Easy DIY Christmas Photo Ornaments to Make Together

A small craft with something to keep

A paper photo ornament is a manageable Christmas craft: mount a printed photograph on firm card, add a simple border, write the year on the back, and attach a ribbon. You can make one around a kitchen table without buying a box of specialist supplies.

Choose a photograph that brings up a story. It could be the first day in a new home, a summer visit, or a very ordinary afternoon that everyone remembers. Christmas does not have to appear in the picture for it to belong on the tree.

Gather what you already have

You will need a printed photo, firm card, paper suitable for a border, a pencil, scissors, a hole punch, ribbon, and glue appropriate for paper. A clean piece of packaging card can work as the backing. Keep the design light enough to hang comfortably.

Adults should handle cutting and hole punching where needed. Choose tools and materials suitable for the children taking part, and keep small craft pieces out of reach of younger children and pets. This is a decorative project, not a toy.

Make a simple framed ornament

Place the photo on the card and mark a border around it. Cut the backing first. Then cut a paper frame with an opening slightly smaller than the photo, so its edges are covered. Arrange the layers before gluing.

Attach the photo to the backing, add the frame, and let the glue dry according to its instructions. Make a hole in the card above the photo, leaving enough material around it to resist tearing. Thread a ribbon through and tie a hanging loop. Test the finished ornament over a table before placing it on a branch.

Read next: How to Display Personalized Christmas Ornaments Beyond the Tree

Leave room for each person’s version

Give everyone the same basic materials, then let the borders differ. One person may choose plain cream paper; another may draw stars. You can keep the ornaments visually related with one ribbon color without making every piece identical.

On the reverse, write the year and one short detail about the photograph. “Our first summer in this house” will be more useful when you unpack it next December than a generic seasonal greeting. Leave enough room for the person who made it to add their name.

Keep the handmade piece and choose a finished keepsake separately

A paper ornament holds the marks of the afternoon it was made. A personalized photo ornament serves a different purpose: a finished display piece based on a picture you want to revisit. Love&Kin’s photo ornament can be an option when you would like a separate keepsake or a gift for someone who could not join the craft.

Custom Photo Ornament, Raised 3D $19.99$24.99 Personalize it

You do not need to replace the handmade version. Hang both if they tell different parts of the same story, or keep the paper ornament with the photograph and the note.

Store the story with the ornament

Once the decoration is fully dry, store it flat in a dry place, away from pressure and moisture. Put the year on the storage envelope so you can find it again. A short note about the craft afternoon can stay with it.

Can this be a gift for grandparents? Yes. Include the names of the people in the photograph and let the maker sign the back.

Do I need a new photo every year? No. Revisit an older picture when its story still matters. The date on the ornament can record the year you made it rather than the year the photograph was taken.

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Keep reading

• How to Display Personalized Christmas Ornaments Beyond the Tree

• How to Choose a Photo Puzzle Gift They Will Enjoy Finishing

• Christmas Decor Trends for 2026 That Work With What You Already Own

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