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3 Creative DIY Christmas Ornaments You Can Make at Home

How to make Christmas ornaments from paper and chipboard — simple, unique, and festive.

Each year I create a few new handmade ornaments to decorate the tree and to give as small gifts. Sometimes I attach them as gift toppers to make packages look special while offering a little extra present at the same time.

Painted paper ornaments in various geometric shapes stacked on top of one another to resemble jewelry

This year I got a little carried away, even though I already had plenty of ornaments. I’m glad I did — the ornaments I made this season might be my favorites yet.

I used a Cricut Maker for all three projects, but you can cut everything by hand using the templates included below. The machines speed things up, but these designs are entirely doable with scissors or a craft knife and patience.

Below are three ornament ideas, complete with tips on materials and construction. Each design was painted by hand — I painted the cardstock, kraft board, and chipboard pieces to get the exact colors and textures I wanted so they look cohesive when hung together on the tree.

Three unique Christmas ornament ideas using paper

Three Unique DIY Christmas Ornaments

I kept a consistent theme so the ornaments would work well together on the same tree. Hand-painting all the components ties the collection together and lets you control color and finish.

If you use a cutting machine, select the correct material setting: cardstock for the paper ball ornaments, 2mm chipboard or equivalent for the star ornaments, and kraft board for the geometric stacked ornaments. If cutting by hand, transfer the templates to your chosen material and cut carefully along the lines.

Now let’s walk through each ornament.

Red, pink, and yellow painted 3D ball ornaments resting on pink backdrop for the holidays

DIY Ornament #1: 3D Paper Balls

Materials: medium-weight cardstock (solid colors work best), glue, string or thin cord, bead (optional).

  1. Create or download a circle template and cut multiple identical circles. A machine will speed this up, but you can trace and cut them by hand.
  2. Paint the circles if desired and let them dry completely. Fold each circle in half so the painted sides face outward.
  3. Glue halves together along the fold, stacking pieces to gradually form a sphere. When you reach the midpoint, slide a folded length of string into the center so the loop sticks out of the top and the two tails hang below — leave about three inches of tail at the bottom.
  4. Finish gluing the remaining sections so the ball closes around the cord. Secure the bottom tails with a bead or a tight knot so the loop at the top becomes the hanger.

Template for the 3D ball ornaments: 3D ball template

3D stars, painted warm colors and hanging in front of a light pink backdrop

DIY Ornament #2: 3D Chipboard Stars

Materials: thin chipboard (2mm works well), paint, craft glue, string or twine (optional).

  1. Cut two star shapes for each ornament using chipboard. If using a cutting machine, choose the appropriate blade and material setting. If cutting by hand, take care with sharp points and slits.
  2. Paint both sides of each star and allow to dry.
  3. Each star should have a slot — one with a top slit and one with a bottom slit. Slide the two slotted stars together so the slots intersect and form a three-dimensional star.
  4. Add a short loop of string to the top point if you want to hang the star; otherwise, they look lovely nestled into branches because their dimensional form catches the light.

Template for the 3D star ornaments: 3D star template

Paper ornaments in geometric shapes attached with jump rings

DIY Ornament #3: Geo Stacked Ornaments

Materials: kraft board or sturdy cardstock, paint, small jewelry jump rings, pliers, optional weeder tool.

  1. Design or use the provided template with geometric shapes that include small hole markers at the top and bottom of each piece. Cut the shapes from kraft board or heavy cardstock.
  2. Paint both sides of each shape and let them dry fully.
  3. Assemble components with small jump rings, connecting top-to-bottom to create a stacked mobile or ornament. Use pliers to open and close the rings securely.
  4. Attach a loop of string or cord to the top ring for hanging. Alternatively, link more pieces to create a long garland for a mantel or doorway.

Tip: If any hole edges are rough after cutting, use a small weeder or pointed tool to clear them so jump rings pass through smoothly.

Template for the geo stacked ornaments: Geo stacked template

Three-dimensional ball ornaments made of painted paper in warm colors   Geometric ornaments painted in warm colors with copper rings hooking them together.

paper balls in red, yellow, and orange for the holidays Christmas ornaments made of paper in various shapes laid out on a pink background with pine tree trimmings Paper Christmas ornaments in star and ball shapes, painted red, pink, orange, and yellow

Closeup for geometric DIY ornaments made of painted paper, wire, and string

Three-dimensional ball ornaments on pink backdrop with string loops at the top

That wraps up these three ornament projects. They’re inexpensive, customizable, and make charming additions to your holiday decor. Use the templates to speed up cutting, paint to coordinate colors, and assemble with basic craft tools.

All three templates in one place:

  • 3D ball template
  • 3D star template
  • Geo stacked template

Do you make any handmade decorations for the holidays? Try one of these styles this season and adjust color and scale to match your tree and home decor.