What’s the Project? Craft projects at Christmas are always fun for the kids and they will love these kids’ DIY Christmas ornaments! They can make any character they would like, like Elmo or Minions, and hang it on the tree to enjoy for years to come.
My seven-year-old is reading over my shoulder right now as I update this old post and he’s going crazy because he wants to make one of these ornaments! I guess that puts a stamp of approval on them.
I love doing crafts with my kids for Christmas and this is a simple one that they enjoy.
These kids’ DIY Christmas ornaments are a fun project for the kids and they can make any character that they want!
Elmo was a huge hit with my littles, but you can make them with anybody! Whoever your kids like-make them an ornament! It’s really very easy!
I have a major weak spot for minions so I love making those too. I think Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles would be awesome too.
Here’s how to make them.
Kids’ DIY Christmas Ornaments:
Supplies Needed:
- Clear Glass Bulb Ornaments (you can buy a 12 pack or so at your craft store)
- Americana Multi-Surface Satin in desired colors
- Vinyl (optional)
- Ribbon to hang ornaments
Instructions:
Take the top part off of the ornament and pour a bunch of paint inside. Be generous-it will be easier:
Now place your thumb over the top hole and shake to spread the paint. Add more as needed.
When it is completely coated, turn it upside down and let it dry in a paper cup or in the box that it came in, making sure the excess paint can drip out as it dries. Let it dry for a long time-maybe even overnight.
Then add the face! You can do this buy cutting out adhesive vinyl or with paint. I did a combination of the two.
The minion is entirely from vinyl:
Elmo is vinyl eyes and mouth with a painted nose. (Shown above.)
And Mike is mostly painting:
Really, just do whatever works best for you. The Americana Multi-Surface Satin will stick well.
Which kids’ DIY Christmas ornaments character will you make? I hope your kids have a blast making their own!
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Terri C says
December 2, 2013 at 12:45 pmThank you for the easy entries, not everyone is on twitter or Instagram. Merry Christmas,
Kristy says
December 3, 2013 at 9:02 amHa!!! Love them all! So cute and a great tutorial!
Marta says
December 3, 2013 at 11:02 amI hope I win!!I love crafting!!
Christy S. Lube says
December 3, 2013 at 2:00 pmAdorable!! Now I’m trying to figure out how to do the little green Aliens from Toy Story… lol.
Elaine says
December 3, 2013 at 2:33 pmLove all the seasonal ornaments. Thanks for the instructions.
Elaine
Crystal says
December 3, 2013 at 8:53 pmAbsolutely Adorable!!! I love the minions!! Pinning :)
Amber Rizer says
December 4, 2013 at 10:48 amI’ve always loved crafts but unfortunately Im not very artistic. Im going to try these since you’ve made them seem easy enough! Wish me luck!! fingers crossed for the giveaway bc i want to unleash the artistic craftiness out of me : ) Thanx You!
Justina Wilson says
December 5, 2013 at 9:19 amLooking forward to making some Minions, Mike and Elmo’s for Friends with kids trees! As well as my tree!! Hummm hummm clears throat!! Lol
Jane says
December 6, 2013 at 5:44 pmThese are too cute!! What a great idea! :D
I’d love for you to swing by and link up at our Holiday link party: http://www.urbanejane.com/2013/12/holiday-glam-link-party.html
Hope you have a wonderful weekend!!
Jess says
December 7, 2013 at 7:51 pmI found your post on Pinterest and I want to thank you for sharing. My 11 yr old son is happily making the Minions as Christmas gifts for his friends. The balls are sitting upside-down in our kitchen right now!
Amber says
December 13, 2013 at 10:36 amOh that makes me so happy…and makes me think my 10 year old would get a kick out of doing that too!!
Katie says
December 8, 2013 at 8:23 pmAMBER!!! I love everything about these three ornaments and so easy to make!!!
Autumn says
December 11, 2013 at 3:42 pmlove these! You are so good at coming up with ideas that are easy that turn out adorable. My kids saw these and want my to make some for them now ;)
Rebecca Madsen says
December 14, 2013 at 5:40 pmI love the minion posts, so do my kids, I hope you keep them coming!
marianne wrenn says
December 14, 2013 at 8:51 pmwhat about shaprie markers will they work?
Amber says
December 17, 2013 at 7:32 amOh good idea! I bet they would.
Yumi says
December 15, 2013 at 2:18 pmno smurf :(
Amber says
December 17, 2013 at 7:31 amThe idea is that I showed you how to make them, now you can make any character that you want. :)
Rhonda Tenderholt says
December 16, 2013 at 6:26 pm12-16-13: These are really cute. I’m gonna ask a stupid question here but the eyes and such are on the OUTSIDE of the ball? Couldn’t figure out how u would have put it on the inside.
Amber says
December 17, 2013 at 7:30 amOh-not a stupid question. I should clarify that in the tutorial. Yes, they are on the outside.
