Today I’m sharing the 11th ornament of the season, and it’s hard to believe we’re already nearing the end. Creating these DIY 12 Days of Christmas ornaments has been such a joy, and I hope you will love making them right along with me.

The 12 Days of Christmas has always felt timeless — full of music, tradition, and nostalgia — which made it the perfect inspiration for this collection. In today’s post, I’m sharing all 12 DIY ornaments, created as a cohesive set using my free printable.

Whether you make one or all twelve, these ornaments are meant to be enjoyed year after year.

Jump to: How to Make DIY 12 Days of Christmas Ornaments

A Christmas tree ornament shaped like a snowflake features a paper medallion with a toy soldier and greenery, perfect for DIY Christmas ornaments or 12 days of Christmas projects. A glittery “12” hangs beside it amid evergreen branches in the background.

A glittery number 1 ornament and a snowflake bird illustration ornament with blue ribbon, both DIY Christmas ornaments, hang on a Christmas tree decorated with lights and pinecones.

A small, gold tinsel Christmas tree decorated with round ornaments and DIY 12 Days of Christmas ornaments, standing on a porch with greenery and a house in the background.

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A Handmade Take on the 12 Days of Christmas

I don’t know about you, but I love to make handmade ornaments for myself and to give as gifts. There are so many varieties that you can make.

I have shared clay ornaments, glass ornaments, ornaments made with feathers small lamp ornaments, pomegranate ornaments and more.

When I started designing this project, I knew I wanted the ornaments to have a vintage feel — and I wanted to use old sheet music. From there, my goal was to create ornaments that felt truly special, while still being approachable.

I wanted them to be:

Handmade
Budget-friendly
Timeless and storybook-inspired
Easy to recreate at home
Neutral enough to blend with many holiday styles

Each ornament combines a snowflake from a Dollar Tree garland that I took apart, vintage sheet music, soft seasonal artwork, and simple layered details to add texture and charm without feeling complicated. They look just as beautiful on a traditional Christmas tree as they do on a small tabletop or porch tree.

Materials You’ll Need

Wood Snowflakes 4.75″
Vintage sheet music
Print out the 12 days of Christmas on cardstock
German glitter glass
Silver spray paint
5/8″ ribbon for hanger
Hot glue gun
Wood numbers: 1-12
Clear acrylic spray

How to Make DIY 12 Days of Christmas Ornaments

All twelve ornaments are made using the same process, which makes this a great project to batch-create. For the best results, I recommend completing each step for all twelve ornaments before moving on to the next.

Start by purchasing all of the necessary supplies and printing the free printable artwork on cardstock paper. Cut out the artwork and set it aside so everything is ready and organized before you begin assembling the ornaments (see supply list above).

Four circular illustrations depict birds: a partridge in a pear tree, two turtle doves, three French hens, and four calling birds, with floral and leafy decorations in soft colors.

A beige wooden snowflake ornament with six branches, each featuring V-shaped tips, set against a white background.

Step 1: Prep the Snowflakes and Numbers

Spray paint the snowflakes and numbers silver, using light, even coats. Once dry, flip them over and paint the opposite side as well. Allow everything to dry completely before handling or assembling the ornaments.

Wooden cutouts of snowflakes and numbers 0–9 are arranged on a beige surface, hinting at a DIY Christmas ornaments project. The numbers are large, the snowflakes sit above them, perfect inspiration for a 12 Days of Christmas craft or free printable idea.

Cut-out white paper snowflakes arranged in rows on a metallic silver background evoke DIY Christmas ornaments, with a signature or watermark in the lower left corner.

Step 2: Create the Sheet Music Rosettes

Two sheets of printed music notation sit on a rustic wooden surface, displaying musical notes and symbols in black ink on cream-colored paper.

A piece of sheet music paper folded into a zigzag accordion shape sits on a worn wooden surface.

A hand holding a small, fan-shaped paper folded from a sheet of printed music, against a wooden background.

Two paper fans made from sheet music are placed on a wooden surface; one fan is fully opened while the other is partially folded, both showing musical notes on the paper.

A hand holds a round, fan-shaped ornament made from folded sheet music paper against a wooden background.

Cut two pieces of sheet music that are approximately 4″ wide x 6″ long.
Accordion-fold the paper, making each fold approximately ⅓ inch wide. Once the entire piece is folded, fold the accordion strip in half.
Using hot glue, attach two folded pieces together at the center and along the edges to form a complete circular rosette, similar to the images above. Add a small dab of glue to the center ½ inch on both sides to help hold the rosette securely together.
Carefully roll the outer edges of the rosette in white glue, then roll the glued edge in German glass glitter. Set aside and allow the rosette to dry completely before assembling the ornament.

A decorative fan-shaped ornament made from folded sheets of music paper is displayed on a light-colored surface.

A decorative ornament features an illustration of a drummer in uniform with a drum, surrounded by leaves and stars, with the words "Twelve Drummers Drumming" below. The border is made from ruffled sheet music.

Tip from wendy’s craft room:

Place the rosettes on parchment paper while drying so they don’t stick to your work surface.

Step 3: Assemble the Ornament Base for the DIY 12 Days of Christmas

Cut a piece of ribbon 8 inches long.
Glue one end of the ribbon to the top branch of the snowflake. I used snowflakes from an old garland that already had holes in the branches, which is why I attached the ribbon at the top as I wanted to cover one of the holes. Ideally, if your snowflake is solid, you can glue the ribbon to the back instead.
Loop the ribbon around to create a hanger and glue the other end on top of the first, pressing firmly until secure.
Next, attach the dried sheet music rosette to the center of the painted wooden snowflake using hot glue. Press gently and hold in place until the glue sets.
Be sure the rosette is centered so the snowflake shows evenly around the edges. Allow everything to dry completely before moving on.

A handmade ornament featuring folded sheet music in a circular fan shape, with a dark blue ribbon loop and silver glittered snowflake accents, displayed on a light wooden surface.

Tip from wendy’s craft room:

If your ribbon frays easily, lightly seal the cut ends with a tiny dab of glue and let it dry before attaching.

Step 4: Add the Artwork and Number

Add a small dab of hot glue to the center of the rosette and attach the artwork for each ornament.
Paint a coat of Mod Podge on the front of your numbers and sprinkle with glitter. Allow them to dry completely.
Next, add the correct number to each ornament using hot glue. I alternated placement, positioning some numbers on the left and others on the right for visual balance.
For the double-digit numbers, I added a small piece of wood behind them for extra support. (I simply broke off a piece from one of the extra snowflakes I had on hand.)

A handmade snowflake-shaped ornament with a blue ribbon hangs on a Christmas tree. The ornament features a floral design and the words "Five Golden Rings." A glittery gold number 5 decoration is also visible on the tree.

A Christmas tree branch with a glittery number 3 ornament and a wooden snowflake ornament featuring three French hens illustrated in the center, surrounded by leaves and flowers.

A glittery silver number "12" and a decorative ornament featuring an illustrated drummer hang on a Christmas tree with gold branches and white baubles in the background.

Tip from wendy’s craft room:

Finish by spraying the entire ornament with a clear varnish to protect the surface and help seal the artwork for long-lasting durability.

How to Style Your 12 Days of Christmas Ornaments

One of my favorite things about this DIY is how versatile the finished ornaments are. Here are a few ways to use them:

Hang all 12 together on a Christmas tree as a themed tree
Style them along a garland on a mantel or staircase
Display them on a small tabletop tree
Gift the full set in a decorative box for a meaningful holiday present

Because they’re lightweight, they work beautifully even on smaller branches.

A silver tinsel Christmas tree decorated with numbered ornaments, round paper ornaments featuring illustrated designs, blue ribbons, and shiny baubles. The numbers 5 and 12 are clearly visible among the decorations.

A close-up of a silver Christmas tree decorated with shiny beige ornaments, blue and green beads, and DIY 12 Days of Christmas ornaments featuring floral and bird designs, with a blurred outdoor background.

A small decorative Christmas tree with DIY 12 Days of Christmas ornaments and silver accents sits on a wooden chest. In front of the tree is a white swan figurine, all set on a porch with a blue house wall in the background.

Close-up of a DIY 12 Days of Christmas ornament shaped like a snowflake, featuring a drummer and the words "Twelve Drummers Drumming." Next to it is a glittery number 12 decoration, both hanging on a Christmas tree.

Print Save

Yield: 12 Ornaments

12 Days of Christmas Ornaments

A full tutorial to easily make these nostalgic 12 days of Christmas ornaments.

Cost$15

Equipment

1 Glue Gun
1 pair of scissors

Materials

Wood Snowflakes 5"
Vintage sheet music
Print out the 12 days of Christmas on cardstock
German glitter glass
Silver spray paint
5/8" Ribbon for hanger
Wood numbers: 1-12
Clear acrylic spray

Get Recipe Ingredients

Instructions

DIY 12 Days of Christmas Ornaments

Gather supplies and print the free printable on cardstock.
Cut out artwork and prepare all pieces before assembling.
Complete each step for all 12 ornaments before moving on.

Prep

Spray paint snowflakes and numbers silver (both sides). Let dry.
Make Rosettes
Cut sheet music to 4″ x 6″.
Accordion-fold, fold in half, and glue into a rosette.
Add glue to the center for support.
Coat edges with glue and German glass glitter. Let dry.

Assemble

Cut 8″ ribbon and glue to snowflake to create a hanger.
Glue rosette to the center of the snowflake.

Finish

Glue artwork to rosette.
Glitter numbers with Mod Podge; let dry.
Attach numbers (add backing for double digits if needed).
Spray with clear varnish to seal.

Wendy’s Tips for the Best Results

Use heavier cardstock so the ornaments hold their shape

Stick to a limited color palette for a more elevated look

Keep embellishments consistent across all 12 ornaments

Store them flat in a labeled box so they stay pristine year after year

A Handmade Tradition Worth Repeating

These DIY 12 Days of Christmas ornaments have quickly become one of my favorite holiday projects this year. They’re simple to make, meaningful, and feel like something that could be pulled out each December and enjoyed again and again.

Whether you make them for your own tree or as a gift, this ornament set is a beautiful way to celebrate the season with something handmade and heartfelt.

👉 Be sure to download the free printable and start creating your own 12 Days of Christmas ornament set.

Wishing you a very Happy Holiday Season!

Collage featuring handmade 12 days of Christmas ornaments with glittery snowflakes and circular illustrated designs, including festive motifs. Explore more in our Resource Library. Text at the bottom reads: "12 Days of Christmas Ornaments wmdesignhouse.com".

More about me!

Hello, I’m Wendy – a dedicated homemaker with a deep passion for decorating, gardening, cooking, and crafting. I find joy in harmonizing beautiful elements to fashion a space that is both comfortable and inspiring. I will help you create a beautiful home, one project at a time.

DIY 12 Days of Christmas Ornaments (With Free Printable)