17 DIY Vintage Christmas Ornament Crafts

There’s something magical about decorating a Christmas tree with ornaments that look as though they’ve been passed down through generations. Vintage-inspired Christmas decorations bring warmth, nostalgia, and handmade charm to your holiday home.

A vintage Christmas ornament doesn’t have to be an antique. You can recreate that timeless appearance using old book pages, salt dough, ribbons, lace, miniature figurines, and colorful baubles.

Think creamy whites, faded reds, forest greens, antique gold, and soft silver. These 17 DIY vintage Christmas ornament crafts will help you create a traditional tree filled with beautiful handmade decorations.

Supplies for DIY Vintage Christmas Ornaments

Before starting, gather these affordable craft supplies:

Supplies	Best For
Clear plastic baubles	Diorama ornaments
Salt dough	Handmade decorations
Old book pages	Paper ornaments
Cardboard and jar lids	Recycled crafts
Acrylic paints	Retro designs
Twine and ribbon	Hanging decorations
Faux snow and glitter	Winter effects
Miniature figurines	Christmas scenes
Lace and fabric	Rustic ornaments

Choose a consistent color palette to make your finished decorations look beautiful together.

17 DIY Vintage Christmas Ornament Crafts

1. Vintage Picture Christmas Bauble Ornaments

Materials: Clear baubles, vintage Christmas illustrations, decoupage glue, glitter, twine, and ribbon.

How to make them:

1. Clean the bauble.
2. Cut out a small Christmas illustration.
3. Apply decoupage glue to the back.
4. Attach the picture carefully.
5. Add glitter around the edges.
6. Let dry and finish with a ribbon.

Choose illustrations featuring Santa, children, angels, or snowy scenes.

2. Retro Glass-Inspired Christmas Baubles

Materials: Clear plastic baubles, red, green, silver, and gold paint, glitter, and paintbrushes.

How to make them:

1. Remove the ornament top.
2. Add a little paint inside.
3. Rotate to spread the color.
4. Drain excess paint and let dry.
5. Add stripes, dots, or stars.
6. Finish with a hanging hook.

Use colorful combinations inspired by 1950s Christmas decorations.

3. Salt Dough Christmas Tree Ornaments

Materials: 2 cups flour, 1 cup salt, approximately ¾ cup water, a tree cookie cutter, twine, white paint, and glitter.

How to make them:

1. Mix flour and salt.
2. Gradually add water.
3. Knead until smooth.
4. Roll the dough and cut tree shapes.
5. Make a hanging hole.
6. Bake at a low temperature until completely dry.
7. Cool, paint white, and add glitter.
8. Attach twine.

These simple ornaments are perfect for a frosty, rustic Christmas tree.

4. Homemade Salt Dough Imprinted Ornaments

Materials: Salt dough, round cookie cutters, letter stamps, rolling pin, and twine.

How to make them:

1. Prepare and roll out salt dough.
2. Cut round shapes.
3. Press letters or decorative patterns into each circle.
4. Make a hanging hole.
5. Bake until completely dry.
6. Add ivory paint if desired.
7. Attach twine.

Stamp words like Noel, Joy, or Peace for personalized decorations.

5. Miniature Vintage Christmas Diorama Ornaments

Materials: Clear fillable baubles, miniature trees, tiny deer, faux snow, glitter, and glue.

How to make them:

1. Open a fillable ornament.
2. Arrange a miniature tree inside.
3. Add a tiny deer or snowman.
4. Place faux snow around the base.
5. Secure everything carefully.
6. Close the ornament and attach a gold cord.

Create different scenes featuring snowy forests, Christmas villages, and woodland mushrooms.

6. Colorful Retro Painted Christmas Ornaments

Materials: Wooden or cardboard shapes, acrylic paints, glitter glue, paintbrushes, and ribbon.

How to make them:

1. Choose stars, bells, or bauble shapes.
2. Paint each with a colorful base coat.
3. Add stripes, dots, and zigzags.
4. Decorate with glitter.
5. Allow to dry.
6. Attach a ribbon.

Try turquoise, pink, orange, green, and red for a cheerful retro appearance.

7. Vintage Paper Book-Page Ball Ornaments

Materials: Old book pages, scissors, glue, twine, and cream ribbon.

How to make them:

1. Cut paper into equal strips.
2. Fold each strip accordion-style.
3. Join the folded pieces into a round shape.
4. Secure with glue.
5. Add a hanging loop.
6. Finish with a small bow.

These decorations look beautiful on neutral-colored Christmas trees.

8. Vintage Christmas Angel Ornaments

Materials: Cream cardstock, wooden beads, gold ribbon, lace, glue, and twine.

How to make them:

1. Cut a semicircle from cardstock.
2. Shape it into a cone for the dress.
3. Attach a wooden bead as the head.
4. Add lace wings.
5. Decorate with gold trim.
6. Attach a hanging loop.

Use old sheet music for an extra nostalgic touch.

9. Vintage Christmas Starburst Ornaments

Materials: Cardboard stars, gold pipe cleaners, metallic beads, decorative jewels, and twine.

