These DIY Ornaments Are Easy (and Cheap!) to Make

With Christmas tree decorating season here, it’s time to bust out your favorite holiday tree trimmings — or DIY your own ornaments. If you’re looking for a cheap and easy way to adorn your tree this year, check out our paper ornament DIY. Your tree will feel like such a babe when it’s wearing these beauties.

Materials and Tools:

– paper

– paper cutter

– scissors

– embroidery thread

– hot glue gun

– cord ends

Instructions:

1. Cut five thin strips of paper (two seven-inch, two six-inch and one five-inch pieces). We used a paper cutter, but feel free to just stay within the lines ;)

2. Add a drop of hot glue to the end of the five-inch piece and attach one six-inch piece. Repeat this step on the other side (not end) of the five-inch piece, adding the second six-inch piece. The ends of all three pieces should be even.

3. Repeat step two by adding a drop of hot glue to the six-inch piece and adding the seven-inch piece. Do the same thing on the other side. Note: all of the glued ends should be even. The loose ends will sit at different lengths.

4. Add hot glue to the loose ends and attach them together so that they are even. This will create a bend in the paper, forming the shape of your ornament.

5. Create a tassel by wrapping a bunch of embroidery thread around three fingers. Then take a small piece of embroidery thread (about two inches long) and file it through the loop of thread you just created. Tie it in a knot.

6. File the cord end onto the thread and move it about halfway down. Squeeze some hot glue into the cord end and then slide it down until it is at the top of your tassel.

7. Cut the bottom of the loop to free the threads and then trim them so they are even.

8. Tie your tassel to the bottom of the paper ornament, then cut another piece of embroidery thread and add it to the top of the ornament for easy hanging.

For each ornament, you need five strips of paper: two long, two medium and one short. We made ours seven inches, six inches and five inches.

Glue both six-inch pieces to either side of the five-inch piece, making sure to line up the ends on one side.

Follow the same process, gluing the seven-inch pieces to the rest of the group with one set of ends lined up.

Now take the loose ends and glue them together, allowing the paper to bend into shape.

Now it’s time to make the tassel. Wind the embroidery thread around three fingers, creating a thick loop of thread. Then cut a small piece of embroidery thread, put it through the loop and tie a knot at the top. File this piece through a cord end and add some glue before you slip it all the way over the top of the tassel. Cut through the bottom of the loop and trim the ends to give your tassel shape. Tie it to your paper ornament.

Last but not least, add a piece of embroidery thread to the top of the paper ornament so that you can hang it on your tree!

What kinds of paper ornaments have you made? Share your projects with us on Instagram using the hashtags #britstagram and #iamcreative.

You’ve picked out the perfect tree topper and DIYed a few festive holiday garlands; now all that’s left to do is to decorate the tree. Whether you’re looking for quirky and colorful ornaments or you’re going for a more sleek decorating scheme, these ornaments will have your friends and family singing “Oh, Christmas Tree” in no time. They make great stocking stuffers too for the ornament collector; the foodie, animal lover, or artist in your life; or anyone who takes joy in the holidays. Oh what fun!

Framed Beetle Ornament

These framed beetle ornaments are a great addition to your Christmas tree if you still have Halloweenon the brain.

Forest In Glass Ball Ornament

For color lovers, these glittery trees create a colorful forest on your festive tree.

Wondershop 'merry Christmas' Record Player Christmas Tree Ornament

Let this cute retro record player ornament help you ring in the sweet tunes of Christmas.

Glitterville Ice Cream Cone Ornaments (Set of 3)

These cute pastel ornaments will bring a tasteful (pun intended!) touch to your Christmas tree. And of course, if you start to crave the real thing, we have amazing ice cream sundae recipes for you to make at home!

MoMA Craftspring New York City Felt Hat Ornament

If you live in or just love NYC, here's a little felty tribute.

Wondershop Sequined Felt Donut Christmas Ornament

We're into this whole food theme with a sequined felt donut ornament.

Wondershop Felt Dragon Fruit Christmas Ornament

What a sweet little dragon fruit.

Wondershop Taco Glass Ornament

Taco dreams? Start with this quirky ornament.

