3 Easy DIY Christmas Ornaments: Eco-Friendly and Sustainable
Check out these eco-friendly and sustainable DIY Christmas ornaments. If you’d like inexpensive and easy DIY Christmas Ornaments made with foraged materials and glitter, I’ve got you covered.
In addition, the ornaments are sustainable and budget-friendly. Although they are cheap to make, you would never know because they look so festive on the Christmas Tree.
You can also get the kids together to create many different styles. Just be cautious about the hot glue. These finger protectors are such a good idea for everyone involved.
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Pinterest Challenge
Today, I’m joining my friend Cindy at County Road 407 for her monthly Pinterest Challenge. This month’s challenge is for Christmas Ornaments, and there are so many creative ideas. All links are at the end of this post.
If you are joining me from Cindy at DIY Beautify, I know you loved her cute mitten garland.
DIY Ornament – Twig Christmas Tree Ornament
First, I made a Christmas Tree DIY Ornament using foraged, eco-friendly twigs from my yard.
Begin by cutting the twigs with pruning shears of varying lengths. You can make the trees any size that you desire. To make the tree trunk, gather two of the longest sticks of the same length and hot glue them side by side.
Next, add the tree branches by starting at the tree base and attaching twigs to the tree trunk with hot glue.
Continue up the tree trunk allowing the branches to become shorter as you move up.
Once you have the tree complete, paint the entire tree with white chalk paint.
If you prefer a more rustic ornament, you can skip the paint.
DIY Ornaments Glitter
You can add glitter to your ornaments if you like a little sparkle and shine.
To add glitter, paint the surface with Elmer’s Glue. Lay the ornament, glue the side up on a protective surface, and sprinkle glitter over the decoration.
Insider Tip
Sprinkle over a clean, smooth paper or plastic to save the excess glitter. Fold to form a funnel and pour the glitter back into the container.
Another option is to use Glitter Blast Spray Paint. It will not provide as heavy of coverage, but it is less messy.
Finally, to finish your DIY Ornament, add a hanger and star to the top of the tree. Run the metal wire through the hole in the star and use hot glue to attach the star to the top of the twig ornament.
Eco-Friendly Ornaments – Forage Twig Star
You can make many different shapes using foraged twigs. However, I decided to make eco-friendly star ornaments to accompany the Christmas Tree Ornaments.
For this project, cut five twigs the same length. Use hot glue to attach all the pieces until you have a star shape.
You can follow the exact instructions as the Christmas tree and paint the star with chalk paint if desired.
Add Elmer’s Glue over the star’s top and sprinkle with glitter to cover. Allow your ornaments to dry, and attach a wire to the star as a hanger.
Dried Orange Eco-friendly DIY Ornaments
Lastly, dry oranges for eco-friendly DIY ornaments. I am using dried oranges throughout the house this holiday season.
Don’t miss How To Dry Fruit for Christmas Decorating for tips to help with these ornaments.
To make the dried orange ornament, use rustic wire and thread it through the metal star. The wire will easily push through the orange. Twist to form a hanger, and ta-da, you have a simple but lovely Christmas ornament.
I made some orange ornaments plain, without the star. Both are a great way to create sustainable and budget-friendly Christmas Ornaments.
The combination of rustic and glitter adds to the woodland charm of this year’s tree.
The DIY ornaments glitter makes them shine on the tree.
Materials for DIY Ornaments
- Rustic Metal Stars
- Lightweight Rustic Metal wire
- Hot glue gun
- Elmer’s Glue
- White Chalk Paint
- Gold Glitter
- Silicone Finger Protections
See more about how to decorate this neutral Christmas tree with sustainable and eco-friendly materials.
Update: Durable and Long-Lasting Ornaments
I originally made these ornaments in 2022. They are not only made from sustainable and eco-friendly materials, but they will last for years. Here’s what they look like in 2024.
Related Eco-Friendly Articles
See these budget-friendly Christmas DIY projects for creative Christmas decorating ideas.
- Rustic Pinecone Christmas Tree Centerpiece
- Easy DIY Wood Christmas Ornaments Using Hot Glue
- Vintage Inspired Christmas Ornaments with Hot Glue
- How To Make a Kissing Ball With Natural Elements
Pinterest Challenge Links
I hope you enjoyed these easy DIY ornaments. Up next is Marty at A Stroll Thru Life with her thrifty DIY Ornaments.
Pin It To Remember It
Did you find some great ideas you’d like to save for future reference? Hover over the images you’d like to save and pin to your favorite Pinterest Boards when you see the PIN button.
I dried several different citrus fruits and I love the star/orange, I’m trying this one. Happy thanksgiving
Gail,
It’s so fun and easy to do. Looks great for Christmas.
Such cute ideas Rachel!
Cindy,
Thanks for stopping by.
HI Rachel I love the dried oranges because the orange just looks so good next to greenery. Love it! Pinning. laura
Laura,
I appreciate this.
Such cute ideas! You are so clever. Hugs and blessings to you.
Renae,
Thanks so much.
I love your trees and stars and I also love the dried oranges for your garland. How fun and so easy to make. These will be fun for me to recreate with my grands. Thanks so much for the tutorial.
Marty,
I appreciate this so much.
Seriously! The most adorable eco-friendly, in your own yard, hand made ornaments that are so easy to make and fun! I have to ask where did you find those adorable little white, fluffy owl ornaments?
Nancy,
They are from Hobby Lobby. I appreciate your kind words and encouragement.
Love your foraged twiggy ornaments with glitter. You come up with the best ideas for “natural” decorating items, whatever the holiday. The glitter on the twigs is such a pretty way to use natural items and elevate them for Christmas! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, Rachel!
Debra,
I appreciate you for your encouraging words.
You are an foraging queen Rachel! Love your imagination and the beautiful things you create. The gold glitter is the perfect touch for your starts and trees. Love the orange slices too!
Michelle,
I really appreciate your encouragement.
Goodness gracious these are so fun. Love how easy and inexpensive they are. Glitter is now on my list of things to get next time I’m at Hobby Lobby! Thank you for joining in this month. LOVE THS!!! pinned
Cindy,
You are so kind. Thanks to your for organizing this.
Great 3 for the price of 1 post, Rachel! I love simple, rustic ornaments for Christmas made out of nature. So pretty.
Lora,
I’m so glad you like them.
Such pretty and smart ideas for organic Christmas tree ornaments, Rachel! Great ideas! Pinned!
Julie,
I’m glad you like them.
These are just darling Rachel, I love how inexpensive they all are to make, but look so fabulous. I would love to join this pinterest challenge if there is ever an opening.
Wendy,
Thank you so much.
Rachel, I love all the ornaments you’ve made!!! One of the first ornaments my husband and I ever bought was a small paper Christmas tree with tiny bells hanging off each cross limb. It was made exactly like yours, just out of heavy paper.
Thank you for the great tutorial and good memories! Happy Thanksgiving!!!
Big holiday hugs,
Barb
Barbara,
So glad this brought back a happy memory.
Rachel, what a great way to use you find in your yard. Super way to recycle and still add some pretty bling for Christmas ornaments. Happy Thanksgiving.
Carol,
I’m glad you like this.
Love these ornament ideas too!
I really appreciate this.
Just pinned this amazing post too, Rachel! I love this idea because anyone of any age and skill set can participate. Plus, the orange slices would be super cute as a gift tag too. Hugs, CoCo
Yes, That’s such a great idea.
Oh my goodness these are so creative and adorable! I love the rustic, primitive -farmhousey style, but they have a classic elegance too. Time to go pick up sticks!
So fun hopping with you again!
Amber
I’m so glad you like them. Thanks.
Rachel,
These are so pretty! You are so clever to use the twigs. We hope to enclose our screened porch and this would be perfect out there!
Christy,
I’m so glad you like them. thanks.