Christmas is already magic on its own.
But you know what makes it even better? Sitting cross-legged on the living room floor with a hot cocoa in hand and making ornaments with your kids.
Not perfect ornaments. Not Pinterest-perfect, oh-no-no.
I’m talking about wobbly-painted, slightly glitter-heavy, “we might’ve glued that on upside-down but we’re keeping it” kind of ornaments.
The kind that will make you smile five years from now when you pull them out of the box.
And the best part? You can make them all from dollar store finds.
Let’s get crafting.
1. Glitter Pinecones
Pinecones are free if you live near trees, but the dollar store usually sells bags of them.
Dip the tips in white paint for a snowy look, then sprinkle with glitter while still wet.
Kids will go nuts with the glitter… and yes, you’ll be vacuuming for days.
2. Painted Glass Baubles
Grab a pack of clear baubles from the craft aisle.
Let your kids squirt paint inside, then shake like they’re making a maraca.
The paint swirls turn out different every single time—no two the same.
3. Felt Gingerbread People
Cut gingerbread shapes out of brown felt.
Kids can stick googly eyes, tiny buttons, and wobbly smiles with glue.
They might look slightly haunted… but charming, nonetheless.
4. Pom-Pom Snowballs
White pom-poms glued onto plain ornament balls = instant snow magic.
You can even add a little scarf made of ribbon.
Warning: kids may decide to have a “snowball fight” mid-project.
5. Mini Present Boxes
Buy tiny gift boxes, wrap them with ribbon, and hang with string.
Kids love making them “fancy” with too-big bows.
These look adorable nestled between branches.
6. Popsicle Stick Stars
Lay five sticks into a star shape and glue the ends.
Paint gold or silver, then add sequins if you’re feeling extra festive.
It’s messy, but worth it.
7. Mason Jar Lid Wreaths
Remove the lids from old mason jars (or buy packs at the dollar store).
Wrap with ribbon or yarn, add a bow, and hang.
They’re mini wreaths you can make in minutes.
8. Button Snowmen
White buttons stacked on felt make perfect little snowmen.
Add a scarf from leftover fabric and tiny stick arms.
Glue on a loop to hang—it’s adorable.
9. Cinnamon Stick Bundles
Tie three cinnamon sticks together with twine.
Add a sprig of faux greenery and a bow.
Smells like Christmas every time you pass the tree.
10. Cupcake Liner Angels
Fold a cupcake liner into a cone shape for the dress.
Use a bead for the head and a glittery pipe cleaner for the halo.
Kids will want to make a whole choir.
11. Sock Snowmen
Cut an old white sock and fill with rice.
Tie sections to make the body and head, then decorate with buttons and scarves.
The kids will name them all… obviously.
12. Paper Snowflakes
An oldie but a goodie.
Fold, snip, and unfold for magical paper designs.
Tape them to string and hang from the tree branches.
13. Beaded Candy Canes
Pipe cleaners + red and white beads = perfect candy canes.
Twist the ends and hang.
They’re easy enough for even the littlest hands.
14. Mini Wreaths from Shower Curtain Rings
Wrap each ring with green yarn.
Add berries made from red beads.
These turn out way fancier than they have any right to be.
15. Ribbon Trees
Fold ribbon into a zig-zag pattern, making it narrower as you go up.
Glue to a popsicle stick trunk.
You’ll have tiny ribbon Christmas trees in minutes.
16. Clear Bauble Snow Scenes
Fill clear baubles with fake snow, a mini tree, or a tiny reindeer.
Kids will love choosing what goes inside.
It’s like a snow globe without the water.
17. Glittery Clothespins
Paint clothespins and dip in glitter.
Use them to clip small ornaments or Christmas cards onto the tree.
Double duty—pretty and practical.
18. Scrabble Tile Messages
Glue Scrabble tiles to spell “JOY,” “NOEL,” or even “SANTA.”
Attach ribbon on top.
Kids love making silly words too.
19. Twine-Wrapped Orbs
Wrap twine around a balloon, glue as you go, then pop the balloon.
You’ll have a rustic ball ornament that looks store-bought.
Kids will love popping the balloons at the end.
20. Sock Mittens
Cut tiny mitten shapes from colorful socks.
Glue the edges and stuff lightly with cotton.
Hang with a cute bow on top.
