How to Make Glass and Eggshell Christmas Tree Ornaments

Unlike store-bought ornaments, handmade Christmas tree ornaments have lasting value.

With some creative thinking and bits of this and that around the home, you can make decorative and memorable Christmas tree ornaments. The unique quality of homemade Christmas tree ornaments is that the family can come together in the crafting. Over the years, a family creates its own story, filled with humor and nostalgia. Unlike store-bought ornaments, handmade Christmas tree ornaments, in all their imperfection, have lasting value for generations to come.

Things You'll Need

• Plain silver glass balls
• Scrap fabric of any kind (lace, velvet, flannel)
• Christmas wrapping paper and cards
• Eggshells
• Colored lacquer
• Glue
• Beads

Instructions

1. 

   Glue bits of brightly colored ribbons or scraps of lace or velvet to construction paper, then attach them to plain glass balls.

2. 

   Poke a tiny hole at either end of an egg with a thin pick or a needle and blow out the yolk and white. Lacquer in colors of your choice. Leave some shell in its original color. Light reflects through eggshell and creates its own show, especially contrasting with pearl lacquers.

3. 

   Attach beads or rhinestones to the glass balls or the eggshells.

4. 

   Glue a small bead to the top of the ornament and run necklace wire or thin string through the bead.

Tips & Warnings

• Make a collection for a particular year with a theme. Select a theme that has meaning for your family, perhaps of loved ones. Or choose a common (or uncommon) Christmas theme, such as the Nativity scene or Santa's reindeer.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Making Friends: Christmas Ornaments
• Family Fun: Christmas Ornaments
• All Crafts: Christmas Crafts Projects