Ribbon Christmas Ornament Ideas: 20 Bows, Baubles and Angels

A tree dressed only with shop-bought baubles can feel like a catalogue page, because every ornament looks the same as every other house on the street. A tree dressed with ribbon christmas ornaments feels personal, because every bow, bauble, angel and star carries a fabric, a fold, or a colour you chose yourself. Most ribbon christmas ornament projects fail in the same way: people pick a ribbon that will not hold its shape, skip sealing the cut ends, or hang an ornament so heavy it drags the branch down, and end up with floppy bows, frayed edges, and bare branches. This list works the other way around. These 20 ribbon christmas ornament ideas are all ornaments made from ribbon first, grouped by craft, baubles, bows, angels and stars, trees and wreaths, and keepsakes, and every make comes with real steps and a hanging loop, so you can pick one ribbon, finish a set, and hang it the same week. If you want the fullest version of this list, start with the easiest group and work toward the fiddliest, and every branch of your tree will carry something soft and handmade by Christmas Eve, not just the front ones. For the broader ornament picture, including wooden, paper, clay and natural ornaments, see Christmas Ornament Ideas.

The key takeaway: Wired ribbon beats plain ribbon for ornaments. A wired edge holds a bow, a loop, or a star point in shape all season, while unwired ribbon flops within days on a warm tree.
The detail most people miss: The cut end matters more than the fold. A ribbon end sealed with a quick heat seal or a dab of clear glue stays crisp, while an unsealed end frays and makes the whole ornament look unfinished.
What it costs or how long it takes: Most of these 20 ideas cost $2 to $12 in ribbon and findings, and each takes 10 minutes to 1 hour of active work. Ribbon christmas ornaments are often the cheapest handmade ornaments on the tree, because a single spool makes a whole set.

At a glance

Group	Ideas	Materials	Best for
Ribbon Baubles	01-04	Velvet, satin, grosgrain, wired ribbon, foam balls	Baubles with soft texture
Ribbon Bows	05-08	Wired, velvet, satin ribbon, bells	Toppers and statement bows
Ribbon Angels and Stars	09-12	Ribbon, beads, wire, felt	Angels, candy, stars and snowflakes
Ribbon Trees and Wreaths	13-16	Ribbon, cones, foam rings, wire	Trees, wreaths and icicles
Ribbon Keepsakes	17-20	Ribbon, photos, initials, bells	Height marks, monograms and memories

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Ribbon Baubles

ribbon bauble ornaments christmas velvet

Velvet Ribbon Wrapped Bauble

A tree dressed only in shiny glass baubles can feel cold, because shine alone gives no sense of softness. A velvet ribbon wrapped bauble, a foam ball wound in velvet ribbon, gives the tree a soft shape, because velvet reads as warm against the green. Steps: 1. Pin one end of wide velvet ribbon to a foam ball and wind it around the ball in overlapping rows, pinning as you go. 2. Cover the whole ball, tuck the final end under the last row, and pin it flat. 3. Add a ribbon hanging loop through the top pin and hang the bauble on an outer branch. Ribbon for ornaments in velvet is the easiest place to start, because the fabric hides every pin and seam.

Try it: Wind the ribbon tightly, with no gaps and no slack. A loosely wound bauble shows foam between the rows, while a tightly wound bauble reads as solid velvet.

Satin Ribbon Rosette Bauble

A tree dressed only in plain baubles can look flat, because a smooth ball gives the eye nothing to follow. A satin ribbon rosette bauble, a foam ball covered in small satin rosettes, gives the tree texture, because each rosette catches light like a petal. Steps: 1. Roll short lengths of satin ribbon into small rosettes, twisting as you roll, and glue each rosette shut at the base. 2. Glue the rosettes all over a foam ball, working from the top down, until no foam shows. 3. Add a ribbon loop at the top and hang the bauble where the lights hit it, since satin rosettes glow under tree lights.

Try it: Make all the rosettes the same size before you start gluing. Rosettes in mixed sizes leave gaps that show foam, while even rosettes cover the ball cleanly.

Woven Ribbon Cage Ball

A tree dressed only in solid ornaments can look heavy, because every shape is closed. A woven ribbon cage ball, ribbons woven over and under around a ball form, gives the tree an open shape, because the weave lets light through. Steps: 1. Cut eight lengths of wired ribbon and pin them over a foam ball, four running one way and four running across. 2. Weave the ribbons over and under each other, pinning each crossing point, until the ball is caged in a lattice. 3. Remove the foam ball if you want a hollow cage, or leave it in for weight, and add a hanging loop at the top. A diy ribbon ornament like this teaches weaving fast, because the ball form holds the pattern for you.