Anthropologie Tinsel Cocktail Ornament

Cocktail wishes? Toast the new year with this sparkly tinsel ornament.

Anthropologie Travel Poodle Ornament (New York)

Get ready for your first solo travel trip by placing this travel poodle on your tree.

World Market Wool Smiling S'mores Ornament

Channel summer campfires with this charming s'mores ornament.

Anthropologie Gleaming Primrose Mirror Ornament

Pop a photo into this gleaming primrose mirror ornament for an on-trend tree.

Bloomingdale's Hot Air Balloon Ornament

Take flight with this monochromatic hot air balloon ornament.

World Market Glass Oat Milk Carton Ornament

Dairy-free? This shimmering ornament is too! ($8)

Anthropologie Macaron Box Glass Ornament

Macarons are a favorite around here.

Bloomingdale's Gum Ball Machine Ornament

You won't find this classic gumball machine anywhere else except in this unique collection from Bloomingdales. ($7)

Altar'd State Sparkling Water Ornament

Sparkling water is a must if you're not drinking during the holidays.

Urban Outfitter's Croissant Ornament

Bakers will delight in this buttery treat.

Anthropologie Paint Palette Ornament

Your Christmas tree won't be complete until you add this paint palette ornament to it.

Craft Spring Hand Felted Pink Desert Ornament

We love the idea of a whole tree inspired by the desert.

H&M Dog Christmas Ornament

Got a beige dog? Now you do.;) ($7)

Hallmark Balloon Dog Ornament

How cute is this balloon dog in ornament form?

Kurt Adler Plastic Sushi Ornament

Keeping with the foodie theme, why not have 3 sushi rolls on your tree?

Craft Spring Hand Felted Yellow NYC Taxi Cab Ornament

Here's your ticket to a nostalgic NYC-inspired tree.

Sudha Pennathur Empire State Building Ornament

Or if you prefer to focus on the Empire State building, here's a beaded version to help bring you holiday joy.

Harley Lilac Mushrooms Ornaments

This quartet of velvet beaded mushrooms is the sweetest for your forest-inspired tree.

Sur La Table Layer Cake Glass Ornament

A triple layer cake after an amazing Christmas dinner? We'll gladly take one!

Anthropologie Eiffel Tower Christmas Ornament

Bring a bit of Paris to your living room with this Eiffel Tower Christmas ornament.

H&M Lip Gloss in Ornament

H&M has a sweet surprise for you in the form of mini lip glosses encased in a clear ornament. It's the perfect gift that'll be hidden in plain sight!

Subscribe to our email newsletter for more holiday gifting ideas. Follow us on Pinterest too for tons of holiday decor and recipe inspiration!

Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

This post has been updated with additional reporting by Jasmine Williams.

Featured images via West Elm, Neiman Marcus, Anthropologie and World Market

Are you stressed right now? Maybe not so stressed that you curl up in a ball, or run around screaming, but most of us have at least some stress in our lives. And often that’s a good thing; the right amount of stress motivates us and gets us up in the morning. But if stress gets too much, we start to suffer, become demotivated, and eventually collapse as our nervous system falls apart.

Fortunately, there are ways in which we can build our resilience. Some of these are useful for everyone; getting support from your family and friends, nurturing a positive view of yourself, doing things that you enjoy and find relaxing, developing realistic goals and taking action to achieve them. But some will be unique to you, to your particular circumstances to your personality. If you know your personality type, you will have a head start on knowing what your stress triggers are (and so dealing with them), how you react to stress, and how to cope with that reaction. In other words, how to build resilience.

Personality Types And How They Deal With Stress

Image via Photo by Mikhail Nilov/Pexels

The personality type framework, as measured by the Myers-Briggs(MBTI) assessment, looks at four aspects of personality:

  • Extraversion-Introversion — People with an Extraversion personality preference are energized by and focus their attention on what’s happening around them, their external world. They are likely to find spending too much time alone without enough external stimulation quite stressful. People with an Introversion preference are energized by and focus their attention on their inner world of thoughts and feelings. They can become stressed if they are forced to spend too much time with others, or when they have to cope with too many external distractions.
  • Sensing-Intuition — is all about how we take in information. People with a Sensing preference prefer information that is realistic, practical, built on past or present real-life experiences, and often detailed. They can be stressed when things are ambiguous and unclear, without any clear direction. People with an Intuition preference are interested in the big picture, in how things connect, and in ideas rather than facts. They will find having to follow exact instructions stressful, and working with people who demand lots of detail.
  • Thinking-Feeling —People with a Thinking preference want to make decisions using objective logic and will be stressed when decisions seem to be subjective, or when they are forced to concentrate on people rather than the task at hand. People with a Feeling preference want to make decisions that line up with their values and they will be stressed if they feel that those values are not being respected, and when there is conflict.
  • Judging-Perceiving — People with a Judging preference want to live in an organized, planned way and will find dealing with disorganized people stressful, or having to rush things at the last minute. People with a Judging preference want to live in a more spontaneous, emergent way and will become stressed when they have to deal with inflexible people, or when they are forced to make decisions before they feel they really need to.

Image via Photo by Mike Jones/Pexels

Everyone will have a preference for Extraversion (E) or Introversion (I), for Sensing (S) or for Intuition (N), for Thinking (T) or for Feeling (F), and for Judging (J) or for Perceiving (P). These four preferences combine together dynamically to give one of 16 types. For example, if someone has preferences for Extraversion, Sensing, Thinking and Judging, then their overall type would be ESTJ. If you know your type, you can identify your likely stressors (and so avoid or mitigate them), your typical behavior under everyday stress (so that you can recognize when you are stressed) and what to do to cope with that reaction, stop the stress cycle and so build resilience. Here’s the detail for each type.

Image via Photo by Pavel Danilyuk/Pexels

ESTP and ESFP

Stressors

  • Lack of stimulation and excitement
  • Theoretical, abstract tasks without any practical application right now
  • Being physically confined, e.g. though illness or circumstance

Behavior under everyday stress

  • Seeks out more and more external stimulation and excitement
  • May behave in a thrill-seeking or dangerous way or over-indulge
  • Lives solely in the present moment and will not make any decisions

How to stop the stress cycle

  • Pause, stop what you are doing, or think through what you will do next before you do it

Image via Photo by Karolina Grabowska/Pexels

ESTJ and ENTJ

Stressors

  • Inefficient people, systems, or organizations
  • Lack of closure, not being able to make decisions, blockers
  • Having to focus on people's feelings, rather than the task

Behavior under everyday stress

  • Becomes overly directive, forceful, or even aggressive
  • Makes snap decisions and imposes them on others
  • Dismisses evidence/other opinions that don't fir your view

How to stop the stress cycle

  • Stop making any decisions until you have taken some time out to explore all the available information.

Image via Photo by Ketut Subiyanto/Pexels

ENTP and ENFP

Stressors

  • People who say "it'll never work"
  • Too much seemingly irrelevant detail
  • Lack of variety; not being able to do anything new

Behavior under everyday stress

  • Shares increasingly impractical ideas with more and more people
  • Unable to take things seriously, becomes destructively 'playful'
  • Will be tied down to decisions

How to stop the stress cycle

  • Slow down. Take some time out to quietly decide on a course of action

Image via Anna Shvets/Pexels

ESFJ and ENFJ

Stressors

  • Conflict with others and between others
  • Lack of warmth, not having friendliness reciprocated
  • Injustice in the world at large

Behavior under everyday stress

  • Become effusive and over-friendly
  • Becomes demanding in getting your own and others' needs met
  • Interprets situations in terms of your values, ignoring any other evidence

How to stop the stress cycle

  • Step back from the situation and the people involved and consider alternatives and the facts

Image via Yan Krukau/Pexels

INTP and ISTP

Stressors

  • Having your carefully reasoned solutions dismissed or ignored
  • Illogical decisions that have not been thought through
  • Excessive displays of approval or emotion from others

Behavior under everyday stress

  • Withdraws to solve problems by yourself
  • Fixates on finding the one correct solution
  • Ignores other people; makes decisions without informing them

How to stop the stress cycle

  • Talk to others to explore information and ideas

Image via Mizuno K/Pexels

ISTJ and ISFJ

Stressors

  • Having to act without detailed, practical information or plans
  • Having the lessons of your experience dismissed by others
  • Changing things that already work

