How to Make an {Easy} DIY Ornament Wreath
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This easy DIY Christmas ornament wreath can be made for as little as $20, much less expensive than store-bought versions and easy to create custom colors!
DIY Ornament Wreath
Christmas is in full swing here at my house-blogging assignments have me scrambling to decorate and photograph our Christmas decor so please forgive my fast-forward over Thanksgiving!! I had been holding back on decorating the outside of my house but a few of my neighbors put up lights over the last week so I thought I was safe to hang this easy DIY ornament wreath on the front door this week!
This wreath is super easy to make-it took me 30 minutes and cost less than twenty dollars!
Update 2018: I made a video tutorial to help show how to make the wreath as well as an update on the number of ornaments and total cost! The pictures of the gold DIY Christmas ornament wreath are from 2018, the red and silver DIY ornament wreath is from the original blog post in 2013.
DIY Ornament Wreath Supplies
- straw wreath form
- hot glue gun/glue (I love this cordless glue gun!)
- ornaments-I used about 80 large and 15 small ornaments-buy in bulk for the best price
How to Make an Ornament Wreath
For my wreath I wanted it to be predominantly silver with touches of red so I used about twice as many silver ornaments as red. Be sure to use shatterproof ornaments and use a variety of ornaments for interest-glittered, matte, shiny!
Begin by hot gluing the large ornaments to the wreath form along the inside and outside edges of the wreath. Then slowly layer the ornaments until the wreath is covered. Once you have no more room for large ornaments fill in any gaps with the smaller ornaments.
I promise this is just as easy-peasy as it sounds. I’ve tried the method of stringing ornaments on a wire coat hanger and this turned out significantly better and was faster too! I’m so excited by how it looks with our red door and can’t wait to show you the rest of the porch decor I have planned!
DIY Ornament Wreath
This easy DIY Christmas ornament wreath can be made for as little as $20, much less expensive than store-bought versions and easy to create custom colors!
Materials
- straw wreath form
- hot glue gun/glue
- shatterproof ornaments- about 80 large and 15 small ornaments
Instructions
- Hot glue the large ornaments to the wreath form along the inside and outside edges of the wreath.
- Layer the large ornaments until the wreath is covered gluing to both the wreath itself and the surrounding ornaments.
- Fill in gaps with smaller ornaments.
- Glue a ribbon to the back for hanging.
Notes
- If making a larger/heavier wreath, tie hanging ribbon around wreath form before gluing ornaments on.
Here are some other easy DIY Christmas decorations you might like:
This was a great tutorial! I used it as a guideline when I made one of my own with supplies from the Dollar Tree.
I’m so glad it was helpful Elizabeth!
Your wreath looks great on your door! You make it look so simple! I’ll have to give it a try.
Shelia
I have ALWAYS wanted one of these, but I thought you needed to make them with wire. I am going to try this.. do you think I could use a foam wreath instead of straw? (if I keep it indoors?)
Hi Lauren, if you’re going to use a foam wreath you’ll probably need to wrap it in scrap fabric first-in my experience the hot glue melts the foam so it wouldn’t work for attaching the ornaments. Hope that helps!
Ohhhh… that makes sense. Can you tell how not-crafty I am. I wouldnt have even thought of that! ha!
I realized it when I hosted a crafting ladies night a few years ago and got everyone foam wreath forms to glue ribbon to and they all melted! It was a “Craft Fail” evening!
Use a wire wreath form, easier to glue, uses less balls, sits flatter when you hang it!
Hi,
Where did you find the straw wreath?
You can find them at any craft store or online Ciera-I’ve updated the post with a link to one!
I did not see an answer about anyone having a problem with the ornaments falling off in changing weather. What kind of glue sticks did you use. I want to make sure they hold good.
I was in North Carolina when I made this wreath last year and it didn’t get terribly cold while I had it up-I used regular large hot glue on it. Sorry not to be of more help!
I love this idea. My question is, do you remove the part of the bulb that has a spot for the hook? ? And then hot glue it?? I couldn’t tell from the photos. Also do you continue to hot glue all bulbs together? ? What would you recommend to use to hang the wreath?? I’m making several for gifts.
I did not remove the cap of the ornament Elizabeth-I just angled it inwards on the wreath. I added hot glue anywhere I felt an ornament needed more stabilization so some of the ornaments were glues to the ornaments around them. Hope this helps!
Have you or anyone had a problem with the ornaments falling off in very cold temps? Or changing temps?
Thank you!