Try it: Use wired ribbon, not soft ribbon, for a cage ball. Soft ribbon collapses between the pins, while wired ribbon holds the lattice open all season.

ribbon ball ornaments christmas grosgrain

Grosgrain Striped Ribbon Ball

A tree dressed only in single-colour baubles can look one-note, because one colour repeats everywhere. A grosgrain striped ribbon ball, a foam ball wrapped in alternating grosgrain stripes, gives the tree a crisp pattern, because the ribbed grosgrain reads as tailored. Steps: 1. Cut grosgrain ribbon in two colours into equal lengths. 2. Pin the strips around a foam ball in alternating colours, running them from top to bottom like segments of an orange. 3. Tuck the ends under a small ribbon cap at the top, add a hanging loop, and hang the ball on an outer branch.

Try it: Alternate the colours strictly, never two of the same colour side by side. A broken stripe pattern reads as a mistake, while strict alternation reads as designed.

Ribbon Bows

Layered Boutique Bow Ornament

A tree dressed only in small bows can look thin, because a single loop bow gives no body. A layered boutique bow ornament, three or four loops stacked in graduated sizes, gives the tree a full bow, because the layers read as a florist bow. Steps: 1. Cut wired ribbon into four lengths, each shorter than the last. 2. Fold each length into a loop and stack the loops largest at the back and smallest at the front, pinching them together at the centre. 3. Wrap the centre with a short length of ribbon, add a hanging loop at the back, and fluff the loops outward. Christmas ribbon bows in layers are the classic tree bow, because the layering is what makes a bow look bought.

Try it: Fluff the loops after hanging, not before. Loops fluffed before hanging get squashed on the branch, while loops fluffed in place stay full.

Pinwheel Ribbon Bow Ornament

A tree dressed only in round bows can look soft all over, because every shape is curved. A pinwheel ribbon bow ornament, ribbon folded into sharp pinwheel points, gives the tree a crisp shape, because the points break the curves. Steps: 1. Cut four equal lengths of stiff wired ribbon. 2. Fold each length into a pointed loop and pin the four loops together at the centre like a pinwheel. 3. Cover the centre with a button or a bead, add a hanging loop, and hang the pinwheel on a front branch where its points show.

Try it: Use stiff wired ribbon for pinwheels, not soft satin. Soft ribbon rounds off the points, while stiff ribbon keeps each pinwheel point sharp.

Double-Loop Bow Ornament with a Bell

A tree dressed only in silent ornaments can feel still, because nothing on it suggests sound. A double-loop bow ornament with a bell, a simple bow with a small bell at its centre, gives the tree a shape that looks like it should ring, because the bell is the point of the bow. Steps: 1. Tie a double-loop bow in wired ribbon, with two loops and two tails. 2. Thread a small gold or silver bell onto the centre wrap before you tighten it. 3. Add a hanging loop at the back and hang the bow on an outer branch, where the bell can swing free. Ornament ribbon in a bow like this doubles as a gift topper later, because the bow lifts off the tree and onto a parcel.

Try it: Hang the bow so the bell swings free, not trapped against a branch. A bell pressed against a branch cannot move, while a free bell catches the light and reads as a chime.

Ribbon Tree Topper Bow Ornament

A tree topped only with a star can feel predictable, because stars repeat on every tree. A ribbon tree topper bow ornament, a large layered bow made to crown the tree, gives the top a soft finish, because the bow reads as a present tied at the very top. Steps: 1. Cut wide wired ribbon into six long loops, three per side, and stack them into a full bow. 2. Add two long tails that fall down the front of the tree. 3. Fix the bow to the top branch with wire, not a hook, and fluff the loops so the bow reads from every side of the room. A ribbon tree topper like this suits a small tree best, because a big bow crowns a small tree without overwhelming it.

Try it: Wire the topper bow to the top branch, do not hang it from a hook. A hooked topper swings and slides, while a wired topper stays centred all season.

