Start a Tradition with Homemade Christmas Ornaments

Homemade ornaments are a great way to show children how to give gifts from the heart instead of from the wallet. Children take pride in their skills and ability when they can give a gift of something they made with their own hands. The gleam in the eye of the child is often more of a gift than the present itself for the recipient. Below are just a few simple and easy to follow recipes that your children help make and then decorate on their own.

The Applesauce and Cinnamon Ornament:

Take equal parts of cinnamon and applesauce and mix to a dough like consistency. Sprinkle counter with cinnamon so dough does not stick and roll out until about ¼ inch thick. Use cookie cutters in Christmas and other fun shapes. Use a straw to cut the hole in the top to hang the ornament. You can let these air dry for a few days or bake in a 150 degree over for an hour. Children can decorate then with paint, glitter, or with whatever they would like. Use a colorful ribbon as a hanger, 1/8 to 1/4 works the best. A drop of cinnamon oil can be put on these ornaments to refresh the scent from year to year.

Handmade Ornaments:

1 Cup Salt
2 Cups Flour
1 Cup Water
2 Tablespoons Vegetable Oil

In a large mixing bowl add dry ingredients and blend together. Next, add water and then oil and stir until blended. Once ingredients are mixed well place dough on counter and knead for a smoother consistency. Roll dough to ¼ thick and cut ornaments with cookie cutters. Use a straw to cut hole at the top for hanging. In a 250 degree oven bake for 1 to 2 hours or until hard. Once ornaments are cooled, children can design and decorate with paints, glue, glitter, sand, or any other creative means. String a ribbon through the hole for ornament hanging.

Pine Cone Ornaments:

First, you will need a lot of Pine Cones to decorate. The large ones work the best but smaller ones can be clustered together. Children can decorate with glue, glitter, paints, sand, etc. To add a hanger I hot glue a ribbon, craft twine, or raffia to the top.

Snowman Ornament:

Various sized white Styrofoam balls
Toothpicks
Glue
Construction paper, craft foam sheets, or felt
Tissue paper ripped in small pieces or fake snow from store
Glitter

Attach three Styrofoam balls together with toothpicks and the glue for added support. Cover balls in glue and adhere the tissue paper or snow and iridescent or white glitter (this is not necessary but adds a nice effect). Cut out eyes, nose, and mouth out of the construction paper, foam, or felt. Glue a ribbon to top for hanging.

These are just some basic recipes and ideas. You can get as creative and extravagant as you would like. Making homemade ornaments is a great tradition to start with your children. As the get older they can compare their newest creations to the ones of the past and see their improvements and changes.