Looking for a simple handmade gift idea? This personalized Christmas ornament is a really fun gift idea to make as a holiday gift, a wedding gift, etc. Keep reading for a step by step tutorial to make this DIY rustic wooden Christmas ornament.
This handmade Christmas ornament has a wooden base and features a hand painted letter that can be a first or last name initial.
What supplies do you need to make this DIY wooden Christmas ornament?
Here are all of the supplies needed to make this rustic handmade Christmas ornament:
- Wood slice
- Ribbon (I recommend about 3/8 inch wide)
- Paint
- Letter stencil
- Drill
- Scissors
- Permanent marker
Steps to make this DIY rustic wooden Christmas ornament
Now that you have your supplies, let’s go through the steps to make this handmade holiday ornament!
1. Drill a hole in the wood slice
The first step to make this wooden Christmas ornament is to drill a hole in the top of the wood slice. This hole is for the ribbon that will make your ornament able to be hung from a tree or ornament stand. It’s important to do this step first so that you can make sure your design works around it and won’t be cut off later by the hole.
You’ll want to add the hole to the top with enough space from the edge so the hole doesn’t break through the edge. And when drilling the hole, remember to have the wood slice hanging over the edge of the table so that you don’t drill straight down into your table.
2. Add your ribbon to the ornament
Next, add your ribbon to the top of the ornament by threading it through the hole you made. This step can also be done last if you prefer.
To add your ribbon, cut a piece of ribbon and leave yourself excess to tie the bow at the top. Thread it through the hole and tie at the top, then cut off any excess you don’t need. While any ribbon could work, I recommend using a thinner ribbon such as 3/8 inch wide so that it will fit through the hole.
3. Paint the initial on to the wood
The next step to make this DIY wooden Christmas ornament is to paint the letter on to the wood. If you have strong calligraphy skills you can definitely paint this freehand, however using a letter stencil will ensure you get a perfect letter every time!
Adhere the letter stencil to the wood, making sure to center the letter and align it so that it won’t overlap the hole at the top or bleed off the edge. Then, use paint to fill it in and remove the stencil while the paint is still wet.
I used a burgandy paint for the letter in the photo, however this is an opportunity to personalize it to the recipient’s favorite colors or other holiday shades you love.
Once you have painted the letter, set the ornament aside to dry.
4. Optional: Write additional personalized details
The last step to make this handmade Christmas ornament is optional – if you stop now you still have a great holiday gift that will look great on anyone’s tree!
However, if you want to add some additional personalization then you’ll use a permanent marker to write those in. For example, I made this ornament to give to some friends as a wedding gift, so I included their last name initial and then “Est. 2022” to showcase year they were married on the front.
I recommend using a thin marker so you can write the details in more easily and to ensure you have the room on the wood slice.
Now your rustic DIY Christmas ornament is ready to go!
Other ways to personalize your holiday gift…
Here are some other ideas to make this Christmas ornament personalized:
- First or last initial
- Including both first and last initial
- Wedding year or date
- Writing out the full last name underneath (Ex. “The Smith’s”)
- Adding a message like “Happy holidays!”
- Location of home, wedding, etc.
No matter what details you decide to include on your DIY Christmas ornament, this is a great gift to give around the holidays, as a wedding gift, etc.
Comment below if you try this project and let us know how it goes!