Ribbon Angels and Stars

Classic Ribbon Angel Ornament

A tree with only baubles and bows can feel like it forgot the angels, because angels are the figure every tree needs. A classic ribbon angel ornament, a folded ribbon dress with a bead head and ribbon wings, gives the tree its angel, because the shape is unmistakable. Steps: 1. Fold a wide length of ribbon back and forth into a dress shape, and tie it at the waist with a narrow ribbon. 2. Glue a wooden bead on top as a head, and glue two small ribbon loops behind it as wings. 3. Add a halo of thin gold wire and a hanging loop, and hang the angel near the top of the tree. Angel ribbon ornaments are the oldest ribbon craft on the tree, because one spool and one bead make a whole choir.

Try it: Make the wings from the same ribbon as the dress, not a different one. Wings in a different ribbon read as an afterthought, while matching wings read as one angel.

Ribbon Candy Ornament

A tree dressed only in round baubles can look stiff, because every shape hangs straight down. A ribbon candy ornament, ribbon twisted into the shape of a wrapped sweet, gives the tree a playful curve, because the twisted ends read as candy wrapper. Steps: 1. Cut a length of striped or wired ribbon and twist it into a tight spiral. 2. Pinch the middle to form the candy body, and fan the two ends out like wrapper twists. 3. Stiffen the shape with a light spray of fabric stiffener, add a hanging loop at the top, and hang the candy on an outer branch. Ribbon candy ornaments are a favourite kids craft, because the twisting is easy and every candy comes out different.

Try it: Stiffen the candy with fabric stiffener before hanging. An unstiffened ribbon candy flops flat on the branch, while a stiffened one keeps its twist all season.

Woven Ribbon Star Ornament

A tree with only round ornaments can look soft, because every shape is curved. A woven ribbon star ornament, narrow ribbons woven into a five-point star, gives the tree sharp points, because the star shape breaks the curves. Steps: 1. Cut five equal lengths of narrow wired ribbon. 2. Weave them over and under into a star shape, following a simple five-point weave, and pin each point. 3. Stiffen the star lightly, add a hanging loop at one point, and hang it near the lights, since a star near a light glows. A diy ribbon ornament star is the best first weave, because five strips are easier to hold than a full ball cage.

Try it: Weave the star on a flat surface and pin it as you go, not in your hands. A star woven in the air twists out of shape, while a star pinned flat stays even.

Ribbon Snowflake Ornament

A tree dressed only in warm colours can feel one-note, because reds and golds repeat everywhere. A ribbon snowflake ornament, white and silver ribbon loops arranged as a snowflake, gives the tree a cool shape, because the white loops read as frost against the green. Steps: 1. Cut six equal lengths of white wired ribbon and fold each into a loop. 2. Pin the six loops together at the centre like a snowflake, with a silver bead at the middle. 3. Add small silver beads at the tip of each loop, stiffen lightly, and hang the snowflake on an outer branch.

Try it: Use white wired ribbon with a silver edge for snowflakes. Plain white ribbon disappears against a lit tree, while a silver edge catches the light on every loop.

Ribbon Trees and Wreaths

Ribbon Cone Tree Ornament

A tree dressed only with flat ornaments can look two-dimensional, because flat shapes have no depth. A ribbon cone tree ornament, a small cone wrapped in ribbon rows, gives the tree a tiny tree, because the cone shape reads instantly. Steps: 1. Wrap a small foam cone in ribbon from the base upward, overlapping each row, and pinning as you go. 2. Alternate two colours row by row for a striped tree, or use one colour for a plain tree. 3. Top the cone with a small star or bead, add a hanging loop, and hang it among the branches. Christmas trees decorated with ribbon in miniature like this echo the big tree, because the small cone tree mirrors the real one.

Try it: Wrap from the base upward, not from the top down. Rows wrapped downward slide off the cone tip, while rows wrapped upward lock each row under the next.

Mini Ribbon Wreath Ornament

A tree dressed only with single shapes can look scattered, because nothing on it frames a space. A mini ribbon wreath ornament, a small ring wrapped in ribbon with tiny bows, gives the tree tiny frames, because the ring shape reads as a wreath even at small size. Steps: 1. Wrap a small foam or wire ring in ribbon, overlapping as you go. 2. Glue three tiny ribbon bows and a few small beads around the ring. 3. Add a hanging loop at the top and hang the mini wreath on a front branch, where its ring shape shows.

Try it: Keep mini wreaths small, no wider than 8 cm. A large ribbon wreath on a tree competes with the tree itself, while a small one reads as an ornament.

