Photo Ornaments Kids Decorate for Christmas

To make photo ornaments kids can decorate, open a clear plastic fillable ornament, curl a small family photo inside so the picture faces out, and snap the ornament shut. Then kids decorate the outside with paint pens, stickers, and ribbon tied on the cap. Each ornament takes about 20 minutes and hangs safely on the tree.

What supplies do you need for photo ornaments?

• Clear plastic fillable ornaments, the two-piece shatterproof kind (not glass)
• Family photos printed at home on regular printer paper
• Scissors
• White cardstock for backing the photos
• A glue stick
• A pencil for tracing
• Oil-based paint pens in Christmas colors
• Christmas stickers
• Ribbon for the hanger
• Clear-drying craft glue or washi tape for sealing the seam
• Newspaper or a washable tablecloth
• Damp paper towels

How do you size the photo to fit inside?

1. Pull the two halves of one ornament apart. Set one half dome-side down on the table so it cannot roll away.
2. Place the flat rim of the half on the back of the photo and trace around it with the pencil. Cut just inside the traced line with the scissors. The photo should end up a hair smaller than the rim so the edges do not buckle against the plastic.
3. Cut a matching circle from the white cardstock. Spread a thin layer of glue on the cardstock with the glue stick and press the photo onto it. The cardstock backing keeps the photo flat and stops it from curling later.

How do you put the photo inside the ornament?

1. Lay the backed photo face-up inside one half of the ornament, then snap the second half on top. Press the seam closed all the way around until it clicks. This step is a grown-up job for young kids. The halves need a firm squeeze to snap shut, and little fingers get pinched in the seam.

How do kids decorate the outside of the ornament?

1. Cover the table with the newspaper or washable tablecloth. Rest the sealed ornament on a folded damp paper towel so it does not roll while your child works.
2. Let your child draw right on the plastic with the oil-based paint pens. Snowflakes, dots, zigzags, their name, the year. Oil-based paint pens grip plastic. Regular markers smear, and washable paint flakes off once it dries, so the paint pens are the tool that works here.
3. Press Christmas stickers onto the plastic in the spaces between the painted designs. Stickers go on after the paint pen ink dries, which takes about 2 minutes.
4. Tie a loop of ribbon through the cap for hanging. A simple knot holds fine, and most 4-year-olds can tie one with a little help. A bow on top looks extra fancy for gifts.

How do you seal the ornament shut?

1. Run a thin bead of clear-drying craft glue around the seam, or wrap a strip of washi tape around it. Let the glue dry for 30 minutes before the ornament goes on the tree. The seal stops curious fingers from popping the ornament open later.

What do you do when the photo curls inside the ornament?

A curled photo means it was cut too big or went in without the cardstock backing. Both are easy to fix.

• Pop the ornament open and trim the photo and the cardstock a little smaller with the scissors. Re-glue with the glue stick, then snap the ornament shut again.
• Press the backed photo flat under a few sheets of the cardstock for 10 minutes before you put it in. The pressing relaxes the curl so the photo lies flat against the plastic.

What other Christmas ornaments can kids make?

• Salt dough ornaments for a classic baked keepsake
• Popsicle stick Christmas tree ornaments for a sturdy ornament younger kids can assemble
• Paper star ornaments for a thrifty ornament made from grocery bags
• Shrink art Christmas ornaments for older kids who love watching the designs shrink

Want more Christmas ornament ideas?

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Frequently Asked Questions

What age is this photo ornament craft best for?

Kids ages 3 and up can decorate the outside of the ornaments, and ages 4 to 8 get the most out of the whole project. Snapping the halves shut and trimming the photo are grown-up jobs for kids under 6, since little fingers get pinched in the seam. Toddlers can stick on the stickers while you handle the paint pens and the assembly.

How messy is decorating ornaments?

This is a low-mess craft. Oil-based paint pens stay where you put them and dry fast, so there is no dripping paint to chase. The main mess risk is a paint pen rolling off the table, so cap each pen when your child sets it down. Keep the damp paper towels nearby for wiping fingers. Cover the table with the newspaper anyway, because stickers end up everywhere except where you planned.

How long does each ornament take?

Plan about 20 minutes per ornament. Cutting and backing the photo takes 5 minutes, snapping it inside takes 2, and decorating takes 10 to 15. If the paint pen designs need a minute to dry before stickers go on, that is a good moment to tie the ribbon. A batch of four ornaments fits comfortably into one afternoon craft session.

Are plastic fillable ornaments safe for toddlers?

The shatterproof plastic is much safer than glass, which is why this craft uses plastic only. The small caps are a choking hazard, so keep the caps and any loose small parts away from kids under 3 and let a grown-up handle assembly. Hang finished ornaments out of reach of very small children who grab at the tree. Always supervise paint pen use, since the pens are not made for mouths.

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Be safe and have fun!