Christmas Table Decorations | Christmas Balls Tree

Looking for a new idea for DIY Christmas Centerpieces or Christmas table decorations? Why not try a Christmas Balls Tree made of glass Christmas balls, topiary or cone style?

Christmas craft ideas are abundant but finding just the right style to match your holiday decor is not as easy. An Ornament Tree can be made in a variety of colors and is a beautiful addition to any table, buffet or mantel. Christmas lights or candles play off the glass balls to create ambient lighting that adds to the festive holiday mood.

Put an Ornament Tree on your list of Christmas decorations to make.

Image credit: Mandee Sears

Here's the "list" of items you'll need to make one (1) Christmas Balls Tree:

• White Foam Cone (size is up to you though the 9" or 12" is perfect!)
• Pillar candle holder
• Hot glue gun and sticks
• Assorted sized ball ornaments in your choice of colors (see below for size suggestions of ornaments)
• Filler for the holes between the balls - small wired holly berries, "stamen" bunches in a complementary color (see supplies below), or floral picks. At a craft store I use, they have small, double-headed beads on a wire (sometimes called "stamens") that I like to use to fill with.

Christmas Ornament
"Making a List... Checking It Twice"

Christmas Table Decorations

Through the years of making handmade Christmas table decorations, I have discovered a few tricks.

With this Christmas craft, I have found that the glass ball ornaments work much better than the shatterproof. The nozzle or opening on the glass ornaments is thinner and doesn't gouge the foam as deeply as the shatterproof ornaments. A thin layer of hot glue on the mouth or nozzle of the glass ornament will hold it in place.

These "elf suit green" glass ball ornaments are perfect for a green Christmas balls tree. Try mixing up different shades of green or matte and shiny finishes for more depth to your tree. Remember to get different sized glass ball ornaments too!

I like to use a combination of 1", 1.5", 2" and 2.25" to 3" glass Christmas balls (depending on the size of foam tree you use). The variety in size lets you "fill in". Where a larger ball may not fit, one of the smaller sizes will. This also gives you depth in your design.

I also like to use ornaments called "stem balls". These are usually small glass ornaments with floral wire attached. A lot of people use them for decorating wreaths. They are usually sold in a dozen. I cut the wire down to about an 1" past the ball, peel the paper away to expose the mouth of the ornament, dab some hot glue and stick into the foam. The wire adds just a bit more security.

Another tip is to use Christmas balls with different finishes, especially if you are using only one color. In today's market, you can easily find matte, shiny and pearlized finishes. The combination adds interest and the illusion of texture.

Image: Club Pack Of 120 Matte Bordeaux Glass Ball Christmas Ornaments 1.25"

Red, green, white and silver Ornament Trees.

This is a set of 14 1" glass balls and a tree topper ornament you might could use on the top of the foam. Small 1" glass balls are great for fitting into the small spaces the larger glass balls leave behind.

Hot Pink, Purple, Lime Green, Platinum and White Ornament Trees.

DIY Christmas Centerpiece

1. Take the hanger off the ornament ball so the mouth to the inside of the ball is exposed. Starting at the bottom of a cone, place hot glue around the mouth of the ornament and stick into the foam cone.

2. Continue up the cone until you as close to the top as the ball ornaments will allow. Using hot glue, attach a topper of your choice on the flat, top part or the cone. (I have used bows, mini tree toppers, a large ball ornament, stars, etc...)

3. Now, go through with your filler (stamens and bead picks) and fill in any areas where your cone is showing.

4. Hot glue your cones to the pillar candle holders.

5. To save for next year, wrap well in bubble wrap and store standing up in a tight fitting box.

Photos and drawings by Mandee Sears

Use accent colors for your ball ornament tree. For instance, if you want to match your red and green decor, use only shades of green for the trees and accent with red stamens. If you normally use red, green and white in your holiday decor, consider red and green ornament balls and use white for the filler stamens.

Any color combination is possible! Complement your room decor or existing holiday decor colors or go completely different. After all, it's the holidays -- anything goes!

Christmas Table Decorations

What you place your ball ornament tree(s) on is important to the overall effect of the centerpiece. They can be placed on almost anything. I, personally, prefer a set of pillar candle holders.

I have also placed them on flat candle holders letting the different size cones be the variety in height. You can also display them in a cluster of 3 on a pretty charger plate or on top of martini glasses turned upside down. The options are endless and totally up to you and the look you are striving for. Below are some suggestions to get your creativity started.

The only difference here is the shape of the foam.

A great tutorial for this Christmas table decoration is available at

Christmas Table Decoration | Topiary Christmas Balls Tree.