Famous Christmas Character DIY Ornaments

Frosty the Snowman™, the Grinch™, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer™,
Ralphie from “A Christmas Story™,” Buddy the Elf™ … if these are some of your favorite Christmas movie characters, too, then these DIY Christmas ornaments will leave your tree in good company this holiday season!

While these licensed items are ready for the tree, how fun would it be to make classic personalities from some of the top Christmas movies with your own spin?! Each of these tutorials, ranging from easy to a little more challenging, is perfect for making the most of your Christmas season with a memorable night of crafting to showcase the fun on your family tree for years to come. So gather up your family or friends, after all, presence is greater than presents But this way you get both! Roll up the sleeves of your favorite ugly Christmas sweater, pop in one of these popular Christmas movies and let’s get to crafting!

FROSTY THE SNOWMAN™

From his corncob pipe and button nose to that magical hat placed on his head, Frosty the Snowman™ has surely become one of the most iconic snowmen of all-time.

Certainly there is no hocus-pocus required to bring this version to life! Just a few supplies, glue and imagination. Indeed, we think even Professor Hinkle and Karen would approve of our magical variation! He always said he’d be back again someday, but with this DIY ornament, Frosty™ is here to stay.

MATERIALS|

• White frost or clear ornament
• Faux snow (if using clear ornament)
• Black & gray cardstock
• Pink felt and blue pom-pom (or a ready-made flower)
• 2 googly eyes
• Red button
• Gold chenille stem (pipe-cleaner)
• Scissors
• Glue stick
• Hot glue

SNOW ORNAMENT DIRECTIONS|

1. Fill the clear ornament with snow.
2. Glue on the ornament topper.

FROSTY’S MAGICAL TOP HAT DIRECTIONS|

1. Hat brim: Cut an approximately 3″ circle from your gray card stock – A plastic muffin cup package works well as a stencil. (We removed a small wedge from the front, making it look a bit more like an artist’s painting palette once we were done.)
2. Trace the ornament top in the center and hollow out the hat brim. (That is so it will fit snugly in place over the ornament topper.)
3. Cut a 2″ x 5¾” strip of grey card stock; score and fold ¼” in, along the length.
4. Cut a ½” x 5¾” strip of black card stock.
5. Glue the black strip of card stock along the folded edge of the grey card stock.
6. Cut small slits along the ¼” side, just to the fold. (This will help with making the tube shape of the top hat.)
7. Roll the top of the hat into a tube and glue closed. (You may wish to reinforce the interior with some tape.)
8. Glue the inside flaps along the bottom of the top part of the hat to the hat brim, keeping the hollowed center in the middle.
9. Cut a small flower out of the pink felt if not using a ready-made flower. (The center should be just big enough for the blue pom-pom.)
10. Glue the blue pom to the felt flower, and the felt flower along the black band of the top hat.
11. Carefully fit the hat over the ornament topper.

CORN COB PIPE & FINISHING TOUCHES DIRECTIONS|

1. Carefully glue the eyes and button nose in place.
2. Corncob pipe: Wrap one end of the chenille stem around a small tube (the glue stick tube works well) approximately 4 times. pinch a small piece at the end down, this will be the part glued to the ornament.
3. Carefully glue the corn cob pipe in place.

WATCH OUR DIY FROSTY THE SNOWMAN™ ORNAMENT VIDEO TUTORIAL:

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THE GRINCH™

The Grinch™ had it right all those Christmases ago when he puzzled and puzzled with his brow tipped low. “Maybe Christmas,” he thought, “doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas … perhaps … means a little bit more!” ¹

Therefore it is in that spirit we bring you this thrill, a Grinch™ ornament all your own made with patience and a little skill! From the Grinch who stole Christmas™ to the Grinch™ who stole your heart – this DIY ornament is truly a work of art!

Okay, Okay … all Dr. Seuss prose aside, we really do think you’ll love our clever take on a double-sided, DIY Grinch™ ornament. So we hope you’ll give this one a go!

MATERIALS|

• Clear ornament
• Grinch green feathers: Try feathers from this Lime 6′ Chandelle Feather Boa from Hobby Lobby.
• Red felt heart shape
• Black and yellow or gold acrylic paint pens
• Scissors
• Hot glue

DIRECTIONS|

1. Sketch the Grinch’s™ face on the ornament using paint pens and allow to dry completely. (See note.)
2. If using the ostrich plumes, trim the feather fronds along the stem before filling the ornament. If using other small feathers, simply fill the ornament to your liking.
3. On the back of the ornament, glue the red felt heart.
4. Optional: Add the quote, “the Grinch’s small heart grew three sizes that day” or draw the broken x-ray near the heart if you’d like!

NOTE| If you don’t feel artistic enough to add the Grinch’s™ face by hand, you can print and cut out your favorite facial expression and use a glossy Mod-Podge to apply it to the ornament’s surface.

WATCH OUR DIY GRINCH™ ORNAMENT VIDEO TUTORIAL:

1. “How The Grinch Stole Christmas!” By Dr. Seuss, © renewed 1985

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RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER™

Surely Rudolph™ and Christmas go hand in hand like macaroni and cheese! Evidently, he first appeared in a booklet in 1939, making everyone’s favorite reindeer over 75 years old!😲 I mean does anyone remember a childhood Christmas without Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer™?! 🦌 We can’t either!

He may be Santa’s 9th reindeer, but Rudolph’s™ first on our list and it would just seem abominable if he wasn’t on the tree! So to celebrate this illuminating Christmas character that taught us there are no misfits, we came up with this simple tutorial.

