The holiday season is upon us and if you’re looking to make your tree look magical you might run into some budgetary problems. Ornaments can really eat into your holiday budget if you’re not careful, especially if you’re planning on adding a new theme or color scheme to your tree this year. Luckily, there are so many different types of ornaments that you can make with your own two hands. These ten ornament ideas are cheap and easy to make alone or with the entire family. So, prepare to make your tree phenomenal this year while having fun and saving money in the process.

1. Reindeer Pipe Cleaners
Reindeers are one of the most popular symbols of the holiday season, especially when you think about Rudolph. That is why making pipe cleaner reindeers will truly add to the joy of the season. All you really need for this craft is a few brown pipe cleaners, some red poms, and googly eyes. Simply shape the pipe cleaners in the form of a reindeer. You will need to connect two or three to do this. There is no real trick to the process either, which will make it fun to see how everyone’s reindeer turns out. When the shape is complete, glue to the eyes and nose. Then, add a string to the ornament and hang it up for all to see.

2. Wooden Ornaments
During the holiday season, you’re bound to find a large assortment of holiday ornaments and kits to make them. One of the best options to go with is wooden ornaments. You will be able to find ornaments that offer a variety of designs ad sizes, so you can find precisely what you need to get the job done. There are even kits you can choose from that will include everything you need to make the ornaments including paint and brushes. If you don’t want premade ornaments, then you can easily paint images onto wood slices for a more rustic look.

3. Salt Dough
Another great way to show off some creativity is to use the salt dough. This is an incredibly inexpensive recipe to make as it basically requires flour, salt, and water. Once your dough is made, you can shape it in any form that you’d like. One of the most common ways to make ornaments is to use them for hand and feet prints. However, you can also use it for painting and other craft projects. Before you paint, make sure the dough has dried in order to ensure the colors will stay put. To do this, you should bake the ornaments for a short while. This will also help ensure the shape you create will stay in place. You should make sure you create a hole in the dough so you can hang the ornament from the tree.

4. Twig Trees
If you enjoy a natural look on your holiday tree, then Twig Tree ornaments are the way to go. Simply gather up some twig from outside and then break them into a variety of sizes. From there, you can easily glue the pieces back together with the larger piece at the bottom and the smallest piece at the top. If you prefer a more modern look, glue the pieces onto another twig or a piece of string. Make sure you leave space between each item if you go this route. Once you have your tree put together, you can paint it, add embellishments, and so on.

5. Handprint Snowmen
If you have a lot of spare ornaments in your home that seems to be a bit boring, then gather them up. You can use ornaments with a solid color or those that are transparent. From there, take white paint and spread it on your child’s hand. Then, place the bulb in the palm of their hand so that each finger is spread from the others. This will create five snowmen. When the paint has dried, you can add an assortment of accessories to make the ornament look cuter than ever. You can even paint on its background.

6. Photo Ornament
When it comes to adding memories to your tree, one of the best things you can do is make an ornament with a photo. This is incredibly easy to do. All you really need is clear ornaments to begin this craft. When you have your ornament, print out one of your favorite holiday memories. You can even glue two images together so there is an image on each side of the ornament. When you have your picture set up, simply roll it and place it through the top of the ornament. It should unravel once inside the ornament. From there, you can add glitter, fake snow, confetti, ribbon, or whatever suits your needs. Once you’re finished with the inside of the ornament, glue the top on with hot glue or super glue. You can then add a ribbon or bow to the top of the ornament to hang it up.

7. Retro Folded Ornaments
Vintage fans won’t be able to resist creating fun vintage ornaments that will suit their needs. All you need for this craft is some card stock or scrapbook paper. Once you have the materials you need, simply fold the items and glue them together for a phenomenal look that will make your tree look incredible. If you need a tutorial, then you will be able to find numerous options to keep your style going strong.

8. Kids Art Blocks
Kid’s art can truly make your tree look phenomenal. So, this season you might consider highlighting some of the art your little ones have made over the past year by creating ornaments with your favorite art pieces. You can use holiday crafts or paintings that your child is just proud of. Once you pick out the art, scan it to your computer and then readjust the size. You can print the smaller graphic onto a sticker maker, or you can simply mod podge it to the ornament of your choice. Art tends to look good on wooden ornaments, but you can add it to almost anything and find it to be charming. These make great gifts too, especially since you can use the art multiple times without having to give away the original masterpiece.

9. Felt Ornaments
If you’re looking for a low-cost option, then you might consider using felt to make your ornaments. Simply choose the felt colors you’d like to use and then cut out the shapes you desire. You can work with stockings, teddy bears, bells, holiday trees, ornaments, reindeers, and anything else your imagination comes up with. After you finish cutting out your ornaments simply glue the pieces together. You might use hot glue to improve durability, but regular glue will work out too. When your ornaments are put together, simply add a string by gluing it to the ornament or cutting a hole in the top of the ornament.

10. Painted Pinecones
When it comes to seasonal fun, one of the best ornaments you can make is a painted pinecone. You can easily collect pinecones around the home and take them home for crafty projects. You can allow children just to paint the pinecones, which can be fun in itself. However, another option is to transform the pinecones into fun characters. You can create deer, squirrels, owls, snowmen, and any other seasonal character you can think of. These can be created by using felt or cardstock to create the animals’ accents. Finally, you can transform the pinecones into mini Christmas trees by painting them and adding sequences, glitter, and so on.

Holiday ornaments never need to be a huge investment. Rather, you might consider finding some options that you can craft at home. This will allow you to make memories while you work on making your holiday tree special. These ten ideas are a great start to ensure you’re ready for a fun holiday season.