Make five handmade Christmas ornaments with simple supplies, including a folded paper decoration, mini candy canes, fluffy snowballs, snowy pine cones, and tiny paper houses.
A Christmas tree becomes more personal when some of the decorations are made by hand. These five Christmas ornaments use very different materials, so you can go from paper folding to thread wrapping, painting, and simple paper assembly without needing a large craft stash.
There is also a nice mix of quick and more involved ideas here. The pom-pom snowball takes only a few simple steps, while the origami ornament and miniature paper house give you more time to work on the details. Make one type for a small handmade touch, or combine several to create a Christmas tree filled with decorations you made yourself.
Things that you need before crafting:
Choose the supplies for the ornaments you want to make.
Origami Ornament
- 2 square sheets of paper
- Embroidery thread
- Sewing needle
- Craft glue
Candy Cane Ornament
- Pipe cleaner
- Red embroidery thread
- Scissors
- Hot glue
Snowball Ornament
- Small pom-pom
- String or thread
- Hot glue
Pine Cone Ornament
- Small pine cone
- String
- Hot glue
- Foam brush
- White craft paint
Mini Paper House
- Small paper house template
- Card stock
- Tracing paper
- Craft glue
- Scissors
Safety: An adult should handle the hot glue and sewing needle. Keep these tools away from young children and let them help with the safer parts such as folding, wrapping, painting, and decorating.
How To Make:
Fold the Origami Ornament
The origami ornament is the most folding-heavy idea in this collection. Take your time with the creases because clean, accurate folds make the final shape much easier to assemble.
Make the Creases
Start with one square sheet of paper.
Fold it in half and make a firm crease. Open it, then fold it in half in the opposite direction and unfold it again.
Fold the paper diagonally from one corner to the opposite corner. Unfold it, then make the second diagonal fold and open it again.
You should now have several crease lines crossing the square.
Form the Diamond
Turn the paper so it looks like a diamond.
Use the diagonal creases to bring the sides inward and collapse the paper into a smaller diamond.
Press each fold firmly once the shape has formed.
Fold the Sides
Take the top layer on the right side and bring it toward the center fold.
Repeat on the left.
Turn the piece over and repeat the same folds on the other side.
Keep the edges lined up with the center crease. If the sides become uneven here, the pockets later on may not line up properly.
Make the Pockets
Open one folded side.
Press it down flat, following the creases already made in the paper.
Repeat this around the other three sides.
These folded sections become the pockets that hold the two ornament pieces together.
Make the Second Piece
Repeat all of the folding steps with the second square sheet.
Place the two pieces beside each other and check that they have matching shapes before moving to assembly.
Add the Thread
Take a length of embroidery thread and make a large knot in its center.
Thread the needle and bring the thread through the top center of one folded piece.
Leave enough thread above the paper to make the hanging loop.
Join the Pieces
Place the two folded pieces together.
Carefully tuck each end underneath the corresponding pockets.
Work around the piece slowly. If a section refuses to sit flat, check the fold rather than pulling the paper into place.
Add the Hanging Loop
Tie the embroidery thread at the top to form a loop.
Use a small amount of craft glue on a couple of the sides where needed to help hold the ornament together.
Let the glue dry fully before hanging it.
Wrap a Mini Candy Cane
This little ornament starts with a pipe cleaner and becomes a candy cane once the red thread is wrapped around it.
Cut the Pipe Cleaner
Cut one pipe cleaner into five equal pieces.
Each section can become one mini candy cane.
Start the Thread
Add a small drop of hot glue to one end of a pipe cleaner section.
Place the end of the red embroidery thread into the glue at a slight angle.
Give the glue a moment to hold before you begin wrapping.
Wrap the Thread
Wrap the red thread tightly around the pipe cleaner.
Keep the wraps close together so the pipe cleaner doesn’t show through.
If you notice a gap, push the previous wraps together before continuing.
Secure the End
Add another small drop of hot glue at the bottom.
Press the thread into the glue and trim off the excess.
Shape the Candy Cane
Gently bend the top of the wrapped pipe cleaner into a curved hook.
