Personalize Your Holidays with DIY Christmas Tree Ornaments
Decorating your Christmas tree is a cherished tradition that brings people together during the holiday season. Whether you’re gathering with family or hosting a festive get-together, the tree often takes center stage, showcasing the creativity of the holidays. This year, enhance your decorating experience with a personal touch by crafting your own sustainable ornaments.
DIY ornaments are not only a great way to spend quality time with loved ones, but they also reduce waste and promote environmentally friendly holiday décor. Whether you’ve harvested your tree from a national forest, picked one from a Christmas tree farm or have an artificial tree, creating your own ornaments is a meaningful and fun way to celebrate.
If you’re using a live Christmas tree, start a memorable tradition by repurposing the fresh cut from the trunk into an ornament. Each year, you can create a unique keepsake, preserving a slice of your holiday memories.
“My wife and I always cut a wood cookie off the trunk and turn them into a simple ornament,” said David Nikonow, NWTF district biologist for Montana, Wyoming and Colorado. “It’s a neat way to age the tree, see what years it grew fast and what years it grew slow, historic disturbances or even what side of the tree received more sun light.”
How To:
- Use a saw to slice a thin disk, or “wood cookie,” from the trunk of your tree.
- Add a hole at the top with a drill and string twine through to create a hanger.
- Personalize it by writing the year or decorating with paint, wood burning or stickers.
- Seal it with a clear finish to protect it (optional).
For a natural, fragrant and visually stunning addition to your tree, dehydrated oranges are an excellent choice. These glowing, stained-glass-like ornaments are steeped in tradition, tracing back to the 19th century when natural elements like fruit, popcorn and cranberries adorned Christmas trees.
How-To:
- Slice oranges into thin, even rounds.
- Lay slices flat on a sheet of parchment paper.
- Dehydrate using one of two methods:
- Oven: Set to 170°F–200°F and bake for 5–6 hours. Check periodically to avoid burning.
- Dehydrator: Set to 130°F–135°F and dry for about 8 hours.
- Once the slices are completely dry, carefully poke a small hole near the top of each slice, just under the rind.
- Thread twine or string through the hole to create a loop for hanging.
For added charm, decorate with natural embellishments like cinnamon sticks, star anise or sprigs of evergreen.
By creating your own ornaments, you’re not only reducing your environmental impact but also embracing the beauty of natural and reusable materials. These crafts add a unique and eco-friendly touch to your holiday celebrations.