Ribbon Rosette Tree Ornament

A tree dressed only in smooth ornaments can feel flat, because smooth surfaces catch no shadow. A ribbon rosette tree ornament, a cone covered in small ribbon rosettes, gives the tree texture, because each rosette catches light and shadow. Steps: 1. Roll short lengths of ribbon into small rosettes and glue each one shut at the base. 2. Glue the rosettes all over a small foam cone, working from the base upward, until no foam shows. 3. Top the cone with a bead star, add a hanging loop, and hang the rosette tree near the lights.

Try it: Glue the rosettes from the base upward, so each new row overlaps the row below. Rosettes glued downward leave gaps at the base, while upward rows cover the cone fully.

ribbon icicle ornaments christmas spiral

Ribbon Spiral Icicle Ornament

A tree dressed only in round ornaments can look soft, because every shape is curved. A ribbon spiral icicle ornament, ribbon wound in a spiral around a thin form, gives the tree a sharp drop, because the icicle shape breaks the curves. Steps: 1. Wind narrow wired ribbon in a spiral around a thin dowel or a wire form, leaving even gaps between the turns. 2. Stiffen the spiral with fabric stiffener and slide it off the form once dry. 3. Add a small bead at the bottom tip and a hanging loop at the top, and hang the icicle where it can dangle free.

Try it: Leave even gaps between the spiral turns. A spiral wound tight reads as a tube, while a spiral with even gaps reads as a twisted icicle.

Ribbon Keepsakes

ribbon height ornament keepsake christmas

Ribbon Height Keepsake Ornament

A tree that celebrates the whole family can feel incomplete if it does not mark how the children grow, because growth is the story of the year. A ribbon height keepsake ornament, a ribbon marked with a child’s height each Christmas, gives the tree a record, because the ribbon is the ruler. Steps: 1. Cut a length of wide ribbon and mark the child’s height on it each December with a fabric pen, adding the year beside the mark. 2. Roll the ribbon into a loop ornament, or hang it straight with a bow at the top, so the marks show. 3. Add a new mark every year and hang the ribbon on the tree, where the family can compare years. A ribbon height ornament printable template helps if you want neat lines, but a hand-marked ribbon reads as more personal.

Try it: Mark the height on the same ribbon every year, do not start a new one. A new ribbon each year scatters the record, while one ribbon kept for years becomes the keepsake.

ribbon initial ornaments christmas monogram

Ribbon Initial Monogram Ornament

A tree dressed only with generic ornaments can feel impersonal, because nothing on it names anyone in the house. A ribbon initial monogram ornament, a letter wrapped in ribbon and hung on the tree, gives the tree ornaments that name every member of the family, because the letter is personal. Steps: 1. Cut a letter shape from stiff card and wrap it fully in narrow ribbon, gluing as you go. 2. Cover the edges neatly and add a small bow at the top corner. 3. Add a hanging loop and hang one initial per family member, grouped together on one branch.

Try it: Wrap all the initials in one ribbon colour family, all reds or all golds. Initials in mixed colours look like a classroom project, while one family reads as a set.

Ribbon Photo Frame Ornament

A tree dressed only with new ornaments can feel like it forgot the past, because old photos stay in albums. A ribbon photo frame ornament, a small frame edged in ribbon holding a tiny photo, gives the tree ornaments that carry memories, because the photo is the point. Steps: 1. Cut a small card frame, slightly larger than the photo, and wrap its edges in ribbon. 2. Glue a small printed photo behind the opening and add a backing card. 3. Add a ribbon loop at the top and hang the frame on a front branch, where the photo can be seen.

Try it: Seal the ribbon edges before adding the photo, not after. Glue on a photo clouds it, while a finished frame keeps the photo clear.

Ribbon and Bell Cluster Ornament

A tree dressed only in single ornaments can look scattered, because singles leave gaps between the branches. A ribbon and bell cluster ornament, several small bells tied together with ribbon loops, gives the tree a bunch, because the cluster reads as one full ornament. Steps: 1. Tie five or six small bells onto separate short ribbon loops. 2. Gather the loops together and tie them into one bunch with a wider ribbon bow. 3. Add a hanging loop at the top of the bunch and hang the cluster on an outer branch, where the bells can move. Ornaments on ribbon in a cluster like this suit a tree top or a door handle too, because the bunch hangs well anywhere.

Try it: Use bells in one metal only, all gold or all silver. Mixed metals in one cluster look jumbled, while one metal reads as a set.

Pro tip: Finish one ribbon completely before starting the next ornament. A table full of finished velvet baubles, a finished set of layered bows, and a finished ribbon angel set make the house feel done, while five half-wound balls and half-tied bows make it feel chaotic, even if you spent the same hours.