Behavior under everyday stress

  • Obsessively searches for that one important piece of information
  • Withdraws from the outer world
  • Cannot make a decision until all the information has been found

How to stop the stress cycle

  • Talk to others to help you prioritize and make a decision

Image via Tima Miroshnichenko/Pexels

ISFP and INFP

Stressors

  • People who ignore, dismiss, or contravene your values
  • Working in a job that is at odds with those values
  • Inflexible and unthinking people or organizations

Behavior under everyday stress

  • Withdraws into an inner dialogue
  • Obsessively works through decisions that fir your values
  • Ignores facts that do not fit with the picture you have painted

How to stop the stress cycle

  • Talk to others to get their reassurance and help in considering the facts and alternatives

Image viaMART PRODUCTION/Pexels

INTJ and INFJ

Stressors

  • Not having time to think through possibilities before answering
  • Having your well-considered ideas dismissed or ignored
  • Disorganized, opinionated people

Behavior under everyday stress

  • Withdraws to build increasingly complex ideas in your head
  • These models may become divorced from reality
  • Unable to act under every possibility has been explored

How to stop the stress cycle

  • Talk to others to help decide which of your many ideas should be pursued

When you feel stressed, it can get in the way of dealing effectively with life’s demands, and it can affect everything you do. Understanding your MBTI personality type will help you to build resilience.

Looking for more advice geared towards your MBTI? Be sure to sign up for our weekly newsletter!

Lead image viaKarolina Grabowska/Pexels

We love a good pun. With theholiday season upon us, why not put the two together with these punny DIY Christmas ornaments for your tree?! They’re super easy to make, so you’ll be able to save some time for a big mug of hot cocoa. More importantly, you’ll definitely be “sleighing” it (wink) with the decorations this year! Here’s the how-to. If you believe in your “elf,” you’re sure to do a great job!

How To Make DIY Christmas Ornaments

Materials:

  • colorful ornaments
  • vinyl in gold, white and black OR letter stickers

Tools:

  • Cricut Explorer (or other vinyl-cutting machine)
  • ruler

Instructions:

  1. Measure the approximate size of the front of your ornament with a ruler.
  2. Once you have the size, determine how large or small the vinyl letters need to be.
  3. If you are using a Cricut Explorer (or other vinyl-cutting machine) and a blank vinyl sheet, create a file with your puns and cut out the letters as per the instructions on your machine.
  4. Locate the center of your ornament and estimate where the first letter needs to be placed.
  5. Place all of the vinyl letters, making sure to space them evenly apart.

*If you don’t have a Cricut Explorer or other vinyl cutter, you can use store-bought vinyl letters to apply the puns.

Don’t worry if you misplace the letters. They’re just stickers, so they’re easy to take off and re-apply! And don’t fret if you don’t have a vinyl-cutting machine and don’t want to spend time hand cutting all of the letters! Your local craft store should have letter stickers in black and white that will do the trick.

Real Housewives of New York cast member Heather would definitely love the “Happy HOLLA Days” ornament, am I right?

Your tree will win the award for funniest this year!

Have any more Holiday puns? Or just a funny Holiday joke? Let us know in the comments below and follow our TikTok for more holiday DIYs like these DIY Christmas ornaments!

This post has been updated.

I'm not sure about you, but it's that time of year that I'm already planning multiple vacations in my head where I'm sitting somewhere by a beach in full-blown relaxation mode. And while I love to look ahead at my itinerary, my favorite part of vacation planning is definitely the outfits! I get so excited that I create a Pinterest board, packing list, vacation wishlist, and schedule the outfits all in advance on my notes app — it's serious business! With all that in mind, I thought I'd share with you some white vacation dresses that are to-die-for right now!

Writer's Note: A lot of these will be either linen, cotton, and silks, or satins because they're the most breathable materials and can really help in hotter temperatures! So I almost always stick to those fabrics because they allow for me to be in hotter temperatures and not feel like 100 degrees.

Shop White Vacation Dresses Here!

ASTR The Label Off-Shoulder Dress

Everyone needs the quintessential linen white dress for vacation, and this is IT! Everything about this is romantic and perfect for vacation with the off-shoulder, side slit, and midi style of the dress. You can dress is up with some heels, or dress it down with sandals for a day at the beach.

J.Crew Stretch Linen Dress

J.Crew's been killing the game lately with their innovative and fun styles, and this one is no different! I love the linen (again we want breathable fabric for summer) along with the fun gold detailing on the straps. This one is also on sale for 40% off right now, so definitely grab this one for you summer vacations!

Halogen Halter Neck Linen Dress

The halter neck of this chic dress gives it a more modest and classic feel that I love. It's giving me serious Meghan Markle vibes, so you know it's good! Grab this one to fulfill all of your summer plans!

Abercrombie Slip Maxi Dress

I had to add this one in the mix because of its unique design that's giving me all the Italian summer on the Amalfi coast feels! The sweet fruit pattern is the perfect touch to brighten up a simple white dress. And for under $100, it's at such a great price-point!

Chelsea28 Tiered Maxi Dress

A tired dress is another staple to your vacation wardrobe. I love this boho chic one because it looks straight out of Mamma Mia on an island off the coast of Greece. An idyllic dress for all of your Euro-Summer-2024 plans!

Banana Republic Silk Maxi

You can never have too many silk dresses for vacation, and this cream, silk dress takes thecake! I love how vintage-inspired it is with the pleats at the top. I picture this stunning dress at a dinner paired with metallic heels like above and a matching mini bag. I just adore this piece!

ASTR Floral Lace Dress

Lace has entered the chat! And can you believe it's only $109?! I love this ASTR The Label dress for their super cute pieces at such an affordable price. This one screams vacation by the beach to me!

House of CB Emmelina Dress

House of CB is one of my favorite brands at the moment because their designs are so feminine and flattering for so many different body types and sizes. This dress is one that I personally have had on my wishlist for summer vacation for quite some time because of its elegant shape and cut. You're sure to look phenomenal in this classic piece!

Abercrombie Plunge Satin Dress

For every vacation, a simple silk dress is a must because of its breathability and versatility when it comes to styling. This dress is ideal for walks on the beach or for a nice dinner on the coast. Plus the low back is an amazing addition as well for a more sexy look. Abercrombie does it again, ladies!

J.Crew Bungalow Maxi Dress

Can you think of a better dress that works as both a beach coverup and adorable lunch dress? This linen maxi dress from J.Crew will take you from beach to dinner in the chicest way. I love the cuts at the bottom to not make it too billowy and the low V-neck looks super flattering as well. Adding this to my wishlist ASAP!

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Lead image via Banana Republic.

We all want to step out in style, and these sneaker trends are your one-way ticket to getting there. From sportier silhouettes to sleek, fashion-forward footwear, we’re seeing a specific handful of unique (and sometimes controversial)sneakers out on the streets that suit anyone and everyone! No matter what look you're going for, we’ve got a range of trending sneaker styles for 2024 that’ll compliment your very best ‘fits and your budget.

Sporty Sneakers

Adidas Samba OG Shoes

The first sneaker trend needs no introduction. You’ve seen ‘em on all the cool fashion girls (and beyond), enough to know that sporty sneakers are in.

Adidas sneakers are the prime example of the sporty sneaker trend. The most popular styles – Gazelles and Sambas – have history with soccer and handball, but they’re not quite being sported for sport anymore. They’re easy to wear with your most casual jeans or even paired with a flowy maxi skirt!

On the other side of the spectrum, gorp-core brands like Salomon have more technical-looking sneakers that still fit into the everyday.

The Samba OG shoes come in a variety of colors, but these white-on-black ones are the most approachable. A limited color palette makes way for endless matching possibilities, plus these are just so comfy!

The Adidas Samba OG Shoes are $100.

New Balance 1906 Utility Unisex Sneakers

Flaunting a sizable tread and a plush platform, these sneakers from New Balance are unquestionably sporty, but get a stylish edge from the muted green and brown details. Since they're designed for running, you can feel the utmost support from these shoes – even if you're not trying to beat your current mile time.

The New Balance 1906 Utility Unisex Sneakers are $160.

Salomon XT-6 Unisex Sportstyle Shoes

These sleek sneakers skip the laces, favoring an easy on-and-off drawstring for the perfect fit. While they're chunkier and more detailed than your average Adidas sneaker, the Salomon XT-6's give a unique, fashion-forward vibe with their iconic logo. Any sneakerhead will be fascinated by these sneaks.

