5 Christmas DIY Keepsake Ornaments to You’ll Actually Want to Make and Keep

DIY Keepsake Ornaments to Treasure for Years

Let’s be honest—crafting with toddlers can feel like an extreme sport. You’re dodging paint spills, managing short attention spans, and hoping nothing ends up permanently glued to your table. But when it comes to DIY keepsake Christmas ornaments, it’s worth the chaos.

There’s something magical about unwrapping handmade ornaments year after year and remembering those tiny hands that made them. And let’s not forget the grandparents—because if you’re looking for a sentimental gift that doesn’t involve shipping delays, a toddler-crafted ornament is gold.

These five Christmas ornaments for kids are easy, adorable, and totally doable—even if you’re not the “Pinterest mom” type.

1. Baby Reindeer Handprint

The tiniest handprints make the sweetest memories.

This keepsake ornament is a must for baby’s first Christmas. You’ll capture those itty-bitty fingers in reindeer form—because let’s face it, they’re only this small for a minute.

What You Need:

• White cardstock
• Brown and red paint
• Thin artist paintbrush
• Clear acrylic ornament disc
• Adhesive spray
• Ribbon

How to Make It:

1. Paint baby’s hand with brown paint and press it onto the cardstock. (Prepare for giggles and potential finger smudges.)
2. Dip baby’s thumb in red paint and stamp it as the reindeer’s nose.
3. Once dry, use a thin brush to add antlers, eyes, and a mouth.
4. Spray with adhesive spray and place inside a clear acrylic ornament disc.
5. Tie a ribbon at the top, and just like that—you have the cutest little reindeer keepsake.

2. Ribbon Height Globes

Capture how tall they are this Christmas in the easiest way possible.

This is hands-down the simplest winter craft on this list, and it’s a fun way to look back on how much your child has grown.

What You Need:

• Clear globe ornament
• Ribbon
• Scissors

How to Make It:

1. Measure and cut a piece of ribbon to match your child’s height.
2. Stuff the ribbon inside the ornament.
3. Close the ornament and hang it on the tree.

That’s it! No paint, no glue, just a sweet, simple keepsake that’ll make you sentimental every year you pull it out.

3. Thumbprint Clay Christmas Trees

A little bit of clay + a few tiny thumbprints = an ornament you’ll treasure forever.

What You Need:

• Air dry clay or clay ornament kit
• Christmas tree cookie cutter
• Straw
• Acrylic paint
• Thin Sharpie
• Ribbon

How to Make It:

1. Roll out air dry clay to about ¼-inch thick.
2. Use a cookie cutter to cut out a Christmas tree shape.
3. Press your child’s thumb into the clay to create little “ornaments.”
4. Use a straw to make a hole at the top for the ribbon.
5. Let the clay dry completely.
6. Paint the thumbprints in different colors and outline details with a Sharpie.
7. Thread a ribbon through the hole, and you’re done!

Not only is this a cute keepsake ornament, but it also doubles as a sensory activity for toddlers—win-win.

4. Sibling Thumbprint Christmas Tree

One ornament to represent the whole crew!

This keepsake craft is perfect if you have multiple kids. Each child contributes their thumbprint in different shades of green, creating a family tree you’ll love looking at every year.

What You Need:

• White cardstock
• Green and red paint
• Thin artist paintbrush
• Clear acrylic ornament disc
• Adhesive spray
• Ribbon

How to Make It:

1. Use different shades of green paint (one for each child) to stamp thumbprints in a triangle shape, forming a tree.
2. Have the youngest child add red thumbprints as ornaments.
3. Once dry, use a thin brush to add a star on top.
4. Spray with adhesive spray and place inside a clear acrylic ornament disc.
5. Tie a ribbon on top, and hang your family’s little masterpiece on the tree!

5. Graduation Tassel Globes

A sentimental way to celebrate milestones beyond toddlerhood.

This is the perfect DIY keepsake Christmas ornament for kids who are graduating preschool, kindergarten, or even high school!

What You Need:

• Clear globe ornament
• Graduation tassel
• Paint marker or Cricut vinyl

How to Make It:

1. Gently push the graduation tassel inside the ornament.
2. Use a paint marker or Cricut vinyl to add your child’s name and graduation year.
3. Hang it on the tree using the existing tassel loop.

This one grows with your kids, making it a sweet reminder of how fast the years go by.

Making Memories That Last

There’s something special about decorating a Christmas tree with handmade ornaments. These Christmas ornaments for kids aren’t just crafts—they’re little snapshots of childhood, frozen in time.

Whether you’re stamping thumbprints, measuring their height, or tucking away a tiny graduation tassel, these DIY ornaments will bring back memories for years to come.

So grab the paint, the ribbon, and maybe a little patience (toddlers, after all). The mess is temporary—but the keepsakes? They’ll last forever.

Handprint Ornament Kit

Red Ribbon Variety Pack

White Cardstock

Acrylic Paint

Paintbrushes