A gradual bend will give you a smoother candy cane shape than folding it sharply in one spot.
Make a Snowball Ornament
For a fast Christmas decoration, turn a small pom-pom into a fluffy snowball.
Make the Loop
Cut a short piece of string and tie it into a small loop.
Pull the knot firmly so the hanging loop won’t come undone.
Attach the Loop
Position the loop around the center of the pom-pom.
Add a small drop of hot glue where the string meets the pom-pom.
Pull the loop gently upward while squeezing the pom-pom around the glued area.
This helps the thread settle into the fibers and gives it a more secure hold.
Let It Set
Keep the loop in position until the glue has bonded.
Don’t hang the ornament until the glue is completely set.
Paint a Snowy Pine Cone
A small pine cone already has a natural Christmas look. A little white paint is enough to make the tips look dusted with snow.
Add the Hanger
Make a small loop from string.
Use hot glue to attach the ends to the top or back of the pine cone.
Hold the string in place until the glue sets.
Add the Snow
Dip a foam brush lightly into white craft paint.
Dab off most of the excess.
Gently brush the tips of the pine cone scales.
You don’t need to cover the entire pine cone. Leaving the brown surface visible between the painted tips gives the ornament a more natural snowy finish.
Let It Dry
Place the pine cone somewhere safe while the paint and glue dry.
Wait until both are completely dry before hanging it.
Build a Mini Paper House
These miniature paper houses add a tiny 3D scene to the Christmas tree. Card stock works well because it is sturdier than ordinary printer paper.
Print the Template
Scale a paper house template down to the size you want.
Print it onto card stock.
Before cutting, compare the template with your other ornaments so the finished house will be the right size for your display.
Prepare the Windows
Cut small pieces of tracing paper for the window openings.
Make each piece slightly larger than the opening so it has enough surface to attach to the inside of the house.
Cut and Fold
Cut around the template.
Fold carefully along each score line.
Before adding glue, fold the house into shape once. This helps you see where the tabs need to go.
Add the Windows
Glue the tracing paper behind the window openings.
Use only a small amount of glue. Too much adhesive can make these tiny pieces difficult to handle.
Assemble the House
Apply glue to the tabs.
Fold the walls together one section at a time and press the tabs into place.
Continue until the house forms its complete 3D shape.
Leave it alone until the glue has dried.
Choose the Right Paper
For the folded ornament, thinner paper is easier to crease and layer than thick card stock. If you’re using patterned paper, choose a design that still shows its pattern clearly after the folds come together.
For the miniature houses, use card stock instead. The extra stiffness helps the walls keep their shape after assembly.
This small material choice can make the folding and assembly noticeably easier.
Give the Ornaments Your Own Style
You can keep these ornaments simple or adjust them to fit your Christmas colors.
Use patterned paper for the origami design, switch the candy cane thread to another festive color, or make several snowballs in slightly different sizes.
The pine cone can stay mostly natural, while the paper houses can be made in different shades to create a miniature village effect.
If children are making them, letting each child choose their own paper or color is an easy way to make the finished decorations feel personal.
Hang Them Around Your Christmas Tree
These ornaments don’t have to be used in one particular way.
Hang the origami pieces where their folded shape can be seen clearly. Place the mini candy canes between larger baubles, use snowball ornaments to fill small spaces, and group several pine cones together for a natural section of the tree.
The miniature paper houses can be clustered together to create a tiny Christmas village.
You can also use individual ornaments on gift wrapping, garlands, wreaths, or a small tabletop tree.
Note: If you face any hurdles in creating this project, then you can watch the tutorial here.
Make a Handmade Ornament Collection
Making several different ornaments gives your Christmas tree more variety than repeating the same decoration throughout.
The folded paper brings geometric detail, the candy cane adds a familiar Christmas shape, the pom-pom gives a soft texture, the pine cone adds a natural element, and the paper house creates a tiny scene.
Once the glue has dried and every hanging loop feels secure, your handmade Christmas ornaments are ready to become part of your holiday decorating.
Save these ideas for a Christmas craft day and make a few favorites together.
