So you found a box of white Christmas ornaments and aren’t sure what to do with them? There are so many ways to dress them up! From washi tape to permanent marker, you and your kids can find endless opportunities to upgrade a white ornament. We’ve come up with ten simple ways to add a little flair to your Christmas tree decorations this year. All you’ll need are plain ornaments and a few basic craft supplies such as a glue gun and scissors.
Pair these with our glitter Christmas ornaments and you’re good to go. Any loved one will appreciate the extra effort you took to custom craft their ornament. Check out the instructions and materials needed below!
1. Permanent Marker
Almost everyone has markers in their home, and the best part is that you don’t need drawing skills to elevate your ornament from plain to polka dot heaven. Just start with a couple of dots in the front and work your way around. Each one will be unique!
2. Tiny Bows
Cute bows can add color and texture to a simple piece. Simply use your glue gun (or craft glue if you prefer) to attach the bows to the ornament. If you want to mix and match colors, try a black and white, gold and silver or red and green combo for fun Christmas decor.
3. Crystal Beads
Crystal beads are great for adding a touch of elegance and can be found at just about any craft store. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes. You can mix and match small, medium and large beads. Start by gluing some at the top and work your way down. Warning: these can get pretty heavy!
4. Chalk Paint
Chalk paint creates the perfect matte look, and it comes in a variety of beautiful colors! Simply paint your ornament with a brush and let it dry for about three hours. Two coats are ideal. Once the paint is set, add a fun sticker and gift your creations to your friends and family.
5. Tinsel Garland
Tinsel is festive and fun, and when it comes to Christmas, one can never get enough of it! We started by cutting seven strips of tinsel, then glued them to the ornament. Finally, we cut off any excess garland from the bottom of the ornament.
6. Winter Leaves
If you want a more natural look for your Christmas decor, leaves can be the perfect addition. You can opt for real, natural leaves or head over to a craft store for some decorative ones. Make sure to cover the top of the ornament with the leaves and don’t forget to add a ribbon!
7. Pom Poms
Pom poms are really easy to work with and can add a fun pop of color to any tree, especially if you want to get away from classic Christmas colors. Try adding a couple of metallic pom poms for extra fun. For ours, we started gluing pom poms all around the top and worked our way down. Another great idea would be to add pom poms just to the top and bottom of the ornament.
8. Molding Clay
Molding clay is a unique ornament-decorating option, plus it doesn’t require glue! To make a cute cat ornament, start by molding clay into two triangles, then paint them with silver acrylic paint. Let them dry for about an hour.
Meanwhile, roll out thin pieces of clay for the nose, whiskers and mouth and stick to ornament. Once the ears are dry, mold them on the top of the ornament. Try making different types of fun animals for a really creative Christmas tree!
9. Metal Flakes
Metal flakes, also known as gold or silver leaf can be found at any craft store. These can be a little pricey, but keep in mind that a little goes a long way. To add the flakes, simply brush a water-based glue on the desired areas and wait about two or three minutes before patting the the flakes on with a brush. Do this slowly to prevent flakes from getting ruined.
10. Washi Tape
Perhaps the easiest upgrade of all is washi tape. We went with triangles, but you can cut any shape you want and stick it right on your ornament. Another great idea is to wrap a piece of tape all around the middle!
Upgrading old ornaments is a great way to save money and have fun crafting with your kids. You’d be surprised at how many items you have in your home that will look beautiful on an ornament. Gift them to your friends and family and send them along with a beautiful holiday card.
