Quick Gift Idea: Country Christmas Tree Ornament

Quick Gift Idea: Country Christmas Tree Ornament

If you are looking for a fun Christmas craft or a quick gift idea, these homemade country Christmas ornaments are very easy and inexpensive to make. You probably already have most of what you need to make them.

What you need

3″ styrofoam balls
Scrap fabric
Scissors
Craft glue
Small paintbrush

Instructions

These ornaments can be made from scrap fabric you already have on hand. They are called “country ornaments” because of their homemade, hand spun look. They look best when made from leftover quilting scraps.

I decided to recycle some fabric from my boys’ crib sheet that was ripped and ready to be thrown away. I thought it would make a great keepsake for family members to use the fabric from the sheet to make the Christmas ornaments, as well as a great way to recycle the fabric.

You will only need four or five strips of fabric to cover each ball. Cut a strip of fabric approximately 1 1/2 inches wide and long enough to wrap completely around the styrofoam ball.

Cut five of these strips. Cut one extra strip a little bit narrower to use for the ornament hanger.

Spread out a piece of newspaper to work on and use the paint brush to paint craft glue on the back of a strip of fabric. Make sure to liberally cover the fabric so that it will completely adhere to the Styrofoam.

Wrap the strip of fabric around the Styrofoam ball and hold it there for a couple of seconds until the glue begins to dry. Glue on the other strips the same way until the ball is covered. When gluing the last strip on, thread the piece you are going to use for the hanger under the strip on one end before you press that last piece down (see photo). Tie the ends of the hanger together.

Press down all the strips of fabric to smooth out any gaps in the fabric. Use the paintbrush to add glue to any spots you missed.

That’s it! An easy Christmas craft project you can make in less than an hour. Make a few to add to the top of your Christmas packages this year to give them some “country” appeal.

Rachel Paxton is a freelance writer and mom who is the author of What’s for Dinner?, an e-cookbook containing more than 250 quick easy dinner ideas. For more recipes, organizing tips, home decorating, crafts, holiday hints, and more, visit Creative Homemaking at http://www.creativehomemaking.com

Comments

  1. Thank you for a great idea!

  2. Its all about looking country. If you want it to look like Christmas use different material

  3. I think its a cute idea and for those who think its ugly or not colorful enough thats were you the crafter comes in this is an idea to run with you take the basic and biuld from there not the other way around personalize it

  4. this christmas ornament sounds very easy fun for all ages

  5. this christmas sounds very easy fun for all ages

  6. they are soooo cute and look very easy for the kids to do also…..great idea to use scrap fabric….

  7. it is a great project for kids and family

  8. Crafty down-home kind of look. And a sure-fire, easy way to get rid of all that spare fabric, we all have!

  9. come on people! If you really feel that all your ornaments MUST be in red & green, get a *little* creative yourself & add a bit of ribbon! Who wouldn’t love a mom thoughtful enough to create a family keepsake AND environmentally conscious to boot!

  10. MissTigerStar says

    It easy to make

  11. I think you should use a christmas material like a strip of red then a strip of green….
    Or use some sort of christmas material. The ones you show us aren’t too christmasy.

  12. i agree.

  13. You gotta be kidding! Nothing Christmas-y about these!

  14. not too creative!!!

  15. Lovely, Very primative and you could even tea stain them too.. Lovely!

  16. I would of chose different material for a more primative look

  17. too plain – prefer the ones dipped in scented wax

  18. chinchilla_chilieboy says

    this is really cute!!!i really like it!!!love it love josie

  19. This looks like a great christmas ornament to get the kids to help out with.

What do you think of this project? Let us know!