Nothing's cuter on a Christmas tree than ornaments made by kids. And you don't have to be crazy crafty or slave all weekend to throw them together, either! If you're looking for a fun way to spend your holiday weekends, check out these easy DIY ornaments for kids below. In just a few hours, you'll have holiday decorations you'll cherish for years.
What's your favorite ornament made by your kids?
Image © Tim Pannell/Corbis
Salt Dough Ornaments
It doesn't get easier than salt dough ornaments — all you need is flour, salt, and water! From there, the shapes and designs are as limitless as your kids' imaginations and can range from handprints to cookie cutter stars, snowmen, and beyond.
'Upcycled' Lightbulb Ornament
Save those old light bulbs! Turn them upside down, add a ribbon and paint, and voila — you've got "upcycled" lightbulb Christmas tree ornaments.
Reindeer Ornament
Your little tykes will be delighted to learn that their handprint, cut out of felt, looks a lot like a reindeer when you turn it upside and add some pipe cleaner antlers and a googly eye.
Fabric Scraps Tree Ornament
Get your older kids some practice with a needle and thread with these adorable tree ornaments made out of fabric scraps — a great way to recycle old material.
Snowmen Bulbs
Take your boring old Christmas ornament bulbs and turn them into snowmen! All you need is a marker and some pipe cleaners and pom-poms for earmuffs.
Ornaments Made Out of Old Toys
Got some old action figures, dolls, or other toys you're looking to toss? Turn them into recycled toy ornaments instead! Your kids will get a kick out of seeing them on your tree.
Cinna-ments
These super-cute "cinna-ments" (cinnamon ornaments) take just five minutes to make — all you need is some applesauce, cinnamon, and a few other household ingredients.
Popsicle Stick Ornaments
These three ornaments (star, reindeer, and Christmas tree) use popsicle sticks as their base — smart since they won't break if the little tots drop them!
Felt Sphere Ornament
This beautiful spherical Christmas ornament is made out of felt and adds some bling with sequins. It's a great craft for tweens and teens who want to create something more sophisticated.
Glittery Initials
Kids are little narcissists — which is why they'll love creating glittery Christmas ornaments shaped like their own initials or, heck, even their whole name.
Bead Snowflake
Wires and beads are all you need to create pretty snowflake ornaments. The color and pattern options are endless so that no two snowflakes will look alike!
Perler Bead Ornaments
Perler beads, which can be fused together with an iron, can create great ornaments; this mom from Almost Unschoolers helped her kids use their pixilated impressions to create videogame characters. But the sky's the limit with these things.