How to make them:

1. Prepare a small star base.
2. Arrange pipe cleaners around the center.
3. Secure the pieces.
4. Add metallic beads.
5. Glue a decorative jewel in the middle.
6. Attach twine.

Cream, silver, and antique gold create an elegant vintage appearance.

10. Vintage Christmas Tin-Lid Picture Ornaments

Materials: Clean jar lids, Christmas illustrations, acrylic paint, faux berries, greenery, and glue.

How to make them:

1. Clean and dry the lids.
2. Paint the inside cream or pale blue.
3. Cut an illustration to fit.
4. Glue it inside.
5. Add greenery and faux berries.
6. Decorate with glitter.
7. Attach a hanging loop.

Choose Santa pictures, snowy villages, or vintage Christmas cars.

11. Miniature Christmas Wreath Ornaments

Materials: Small wire or cardboard rings, faux greenery, red berries, ribbon, and twine.

How to make them:

1. Shape a small circular base.
2. Wrap it with evergreen branches.
3. Secure with craft wire.
4. Add miniature red berries.
5. Tie a small bow.
6. Attach twine.

These little wreaths look lovely between larger baubles.

12. Vintage Christmas Sheet-Music Medallions

Materials: Old sheet music, scissors, glue, gold glitter, and twine.

How to make them:

1. Cut equal paper strips.
2. Fold them accordion-style.
3. Join the pieces into a circle.
4. Secure the center.
5. Add a decorative button.
6. Finish with glitter and twine.

13. Vintage Christmas Photo Memory Ornaments

Materials: Clear baubles, small photographs, cream cardstock, lace, ribbon, and glue.

How to make them:

1. Choose a small family photograph.
2. Print and trim it.
3. Place it inside a clear ornament or use a decoupage technique.
4. Add a decorative paper backing.
5. Finish with lace and ribbon.
6. Attach a hanging loop.

Sepia and black-and-white photographs create a beautiful antique effect.

14. Rustic Vintage Fabric Ball Ornaments

Materials: Foam balls, old fabric scraps, lace, fabric glue, buttons, and ribbon.

How to make them:

1. Cut fabric into small pieces (small squares or strips).
2. Apply glue to a foam ball.
3. Wrap the fabric around it.
4. Secure the edges.
5. Decorate with lace and buttons.
6. Add a hanging loop.

Use cream linen, floral prints, or faded red plaid.

15. Handmade Vintage Christmas Mushroom Ornaments

Materials: Air-dry clay, red and cream paint, paintbrushes, glue, and twine.

How to make them:

1. Shape a small mushroom cap and stem using air-dry clay.
2. Let the clay dry.
3. Paint the stem cream.
4. Paint the cap muted red.
5. Add white dots.
6. Assemble and attach a secure hanging loop.

These woodland decorations pair beautifully with miniature deer and snowy trees.

16. Old-Fashioned Christmas Baubles with Lace and Twine

Materials: Plain baubles, lace ribbon, natural twine, wooden beads, gold paint, and glue.

How to make them:

1. Choose a plain bauble.
2. Wrap lace around the center.
3. Secure with glue.
4. Add twine and wooden beads.
5. Paint the ornament cap antique gold.
6. Finish with a small bow.

17. Vintage Christmas Box and Miniature Toy Ornaments

Materials: Small cardboard boxes, red and green paint, miniature figurines, faux snow, ribbon, and twine.

How to make them:

1. Choose a lightweight box.
2. Paint it red or green.
3. Add little Christmas patterns.
4. Place a miniature figurine inside.
5. Add faux snow.
6. Decorate with gold trim.
7. Attach a secure hanging loop.

Create a tiny Santa’s workshop or miniature Christmas toy shop.

How to Decorate Your Christmas Tree with Vintage Ornaments

A traditional Christmas tree looks beautiful when different textures and decorations are mixed together.

Follow these simple tips:

• Choose red, forest green, cream, and antique gold.
• Place larger baubles deeper inside the branches.
• Hang picture ornaments where they’re visible.
• Fill empty spaces with small paper decorations.
• Mix handmade ornaments with existing decorations.
• Add warm white fairy lights and red velvet bows.

The goal is to create a cozy tree that feels personal and full of memories.

FAQs

These 17 DIY vintage Christmas ornament crafts are wonderful ways to bring old-fashioned charm into your holiday home.

From picture baubles and miniature winter scenes to salt dough keepsakes and colorful retro decorations, there’s something for every crafting style.

You don’t need expensive antiques to create a beautiful traditional Christmas tree. A few simple supplies, some creativity, and handmade details can turn ordinary decorations into treasured holiday keepsakes.

Start with your favorite projects and create a Christmas tree full of warmth, personality, and nostalgic charm.

And for more DIY Crafts ideas see our 17+ DIY Christmas Crafts with Felt Ideas, 5-Minute Dollar Store Christmas Crafts Decorations, 35+ Easy Cheap Christmas Crafts to Make This November.

Happy Christmas crafting!