range: This one has tiny brads that can be a bit sharp, so we recommend 6+.
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.
Age range: 3+. Preschoolers find this one absolutely magical.
Pipe Cleaner Candy Canes
Two pipe cleaners, five minutes, one adorable candy cane. Make a whole bunch and fill your tree with them. Little hands love the twisting part, and the instant gratification is chef's kiss.
Age range: as long as you’re not worried about them poking someone with a pipe cleaner, your kid can do this.
The 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?
All seven projects are FREE in GlueStick this week during Ornament Week. No subscription needed. Just grab the supplies you probably already have at home, set aside 20 minutes, and let your kids create something they'll be proud to hang on the tree.
Sign up or log in to your GlueStick account for access to these tutorials and more. But hurry! They’re only free until December 14th. Your tree (and your kids) will thank you.