The Salomon XT-6 sneakers are available in 15 other colors for $200.

Blue Sneakers

Nike Blazer Low '77 Sneaker

If you don’t quite know what sneaker trends to shop for in terms of shape and silhouette, going for a specific color can help guide you to the perfect pair. Blue sneakers are totally hot right now amongst the cool fashion gals, whether they rock 'em in royal hues or lighter blues, like the styles listed.

These slimmer sneakers are reminiscent of the famed Adidas ones, but the suede material makes them less sporty and more casual for everyday wear.

The Nike Blazer Low '77 Sneakers are $100 at Nordstrom.

Puma Palermo Leather Sneaker

Another low-profile blue shoe, these Pumas are a total 80's throwback. They flaunt classic details like the rubber role and paneled toe, plus the Puma logo you just can't miss. The lighter blue would go great with this season's trending colors, like butter yellow or even lilac.

The Puma Palermo Leather Sneakers are $90 at Nordstrom.

Adidas Handball Spezial Shoes

Think of these Adidas sneaks as your new everyday shoe, but more colorful. From the grocery store to the park, you'll be stepping in style with this contrasting style! The trio of stripes on each side of these shoes is super iconic, so your looks will immediately be on-trend, no matter what you're wearing.

The Adidas Handball Spezial Shoes also come in a number of other color combos, and go for $110.

Metallic Sneakers

New Balance 1906R Unisex Sneakers

In addition to all things blue, metallic sneakers have been hitting the pavement and turning heads everywhere. I’ve mostly spotted silver sneakers in the wild, but metallic sneakers are also shoppable in golds and other eye-catching shades.

If you don't want to rock a full-on shiny shoe quite yet, these New Balance sneakers are the perfect place to start. They're fitted with metallic detailing along the sides for a stunning effect. You'll love 'em even more for their added cushiness and support around the arch and ankles.

The New Balance 1906R Unisex Sneakers are $155.

ALOHAS tb. 490 Leather Sneakers

These ALOHAS shoes are a low-key dupe for the well-loved Adidas sneakers. The rubber sole, low-sitting profile, and layered paneling along the toe give the same effect, except these have an exceptional shine.

These sneakers go for $190 at Urban Outfitters. You can also shop them in four other fun colors.

Adidas Country OG Shoes

These best-selling shoes will (literally) outshine all of the other pairs hanging out in your wardrobe. They have that oh-so 70's feel in shape, but carry a modern twist in the silver shininess.

The Adidas Country OG Shoes are $120.

Ballet Sneakers

Skechers Relaxed Fit: Breathe-Easy Shoes

They're not ballet flats, but they’re not quite sneakers, either. Ballet sneakers are on the rise right now, with unique (and a bit divisive) styles like the New Balance 1906L and the Kiko Kostadinov x Heaven by Marc Jacobs x Gel-Lokros shoes hitting the high-end market.

Ballet sneakers are a great way to toe the line between comfy and cute, especially when your soles need some extra support since they’re often bulkier than your average flat.

I am obsessed with this sporty move that Skechers made on their Mary Jane-esque shoes. These ballet sneakers have a nice tread on the bottom and secure on top with a velcro strap. The black colorway is super easy to wear alone or with socks for a layered look!

These supportive Skechers Relaxed Fit: Breathe-Easy Shoes cost $63.

Heaven by Marc Jacobs x Kiko Kostadinov Vapor Cosmos

These strappy sneakers also approach Mary Jane territory with stretchy straps and buckles up top, though the bottoms are cushier and traditionally sneaker-like. This pair flaunts some coquette-ish details, from the scalloped trim to the star-shaped stitching on the toes.

This pair of Heaven by Marc Jacobs x Kiko Kostadinov Vapor Cosmos go for $222 on StockX.

Buffalo Binary Ballet Sneaker

These adorable pink ballet sneakers are ready to hit the pavement with a chunky sole. The upper half of the shoe is more delicate, with tiny pleats and a seamless buckle detail.

The Buffalo Binary Ballet Sneakers are $180 at Urban Outfitters.

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