A 6 Step DIY Ornaments Tutorial

Looking for something special to gift to family and friends? Nothing feels more personal than making your own ornaments!

Here is what you’ll need:

Computer
Inkjet or bubble jet printer
Photos to print
Double-sided tape
Natural Cotton fabric
Letter size paper
Pressing iron
Nylon thread
Needle
Embroidery thread
Embroidery needle
Pillow stuffing
Ribbon

Printing on fabric may sound like something only pros can do but you can achieve this right at home with your computer and printer! After you selected the photos you want to print let’s start preparing our fabric!

Step #1: Prepare the fabric to print photos

The key to printing on fabric at home is using double-sided tape! Cover one side of an 8×11 sheet of paper in double-sided tape.

Peel off the paper from the double-sided tape to reveal the other sticky layer of the double-sided tape. Using the double-sided tape and the paper allows us to easily print because the fabric doesn’t shift while being fed into the printer!

Step #2: Stick fabric to paper

Our next step is to add the fabric over the sticky layer of the tape. The fabric should be larger than your 8×11 sheet of paper. When adding your fabric, be sure to add it slowly and in small sections to avoid bubbles and uneven areas on the surface of the fabric.

Step #3: Print Photos

Next up, you want to feed the fabric coated paper into your printer and print your design. Make sure all edges are straight!

After you’ve printed your pictures, allow the ink to dry a little for about 10 minutes then slowly peel off the fabric, doing it in small sections. This technique can be used on multiple fabrics like pillow covers or napkins.

Tip: Give your fabric a good press, using your iron, with the steam setting off.

Step #4: Cut out photos

Cut around each printed section leaving a border around the photo then trace and cut out the same shape on the blank fabric. The extra piece of blank fabric will actually be the backside of the ornament! So when you’ve cut all the photos and black pieces, team them up into pairs and lay them together right sides facing, then you can get sewing!

Step #5: Sew ornaments

Hand sew around the edge of your ornament leaving a gap of about an inch between the start and the end of the line of stitching at the top of the ornament so you can stuff it. Turn inside out and get stuffing!

Tip: Add some dried lavender or pine for a fresh scent

Step #6: Create hanging loops

Cut a 5” strip of ribbon and tie the ends together, creating a loop for you to hang the ornament. Get your ornament and stitch the two sides together inserting the knotted end of the cord once you reach the middle and keep sewing until the hole is fully closed.

Optional step: