Simple DIY Ornaments for Kids

If the thought of Christmas crafts makes you break out in a cold sweat, this simple craft is for you! While these ornaments probably aren’t going to win any ornament fashion competitions, it’s a fun way to get your kids involved in holiday decorating without giving yourself a heart attack.  It even appeals to kids of different ages!  I had the younger set (ages 3, 4, and 5) make them this morning, and then when the big kids (ages 8 and 10) came home from school they wanted to make some too!

[Yes, I know these are upside-down. Try telling the 3 year old that.]

• Model Magic Clay
• Markers
• String or ribbon
• Optional: Buttons or something to make impressions with (like this set)
• Holiday cookie cutters

I gave each child a piece of model magic and instructed them to press it out flat.  We used a little rolling pin from a Playdoh set to help things along.  Next the kids each chose a cookie cutter to use and I helped them press out their shapes.  Using an extra piece of clay I showed them how they could turn the buttons upside down and press them into the clay, leaving behind a delicate pattern.  The snowflake buttons were especially nice.  Lastly the kids used markers to color their ornaments.  My oldest son accidentally discovered that if you get some marker on the clay and then ball the clay up and roll it out again it makes  neat marbled effect!  I poked holes in each ornament, and after they air dry for about 24 hours they will be ready to hang out the tree.  Don’t forget to write you child’s name and the year on the back of the ornament!

One more thought about the Christmas buttons.  The kids spent a long time sorting and stringing buttons before our craft project today.  Check out this post from a few years ago about this great “quiet time” activity.

I love it when we unpack our boxes of Christmas ornaments and the kids remember making them or visiting the place we bought them from.  Does your family have a favorite Christmas tree tradition?