How to Make Easy DIY Decoupage Christmas Ornaments

 One of the most delightful ways to express your festive spirit is to craft your own Christmas ornaments. Are you looking for a fun project that can add a personal touch to your holiday decor? Here is an easy DIY decoupage Christmas ornament project you can customize to your liking.

This versatile technique allows you to transform simple materials into stunning ornaments that reflect your unique style and holiday cheer.

Decoupage is not only an enjoyable craft but also an excellent way to use materials you may already have at home. It’s one of my favorite methods of adding color, style, and  texture to your home.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through the process of making beautiful DIY decoupage Christmas ornaments that will dazzle your family and friends. 

I’ll cover everything from choosing the right materials to step-by-step instructions to achieve that flawless finish. 

If you have never decoupaged before, you’ll discover one of the best DIY techniques to use in your home decor efforts.

Decoupage Christmas Projects

I’ve used the decoupage technique multiple times for making home decor accessories. Here are ones that can also apply to Christmas decorations.

• How to Decoupage a Glass Platter – this would be a great project for a Christmas platter.
• 3 Ways to Decorate Terra Cotta Pots with Decoupage – this tutorial can be used to design a pretty planter for Christmas – put a faux Christmas tree in it.
• How to Make DIY Chargers for Your Christmas Table – this is one of my favorite decoupage projects.

This post contains affiliate links to products used in the creation of this project. If you should order any item from this site, I may receive compensation, but you do not pay a penny more. Your purchase is greatly appreciated as it helps support the continued publication of this site.

Supplies for These Easy Decoupage Ornaments

Whether you’re an experienced crafter or a beginner looking for a fun project to tackle during the holidays, these easy DIY decoupage Christmas ornaments are sure to inspire you.

The supply list is short, inexpensive and easy to find.

• clear plastic ornaments in your preferred size – I used 4-inch diameter. For this project you want the type of ornaments that come apart.
• Mod Podge in Gloss Finish
• Mod Podge brush or foam brush
• container for Mod Podge – I use disposible containers – the kind used for nachos
• decorative napkins or paper hand towels in a color and pattern you like
• small sharp craft scissors – a must-have for small craft projects
• craft glue for reinforcing the ornaments
• thin decorative thread or string for hanging your ornaments
• velvet ribbon for embellishment (optional)

My Decoupage Ornament Vision

These ornaments will be used on the new faux white Christmas tree that I’ve ordered for our sitting room. It’s not here yet, but I wanted to be ready to decorate it.

The color theme will be a blue and white Christmas tree. It will again be a tabletop tree.

Although I have a lot of blue Christmas ornaments, I couldn’t resist a few more. A couple of weeks ago, I found these pretty blue porcelain chinoiserie ornaments.

I wanted some more new blue ornaments and I decided that a new Mod Podge craft was the way to go.

NOTE: This easy project uses round ornaments so you want a napkin with an overall pattern. I found a paper guest towel with an overall bright blue pattern in my napkin collection. I bought these in Atlanta earlier this year.This blue pattern guest towel would be perfect for this project.

I already had Gloss Mod Podge on hand, so I was ready to begin my ornament project.

The package of plastic ornaments is 20 halves – to make 10 ornaments. I decided to make five for now and save the others for another project.

Steps to Make Christmas Ornaments with Decoupage

1 – Gather Your Supplies

The first supplies you will need are the clear plastic ornaments, the napkin, Mod Podge and container, and a brush.

This project requires the type that come apart. There are two sides that fit together with a different groove on each side.

You will need to make sure you have an equal number of different grooved “bowls”.

2 – Preparing the Paper Napkins

For this project, you will need two pieces of paper napkin for one ornament – one piece for each side.

I will be able to get two pieces for each ornament from one guest towel. I cut off the excess paper which I will save for other projects.

NOTE: If you are using a cocktail napkin, it should be perfect for this size ornament.

Next, you will need to separate the front pattern layer from the back layers. This guest towel had 3 layers. You can discard the back layers.

TIP: Separating the layers takes longer than any other step. I found that it was easiest to separate the layers where I had cut the napkin. Bend the napkin back and forth a few times to start separating the layers. Then pull back one layer at a time.

3 – Adding Mod Podge to the Plastic “Bowls”

Place some Mod Podge in your plastic disposible container.

Brush a thin layer of Mod Podge on the “bowls” of the ornaments. You can do a few at a time.

4 – Decoupaging the Paper Napkins

Using one piece of paper napkin, carefully center it on top of the “bowl”. Starting at the bottom of the bowl, carefully push the napkin against the Mod Podge.

NOTE: Make sure the napkin is touching the sides of the bowl and attaching to the Mod Podge.

Press and smooth the napkin up the sides of the bowl. You may have a few creases of folds in the napkin. You can cut them out, if you want, with the small craft scissors.

As you finish a bowl, set it aside to dry. Repeat with the other plastic “bowls”.

TIP: I did this project assembly line style, compliant each step for all the ornaments before going on to the next step.

Next, add another thin layer of Mod Podge to the top of the napkin. Smooth any creases or folds down with more Mod Podge. Set aside to dry.

5 – Cutting Excess Napkin

Use the small sharp craft scissors to cut all the excess napkin from the “bowl”. I place the blade of the scissors next to the edge of the plastic. I started on the outside and then trimmed any leftover paper from the inside.

Don’t worry about the creases or folds. They won’t be seen on the finished ornaments.

6 – Attaching the Two Sides of the Ornaments

Match one “female” side and one “male” side. You can feel the difference by running your finger along the rim of the “bowl”.

I was sure that the two sides wouldn’t “refit” with the added paper napkin. I decided to use craft glue to attach the two sides. This worked like a charm.

I used my favorite craft glue, Bearly Precision Craft Glue, because it comes with a few applicators of different sizes.

Run a thin bead of glue around the edge of one “bowl”. Attach the other side. Line up the two sides of the ornament, using the plastic hanging loop top as a guide.

Don’t worry if you get too much glue on the ornament. It will dry clear. If some seeps through to the outer surface of the ornament, wipe it off with a damp paper towel.

Hold the attached ornament for 10-20 seconds until firmly together. Then you can set it aside while you work on the other ornaments.

7 – Finishing the Decoupage Christmas Ornaments

I found some thin gold thread that would be perfect for making a hanger for the ornaments. I had already purchased thin 1/4-inch white velvet ribbon to make a bow.

Adding ribbons or twine can provide a beautiful finishing touch to your decoupage ornaments.

I pushed an end through and then made a loop.

Next, I made small looped bows to add to the ornaments.

Add a dot of glue to the top of the ornament. Add the bow and hold down for a few seconds. Set the ornament aside and repeat for the other ornaments.

My new white tree hasn’t arrived yet, but as soon as it does, I plan to start decorating it. These easy DIY decoupage ornaments will be on it.

These DIY ornaments are really easy to make. You can customize them to fit your color scheme and style. You can order large ornaments if you prefer. Use a different color ribbon to make a bow – or don’t add a bow.

If you need a small, inexpensive gift for a special person (or groups of friends), these handmade ornaments make perfect gifts.

With just a few basic supplies and some simple techniques, you can create unique Christmas ornaments that will brighten your home for years to come. 

I hope you liked this easy tutorial for homemade Christmas ornaments. I’d love for you to PIN them to your own Pinterest Boards.

Another favorite DIY Christmas ornament are these using small craft jewels.

Follow these Pinterest Boards for more ideas: Christmas DIY Ideas, Decoupage Projects, Christmas Inspiration.