In this post I’ll be sharing 3 super easy DIY Christmas tree ornaments for a boho chic decorating style.
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I wanted to get a head start on the holidays this year, because, well… it’s the end of 2020 and I’m craving something to look forward to. I love the cozy feeling that comes over my entire home once I put up my Christmas tree. So even though we haven’t even sat down for Thanksgiving din din yet, I’m already diving into the deep end of Christmas decor.
Plus I’m ready for some DIY crafting.
My holiday decorating style leans very neutral, modern-boho, but not farmhouse. I love my natural tones and textures (wood, rattan, macrame) but also don’t mind mixing in some glitter and glam elements. Not sure if there’s an official name for my style, but for the sake of simplicity I’ll refer to it as “cozy boho chic”
For the past 3 years, my Christmas tree has had the same theme and decor. (See photos: here and here!)
But just like everything else in 2020, I figured it was time for some ~changes~ and I got to work on the following DIY christmas tree ornaments:
1. Felt Star Ornament
2. Wooden Bead & Tassel Ornament
3. Macrame Wreath Ornament
Felt Star – DIY Christmas Tree Ornament
MATERIALS
- felt
- embroidery thread
- embroidery needles
- scissors (I recommend sharp fabric scissors AND some small precision scissors)
- batting, fiber fill, or whatever you have on hand to use as stuffing
- decorative ribbon (similar gold one here)
HOW TO
Step 1
Start by cutting 2 star shapes out of felt material. You can freehand the shape or download my free template here!
Step 2
Take your embroidery thread and split the thread into individual strands by tapping on the end with your finger. This will separate the strands. Pull out 2 strands and thread them onto an embroidery needle.
Step 3
On one of the felt stars, you are going to start making basic + and x stitches, overlapping them to create these super easy star/sparkle embroidery designs.
Step 4
Continue adding the sparkle embroidery shapes in varying sizes until you’re happy with the design. Here you can get creative with specific colors to match your decor theme.
Step 5
Once you’re done with your decorative embroidery stitches, it’s time to put together the ornament.
Thread your embroidery needle with white thread (again use only 2 strands of the thread).
Line up both felt star shapes. Pull your needle out through the middle of both pieces of felt. This will hide the knot inside the ornament once it’s all finished.
Step 6
Continue attaching both pieces of felt together using a blanket stitch along the edges. The key to this step is making sure the size and spacing of your stitches are consistent throughout the entire project. This particular stitch creates a sturdy and decorative clean finish along the seam.
Step 7
Once you’re about half way done with sewing up the edges, take a break to add some stuffing to the inside of the ornament. I am using recycled batting from an old project but you can use cotton balls or anything you have on hand. (TIP: use a pencil or chopstick to push the stuffing into the corners of the star. A pair of tweezers also helps move the stuffing around in areas where your fingers don’t fit.)
Step 8
After stuffing, continue with the blanket stitch to finish the edges and tie a knot on the very last stitch.
You now have a cute little embroidered felt star plushie!
To make this an ornament, simply grab a ribbon or piece of twine, and tack it onto the back of the star with a few simple stitches. I chose a more decorative gold ribbon to add a little sparkle with the reflection of my Christmas tree lights.
Wooden Bead (& tassel) – DIY Christmas Tree Ornaments
MATERIALS
- wooden beads in assorted shapes and sizes
- jute twine
- yarn
- scissors
HOW TO
Step 1
Start by deciding on a pattern for the wooden beads. Then cut a piece of twine (roughly 3 times the length of your wooden beads).
Step 2
Fold the twine in half and start stringing on the wooden beads.
Step 3
Tie the 2 loose ends of the twine into a tight knot and you’re done! (For extra security and storing purposes, I would also tie a knot on the top part of the beads to lock them into place so they don’t slip out of the twine if they are turned upside down or fall off the tree.)
Step 4
These simple wooden bead clusters remind me of little boho icicles and are going to be the “filler” ornaments throughout my tree this year. The natural wood tones will act as my neutral color and anchor the rest of the elements in my theme.
BUT… I also wanted to create a version that would pull in my accent color.
Here’s an alternative tassel addition to this ornament:
Step 5
To create a tassel, wrap the yarn around a notebook or piece of cardboard until you’re happy with the thickness. (I used medium weight yarn and wrapped it 20 times around an 8 inch notebook for a more full and fluffy tassel)
Step 6
After wrapping the yarn, slide it off the notebook and you should now have a continuous loop of yarn.
Step 7
Take a piece of twine and tie a knot in the center of the yarn loop.
Step 8
Cut both ends of the loop open.
Step 9
Fold the side pieces of yarn down on either side of the center knot.
Step 10
Take another piece of yarn and tie a knot about 1/2 inch down from the top to create the head of the tassel.
Step 11
Give the ends a trim so it looks a bit neater… And you now have a completed tassel!
Step 12
To add the wooden beads, simply string them onto the piece of twine that’s already attached to your tassel and knot them off at the top.
These are by far the easiest and quickest ornaments to make. I was able to make 11 of the simple beaded ones and 5 of the tassel+beaded ones in about 45 minutes.
PS- Yarn is a great and inexpensive way to add color to your tree. You can create simple DIY Christmas tree ornaments like this and switch your colors every year without having to buy an entire collection of new ornaments.
Mini Macrame Wreaths
MATERIALS
- Cotton macrame cord
- Mini embroidery hoops, keychains, or any kind of sturdy small hoop (I’m using a set of old bangle bracelets)
- scissors
- cotton yarn thread
- pet brush
- wooden beads (optional)
HOW TO
Step 1
Start by cutting a bunch of pieces of cotton macrame cord. The size of these will determine how large your final ornament will be, but they should be somewhat proportionate looking with the size of your hoop.
Step 2
Start attaching each piece of cotton cord around your hoop with a larks head knot.
Step 3
Continue adding the cotton cord all around the entire hoop until it’s very full and none of the metal hoop is showing.
Step 4
You should now have something that looks like this.
Step 5
To get that fluffy look on the fringe, use a pet brush to comb through all the strands of cotton cord. Be careful not to snag the actual heads of the knots. Be aware of your surface as it will get scratched up. (I recommend doing this on a cutting mat or the back of a magazine)
Step 6
After brushing it out, you should have a fluffy looking fringe.
Step 7
Clean up the edges by giving it a trim with some sharp scissors.
Step 8
To turn this into an ornament, simply take a piece of cotton yarn and tie it onto the base of the hoop with another larks head knot. This would also be the time to add some beads to the string if you want to embellish it a bit more. (TIP: spray a thin layer of hair spray on the macrame fringe to help stiffen it up and give it more structure when it’s hanging on the tree.)
I also made a few for this hanging decor piece that will live on the wall right next to my Christmas tree. All about that fully cohesive decor.
And that’s it for my 3 DIY “cozy boho chic” Christmas tree ornaments.
Hope you are inspired to start pulling out some holiday decor!
(UPDATE: click here to see how the ornaments ended up looking on my finished tree!)
Xx Laura
Shop my favorite BOHO CHIC holiday decor finds: