featured 13990

Make Pottery Barn Look Ornaments for a Buck

Sparkle & Save: Crafting DIY Pottery Barn Inspired Glitter Ornaments

Welcome back to our festive crafting series, where we bring you inspiring and achievable DIY projects to brighten your holidays! We’re thrilled to share Day 7 of our “12 Days of Christmas” journey, and today’s project is all about adding a touch of high-end sparkle to your tree without the designer price tag. If you love the chic, elegant look of Pottery Barn decorations but prefer to craft on a budget, you’ve come to the right place! Be sure to follow us on Instagram and Facebook to stay updated with all our latest creative endeavors and holiday inspirations.

Today, we’re diving into a super easy and incredibly inexpensive knock-off ornament project that delivers stunning results. Our inspiration struck after flipping through a beautiful Pottery Barn magazine, admiring their charming, glittery holiday accents. We knew we could recreate a similar luxurious aesthetic using simple materials and a dash of creativity. This project is not only satisfying for adults but also makes a fantastic craft to enjoy with your little ones, creating cherished memories alongside beautiful decorations!

Why DIY Your Christmas Ornaments This Season?

There’s an undeniable magic in handmade holiday decorations. Beyond the joy of creating something unique, DIY Christmas ornaments offer a plethora of benefits. They allow you to infuse your personal style into your festive decor, making your home truly reflect your taste. Opting for DIY also means significant cost savings, especially when replicating high-end designs like those found at Pottery Barn. Instead of spending a fortune, you can achieve a similar, if not more charming, look for a fraction of the price. These projects are also wonderful opportunities for family bonding, turning craft time into a cherished holiday tradition. Imagine years from now, looking at these glittery ornaments and remembering the fun you had making them together. Plus, using readily available materials like chipboard and spray paint makes this an eco-conscious choice, giving new life to simple items.

The beauty of this project lies in its simplicity and versatility. Whether you’re decorating your own tree, looking for thoughtful handmade gifts, or planning a fun holiday craft party, these glitter chipboard ornaments are an absolute winner. They add a sophisticated touch with their metallic sheen and can be customized to match any color scheme or theme. Get ready to impress your guests with these charming, handcrafted gems!

Gather Your Sparkly Supplies

One of the best aspects of this DIY project is how accessible and affordable the materials are. You won’t need to hunt for obscure items; most can be found at your local craft store, making this a truly budget-friendly endeavor.

Essential Materials:

  • **Chipboard Shapes and Letters:** These are the stars of our project! Look for various designs – individual letters (perfect for initials or spelling out festive words), peace signs, stars, or other holiday-themed shapes. Hobby Lobby, for instance, often has sales where larger peace signs can be as low as $.50, and alphabet sets around $3. This makes personalizing your ornaments incredibly economical. The thickness of the chipboard can vary, which will slightly influence how you add the hanger, as we’ll discuss in the steps below.
  • **Glitter Spray Paint:** The secret to that high-end sparkle! We highly recommend Rust-Oleum Gold Glitter spray paint for its excellent coverage and dazzling finish. However, feel free to experiment with other glitter colors like silver, rose gold, or even a festive red or green to match your holiday decor. A high-quality glitter spray paint ensures even glitter distribution and long-lasting shimmer.
  • **Twine or Jute:** Natural twine or jute provides a rustic contrast to the glitter, enhancing the handmade charm. Choose a 3-ply jute for good durability and texture. You can also opt for ribbon or metallic thread if you prefer a different look.
  • **Optional Ornament Hangers:** For an extra touch of polish, consider picking up a pack of simple wire ornament hangers. We found some adorable ones at Hobby Lobby for about $2 a pack, offering another layer of customization and ease when hanging your finished creations.

Tools You’ll Need:

  • **Staple Gun:** Ideal for attaching twine to thicker chipboard pieces securely.
  • **Small Screwdriver or Awl:** Perfect for carefully punching small holes in thinner chipboard without creating a large, unsightly opening.
  • **Craft Mat or Drop Cloth:** To protect your work surface during spray painting.
  • **Gloves & Mask (for spray painting):** Essential for safety and to avoid getting paint on your hands.

Step-by-Step Crafting Your Glitter Ornaments

Now that you have all your materials ready, let’s get crafting! This project is designed to be straightforward and enjoyable, even for novice DIYers.

Step 1: Preparing Your Chipboard Blanks

First, unwrap your chipboard pieces and lay them out on a protected surface, such as a craft mat or newspaper in a well-ventilated area. If any pieces have dust or small imperfections, gently wipe them clean. Take a moment to decide which letters or shapes you’ll use. For a personalized touch, consider choosing the initials of family members, or spell out festive words like “JOY” or “PEACE.”

Step 2: Unleashing the Glitter Spray Paint

This is where the magic truly begins! With your chipboard pieces laid flat, shake your glitter spray paint can thoroughly for at least a minute to ensure the glitter particles are well mixed. Hold the can approximately 8-10 inches away from the chipboard and apply the first light, even coat. Use sweeping motions to avoid drips and ensure full coverage. It’s better to apply several thin coats than one thick coat, which can become clumpy and obscure the crisp edges of your chipboard shapes. We applied three generous coats of Rust-Oleum Gold Glitter spray paint to achieve a brilliant, saturated sparkle. Allow adequate drying time between each coat – usually 15-30 minutes, depending on your climate and the paint instructions. Ensure you are in a well-ventilated area, or ideally, spray paint outdoors, and consider wearing gloves and a mask for safety.

Step 3: Crafting the Perfect Hanger

Once your glitter-painted chipboard pieces are completely dry to the touch (this might take a few hours, or even overnight, to ensure the paint is fully cured and won’t smudge), it’s time to add the hanging mechanism. The method for this will depend on the thickness of your chipboard.

For Thicker Chipboard Shapes:

If you’re using thicker chipboard pieces, like the peace signs we chose, a staple gun is your best friend for a secure and invisible hanger. Flip the ornament over to its back side. Cut a piece of twine about 6-8 inches long. Form it into a loop and carefully staple both ends of the twine to the back of the chipboard. Ensure the staple goes through both strands of twine and into the chipboard securely. This method is incredibly sturdy and keeps the hanger neatly hidden on the reverse side, maintaining the clean, glittery front.

For Thinner Chipboard Letters:

For thinner chipboard letters, we opted for a small screwdriver to punch a hole. The reason for choosing a screwdriver over a standard hole punch is to create a smaller, less obtrusive hole, which is especially important for delicate letter shapes. Carefully place the tip of a small screwdriver (or an awl) at the top center of your letter and gently twist and push until it creates a clean hole. Once the hole is made, take a piece of 3-ply jute (or your chosen twine) about 10-12 inches long. Thread one end of the jute through the newly punched hole from the front of the ornament to the back. Then, bring the two ends of the jute together at the top and tie a secure knot, creating a loop for hanging. Trim any excess twine if needed to give it a neat finish.

Step 4: The Finishing Touches & Personalization

Your beautiful glitter ornaments are almost complete! This is the stage where you can truly make them your own. If you opted for the optional ornament hangers, simply attach them to the twine loop or directly through the hole in your chipboard pieces. We loved picking out our family’s initials from the chipboard pack to hang, creating a wonderfully personal display. You can also craft ornaments with holiday symbols, the year, or even short, meaningful words. These personalized glitter ornaments make fantastic gifts, thoughtful place settings for holiday dinners, or charming additions to your own festive tree.

Displaying Your Sparkling Creations

Once all your ornaments are dry and assembled, the fun part begins: decorating! These glittery knock-offs will look absolutely stunning hanging from your Christmas tree, catching the light and adding a touch of glamour. But don’t limit yourself to the tree! They can also be incorporated into garlands draped across a mantel, added to festive wreaths on your front door, or even used as charming gift toppers. Imagine a beautifully wrapped present adorned with a personalized glitter initial – it’s a gift and an ornament all in one! These versatile pieces instantly elevate any holiday display with their elegant, handmade appeal.

And there you have it – a dazzling array of charming, custom-made ornaments created with ease and on a budget! We are absolutely loving our cute little knock-offs and know you will too. Your pins and shares help us spread the joy of DIY, and we always appreciate your support in sharing our projects with your friends and family!

Explore More Festive Ideas from Our Friends!

Our “12 Days of Christmas” series is a collaborative effort, bringing you a diverse collection of holiday inspiration from talented bloggers. Make sure to hop on over to the blogs below and discover what our creative friends have conjured up for Day 7! There are truly so many wonderful ideas to get you into the holiday spirit.

Discover beautiful seasonal decor with Michael of Inspired by Charm, who shares his ideas for a Colorful Christmas Centerpiece.

Marianne of Songbird offers her charming insights into creating a Rustic Christmas Garland, perfect for adding cozy warmth to any space.

Get inspired to count down to Christmas with a creative project from Cassity of Remodelaholic, showcasing her unique take on a Christmas Advent Calendar.

Join KariAnne of Thistlewood Farms for a delightful peek into her festive home with a Mini Farmhouse Christmas Tour.

And don’t miss Donna of Funky Junk Interiors as she demonstrates how to create a whimsical Fuzzy Wood Round and Metal Washer Christmas Garland.

Catch Up on Our Previous 12 Days of Christmas Posts!

If you’ve just joined our festive celebration, or if you missed any of our previous projects, now is the perfect time to catch up! Each day has brought a new, exciting DIY idea to help you decorate your home with handmade charm.

Day 1 introduced our popular DIY Blanket Ladder – a functional and stylish piece for any season, perfect for displaying festive throws.

On Day 2, we shared how to craft a charming DIY Bow Picture Frame, adding a personal and elegant touch to your holiday portraits.

Day 3 brought us the clever DIY Stocking Holders, a unique way to display cherished photos alongside your festive stockings.

For Day 4, we showed you how to make a beautiful Picture Frame Ornament, perfect for highlighting small photos or holiday messages.

Day 5 featured our innovative DIY Photo Carousel, a lovely way to showcase your favorite memories during the festive season.

And on Day 6, we presented a versatile DIY Wood Tray, ideal for serving holiday treats or creating a festive centerpiece.

Happy Crafting and Happy Holidays!

We hope you’ve enjoyed learning how to create these stunning, budget-friendly glitter ornaments. They are a testament to how simple materials and a little creativity can transform your holiday decor. Whether you choose to personalize them with initials, festive words, or meaningful shapes, these ornaments are sure to add a unique and sparkling touch to your home. Thank you for joining us on this exciting “12 Days of Christmas” crafting adventure. We wish you a joyful and creative holiday season filled with warmth, family, and beautiful handmade decorations!