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Photo: Positively SplendidLooking to add a personal touch to your holiday decor and give your space a fresh twist? Dig out those family photos hiding in dusty boxes or lost in your digital files. Our DIY Christmas photo ornaments focus on family, friends, and cherished memories, making them the perfect way to enhance your festive celebrations.
We've gathered the best photo ornament crafts using budget-friendly materials you likely already have at home. Choose one or several of these brilliant ideas to bring your Christmas tree decorations to life in a fun and meaningful way.
1. A Delightful Pom Pom Photo Ornament
Photo by Agnes Hsu / hello, WonderfulAgnes Hsu from Hello, Wonderful crafted these adorable pom-pom ornaments using a few easy-to-find materials like cardstock, scrap ribbon, hot glue, and more. These simple supplies come together to create a sweet ornament that will add a cheerful touch to your Christmas tree!
2. Classic Black and White Photo Ornament
Rennai Hoefer, Ten22 StudioFor those who take their tree decorating seriously, these timeless ornaments from The TomKat Studio make a flawless DIY project. They are particularly stunning when placed on a tree adorned with soft white lights. The tutorial is so straightforward that you can create these ornaments in under 15 minutes, guaranteed.
3. Rustic Wood Slice Photo Ornament
Inspired by CharmNo, we’re not suggesting you cut down a tree for your Christmas crafting project: You can easily find wood slices online. This nature-inspired craft from Inspired by Charm does require a bit more effort—you’ll need to drill holes into the slices for the ribbon—but the end result is totally worth it. These charming ornaments can also double as personalized gift tags for the holiday season.
4. Christmas List Ornament
Positively SplendidKids' Christmas lists for Santa are undeniably adorable! But as they grow older, those requests tend to get less endearing, like when they ask for a car from Santa. These lovely photo ornaments by Positively Splendid offer a creative way to combine early wish lists with precious childhood photos. Plus, they provide a perfect chance to recycle, as the lists are made from soda cans.
5. Glass Photo Ornament
Fynes DesignsThis simple yet personalized DIY project makes for a perfect stocking stuffer for grandparents! All you need is a transparent glass ornament, a family photo, and a festive ribbon. The creator, Fynes Designs, shares a few helpful techniques to get the photo neatly inside the ornament without damaging it.
6. Photo Block Ornament
It Happens in a BlinkCan't decide which photo to display? This creative idea by It Happens in a Blink lets you showcase multiple favorites. Choose four of your most adorable photos, apply Mod Podge to a small wooden block, and then embellish it with metallic spray paint, ribbon, or even leftover red and green wrapping paper.
7. Ruler Frame Photo Ornament
Simply KiersteA yardstick makes an ideal frame for those adorable "first day of school" pictures. Old Salt Farm has come up with a simple DIY that cleverly repurposes rulers, cereal boxes, and spare ribbon. While this project does require some heavy-duty tools—like a drill—it's not exactly a craft for kids, though they can definitely help pick out the photo!
8. Suitcase Travel Memories Ornament
Stuffed SuitcaseThis cute ornament showcases your family's vacation memories inside a repurposed cardboard jewelry box. If you'd prefer not to buy real hinges for the suitcase, as the creator Stuffed Suitcase did, you can easily use tape or glue to secure the sides. To ensure the suitcase closes properly, simply cut an old refrigerator magnet into small pieces and glue them to the edges.
9. Family Tree Photo Ornament
Country Chic CottageIf old family photos are piling up in your home, these DIY ornaments by The Country Chic Cottage offer a charming solution. Bottle caps serve as perfect frames for nostalgic ornaments, and family members will love discovering their childhood photos scattered across the tree. Get ready for plenty of trips down memory lane.
10. Photo Transfer Ornament
5 Minutes for Mom's Creative Photo OrnamentsInstead of cutting and gluing photos onto ornaments, 5 Minutes for Mom offers a clever approach by transferring photos directly. Using a Rust-Oleum product, this method transfers photo ink onto the ornament's surface, removing the paper backing. The result is a stunning mirror image that appears as though the photo was printed directly on the ornament—absolutely fantastic!
11. Popsicle Stick Sled Photo Ornament
The Craft Patch's Creative IdeasThe Craft Patch crafted this charming little sled using popsicle sticks and washi paper, complete with a personalized photo. The design is a perfect blend of rustic and modern, and it's sure to bring joy—no snow necessary!
12. Felt Heart Photo Ornament
Swoodson Says Craft IdeasSwoodson Says offers templates to create your own heartfelt ornaments. All you need is a needle, thread, and a simple running stitch to connect the front and back pieces of felt. Why not make a few extra to decorate your Valentine tree?
13. Mexican 'Tin' Picture Frame Photo Ornaments
Muy Bueno Blog's Craft InspirationMuy Bueno Blog designed these charming mini frames originally for a Day of the Dead display, but they can also add a touch of vintage sparkle to your Christmas tree. These small, rustic frames are made from crafting aluminum sheets or repurposed soda and beer cans, and embossing them yourself is simpler than you might think.
