December is well underway! That means it’s time to start decorating that Christmas tree (if you haven’t already)! I have always loved the look of designer Christmas tree ornaments. The price tag that comes with them- not so much!

When I came across the Balsam Hill Alpine Grove ornament set in their Christmas catalogue, I was instantly inspired. The only problem? I didn’t want to pay top dollar for their designer ornaments!

Don’t get me wrong, I love a beautiful Christmas tree! So, instead of splurging on the designer decor, I decided to make my own!

Side Note: If you’re looking for an artificial Christmas tree, Balsam Hill is the way to go! Their trees look so realistic, and literally last a lifetime! They are a bit pricy, but it’s totally worth it! We ordered the 6.5′ Red Spruce Slim with clear LED lights last Christmas, and it fits perfectly in our tiny little home! (I’m obsessed!)

Check out my quick video tutorial on how to replicate three “designer” Christmas tree ornaments, for a fraction of the price! All you need are some cheap plastic ornaments, and a few simple craft supplies! (Many of which you may already have lying around the house!)

What You’ll Need

These DIY “designer” replica ornaments are really simple, but they do require a few craft supplies that you can easily find online or at your local craft store.

Supplies:

• Plastic Christmas Tree Ornaments
• Wicker Balls (you can find them online or at your local craft store)
• Spray Paint – White & Brown
• Craft Paint – White, Brown & Red
• Paintbrushes
• Plastic Decorating Snow (I used buffalo snow, amazon link below)
• Spray Adhesive
• Twine
• Hot Glue Gun
• Scissors

That’s it! Time to make some awesome DIY designer ornaments!

1. Forest Trees

These were actually the first ornaments that caught my eye. I love how simple and classic they are. As an added bonus, they were so easy to make!

Supplies:

• Plastic, white sparkly Christmas tree ornaments
• Craft Paint- Brown, Red & White
• Paintbrushes

I started by painting the tree bark on some white sparkly ornaments (from target) that I already had, using brown craft paint. Start the trees from the bottom of the ornament, and move towards the top.

Get creative with your trees! No two ornaments need to be the same!

Next, add berries to the branches using red craft paint and a fine point paintbrush. Then, add snow to the branches with white paint!

That’s it, all done! Let your forest tree ornaments dry and they are ready for hanging!

2. Bird Nests

These bird nest ornaments are probably my favorite ones that I made! Plus they were really easy to make, it would be a great holiday project to do with kids!

Supplies:

• Decorative Wicker (Rattan) Balls
• White Spray Paint
• Plastic Decorating Snow (such as buffalo snow, amazon link below)
• Spray Adhesive
• Hot Glue Gun
• Twine (cut into 4″ sections)

I started by spray painting some old wicker balls white, that had been collecting dust in my closet for years! If you don’t happen to have wicker balls lying around, you can find them at your local craft store or online.

Once the paint dried, I covered the wicker balls in spray adhesive and rolled them in plastic decorating snow to give them a frosted effect.

Using a hot glue gun, I attached a 4″ section of twine to the top of each wicker ball in a loop to hang them.

Ta da! Classy bird nest ornaments, perfect for any Christmas tree! (Minimum effort required!)

3. Aspen Bark

These aspen bark ornaments are very simple, and can be made using a variety of different shaped Christmas tree ornaments!

Supplies:

• Plastic Christmas Tree Ornaments ( I used clear ornaments I found at the dollar store)
• Spray Paint – White & Brown
• Brown Craft Paint
• A Stiff Paintbrush
• *Optional* Egg Carton (to hold the ornaments while painting)

First, I removed the screw-on tops from the clear Christmas tree ornaments that I found at the dollar store. Then, I placed them in an egg carton to hold them upright while I spray painted them white.

Note: Allow the white spray paint to finish drying before moving on to the next step!

Next, I added “bark spots” with brown spray paint.

Do this very lightly! On my first ornament, I was a little too gung-ho and the paint started to drip a little bit! (oops!)

Time for the finishing touches! Speckle the ornaments with brown craft paint by running your finger over the paint brush bristles .

This gives the ornaments a more realistic look, by creating the illusion of bark imperfections.

After speckling, I misted the ornaments with another very light layer of white spray paint to blend everything together.

Once the paint was dry, I re-attached the ornament tops so we could hang them on our Christmas tree!

Voila! Aspen bark Christmas tree ornaments!

How To Decorate Your Christmas Tree?

Now that your replica designer Christmas tree ornaments are finished, it’s time to start decorating!

There are so many great ways to add class and elegance to a Christmas tree, but here are some of my favorite Christmas tree decorating tips and tricks!

Want to Learn More?

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Please leave a comment below if you have any questions about how to make your own replica “designer” Christmas tree ornaments, or have a few fun tips, tricks, or ideas of your own that you would like to share!

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