Christmas decorations can be expensive to replace when they get damaged or lost, but making them yourself is an inexpensive and unique project. These five felt Christmas ornaments to make are quick and easy for all ages. Felt is a wonderful material for making ornaments because it is available in a variety of colors and designs. Use your imagination and let the creativity flow by creating several homemade ornaments to keep or give as gifts.
You Will Need:
Felt in Christmas colors Cookie cutters in various Christmas-themed shapes Red pom-pom White pom-pom 2 small black eyes or buttons 2 google eyes Small piece of white fun fur Ribbon Decorative accessories (plastic gems, buttons, ribbon and etc.) Scissors Needle & thread Craft glue Small amount of fiber stuffing
Candy Cane Ornament
Trace around the outside of a candy cane cookie cutter on a piece of white felt and cut out. (Make two) Cut five thin strips from the red felt for the stripes. Glue the stripes on the top of one of the candy cane shapes. Trim the edges even and let glue dry. Cut a piece of ribbon about two inches long for the hanger, make a loop and pin to the back top of the striped piece. With the striped piece on top and the plain piece on the bottom, whip stitch around the candy cane leaving about a one inch opening. (Do not cut thread) Lightly stuff the inside of the candy cane. Finish with a whip stitch over the opening to close. Knot and cut thread and remove straight pin.
Star Ornament
Either freehand draw or trace around a star-shaped cookie cutter on a piece of glittery blue felt and cut out. (Make two) Cut a piece of ribbon about two inches long to use as a hanger, make a loop and pin to the top back of one of the stars. Layer the two stars one on top of the other and with a contrasting thread color, whip stitch around the star leaving about a one inch opening. (Do not cut thread) Lightly stuff the inside of the star. Close with a whip stitch over the opening. Knot and cut thread and remove straight pin.
Snowman Ornament
On white felt, draw and cut out two circles about the three inches around and two slightly smaller. (Make four total; using a can or lid makes drawing the circle easier) With a darker color of felt, cut out a hat, two thin strips for the arms, and one small circle for the nose. To make the mouth, cut a thin piece of red felt, about one inch long. To make the scarf, cut a piece of one-half inch ribbon about four inches long. Cut a piece of ribbon about two inches long for the hanger. Make a loop and pin to the inside top of one of the smaller circles. Put the two larger circles together and whip stitch around leaving about a one inch opening. (Do not cut thread) Lightly stuff and close the open with a whip stitch. Knot and cut thread. Put the two smaller circles together and whip stitch around leaving an opening for the stuffing. (Do not cut thread) Lightly stuff, finishing whip stitching around, knot and cut thread, and remove straight pin. Sew the smaller circles to the top of the larger circles. Either glue or sew the arms and the hat on the snowman. Glue on google eyes or small buttons, the nose and the mouth. Tie the scarf ribbon around the snowman’s neck.
Christmas Tree Ornament
Trace around a tree shaped cookie cutter on a piece of felt and cut out. (Make two of any color) Cut a piece of ribbon about two inches long for the hanger. Make a loop with the ribbon and pin to the inside top of one of the trees. Whip stitch the two trees together leaving an opening about one inch wide to stuff. (Do not cut thread) Lightly stuff and finish whip stitching around. Knot and cut thread and remove straight pin. Decorate by gluing on plastic gems, decorative buttons and/or ribbons.
Santa Claus Ornament
On a piece of peach or off white colored felt, trace around a coffee can, margarine or any lid that is about five to six inches around to make a circle and cut it out. (Make two) Using red felt, draw one large triangle, the bottom of which should be approximately 12 inches wide and the length about nine inches. Cut out the triangle. Cut a strip of white felt about one inch wide and five to six inches long for the hat band. Cut a half circle out of the fun fur to make the beard. Cut three small leave shapes out of green felt for the holly leaves and three small red felt circles for the berries. Cut a half circle out of the red felt for the mouth. Cut a piece of ribbon about two inches long for the hanger and pin to the inside of one of the circles. Whip stitch the two peach circles together leaving about a one inch opening for the stuffing. Lightly stuff and finish by whip stitching over the opening. Tie and cut thread and remove straight pin. Fold the red triangle in half lengthwise and glue the long edges together. Let glue dry, turn inside out and glue the bottom edges together. Glue the hat to the top of the circle (about an inch down). Glue the white strip of felt to the bottom of the hat, covering about three-fourths of an inch. Fold the top of the hat down towards the bottom of the circle. The top of the triangle (hat) should be even with or slightly longer than the bottom edge of the circle. Glue the fun fur to the bottom of the circle, leaving an overhang for the beard and gluing the edges up the sides of the circle (it should look like a sideways C). Put a dab of glue on the back tip of the hat to attach to the beard. On the bottom corner of the hat, make the holly leaves and berries by gluing one piece flat with the tip facing out, the second leaf flat and pointing in the opposite direction, and the third leaf in the middle of the other two leaves with the tip pointing upwards. Glue the three small red circles to the bottom center of the three leaves. Glue the mouth in the center of the beard and about one inch from the top of the beard. To make the nose, glue a red pom-pom in the center of the face just above the beard. Glue the black eyes or buttons on the face with one on each side of and just above the top of the nose. Glue a white pom-pom on the tip of the hat.
These are a few of the wonderful ornaments you can create for use as Christmas decorations. Children adore making homemade gifts, ornaments and other felt Christmas decorations are quick, easy and inexpensive gifts that grandparents, teachers and other special recipients will enjoy receiving.