If you love a Christmas tree filled with personality, handmade charm, and a little creative chaos, you’re in the right place. These easy DIY assemblage Christmas ornaments are the perfect mix of quirky, nostalgic, and joyfully imperfect—ideal for anyone wanting to add heirloom-style magic to their holiday décor.
The Charm of Handmade and Heirloom Decor
I don’t know about you but I love a quirky Christmas ornament, especially one that’s handmade. While I can appreciate beautifully coordinated holiday décor, our home has always been a joyful hodgepodge of collected and thrifted doodads. The same goes for our Christmas tree. Opening the storage totes each year feels like paging through a family scrapbook. We unwrap ornaments gifted by friends or passed down through loved ones no longer with us. We hang pieces that celebrate milestones- births, new homes, anniversaries. We cry a little for the pets who once adored us, and we laugh at the trends and phases long gone both forever preserved in bauble form.
Why Handmade Ornaments Matter
My favorite ornaments are the handmade ones. Growing up, a beloved neighbor crocheted and cross-stitched, and I still treasure a dozen or so ornaments she made just for me. And yes, we proudly still hang that wildly lopsided ornament my son made in preschool and the one my daughter brought home from an after-school workshop. Every year I add new handmade ornaments to our eclectic mix. One year I was so obsessed with crafting Santa heads out of paper towels I think I made enough to decorate two full trees! Another year I cast resin ornaments using moulds from Iron Orchid Designs and spent hours hand-painting each one.
This Year’s Project: Assemblage-Style Christmas Ornaments
This year, I decided to create assemblage-style ornaments. Since assemblage art is already in my wheelhouse, I’ve got quite the stash of bits and bobs ready to go. When I found a stack of six vintage mini loaf pans at the thrift store, I knew instantly they’d make perfect tiny “shadow boxes” for miniature scenes. And if you don’t already have a miniature hoard like some of us, craft stores carry plenty. (Pro tip: shop the end-of-season clearance and store your hoard for the next year’s crafting sesh). I even rediscovered a forgotten box of miniatures in my workshop closet from last year. A true holiday miracle!
How to Make DIY Assemblage Christmas Ornaments: Step by Step
1. Start by washing and drying the tins. Then sand lightly- just enough to give the surface a little tooth. Prime the outside (I used Salvation Solution by DIY Paint, but any bonding primer works.) Before painting the exterior, I like to plan what’s going inside so I can coordinate colors.
2. Next, poke a hole in the top for hanging. Decide your orientation, eyeball the center, and use an awl to make the hole. I usually do this before painting, but after is fine too.
3. Time for paint. Don’t feel like you have to pick the traditional red or green. Get creative and choose colors that make you happy. I use DIY Paint by Debi’s Design Diary and, for this project, chose colors from the 2025 Holiday Sampler Kit which you can get on my website, junkduphome.com. You can paint both the inside and the outside of the tin using different colors or the same, or you can paint just the outside. Heck- you don’t really have to paint at all. Once the paint is dry make sure to seal it. I used Big Top from DIY Paint. If you want to get fancy you can then add decorative transfers. I use leftoverbits and pieces from Iron Orchid Designs. Apply them, then seal again.
4. Now decide what’s happening inside your ornament. Before arranging your miniatures or found objects, I recommend adding the ribbon hanger as it makes it a bit easier to tie when your tin is empty. I love using velvet ribbon, lace trim or scraps of fabric, which add to the handmade charm. Loop the ribbon, feed both ends through the hole, and knot. If you don’t want the end of the ribbon to be seen you could install a small screw eye through the hole instead and feed the ribbon through that. Next, glue your miniatures in place with superglue or E6000. Always do a dry fit first to plan your layout. The hardest part? Waiting for the glue to set before you hold up your masterpiece and swoon.
Let Your Creativity Run Wild
You have endless possibilities with this project, so let your creativity run wild. No mini loaf pans? Try an orphaned jewelry box drawer, a teacup, or a silver-plated baby cup—I’ve used them all.
Share Your Creations With Me!
I firmly believe anything can hang on a Christmas tree. Add a ribbon and BAM!…instant ornament. I’d love to see what wildly wacky and wonderful creations you come up with! Tag me on Facebook or Instagram (@junkdup), or drop me a message. You can shop DIY Paint products and some of my handmade ornaments at junkduphome.com.
