How to Make Vintage Christmas Ornaments

Find vintage-style Christmas clip art to make your project look more authentic.

Vintage ornaments often depict classic images such as Saint Nicholas or angels. Purchasing a true vintage ornament to add to your Christmas tree is expensive and if your home has children or pets, the risk of breaking a costly decoration increases. Instead of paying a fortune for an actual vintage Christmas ornament for your tree this year, make your own. Homemade vintage ornaments use modern supplies to create a classic ornament you will treasure for years.

Things You'll Need

• 3/16-inch foam-core board
• Compass
• Craft knife
• 1/4-inch ribbon
• Hot glue
• Christmas image
• Craft glue
• Tinsel garland

Instructions

1. Draw a 3-inch circle on a 3/16-inch thick piece of foam-core board using a compass or the bottom of a cup. Cut the circle out using a craft knife.

2. Fold a 12-inch piece of 1/4-inch ribbon in half to make a loop. Apply hot glue to the loose ends of the ribbon and press them against the edge of the foam-core circle. Let the glue cool and harden for two to three minutes.

3. Cut out two vintage Christmas image into two 3-inch circles. Look for vintage Christmas images, such as Saint Nicholas, on free-photo sharing websites, postcards, greeting cards or old magazines.

4. Apply craft glue to one side of the foam-core circle. Center one of the vintage Christmas cutouts, with the image pointing up, overtop of the foam-core and press down. Position the image so the ribbon loop aligns with the top center of the image. Turn the foam-core circle over.

5. Apply craft glue to the other side of the foamcore circle. Center the second vintage Christmas cutout overtop of the foamcore, positioning it as you did the first cutout. Press down to secure it. Let the glue dry overnight.

6. Apply hot glue to the outer edge of the foamcore circle, in between the two vintage images. Press a 9 1/2-inch length of tinsel garland into the hot glue to encircle the ornament. Let the glue cool and harden for two to three minutes before using.

Tips & Warnings

• Alternatively, brush cold coffee or tea over a modern Christmas illustration to give it an aged effect.

• Brush white glue around the edge of your images, or on areas of the image and dust with silver glitter or white mica snow.

• Use caution when working with a craft knife to avoid cuts. Also, protect your work surface with a cut mat.

References

• Making Friends.com: Recycled Card Decoupage Ornaments
• Vintage Image Craft: Create the Look of a Vintage Christmas Ornament with a Few Simple Materials