Christmas is just around the corner. Decorating for Christmas can be fun but often burns a big hole in our pocket. Let’s not burn our pockets any further and DIY our very own ornaments instead.

DIYΒ Silver Bird Christmas Tree Ornament.

I drew the bird template on a drawing block. We recycled the hardboard that comes on the back of every drawing block.

We used that hard board to make the bird. I got the kids to use the template to draw the outline on the hard board and cut for them. The older kids cut out their own bird.

Get them to paint the bird using silver poster colour.

I cut silver paper and fold them accordion style. Read here if you don’t know what is accordion fold.

Use the folded paper as a guide to how long you’ll need to cut a slit on the bird.

Slip the paper through and spread open the wings.

Poke a tiny hole for the thread and the Silver Bird Christmas Tree Ornament is done! π
Let’s make a handprint Christmas mitten today π

Handprint Christmas mitten

Paint your palm white

Stamp your painted palm on red construction paper

Draw the shape of a mitten and cut

Paste some cotton on the mitten and you are done π
I love Pyssla beads. We can make almost anything out of it!

Pyssla beads

The kids hard at work π

Arrange the beads according to what you want it to be

Place parchment paper on the beads

Iron the beads, moving the iron about for 10 seconds or so

The beads will be attached to each other once ironed

Let it cool before removing the parchment paper

A beautiful ladybug π
Now.. let’s see what else the kids did!

Smiley Face π

Snowflake and Christmas tree π
Let’s make a Christmas tree out of craft sticks today π

Craft stick Christmas tree

Glue 3 craft sticks to form a triangle. Let dry.

Paint it green. Once dried, decorate as you wish.
Tie a silver / golden thread if you wish to hang it as a Christmas tree ornament.
It’s gonna be another round of ticklish affair π

Footprint Christmas Tree

Paint your foot green

Stamp your painted foot onto a paper plate

Use craft punch and punch out various shapes using different coloured papers

Paste and decorate the tree as you wish

The footprint Christmas tree is done π Tie a string and hang it on your real Christmas tree π
Milton of Our Little Corners did some really cute Gift Box Christmas Tree Hanging Decor.

You need not spend a fortune to decorate your Christmas tree. Click here for instructions on how to make these cute Christmas Tree decor π
Let’s make a paper plate angel today π

Paper plate angel

Cut a paper plate half

Take one half and seal the ends together to form a cone

Cut hands and wings out of the other half of the plate

Paste it onto the ‘cone’

Cut a semi circle for the face and hair from coloured paper and paste together

Draw eyes on the face and glue to the body. We glued toothpick at the back to keep the head up π

A lovely angel as your Christmas decoration π
Rudolph the red nose reindeer… we’ll be making one today π

Handprint Reindeer

Draw the outline of your handprint on a piece of paper and cut

Use that handprint template and draw on a brown craft foam

Cut a small oval and paste as the tail

Bend some pipe cleaners and paste on the reindeer’s head. Paste other small details.

Paste googly eyes and you are done π
Remember I did a gingerbread man using cork sheets? Well, we can always improvise and use craft foam instead. Always remember to do the same on both sides if you intend toΒ hang it as a Christmas tree ornament. Here, I use glitter pen to line my gingerbread man.Β This is yet another very simple project to be working with the kids. π

Foam Gingerbread man ornament
If you have any other gingerbread man crafts to share with us, submit it here and we’ll link it back to you. π

Christmas Tree Ornament
Christmas tree ornaments are getting rather expensive these days. Why not try making some on your own? Not only will it be more sentimental, it’ll not burn a hole in your pocket.
This foam Christmas tree ornament is extremely easy to do. Try it, you’ll love it.

Foam Christmas tree ornament.

Draw a Christmas tree on a green foam. If you have Christmas cookie cutters will be great. You may use the Christmas tree cookie cutter to draw an outline on the foam.

Cut it out.

Add glitters.

Put a needle through it and tie a knot at the end of the thread. Your Christmas tree ornament is done. So simple. π
We can actually use basically anything to make a Christmas tree ornament. It need not be expensive. Here’s a simple idea of making a Christmas tree using pipe cleaner.

Pipe cleaner Christmas tree ornament

Get a green or white {or any colour as you wish} pipe cleaner. My boy finds it ticklish handling it for the very first time. π

Bend it to form the shape of a Christmas tree.

Decorate it as you wish. Tie a thread at the very top and add a star to complete it.
Click here to learn how to fold and cut the perfect star to be used for the above Christmas tree.
If you love this and want to try doing it, do share your version of the Christmas tree with us by submitting your tree here. We learn and we share. π