Decorating your Christmas tree for the holidays can be pleasant and exciting rather than nerve wrecking and expensive. This is especially true if you start early investigating the different types of homemade ornaments your family can make together. Many of these can be made with minimal expense for the needed supplies to make your tree personalized and unique. Never underestimate that there are many different ways to decorate your tree, by using your imagination and garnering a little patience you can decorate your tree with pride. A new tradition can be created and joyfully experienced by deciding that each year you will add a new type of ornamental decoration to the family tree.

One good place to begin adding to your tree's decorations is with the left over Christmas paper products from last year. Unused or partially used rolls of wrapping paper make new decorations a snap, especially if you're on a limited budget for this season. Paper can be measured to any size you desire, and then folded into the designs of your choice. Some popular shapes are stars and delicate fan shapes. Attach to the paper by gluing a brightly colored ribbon, and if desired hang a hook through the ribbon. Also, beautiful origami nature shapes such as birds from left over holiday paper are another option. Old greeting cards can be used to liven up a tree. Simply cut the back off the card and hole-punch at top and add a ribbon, and cards may be cut into different shapes and a light weight frame added to set it off too. Other crafty type projects can be created using Christmas cards by saving Mason Jar type lids which have a flat underside. Cutting and gluing felt can be placed on the underside along with a beautiful card holiday scene, and add some yarn around the edge of the top and hang on your tree.

Other craft ideas which are especially fun for kids are mixing flour and water and using a cookie cutter to create the holiday shapes. Ginger bread cookies can be hung on the tree along with some stringed popcorn or construction paper chains in place of the traditional metal garland or icicles. Another type of beautiful handmade Christmas tree ornament is made from tin. Supplies for making them can be found in a home supply and repair store, or a craft store. You will need snips for the tin, and a specialized hole-punch to make the decorative holes for the design. Thin sheets of tin are not expensive and can be bought rolled or in single sheets. This type of Christmas decoration would probably work best for older children due to the fact that a certain amount of hand strength is needed for cutting and the use of sharp tin. Ornaments can be made from craft balls. The ball's hollow clear design allow for painting on the outside of the ball and inside. Painting the inside is as simple as filling it with paint and shaking. Allow twenty four hours for drying. Stencil design patterns or free hand painting allow for any holiday scene to be painted on the outside. Dating your ornament is always a good idea too.

There are many ways to make handmade decorations for your tree; other options are beaded jewelry designs. Most craft stores carry kits to make decorations, but you can buy wire for jewelry and string your own beads. Kids can make cute ornaments for the tree by using precut foam from a craft store too. Whatever type of handmade ornament you decide to make it is a sure bet that along the way you will make a lot of good memories from interacting with family or friends, you may even find a lot of personal fulfillment by reminiscing about Christmas days of yesteryear. Handmade ornaments mean that you care about adding a little of you to the holidays. Traditions and keepsakes are a treasured thing that are passed down to those that come after you, so make sure to experiment and have lots of fun creating an ornament that you will be proud to hand down and display on your tree this Christmas season.