Everyone has that special ornament that brings a rush of memories upon them each time they open the ornament box at Christmas.  This year, these easy Christmas crafts will help to create that memory and have you reminiscing for many holidays to come.  Each Christmas season when you pull out the box of ornaments and ceremoniously dig through the hodge podge of items you've collected over the years, these keepsake ornaments will grab your attention and bring a smile to your face.  These ornamental, easy Christmas crafts are the perfect addition to your tree!

Instead of buying pre-made ornaments this year and allowing your tree to look like everyone else's, make these easy Christmas crafts to set your tree apart.  If you like these personalized, simple ornaments, be sure to check out these easy Christmas craft ornaments using bees wax.

Creatively designed ornaments

To begin your personalized, easy Christmas crafts ornaments, be sure you have access to a computer (if you would like to add personal pictures).  Use any or all of the following items for your easy Christmas crafts to make ornaments.

What you will definitely need:

-- Papier Mache or plastic ornament balls

-- Scissors

-- Glue

-- Mod Podge

-- Paint brush (will need to dispose of after completion of ornaments)

Suggestions to personalize your ornaments:

-- Favorite pictures of family, friends, pets, or places printed and cut to fit on ornament

-- Magazine clippings of your favorite "things"
 
-- Newspaper clippings for the black & white effect

-- Beads, embellishments, ribbons, buttons, etc.

How to Mod Podge your easy Christmas crafts ornaments:

1.  Decide on a theme for each ornament.  For example, you may have a pet that you simply can't get enough of.  Print the photos of your pet onto copy paper -- sized to fit onto your ornament. 

2.  Once you have selected your theme and prepared your paper to fit the ornament, lay each image (one by one) on the ornament, wrapping around the ball ornaments. 

3.  Use your paintbrush to apply the Mod Podge in a thin layer over the picture.  The Mod Podge will adhere the picture to the ornament ball and give it a glossy, protective surface. 

4.  Cover your ornament to your satisfaction and allow it time to dry.

5.  Once your ornament is dry, add any embellishment that you like, using regular glue.  For example, if you decorated a "pet themed" ornament, glue a small red bow at the location of your dog's neck in the picture.  Check your local craft store's scrapbooking aisle for adhesive dog bone or rolled newspaper embellishments.  You will be surprised what mini-sized items you can find on the scrapbook aisle -- perfect for scrapbooks and ornaments!

6.  Allow your ornament time to dry before hanging on your tree or storing with other paper ornaments.

Whatever your theme might be, enjoy making these easy Christmas crafts ornaments for your tree.  Kids enjoy making these, but I will venture a guess that you will enjoy it even more than they do!  Start a tradition -- make a new ornament of a new theme each year.  The whole family will love these easy Christmas crafts for your tree.  And check out some these easy Christmas crafts for all of your decorating needs!