10 DIY Dog Ornaments to Make This Christmas (2026)

If your Christmas tree is basically your dog’s biography in miniature, you’re in good company. This year, instead of buying another mass-produced bauble, make DIY dog ornaments that actually mean something — a felted ball with your pup’s silhouette, a clay bone stamped with their name, a clear bauble holding their goofiest photo. Below are ten original projects, each with one standout product to make the craft easier.

1. Felted Wool Ball Dog Silhouette Ornament

Start with plain wool felt balls and stitch a simple dog silhouette onto each one with embroidery thread. The beauty of this project is how forgiving it is — the felt hides every imperfect stitch, and if your dog knocks the tree branch, these bounce instead of break. Draw the silhouette freehand on paper first, pin it to the ball, and use a basic running stitch to trace it. Finish with an embroidery-floss hanging loop.

Helpful pick: Luckforest 60 Pcs Wool Felt Balls — natural-toned felt balls that take embroidery thread well, plus a hanging rope in the pack.

2. Hand-Stamped Dog Tag Ornament

Blank stainless steel pet tags plus a simple metal stamp set equals an ornament with your dog’s name and the year hammered right into it. Secure the tag on a steel bench block, position each letter stamp carefully, and give it one firm tap with a mallet — two light taps leave ghost letters, so commit to the single strike. Thread the finished tag on a red satin ribbon and tie it in a bow. It catches the tree lights beautifully.

Helpful pick: GORGECRAFT 6PCS Slide-On Pet ID Tags Blank — stainless steel blanks in three sizes that stamp cleanly and resist tarnish.

3. Mason Jar Lid Photo Ornament

Wide-mouth canning lids make perfect circular photo frames. Trim a favorite photo of your dog into a circle slightly larger than the lid opening, glue it to the back of the lid with the image showing through the center, and press the ring back on. The tinplate edge gives it a vintage farmhouse look. Tie twine through the top of the ring for hanging. These take about five minutes each, so make a whole set for every dog-lover on your list.

Helpful pick: SLifeJars Wide Mouth Canning Lids, 150 Pack — a big economical pack of lids sized perfectly for circular photo ornaments.

4. Pinecone Rescue Dog Ornament

Open pinecones already have a scruffy texture that reads as fur if you squint a little. Glue two small felt triangles on the upper sides for ears, add a black bead nose and two tiny bead eyes to the front, and you’ve got a woodland pup. Tie twine around a top scale for the hanger. Kids can do everything except the hot glue steps, and no two cones turn out alike — which makes a delightfully uneven pack of ornaments.

Helpful pick: GS Foliage Natural Pine Cones, 15 Pieces — cleaned 3–4 inch cones in the ideal size for ornament making.

5. Air-Dry Clay Bone Ornament

Roll white air-dry clay to about a quarter inch thick, press a bone-shaped cutter into it, and poke a hanging hole near one end with a straw before it dries. While the clay is still soft, press a small paw stamp or your dog’s actual toe-bean pattern gently into the center. Let it air dry for 24 hours, then sand the edges lightly. Leave it matte white, or paint it and seal with a clear coat.

Helpful pick: Sculpey Model Air Dry Clay, White — smooth, easy-to-smooth clay that air dries without cracking.

6. Photo Bauble Keepsake Ornament

Fillable plastic ornaments split into two halves, which means assembly is basically: open, insert, close. Roll a small printed photo of your dog into a loose curl and slide it inside, then tuck in a pinch of fake snow or a sprig of dried greenery around it. The photo uncurls against the clear plastic and looks professionally framed. Because they’re plastic, they survive being batted off the lowest branches.

Helpful pick: Creative Hobbies 25 Pcs Clear Plastic Ball Ornaments — shatterproof, pre-strung, and the removable cap makes filling effortless.

7. Pom-Pom Dog Face Ornament

Build a round dog face entirely from craft pom-poms: glue larger poms in a circle for the head, add a smaller cluster for the muzzle, two felt ears, and bead eyes and nose. Match the pom colors to your own dog’s coat and it becomes an adorable cartoon double. A dab of hot glue holds everything, and a yarn loop at the top finishes it. This is the best project on the list for crafting with kids — there is no wrong way to glue a pom.

Helpful pick: Phinus 900 PCS Pom Poms — 12 colors in five sizes, so you can match any dog’s coat.

8. Cookie-Cutter Dough Ornament Set

Mix a simple salt dough, roll it out, and cut it with dog-themed cutters — bones, paws, puppies, houses. Poke hanging holes before baking at 200°F for 2–3 hours until completely hard. Once cooled, paint them in your dog’s colors or leave them rustic. Roll the dough thin and uniform so every ornament dries evenly. These keep for years in a dry box.

Helpful pick: VTUGP 9-Piece Dog Cookie Cutter Set — bone, paw print, and puppy shapes in assorted sizes for dough and clay alike.

9. Letter Tile Name Ornament

Glue wooden letter tiles in a single row spelling your dog’s name onto a slim strip of craft wood or heavy cardstock, then frame the strip with a border of smaller blank tiles. Add a red ribbon hanger at the top. The tiny letter values in the corner of each tile give it a charming vintage-game look. Seal the whole thing with a light coat of matte sealant so the letters don’t loosen over the years.

Helpful pick: Magicfly 500 Pieces Letter Tiles — standard scrabble size in solid wood, perfect for small name ornaments.

10. Baked Treat Bag Ornament Gift

This one doubles as a gift. Bake a batch of bone-shaped dog biscuits from a dog-friendly mix, let them cool completely, then stack three or four in a small clear cellophane bag. Tie the bag with twine, add a sprig of rosemary, and hang it from the tree — it’s an ornament with a purpose. On Christmas morning, the ornament comes off the tree and goes straight to the real recipient. Keep them away from the lowest branches if your dog is a self-server.

Helpful pick: King Arthur Dog Biscuit Mix — wholesome mix that bakes up reliably and keeps its shape for gifting.

Keep Reading

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• Homemade Dog Shampoo Bar Recipe

Frequently Asked Questions

Are DIY dog ornaments safe if my puppy chews them?

Nothing on a tree is truly chew-safe, so hang all ornaments above tail and nose height. Felt balls and plastic baubles are the safest bets since they don’t shatter, but remove any ornament your dog fixates on. The baked treat bag is the only one meant to be eaten — keep it out of reach until gift time.

How long do salt dough ornaments actually last?

Stored in a dry box with tissue paper between layers, salt dough ornaments easily last a decade. The main enemies are moisture and being crushed. A light coat of clear acrylic sealant on both sides adds insurance against humidity.

I don’t have a photo printer. How can I make the photo ornaments?

Drugstore photo kiosks print small wallet-sized photos for a few cents each, and most print a 4×6 you can trim down. For the bauble, any small print works since it curls inside. For the mason jar lid, trim the photo to a circle and secure it with acid-free glue.

How do I hang heavy ornaments like clay bones?

Use ornament hooks made of sturdy wire rather than thin thread, and hang heavier pieces on the inner, thicker part of the branch where the tree can support them. For clay ornaments, keep them small — under three inches — so weight stays manageable.

Which of these can kids make with me?

The pom-pom dog face, pinecone dog, and cookie-cutter dough ornaments are the most kid-friendly, since they involve gluing and shaping rather than tools. Adults should handle the hot glue gun, metal stamping, and oven steps.

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