Beaded Ornaments

• Beaded ornaments are inexpensive to make and are appropriate for children and adults. Young children will need to be supervised so that beads are not swallowed. One type of beaded ornament that can be made uses only beads and pipe cleaners. Slide beads onto a pipe cleaner until you can barely see the pipe cleaner between the beads. You can fold a single beaded pipe cleaner into the shape of a bell, candy cane or wreath, or fold multiple beaded pipe cleaners into a snowflake or bauble shape. Another type of beaded ornament you can make is a Christmas tree icicle. Fold the end of a 3-inch strip of craft wire into a loop. Slide several different shapes of clear or colored beads onto the wire. Fold the top of the wire into a hook, and hang the icicle on the tree.
  
  

Ornaments Made from Candy

• Ornaments made from candy are fun for families because the ornaments can be eaten when the Christmas tree is taken down. One type of candy ornament involves making mice out of Hershey Kisses. All that is needed is a bag of Hershey Kisses, double-sided tape, googly eyes, a sheet of pink felt, scissors and a spool of fishing line. One mouse requires two Kisses. Cut the tag off of one kiss. On that kiss, glue two googly eyes near the base. Cut out two small circles from the pink felt. These will be the ears. Use the tape to tape the bases of the two kisses together with the ears and a loop of fishing line in between. You also can make a candy cane reindeer with a candy cane, two googly eyes, a small pom pom, ribbon, two pipe cleaners and glue. Glue the googly eyes at the top of the base of the cane. Glue the pom pom under the eyes as the nose and wrap the pipe cleaners around the hooked top of the cane, folding them into antlers. Tie a ribbon bow midway up the cane.
  
  

Ornaments Made from Craft/Popsicle Sticks and Paint

• Popsicle and craft stick ornaments are fun crafts for the family because they are inexpensive, can be painted and require imaginative thinking. A craft stick Santa needs eight craft sticks, red, white, flesh-colored, pink and black acrylic paint, a 3-by3-inch piece of white card stock, a 6-inch piece of yarn, white craft glue, a paintbrush and scissors. Paint six craft sticks white and two red. Paint the center of the card stock flesh color, the top red and the bottom white, and glue your craft sticks so they make a beard and a hat. Paint Santa's eyes black and cheeks pink, and glue the loop of yarn to the back of the ornament. A craft stick snowflake can be made with four evenly spaced craft sticks intersecting at the center. Paint and glitter can be applied creatively, and a ribbon loop can be glued to the back. A craft stick reindeer can be made with three craft sticks, two googly eyes, a red pom pom, red and green card stock and a ribbon. Glue two craft sticks in a V shape. Glue the third at the top, overlapping to create ears and antlers. Glue eyes on either side and a nose at the bottom. Cut card stock into holly berries and leaves and glue these at the top. Tie ribbon loop onto the reindeer and hang it on the tree.
  
  

Ball Ornaments

• Foam and ball ornaments can create classic-style ornaments with a homemade touch. The snowman ball ornament craft is an inexpensive craft recommended for ages 7 and older. You will need a glass ball ornament, white and black acrylic paint, water, orange and pink felt, a 4-inch piece of green yarn, two small green pom-poms, white craft glue and scissors. Mix white paint and water until paint is a pourable consistency. Pour paint inside the ornament and swirl it around. Dump out the excess paint. Glue yarn across the top of the ornament and pom-poms on either side to make ear muffs. Cut a triangle of orange felt for the nose and two pink circles for the cheeks. Dot the eyes and the smile with black acrylic paint. You can also make a reindeer ball ornament with a standard glass or fabric ball ornament, two googly eyes, a pom pom and two pipe cleaners. Glue the eyes at the center of the ornament, and the pom pom nose centered below the eyes. Wrap pipe cleaners around the hook of the ball ornament, and fold them into antlers.
  
  

Paper and Painted Ornaments

• If you have young children, sometimes the best ornaments to make with them are paper and painted ornaments. All you need to make these are paper cutouts, ribbon and a variety of kid's paint colors. Line a table with newspaper, and have your children paint paper cutouts of Santa, snowmen, reindeer, trees and more. Hole punch the cutouts and tie a ribbon loop around them. Have your children hang their ornaments on the family Christmas tree.