DIY Personalized Photo Keepsake Ornaments: A Budget-Friendly Holiday Gift Idea

Updated at: 27/05/2025

The holiday season is a time for cherished memories and heartfelt gifts, but the pressure to find the perfect present can often strain both time and budget. This year, ditch the generic store-bought items and embrace the warmth of homemade holiday cheer with personalized photo keepsake ornaments! These charming decorations are not only a unique and thoughtful way to celebrate loved ones, but they also offer a fantastic opportunity to showcase cherished memories in a tangible and lasting form. Creating these personalized treasures is simpler than you might think, requiring minimal materials and offering a fun, creative outlet for the whole family.

Forget expensive gifts that lack personal touch; these DIY ornaments allow you to infuse each piece with sentimental value, making them truly special and one-of-a-kind. From classic designs to playful themes, the possibilities are endless. Ready to transform your favorite photos into beautiful, budget-friendly holiday ornaments? Let's dive into the step-by-step guide to crafting these personalized keepsakes.

Preparation and Safety Guidelines

Tools Needed
  • Round flat glass ornaments
  • Graphics rub-ons
  • Adhesive film
  • Rub-ons transfer film
  • Die-cut machine (optional)
  • Scissors or craft knife
  • Gray tool or similar for rubbing
  • Clear acrylic sealer (matte)
  • Glitter glue (optional)
  • Glitter (optional)
  • Funnel (optional)
  • Small decorations (optional)
  • Ornament hooks
Safety Guidelines
  • Always supervise children when using crafting tools like scissors, hot glue guns, or sharp objects. Keep them out of reach when not in use.
  • If using an oven to bake or cure any materials, ensure proper ventilation and follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully to avoid fire hazards or inhalation of fumes.
  • Be mindful of potential choking hazards, especially if making ornaments for young children. Avoid small, loose components that could be detached and ingested.

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Prepare Ornaments and Images

    • Clean the glass ornaments with Windex to remove fingerprints and residue.
    • Prepare your photos or images using the rub-on transfer film. Print, stamp, or draw your design onto the matte side of the transfer film. Trim to size.
    Prepare your photos or images using the rub-on transfer film. Print, stamp, or draw your design onto the matte side of the transfer film. Trim to size.Prepare your photos or images using the rub-on transfer film. Print, stamp, or draw your design onto the matte side of the transfer film. Trim to size.
    Prepare Ornaments and Images

  2. Apply Transfer Film to Image

    • Peel the backing off a piece of adhesive film, lay it over your prepared image, and rub out any air bubbles to ensure a good seal.

  3. Cut and Apply Image to Ornament

    • Use a die-cut machine for precise shapes.)
    • Position the photo on the ornament and peel off the clear film backing. Smooth out any wrinkles or bubbles, ensuring complete adhesion. Use a tool or fingers to gently press the image onto the ornament.
    Position the photo on the ornament and peel off the clear film backing. Smooth out any wrinkles or bubbles, ensuring complete adhesion. Use a tool or fingers to gently press the image onto the ornament.Position the photo on the ornament and peel off the clear film backing. Smooth out any wrinkles or bubbles, ensuring complete adhesion. Use a tool or fingers to gently press the image onto the ornament.
    Cut and Apply Image to Ornament

  4. Seal and Decorate

    • Seal the photo ornament with three light coats of matte clear acrylic sealer, allowing each coat to dry before applying the next.
    • (Optional) Add glitter to the inside of the ornament using glitter glue and a funnel. Add any other desired small decorations inside the ornament before replacing the top.
    (Optional) Add glitter to the inside of the ornament using glitter glue and a funnel. Add any other desired small decorations inside the ornament before replacing the top.(Optional) Add glitter to the inside of the ornament using glitter glue and a funnel. Add any other desired small decorations inside the ornament before replacing the top.
    Seal and Decorate

  5. Finalize Ornament

    • Replace the top of the ornament and add an ornament hook.

Read more: DIY: Create Custom Canister Labels with Silhouette Cameo

Tips

  • Work with the ornaments inside their container to prevent them from sliding around.
  • Ensure a good seal on your image to avoid affecting the transfer to the ornament.
  • Be patient and work carefully when applying the photo to the ornament to avoid wrinkles.
  • Nail polish remover can remove the image if needed, but it's best to avoid this step by ensuring proper adhesion.
  • Adding personal touches like writing memories or small decorations inside enhances the sentimental value.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Using Low-Resolution Photos

Reason: Low-resolution photos will appear blurry and pixelated when printed on a small ornament, ruining the overall aesthetic.
Solution: Use high-resolution images with at least 300 DPI for optimal clarity.

2. Applying Too Much Mod Podge or Glue

Reason: Excess adhesive can lead to wrinkles, bubbles, and a messy, uneven finish on the ornament.
Solution: Apply a thin, even coat of Mod Podge or glue, allowing each layer to dry completely before adding another.

FAQs

What kind of photos work best for these ornaments?
High-resolution photos generally produce the best results. Avoid blurry or low-quality images. Square or slightly landscape-oriented photos often work best for the typical ornament shapes, but you can adapt to other shapes depending on your chosen method.