Every year I add a few handmade ornaments to our tree, and they’re always the ones people notice first.
Ornaments are also one of the best things to make with a Cricut. They’re small, quick to cut and cost almost nothing, so you can make one for everyone you love.
Here are 13 Cricut ornament ideas I love right now: 3D paper ornaments, vinyl ball ornaments and personalized keepsakes for a new baby, newlyweds, teachers and even the dog. Each one has the SVG file to make it.
My Top Cricut Ornament Picks
- Most Loved Paper Ornament – Gingerbread Girl Paper Ornament
- Best 3D Ornament – Star Lantern Ornament
- Best Kids' Craft – Snowman Photo Ornaments
- Best Personalized Ornament – Personalized Santa & Penguin Ornaments
- Best Free SVG – Reindeer Name Ornaments
- Best for Newlyweds – Our First Christmas Married Ornament
Tip: Writing a name in a curve around a round ornament? Our free Curved Text Generator makes an arched name SVG that fits a 3-inch ball.
Types of Cricut Ornaments You Can Make
Before you pick a design, decide what kind of ornament you want. Each type uses different supplies:
- Paper ornaments: 3D shapes, layered designs and treat-holder ornaments cut from cardstock. They’re the cheapest option and great for crafting with kids.
- Vinyl ornaments: permanent adhesive vinyl on clear, white or colored ball ornaments, flat acrylic discs or ceramic rounds.
- Wood and leather ornaments: the Cricut Maker can cut thin basswood, chipboard and faux leather for a rustic look.
- Personalized ornaments: any of the above with a name, a date or a photo added. These make the best keepsake gifts.
How to Put Vinyl on a Round Ornament
Curved ornaments can be tricky, so here’s what works for me:
- Size the design so it’s no wider than about a third of the ornament. A 3-inch ball fits a design about 2 inches wide.
- Cut it in permanent vinyl and weed it, then trim the transfer tape close around the design.
- Cut small slits into the transfer tape around the edges so it can bend around the curve.
- Press the middle down first, then smooth the vinyl out toward the edges. Peel the tape back slowly.
Clean the ornament with rubbing alcohol before you start, so the vinyl sticks for years.
13 Cricut Ornament Ideas
Here are my favorite Cricut ornament ideas, from easy paper ornaments to personalized keepsakes.
1. Gingerbread Girl Paper Ornament
Most Loved Cricut Ornament Idea
This chubby little gingerbread girl is the most saved design in this roundup. She’s a 3D paper ornament with icing squiggles, buttons and a red bow.
She’s about 4 inches tall and made from medium cardstock, and the instructions include tips for giving her a cookie texture. Make a whole batch for your tree or tie one onto a plate of cookies.
2. 3D Paper Christmas Tree
Best Paper Tree Ornament
This tiered paper tree has snowy tips, little red gems and a gold trunk. It has a five-star rating, and it’s one of the prettiest paper ornaments I’ve seen.
Cut the layers from green, white and gold cardstock, and use glitter cardstock for the snow if you want some sparkle.
3. Star Lantern Ornament
Best 3D Ornament
This lantern has star cutouts on every side and little gem accents. It’s another five-star design, and it looks amazing with a light behind it.
Cut it from sturdy red and gold cardstock. A battery tea light makes it glow, so it works as a mantel decoration too.
4. Layered Santa Ornament
Best Layered Ornament
Santa peeks out of this round ornament with “Merry Christmas” arched over the top. The layers give it real depth, like a tiny shadow box.
It’s made from two layers about 4.5 inches across. Glue foam dots between the layers to make the 3D effect stand out even more.
5. 3D Paper Snowflake
Best Classic Ornament
A white paper snowflake never goes out of style. This one is folded into a 3D shape, so it catches the light on the tree.
Use pearl or shimmer cardstock for a frosty look, and hang a few in a window for a quick winter decoration.
6. Snowman Photo Ornaments
Best Kids’ Craft
Kids love seeing their own face on a snowman! There are two snowmen in the file, each with a hat and scarf and a round photo window for the face.
Print a small photo, tuck it behind the window and add the year on the back. Grandparents will treasure these.
7. Personalized Santa & Penguin Ornaments
Best Personalized Ornament
A Santa with a fluffy beard and a penguin in a knit hat, each with a name across the hat. They’re cute enough for every kid on your list.
The file is made for laser cutting, but the chunky layers also cut well from cardstock on a Cricut. Write each name in a script font and glue the layers together.
8. Confetti Shaker Snowman
Most Fun Ornament
Give it a shake and the confetti swirls around inside! This layered snowman becomes a shaker when you add a clear window and some sequins.
Cut the layers from cardstock, use acetate for the window and fill the pocket with gold confetti or tiny snowflakes.
9. Reindeer Name Ornaments
My Free Ornament SVG
My free reindeer names set has all nine of Santa’s reindeer in a playful script with little branches above and below.
Put each name on a white or red ball ornament with permanent vinyl. Make a full set for the tree, or let each family member pick their favorite reindeer.
10. Our First Christmas Married Ornament
Best for Newlyweds
This round design says “Our First Christmas Married” with a little tree and a space for the couple’s names. It’s the sweetest gift for newlyweds.
Cut it in white or gold permanent vinyl for a clear ornament, and add the wedding year in the same font.
11. Baby’s First Christmas Ornament
Best for New Parents
A sleeping baby on a crescent moon sits in the middle of this “Baby’s First Christmas” design, with snowflakes and stars around it.
It’s a one-color design, so it cuts cleanly in vinyl for a white or clear ornament. Add the baby’s name and the year on the back.
12. Best Teacher Ever Ornament
Best Teacher Ornament
“Best Teacher Ever” mixes a pretty script with a classic serif, and it looks lovely on a white ball ornament.
Teachers get a lot of mugs, but an ornament comes out every year. Add the school year on the back so they remember your child’s class.
13. Up on the Woof Top Pet Ornament
Best Pet Ornament
“Up on the woof top, click click click” makes every dog lover smile. The design has paw prints and a bone tucked into the lettering.
It fits a wood slice perfectly. Use black vinyl or paint it through a stencil, then add the dog’s name on the back.
Cricut Ornament FAQs
What material is best for Cricut ornaments?
Cardstock is the easiest and cheapest, and it’s great for 3D and layered ornaments. For longer-lasting keepsakes, use permanent vinyl on glass, plastic or acrylic ornaments.
Can a Cricut cut wood ornaments?
The Cricut Maker can cut thin basswood and chipboard with the knife blade. Many wood ornament files are made for laser cutters, though, so check the product description before you buy.
What size should an ornament design be?
Most ball ornaments are 2.5 to 3.5 inches wide. Keep the design about 2 inches wide so it wraps nicely around the curve.