Three rules for ribbon ornaments that look intentional, not homemade

Most ribbon Christmas ornaments look unfinished for the same three reasons, and all three are fixable.

First, use wired ribbon for anything that must hold a shape. Bows, stars, pinwheels and cage balls all need a wired edge, because soft ribbon flops and the ornament loses its form within days.
Second, seal every cut end. A quick heat seal with a lighter, or a dab of clear glue, stops fraying, because a frayed end is what the eye reads first on an otherwise good ornament.
Third, keep one palette per set. One or two ribbons per project, repeated consistently, look intentional, while a project in unrelated ribbons looks like leftovers.

Storing and reusing your ribbon Christmas ornaments

Ribbon Christmas ornaments last for years if you store them properly, and the storage step is part of the making, not an afterthought.

First, store ornaments in their own boxes. Ribbon ornaments crush against each other, so tissue paper and a box per shape are worth the minute they take.
Second, store bows and stars flat, not piled. Layered bows and woven stars lose their shape under weight, so keep them flat between sheets of card in a folder.
Third, keep ribbon dry and away from damp and sunlight. Ribbon fades in direct sun and spots in damp, so store ribbon ornaments in a dry cupboard, and keep spare spools upright so the ribbon does not crease.

Questions readers ask

What ribbon is best for Christmas ornaments?

Wired ribbon is best for Christmas ornaments that must hold a shape, bows, stars, pinwheels and cage balls, while velvet ribbon is best for wrapped baubles and soft shapes, because the wire holds the form and the velvet hides seams. For a ribbon christmas ornament project, choose wired ribbon first and velvet second, and keep satin for rosettes and trims where its sheen shows best.

How do I make ribbon Christmas ornaments?

You make ribbon christmas ornaments by choosing one ribbon type, wired, velvet, satin or grosgrain, and following its steps with the right base, foam ball, ring, cone or wire form, for the job. A making ribbon ornaments project starts with cutting clean lengths, sealing the ends, and adding a hanging loop before you finish, since a loop added after the ornament is done pulls the shape apart.

How do you make a ribbon angel ornament?

You make a ribbon angel ornament by folding a wide length of ribbon into a dress shape, tying it at the waist, gluing a bead head on top and two ribbon loops behind as wings, because the folded dress is the whole angel. Add a thin gold wire halo and a hanging loop, and hang the angel near the top of the tree, where its wings show against the lights.

How do you make ribbon candy ornaments?

You make ribbon candy ornaments by twisting a length of striped or wired ribbon into a tight spiral, pinching the middle for the candy body, and fanning the ends out like wrapper twists. Stiffen the shape with fabric stiffener, add a hanging loop, and hang the candy on an outer branch, where its twist reads as a sweet.

How do you keep ribbon ornaments from fraying?

You keep ribbon ornaments from fraying by sealing every cut end, either with a quick pass of a lighter flame for synthetic ribbon or a dab of clear glue for natural ribbon, because an unsealed end frays within days on a warm tree. Seal the ends before you build, not after, since a frayed end sealed late still shows fuzz.

Can kids make ribbon Christmas ornaments?

Yes, kids can make ribbon Christmas ornaments, and the best projects are velvet wrapped baubles, ribbon candy ornaments, and simple layered bows, because all of them are safe, forgiving, and genuinely useful as tree ornaments. Keep lighters, craft knives, and hot glue for adults, and let children choose colours and placements.

How do you hang ribbon ornaments so they stay put?

You hang ribbon ornaments so they stay put by adding a proper hanging loop, wired ribbon loop or a cord loop pinned through the ornament, not a loose ribbon tail, because a loop holds the branch while a tail slides off. Hang light ribbon ornaments on outer branches and heavier clusters on sturdier inner branches, so no branch bends under the weight.

How do I store ribbon Christmas ornaments so they last?

You store ribbon Christmas ornaments so they last by keeping ornaments in their own tissue-lined boxes, storing bows and stars flat between sheets of card, and keeping everything in a dry cupboard away from damp and sunlight. Stored this way, ribbon baubles, bows, angels and keepsakes will last for many seasons.

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Sanaullah Arshad

Hey! I'm Sanaullah — visual curator and content creator. I search, curate, and test the best aesthetic ideas across Pinterest so you can easily transform your living space, style daily outfits, and try simple creative DIYs without the overwhelm.

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