What Are the Best DIY Christmas Ornament Kits for Kids?
What are DIY Christmas ornament kits for kids? They are craft sets that give kids the supplies to make their own Christmas tree ornaments.
The best DIY Christmas ornament kits for kids are the Treemendous Ornament Decorator (ages 6+, spin-art ornaments kids make themselves) and the Melissa & Doug Stained Glass Made Easy Ornaments ($12.99, zero-mess sticker ornaments) — and for the "wow" main gift, the Aqua Fairy Magic Water Elf DIY Kit ($31.99, ages 5+) gives kids something they make and keep playing with. Every pick below passed the three filters that matter for ornaments: it survives the tree, it's worth hanging again next year, and the kid can finish it without you doing all the work.
By the Diy Crafts toys editorial team — every kit researched against real parent reviews and manufacturer specs before it makes the list.
Most ornament kits are ranked by how pretty they look in the box. That's the wrong test. The right test happens in your living room: does the finished ornament survive on a real tree, will the family actually hang it again next December, and can your kid finish it before lunch? Here are five kits that pass all three.
What Should You Look for in an Ornament Kit?
- The Hang Test: Will it survive a real tree? Shatter-proof plastic and foam ornaments forgive clumsy hands; real ceramic ones don't — beautiful, but honest about the risk.
- The Keepsake Test: Would you hang it again next year? Kits where the kid makes something personal (a name, a handprint, a design nobody else has) beat kits where every ornament looks the same.
- The Timing Test: When can it go on the tree? Some kits dry in minutes; some need overnight. If you're decorating Christmas morning, that detail decides the whole day.
How Do the Top 5 Kits Compare?
| Kit | Price (checked 2026-10-22) | Ages | Mess | Timing | Ornaments per kit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aqua Fairy Magic Water Elf DIY Kit | $31.99 | 5+ | Low — table + water bowl | Ready in ~20 min | 8 creatures |
| Treemendous Ornament Decorator | ~$30 (kit, price unverified); refill bundle $39.95 at Walmart | 6+ | Zero — markers only | Dry instantly | 3 included, refills available |
| Melissa & Doug Stained Glass Made Easy Ornaments | $12.99 | 4+ | Zero — stickers only | Instant | 2 (tree + Santa) |
| Oriental Trading Foam Ornament Craft Kit | $8.99 | 3+ | Zero — self-adhesive foam | Instant | 12 |
| Ceramic Ornament Painting Kit for Kids (Etsy) | $24.99 | 6+ | Low — paint pens | Instant (no firing) | 4 |
1. Aqua Fairy Magic Water Elf DIY Kit — best "wow" main gift
Honesty first: this isn't an ornament kit. But if the kid on your list wants to make something at Christmas, this is the gift that makes them gasp. Kids squeeze colored gel into molds, drop them in water, and minutes later they're holding squishy little water creatures — dinosaurs, sea animals, and more. They live in a bowl of water, so the gift keeps playing long after the tree comes down — and the kit makes 8 creatures.
Pros: The only pick that ends with toys they keep playing with — every other ornament ends on a branch. All supplies arrive in one box; nothing extra to buy, and the Timing Test passes: ready in about 20 minutes.
Cons: At $31.99 it's the priciest pick here — think main gift, not stocking filler. Officially ages 5+, so younger kids need a parent beside them for the squeeze steps.
Ages: 5+. Occasion: the main Christmas gift for a kid who wants to make something.
2. Treemendous Ornament Decorator — best for instant ornaments
Pop a blank ornament into the little spinning machine, turn it on, and touch the fast-drying markers to it — by the time the machine stops, the ornament is dry and ready to hang. It needs 4 AA batteries (not included), and refill ornaments are easy to find when the kit's three run out.
Pros: Dry-instant ornaments pass the Timing Test for Christmas-morning decorating. The finished ornaments are shatter-proof plastic, so the Hang Test is a non-issue, and each one is genuinely unique.
Cons: Only 3 ornaments in the kit — with two kids, you'll want the refill bundle. The spinning machine is a gadget to store after the season.
Ages: 6+. Occasion: a family craft-night activity.
3. Melissa & Doug Stained Glass Made Easy Ornaments — best zero-mess option
Over 50 translucent "stained glass" stickers press into outlined frames to make luminous window ornaments — a Christmas tree and a Santa. The included suction cups mean the finished ornaments hang in a window, not on the tree — know that before you wrap.
Pros: Truly zero mess — stickers, frames, and cord, nothing wet or drying. The sticker work builds fine-motor skills, and the light-through-stained-glass effect genuinely looks premium.
Cons: Only 2 ornaments per kit, so one child makes both. These hang in windows via suction cup, not on the tree — manage expectations before Christmas morning.
Ages: 4+. Occasion: stocking filler or grandparent gift.
4. Oriental Trading Foam Ornament Craft Kit — best for a crowd
Makes 12 ornaments for $8.99 — under a dollar each — with self-adhesive foam pieces, instructions, and hanging loops, pre-packaged per child for parties and classrooms. Rated 4.6 stars across 33 reviews. One honesty flag: the design set is nativity-themed, so it's ideal for families and Sunday-school groups, less so if you want a neutral set.
Pros: The only pick priced for a whole classroom or party table. Zero-mess foam, pre-packaged individually, and kids finish in one sitting.
Cons: Foam is light-duty — these pass the Hang Test but won't be heirlooms. The theme is specifically nativity, not generic winter.
Ages: 3+. Occasion: classroom gifts, party favors, or a Sunday-school craft day.
5. Ceramic Ornament Painting Kit for Kids (Etsy) — best keepsake
Four real ceramic ornaments (round, star, tree shapes) plus 4 paint pens, no baking or firing needed, in a gift-ready kraft box. Painted ceramic is the thing grandparents save for decades — but it breaks if dropped, so this is the supervised-craft pick, not the toddler pick.
Pros: Real keepsake weight and quality — the closest thing to a hand-painted family heirloom a kid can make in an afternoon. No oven, no kiln, no wait.
Cons: Ceramic is breakable, so it's best for ages 6+ with an adult nearby. Four ornaments for $24.99 is the priciest per-ornament pick here.
Ages: 6+ (adult supervision for young kids). Occasion: grandparent gifts or a family keepsake set.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the best DIY Christmas ornament kit for kids overall? The Treemendous Ornament Decorator is the best true ornament kit — kids make real tree ornaments that are dry instantly. For the wow-factor main gift, the Aqua Fairy Magic Water Elf Kit gives kids creatures they keep playing with.
Do these kits need drying time? Only in the good way: Treemendous markers dry as the spinner runs, and the sticker, foam, and ceramic paint-pen kits are ready immediately. No overnight waits anywhere on this list.
Are ceramic ornaments safe for young kids? The finished ceramic ornaments are decorative, not toys, and they break if dropped. Keep the Etsy ceramic kit for ages 6+ with adult supervision; pick the shatter-proof Treemendous or foam kits for toddlers.