This would be a good plan ahead project. One could get the ornaments at this years after Christmas sale and make the wreath next year.
Great idea Sarah!!
Last year I made one of these with red/gold as my colors. I really like your version too! Following you on Bloglovin
Do you leave the plastic on the wreath so the ornaments adhere better? Did you have a chance to measure the wreath?
Thanks.
I did leave the plastic on my wreath to contain the straw! My wreath form measures 14″ from outer edge to outer edge. Hope that helps!
LOL! A few of you neighbors decorated really early. Who might they be? 🙂
I don’t know, a certain someone with a santa seesaw in the front yard? 😉
How do u get the ornaments on the middle to stick will the glue gun hold them
yes I used the glue gun on all of mine Becky
Looks great! I’ve seen ornament wreaths online and had no idea they were so easy to make!
It was SO much easier than the other methods I had tried Heather-and I couldn’t be more happy with out it turned out!
I love the look of your wreath and want to make one for myself. I actually have all I need to do it, but I have a question, what did you do about the ornament caps…did you take them off? did you glue them on the sides or tops?
Thanks for entertaining my dumb ? 😉
Hi Theresa! I did not take the ornament caps off, I just faced them away from the front of the wreath!
Festive!!! Love the fullness you achieved 🙂
Thanks so much Amy!!
That is darling! What is the inside diameter of your wreath form?
So Sorry I just saw this Sarah, I don’t have a ruler handy but it looks to be about 10″ on the inside (a hand and a half for me!) I bought it in the floral section of my walmart. I’ll try to pop back and measure it properly for you tomorrow!
It measured 14″ from outer edge to outer edge, about 9.5 on the interior.
This is absolutely GORGEOUS!!! I made an ornament wreath last year with silver & white ornaments. I love it so much, I want to keep making them! Love the touches of red that you mixed in, and how awesome it looks on your red door!
Thanks Emily!! I’m in love with how this one turned out, if only I could get the rest of the porch decor together!!
Melissa,
Saw this on your fb page. Love it. I’m definitely going to make one! Just need to get to the store. Thanks for this great tutorial. I’ll link back when I post it.
I’m so glad you liked it Kathleen!!
How did you hang your wreath?
Jess, I have a suction cup hanger that I use because I have the glass on the door. I literally stuck the hook into the straw wreath on the back and hung it that way. If you’re using a traditional door wreath hanger I’d probably add ribbon to the top or wrap ribbon around before adding my ornaments so there was something to hook it into.
It looks like a million bucks! I’ve been wanting to make one of these even though I already have a store bought one from a long time ago, but I’ve always chickened out. You really make it look do-able!
Thanks Courtenay! This was was so much easier than the wire method I had tried before!
Thanks for sharing this, Melissa!
Quick question – where do you find your ornaments?
Can’t wait to try! I’ve been on a seasonal wreath kick lately!
I bought my ornaments at Walmart Roselee, but you could probably make it even cheaper if you went with the dollar tree. I bought two packs of 41 silver ornaments and 1 package of 41 red ornaments, then 1 small pack of red mini ornaments. I have half a pack each of red and silver left (for an upcoming project!)
Thanks so much! I’ve been seeing packs of ornaments and thinking about making this kind of wreath. Was glad to see your easy tutorial come through!
I will definitely link back to you when I post mine. 🙂
I know this is an older post but after reading your simple instructions, I think I will give this a try!!!i have always wanted to buy one but they are so ridiculously priced high in the stores, I will try it your way! Thank you!!
I loved my wreath Kristie-it lasted through two moves-an awesome value for how much it cost to make. I had to scrap it when we moved to England recently but I’m already planning on making a new one here! ~Melissa
Melissa what size wreath did you use? I love this tutorial! Thank you so much for sharing!
Jessie if you look down a bit it says:
Melissa Riker says
December 10, 2013 at 4:11 pm
It measured 14″ from outer edge to outer edge, about 9.5 on the interior.
Dollar store & Family Dollar have great ornaments.
Also, Michael’s sells their last bit of ornaments for $5/bag around Valentine’s Day. I purchased 25 tubs of ornaments last year 10 bucks. Each tub has 50 ornaments. Keep a look out for next season!
Hi Rosalee,this is Sonja.How did you mount the wreath to the door?Did you use a Command Strip?There was no mention in the tutorial.And thank you for sharing
I did you a command strip when I made this originally Sonja. I believe I just nestled the straw right onto the hook if I remember properly-this was many years ago!) ~Melissa