How to Make Easy Christmas Ornaments Out of Cardboard

The other night, as we were celebrating PJ’s mom’s birthday at our house, we all gathered around the dining room table and made homemade Christmas ornaments. PJ came up with the entire idea and execution, and it felt so fun and festive and creative and like the perfect way to spend a holiday evening in.

If you want to see how to make these in video-form, you can check out this video, but if you would rather see them in all the blog-form glory, you can keep on scrolling.

The best part about this whole thing is absolutely no artistic talent is required. We freehanded all the painting, glittering, glueing, etc. I loved seeing what the kids be creative with theirs, like Anna’s pole dots and Allan’s stripes.

Here’s how to make super easy cardboard ornaments:

Step 1: Use a flat round object to trace a circle on a piece of cardboard. We used the lid to a round candle and the sides of a cardboard box we received in the mail.

Step 2: Trace the “top” of the ornament on one side of the circle. This will be where you put the hole for the hook to hang it on the tree.

Step 3: Lay some paper down so you don’t make a mess on the table, and start painting! We had no direction here and everyone just kind of free-handed everything and came up with their own design, which is part of the fun.

Step 4: Let the ornaments dry. This took about 30 to 45 min.

Step 5: Use Krazy Glue to set the design. Again, we weren’t following any kind of rulebook on this step. Anna and I did polkadots on ours and PJ did zigzag lines, while PJ’s mom and sister did stripes. There are no rules! You’re free to be as creative as you want.

Step 6: Add the glitter (to your heart’s desire) to the glue and just go to town on it. Be sure to shake off the ornament after each time you apply the glitter so they don’t mix together.

Step 7: Let them dry and set in and then poke a hole in the top. PJ used a monkey hook for this part.

Step 8: Add the ornament hooks.

Step 9: Hang on the tree, or wherever! I could also see these looking cute on a string strung up across a mantle or over an archway in your home.

Happy holidays, y’all!!!