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Timeless Treasures: DIY Vintage Christmas Ornaments to Make This September
There’s a special kind of joy in opening a box of old Christmas ornaments—the faded sparkle, the timeworn charm, the memories tucked into every chip and crack. Some come from antique stores or family attics, but the most meaningful ones? Those are the ornaments we make with our own hands.
As summer fades and cooler evenings start to whisper of the holidays ahead, it’s the perfect time to begin crafting keepsakes. Whether you love the glimmer of faux mercury glass, the delicacy of Victorian scrap art, or the rustic beauty of salvaged wood, vintage-inspired ornaments bring a sense of tradition and heart to your holiday décor. Let’s roll up our sleeves and create something beautiful—something worth unwrapping for years to come.
The Magic of Handmade Holiday Traditions
The ornaments of a home are the friends who frequent it. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
There’s something wonderfully nostalgic about sitting down at a kitchen table with your favorite people and a pile of glitter, glue, and craft supplies. Before Pinterest boards and mass-produced holiday kits, families made do with what they had—and made beautiful memories in the process.
Why not bring that tradition back? Start your vintage ornament journey with classic, beginner-friendly projects. Salt dough ornaments are an easy (and kid-approved) option—just mix, roll, cut, bake, and decorate with paint, glitter, or even rubber stamps. Want something softer? Stitch up small sachets in holiday fabric, fill with cloves or cinnamon sticks, and embellish with vintage lace or buttons.
Victorian-style paper ornaments are another lovely option. Use aged-look scrapbook paper or tea-dye your own, then cut into stars, hearts, or angels and add ribbon, tinsel, or printed holiday greetings. These delicate little darlings can be tucked into tree branches, strung on garlands, or even added to gift wrap for an extra-special touch.
The best part? These projects are budget-friendly, sentimental, and tailor-made for cozy crafting sessions with friends and family.
A DIY Guide to Vintage Ornament Crafting
Unique Architectural Salvage DIY Vintage Christmas Ornaments Tutorial
If you’re ready to take your vintage crafting up a notch, you have to watch this incredible tutorial from Rachel at The Ponds Farmhouse. In her video, “Unique Architectural Salvage DIY Vintage Christmas Ornaments,” Rachel transforms old spindles, corbels, and wood finials into jaw-droppingly gorgeous tree ornaments.
She starts by adding small eye hooks to the ends of her salvaged pieces—nothing fancy, just a drill and a little patience. Then comes the sparkle: using a small paintbrush, she applies Elmer’s glue to highlight key areas and dusts them with fine silver glitter. The glitter adds shimmer without covering the worn paint and cracks that give these ornaments their rustic, antique charm.
But the real showstopper? Rachel adds antique chandelier crystals to the bottom of each spindle, creating long, elegant dangles that look like they belong in a glamorous old department store window display. Topped with velvet ribbon, these ornaments are a perfect mix of farmhouse, vintage, and sparkle.
Her approach is refreshingly relaxed—there’s no pressure to make it perfect. In fact, the more character your salvage pieces have, the better they’ll look. It’s a great reminder that imperfection is part of what makes homemade ornaments so beautiful.
So if you’ve got a stash of old wooden bits lying around (or love an excuse to visit a flea market), this project will turn them into holiday treasures.
Crafting Keepsakes for Generations
Nothing will make Christmas more special than DIY‑ing your Christmas decorations. ~Martha Stewart
When you make your own ornaments, you’re not just decorating a tree—you’re building a memory. Each piece becomes a little time capsule: the glittery salt dough heart your toddler helped paint, the spindle ornament you made after that legendary thrift haul, the stitched sachet your grandma helped sew.
For something with a bit of sparkle and age, try making faux mercury glass ornaments. All you need are clear glass ball ornaments, silver spray paint, and a vinegar-water mix in a spray bottle. Lightly mist the inside of each ornament with vinegar, then give it a quick spray of silver paint. As it dries, it creates a beautiful, mottled antique effect that looks like it came straight from a vintage shop.
Prefer wood? Cut simple shapes from soft basswood or even upcycle old wooden coasters and handles. Carve or sand lightly to shape, stain them with strong tea or coffee for a warm, aged tone, then add a bit of ribbon or twine. A quick coat of Mod Podge gives them a soft sheen and protects your work for years to come.
Let your style guide you. Some crafters lean into the Victorian glam with gold leaf and glitter. Others go full rustic with burlap, twine, and cinnamon sticks. There’s no wrong way to make it—only your way.
Ditch the plastic bins of store-bought ornaments and start making something truly personal. Whether you’re layering silver glitter onto antique wood, folding aged paper into delicate stars, or sewing sachets by the light of a pumpkin-scented candle, these handmade ornaments will bring so much more than beauty to your tree—they’ll bring meaning.
Plus, starting now gives you time to actually enjoy the process. No rushing. No hot glue burns two days before Christmas. Just a cozy autumn full of crafting, cocoa, and creativity.
By the time the holidays roll around, you’ll have a collection of handmade heirlooms, each one a little piece of Christmas magic made by you—ready to sparkle on the tree and stir up smiles for years to come.