Each year the children like to make gifts to hand out to everyone who comes over to our home during the month of December. When my friend Betsy, came to our Mom’s Meeting (our topic was Christmas gifts), brought these cute ornaments and told us how to make them, I knew that this is what we would make for this year.
This project is simple enough that even our 3 year old was able to create his own sweet ornaments and the results are charming enough that people will enjoy having them on their tree.
Materials needed:
- Rubber stamps
- Dominoes
- Permanent Markers
- Ribbon (We used 1/4″ and 1/8″. The 1/8″ left some of the glue exposed around the edges.)
- Glue (We used this zips adhesive. It’s like hot glue only already in a strip you just peel and place where you want it.)
- Permanent, all-surface ink for the stamps
How to:
- Stamp or let big kids stamp the back of a domino with a holiday or seasonal stamp. (The original ornaments that I saw used vertical stamps, but we had horizontal ones and they worked nicely.)
- Have the children color in the picture with the permanent markers.
- Place a strip of glue around the outside edge of the domino.
- Cut a 12″ piece of ribbon. Center the ribbon at the bottom of domino
and press the ribbon into the glue all the way around.
- Tie a double knot at the top center of domino.
- Tie another double knot at the ribbon ends to form a loop to hang the ornament.
We have a table tree on a table in our entry way and have decorated it with our domino ornaments. Whenever our guests are preparing to leave we ask them to please pick an ornament to take with them. 
If you prefer a more elegant look, mom can stamp and color. 
What simple gifts have your kids made for friends or family?
Get new posts delivered to your inbox or read them in a reader. Want to talk? Visit my forum.
.gif)
That is such a wonderful idea! They look so professional because of the stamp.
Blessings,
Diane
[Reply]
Those are REALLY cute!
[Reply]
How cute. What a great idea. I will definitely have to adopt this one for our family. Thnaks for sharing and giving instructions as well. I’m a big fan and love your site!
[Reply]
Kimberly @ Raising Olives Reply:
December 9th, 2009 at 3:26 pm
Thanks for taking the time to comment. I appreciate it.
[Reply]
My kids and I have made applesauce/cinnamon ornaments, Popsicle Christmas trees, and paper plate snowmen this year. Plus we have used the glass ornaments from Micheal’s craft store and filled them with different colors of Christmas paper (we used scrapbooking paper) we rolled or folded the paper strips and then dropped them into the ornaments. These turned out very pretty and elegant and were very cheap to make! I love the domino idea. I will have to try that some time. Thanks for sharing.
[Reply]
Kimberly @ Raising Olives Reply:
December 9th, 2009 at 3:31 pm
We also like those cinnamon ornaments and the glass ornaments sound like another fun idea!
[Reply]
ooo, love those ornaments! Super cute! Thank you for the great idea.
[Reply]
I love the ornaments, but I especially love the idea of giving them out to visitors! What a great lesson for the kids!
[Reply]
So cute! I love that you give them out to visitors. I also love ornaments that are not breakable. Your kids colored these? Wow.
We have yet to put ornaments on our tree this year because of our rowdy 14mos old and new puppy, but we did make some ornaments out of metallic pipe cleaners and hung them on the tree.
[Reply]
Kimberly @ Raising Olives Reply:
December 9th, 2009 at 3:33 pm
Yes, the kids colored. You should see Colby’s orange tribute. I forgot to get a picture of it. It’s a whole row of orange snowmen. It’s probably my favorite of all. Hope none of our visitors take it.
[Reply]
Those are very cute. We did ornaments this week as well.
[Reply]
Super neat.
[Reply]
Cute! Cute! Cute! What an original ornament idea.
[Reply]
Adorable! And you are very brave…little ones with permanent markers
[Reply]
Kimberly @ Raising Olives Reply:
December 11th, 2009 at 12:34 pm
LOL. Actually, we did most of the coloring with paint shirts on, then I realized I hadn’t gotten any pictures of the kids coloring. So, I briefly gave them a marker to color one more ornament so I could snap a shot. So you see, I’m not really THAT brave.
[Reply]
Oh what a wonderful idea!! We have been working this week on Christmas Tree ornaments. My husband cut them out of lightweight wood and my 4 year old has painted them green so far. We’ll put a picture of the kids in the middle and my son will decorate with gel paint pens. We’re using red & white “candy cane” yarn for the holder. I’m looking forward to seeing them done! We will have to try this next year, thanks for sharing!
[Reply]
Kimberly @ Raising Olives Reply:
December 11th, 2009 at 12:36 pm
Those ornaments sound so nice. We painted wood ornaments one year, but they were just some that I’d picked up at a craft store. Love including a picture.
[Reply]
Oh what a great idea! Those are so cute!
[Reply]
K that’s an awesome idea and I’m so going to steal it!
[Reply]
Kimberly @ Raising Olives Reply:
December 11th, 2009 at 12:36 pm
I’m giving it to you, so no need to “steal”.
They are so much fun, hope that you enjoy them.
[Reply]
Those are just darling…good job guys! Kim
[Reply]
What a great Idea! We just might be able to do this as I all ready have most of the supplies and my children love to do crafts.
[Reply]
These are too cute. I have seen dominoes at thrift stores pretty often too
[Reply]
or we could use the pieces left from the set my kids lost.
[Reply]
Kimberly @ Raising Olives Reply:
December 11th, 2009 at 12:38 pm
We NEVER loose pieces to dominoes or any other games. *ahem* (which is why I bought a new set of dominoes and we used our old set for these ornaments.)
[Reply]
Those are very cute. I also love the tree at your front door for people to choose an ornament from. What a great idea
[Reply]
Kimberly @ Raising Olives Reply:
December 11th, 2009 at 12:38 pm
Thanks, does that mean you’ll come visit?
[Reply]
Goodness you are creative! I’m bookmarking this one for next year! We already did so many homemade ornaments and I’m out of money. So definitely want to do this next year!
[Reply]
Kimberly @ Raising Olives Reply:
December 11th, 2009 at 12:39 pm
No, remember I’m a good copycat. My friend Betsy? Now she’s creative! You should see the books that her kids have made, AMAZING!
[Reply]
These are adorable!! What a great idea!
[Reply]
This is so creative. I love it when the children show their creative side.
Thanks for sharing.
Blessings
[Reply]
These are so cute! Thanks for sharing. My mother and I made sugar hand scrubs for several women this Christmas.
[Reply]
Kimberly @ Raising Olives Reply:
December 11th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
Is there a particular recipe you used for the sugar scrubs? That sounds like a fun project.
[Reply]
What a wonderful idea!!!!
[Reply]
thanks for sharing this lovely idea. I so appreciate it when you take the time to show us these things. love it.
val
[Reply]
Kimberly @ Raising Olives Reply:
December 22nd, 2009 at 8:52 pm
Of course you’re welcome. Thanks!
[Reply]
What a great idea. I hope I don’t forget it by next year though!
[Reply]