Val Frania says
December 21, 2013 at 11:54 amVery cute! Thanks for sharing. I’d like to follow you via the PinWoot app if you are registered. Here’s the link if you aren’t and would like to check it out: https://pinwoot.com/?r=21459
I love the clear bulbs you can decorate – I did them when I taught school years ago. This is such a good idea – my grandkids are in love with Minions. This would be a great project for them to do at Grammie’s house! I found your site via DIY Cozy Home.
Sheila @ BrainPowerBoy says
November 15, 2014 at 6:18 amFound these last night when looking for some fun boy type ornaments. Pinned and shared :) Thanks for a neat idea.
Jess says
November 20, 2014 at 6:49 amLove these so much!! Where did you buy the plastic vinyl from?
Amber says
November 20, 2014 at 7:23 amAny craft store or expressions vinyl online
Susan Bradbury says
November 20, 2014 at 11:44 amI bought glass balls and acrylic paint made for glass and i am having a problem with the paint sticking inside the balls. Did you have that problem at all i have tried and re-tried letting them dry for a week now and still not completely covered any ideas?
Amber says
November 20, 2014 at 9:09 pmI didn’t use regular acrylic paint-I used the multi surface satin. It did take a long time to dry though.
Terri says
November 23, 2014 at 1:21 amCover the inside with rubbing alcohol and let dry before adding the paint. This should help the paint adhere better.
Lisa says
November 24, 2014 at 5:38 amWhat is plastic vinyl. Where can you find at hobby lobby
Amber says
November 24, 2014 at 3:27 pmIt will be in the section that sells cutting machines like Circuts and Silhouettes.
Judy says
November 25, 2014 at 1:27 pmNot sure what is meant by “website” when leaving a reply. Saw this on my Facebook ‘news feed’ .
My actual comment is, when I have applied paint to the inside of clear glass ornament balls, is to swirl some rubbing alcohol around the inside first. Let dry before applying paint. Helps paint to “adhere” better. Also, speaking of clear balls, you can also “swirl” 3 or 4 colors as well, or use metallic paint. You can also fill the ball with “powdered styro foam” and put “Frosty’s” face on it and then use a ‘pine stem’ (pipe cleaner) piece across the top and two pom poms on either side, for ‘ear muffs’. Glue the top to the ball after filling, so the weight doesn’t cause the ball to separate and break. Use a styrofoam coffee cup to pour the “powder” into the balls. Stops the ‘static cling’, when trying to use something else, as the stuff will try to cling to everything but its self, including your hands! There really are ‘endless’ possibilities to decorating these. Truly a DIY ’empty palette’ for one’s imagination!
Kara says
December 1, 2014 at 10:38 amDid you use a template for the minion face? If so, where can we find it? Thanks!
Amber says
December 1, 2014 at 12:36 pmNo because every minion is different, so anything goes!
Terri says
December 2, 2014 at 9:15 amWhere is the tutorial or is it just the instructions above?
Amber says
December 2, 2014 at 1:12 pmIt’s all in this post.
Sue says
December 3, 2014 at 2:11 pmQuick Question…do you use vinyl tape or where do you buy vinyl? These are adorable!
Amber says
December 4, 2014 at 7:38 amAt the craft store near where you get cutting machines
Alley says
December 18, 2014 at 10:50 pmI followed the instructions to a t
But my outcome was different.
The paint inside my ornaments did not dry and I let my ornaments sit for three days.
The paint insidea them is now pooled in the bottom of the glass.
but the rest of the project outcome was good
Amber says
December 20, 2014 at 12:03 pmYou need to not use acrylic paint. It needs to be a multi surface or glass paint.
Cindy deRosier says
July 1, 2015 at 9:42 am‘m the Editorial Assistant for Fun Family Crafts and I wanted to let you know that we have featured your Minion ornament! You can see it here:
http://funfamilycrafts.com/minion-ornament/
If you have other kid-friendly craft tutorials, we’d love it if you would submit them. If you would like to display a featured button on your site, you can grab one from the right side bar of your post above. Thanks for a great project idea!
Carol says
November 9, 2015 at 5:52 pmWhere did you find the vinyl for the minion ornament? can you go into a little bit more detail on how you did the eyes :)
On the ninja turtle ornaments , what width of ribbon did you use and where did you buy it? I’m using the sz ornaments you have pictured. Thank you for posting these. There adorable! Hope to get an email with my questions answered soon. Thank you
Amber says
November 11, 2015 at 11:25 amI just get the vinyl at a craft store and then you can just use scissors to cut pieces to the size you need like circles for the eyes and whatever.
jen says
December 7, 2015 at 8:39 amWill this work with a plastic bulb instead of glass? Wanting to have my kindergarter make one for his class but scared glass will break!
Amber says
December 12, 2015 at 5:15 pmYep! Should work just fine!
Helena | Forward Thinking Home says
December 15, 2018 at 4:10 amThese are adorable. My kids are going to love these. I’m going to get them to help me make them this week. I can’t wait. I’m not even sure which characters we’re going to do but we’ll work that out as we do them. Thanks for such a great Christmas idea.