MATERIALS|

• Brown ornament
• Brown felt
• Cardstock (Recycled cereal box would work well.)
• Eyes
• Red jingle bell, pom-pom ball or bead (for nose)
• Tacky glue
• PRINT TEMPLATE for antlers
• Hot glue

DIRECTIONS|

1. Trace antler pattern on card stock and felt (Print Template.)
2. Cut out the card stock and felt.
3. Glue pieces of felt to each side of the card stock, leaving little pieces at the end free to glue to ornament. (Or alternatively, sew the antlers together with the card stock in between.)
4. Glue end pieces of antlers on either side of the ornament topper.
5. Glue googly eyes and nose on ornament.

WATCH OUR DIY RUDOLPH™ ORNAMENT VIDEO TUTORIAL:

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RALPHIE PARKER FROM “A CHRISTMAS STORY™”

“A Christmas Story™” conjures up so many classic images … a Red Ryder BB gun followed by the inevitable, “You’ll shoot your eye out!”. Or the “Old Man’s” major award – that prized leg lamp (much to Mrs. Parker’s dismay); but equally as iconic, in my humble opinion, is Ralphie’s pink bunny suit from Aunt Clara. Consequently, that became the inspiration for this DIY Christmas ornament. Most certainly it is sure to elicit one of two reactions: “Ohhh isn’t that CUTE?!!” or “He looks like a deranged Easter bunny.” But either way – you WIN!😂

MATERIALS|

• Light and dark pink felt – 8 pieces approximately 5½” tall x 2″ wide.*
• Wire (not too heavy)
• Cardboard or sturdy cardstock
• Scissors
• Black or brown paint or marker
• Gold ornament
• Pink thread
• Sewing needle
• Hot glue
• PRINT TEMPLATE

BUNNY SUIT DIRECTIONS|

1. Cut 4 teardrop pieces out of the light pink felt. (See template.)
2. Similarly, but leaving the tip and the bottom straight-edged, fold over the felt and cut 2 ears. (See template; or alternatively, cut four separate pieces for the ears.)
3. Cut 2 pink ear inserts out of the dark pink felt to your desired shape and size. (See template.)
4. Stitch the 4 teardrop pieces together to create the “hood” which will wrap around the ornament. (Sew adjoining parts end to end; A to A, B to B, C to C.)
   
5. Fold a wire (double the finished length of one ear) inside the light pink ear, stack a dark pink felt on top and sew the pieces together (with the wire inside) leaving the flat bottom flaps open. (Repeat with other ear.)
6. Lay the “hood” over the ornament to place the ear near the topper, remove ornament and stitch the flat open part of the ear on to the hood. Repeat on the other side.
7. Carefully remove the ornament topper and place the “Bunny suit” on. Replace the topper, using it to hold the top in place.
8. Add a dab of hot glue at the ornament base to secure the bunny suit “hoodie” in place. You may also wish to add dabs of glue on the ornament under the ears to help hold them upright.

RALPHIE PARKER GLASSES DIRECTIONS|

1. Trace glasses onto card stock. (See template.)
2. Paint or color black or brown on both sides. (Alternatively cut from a patterned paper.)
3. Fold in a “Z” shape at the hinge to create horn-rimmed glasses and glue in place to hold.
4. Add a dab of hot glue on the inside bridge of the glasses and place on Ralphie’s face.

NOTE| These measurements are suited for a larger, 3.25″ ornament. You may adjust as needed based on your ornament size.

WATCH OUR DIY RALPHIE ORNAMENT VIDEO TUTORIAL:

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BUDDY THE ELF™

We just LOVE crafting! Crafting’s our favorite!

Will Ferrell brought us the charming ‘Buddy’ in the 2003 film “Elf™.” And, unquestionably, it quickly turned into one of the classic Christmas gems of our time! Therefore we help you pay homage to the world’s most lovable elf with this easy ornament tutorial which is kid-friendly!

But don’t forget to grab the elves four food groups to power you through this fun time of crafting: candy, candy canes, candy corn and syrup! In addition, if you want caffeine with your sugar to help fuel you through all the cutting and gluing, maybe grab “the world’s BEST cup of coffee,” too!😂

This ornament is sure to be a sweet addition to the tree. And we promise that’s not the sugar talking!

MATERIALS|

• 4″ Green Ornament (Shatterproof is perfect when working with children.)
• 3 Cotton balls
• Strip of black cardstock
• Glittery gold foam paper
• Gold puffy paint
• Hot glue
• Gold glitter (optional)
• Scissors

DIRECTIONS|

1. Pull cotton balls in half to make smaller.
2. Glue in clusters of 3 near the ornament neck to make the collar.
3. Glue the strip of black paper along the ornament’s circumference.
4. Hollow out a rectangle from the glittery gold foam. (This will be the belt buckle.)
5. Fill the hollowed-out space in the buckle with black card stock.
6. Glue the “buckle” to the “belt.”
7. Embellish ornament with gold puffy paint. (Top off with additional glitter if you wish.)

WATCH OUR DIY ELF™ ORNAMENT VIDEO TUTORIAL:

Disclaimer: We’re lovers of Christmas, not professional DIY’ers. It’s not about perfection … we hope you’ll have fun with these ideas just as we did because that’s what it’s all about!

Also, we’d love for you to share your character creations with us by tagging
@BronnersChristmas on Facebook and Instagram or @BronnersXmas on Twitter!

TAKE OUR CHRISTMAS MOVIE PERSONALITY QUIZ

Did you enjoy this post? You may love our “Christmas Movie Personality Quiz.” Head over to find out who you reely are at Christmas!

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MORE DIY FUN!

Additionally, if you’re looking for more, check out these other, creative, DIY Christmas Ornaments!