21. Wooden Spoon Santas
Paint the spoon handle red and the spoon head white for Santa’s face.
Add a felt hat and cotton beard.
Instant charm.
22. Faux Snow Mason Jars
Fill small jars with fake snow and mini figurines.
Screw the lid on tight and shake.
They sparkle under the Christmas lights.
23. Sequin Baubles
Coat a foam ball in glue, then press on sequins until it’s covered.
Your kids will love how sparkly it gets.
These catch the lights beautifully.
24. Fabric Scrap Stars
Cut star shapes from fabric scraps and sew or glue the edges.
Add stuffing if you like them puffy.
Great way to use up leftover fabric.
25. Chalkboard Ornaments
Paint wood slices with chalkboard paint.
Kids can draw something new every year.
Fun and reusable.
26. Puzzle Piece Snowflakes
Glue old puzzle pieces into a snowflake pattern.
Paint white or silver and add glitter.
You’ll never look at a missing-puzzle set the same way again.
27. Candy Wrapper Baubles
Save shiny candy wrappers, flatten them, and glue onto plain ornaments.
It’s like recycling, but prettier.
Kids will volunteer to “eat more candy for crafting purposes.”
28. Pinecone Owls
Glue felt wings and eyes onto a pinecone.
Add a little beak and string to hang.
They’re ridiculously cute.
29. Glitter Dipped Feathers
Dip feather tips in glue, then glitter.
Hang them from branches with thread.
They shimmer every time someone walks past.
30. Cookie Cutter Frames
Trace the inside of a cookie cutter onto a photo, cut it out, and glue in place.
Hang the cutter with ribbon.
Instant family photo ornaments.
31. Yarn-Wrapped Letters
Buy wooden or cardboard letters (like initials).
Wrap tightly with yarn in festive colors.
Personalized and cozy.
32. Tinsel Stars
Form a star shape with pipe cleaners, then wrap with tinsel.
Easy for little fingers and super sparkly.
33. Snowman Caps from Bottle Tops
Glue two bottle caps together vertically.
Paint white, add a scarf, and hang.
Small but adorable.
34. Jingle Bell Strings
String together colorful jingle bells.
Wrap around the tree or hang as ornaments.
They make a soft jingling sound every time the tree moves.
35. Cupcake Liner Trees
Stack cupcake liners in decreasing sizes on a toothpick or skewer.
Top with a star.
Cute and budget-friendly.
36. Painted Wood Slices
Pick up a bag of wood slices from the dollar store.
Let the kids paint snowmen, Santas, or anything they like.
Seal with clear spray to last for years.
37. Candy Cane Hearts
Glue two candy canes together to form a heart.
Wrap with ribbon and hang.
They’re sweet… literally.
38. Glittery Acorns
Paint acorn caps gold or silver.
Add glitter to the tips.
Hang in little clusters.
39. Mini Sweater Ornaments
Cut sweater shapes from felt, decorate with buttons and ribbon.
Hang from a mini hanger (also from the dollar store).
They look like doll clothes.
40. Fabric-Covered Balls
Wrap foam balls with fabric scraps and tie with ribbon.
No sewing needed.
They’re soft, safe, and stylish.
41. Puzzle Piece Reindeer
Glue puzzle pieces into a reindeer shape.
Add googly eyes and a red pom-pom nose.
Kids will proudly hang their own herd.
42. Twisted Pipe Cleaner Stars
Twist gold or silver pipe cleaners into star shapes.
Add beads for extra sparkle.
They’re feather-light, so they don’t weigh down branches.
43. Stamped Clay Ornaments
Make air-dry clay shapes and press with rubber stamps.
Paint once dry.
These look way more expensive than they are.
44. Mini Stockings
Sew or glue felt into tiny stocking shapes.
Decorate with sequins, beads, or ribbon.
Hide small candies inside for a surprise.
45. Ribbon & Bead Icicles
Thread beads onto ribbon, tying knots in between.
Let them dangle from the branches like icicles.
They shimmer when the lights hit them.
If you make even a handful of these, your tree will look like a story—one only your family could’ve written.
The messy glue spots, the slightly crooked stars, the glitter that will appear in your carpet until next June… it’s all part of the memory.
Dollar store crafts aren’t just about saving money. They’re about turning ordinary little things into something that feels like Christmas magic.
And when you do it with your kids, it’s not just the ornaments you’re making—it’s the tradition.
