Crate & Barrel Inspired Glittered Cork Ornaments

Do you make Christmas ornaments? I have enjoyed making all kinds of ornaments since I was a kid, so to me making at least one or two new ornaments each year is a fun tradition that brings back lots of memories. I’ve shared some with you, like these knockoff Anthropologie ornaments, these rosette book page ornaments, and these super easy book page punch ornaments, which we still use each year. And I have more easy, diy ornaments I’m planning to share with you this year – starting with cute glittered cork ornaments.

I was inspired to create a DIY version of some ornaments I found at Crate and Barrel since I really like the idea of glamming up a utilitarian item like cork with glitter – it’s just a fun look! But more importantly, I made sure it would meet my craft criteria: cheap, easy, quick, yet resulting in a fabulous product – that doesn’t have to be perfect. Sounds just about right, doesn’t it?

How to make glittered cork ornaments

Cork Materials

• sheet cork – I used an 1/8-inch thick piece of cork similar to this
• craft knife (like xacto, but I like this knife better)
• mat to safely cut on
• pencil
• tree and ornament shape templates (I found the tree template here and the ornaments template here – though I cut off the ornate tops)

1. Trace the ornament templates onto the cork with a pencil and set on a cutting mat.

2. Use the craft knife to cut out the ornament along the lines, being very careful to go slowly. You can go back and shave off areas that need it later to even it up, but remember it doesn’t have to be perfect. In fact, I like the slightly folk-artish look of the uneven tree branches.

Glitter Materials

• tacky glue (important – Elmer’s type glue is too watery and soaks into the cork)
• small paint brush, preferably with a flat edge
• glitter – the finer the better (after I finished, I felt that mine was too coarse and wish I had used finer glitter)

3. Paint the cut edges of the ornaments with the tacky glue (I glued and glittered one side at a time).

4. Using the flat edge of the brush, paint a bit of the glue along the very edges of the front of the ornaments.

5. Pour glitter onto glued areas, shake off and finish all edges with glitter. Set aside to dry (I set them on upturned jars).

6. Use an awl or a thick yarn needle to create a hole in the tops of the ornaments and thread with jute twine. I pulled the twine apart to make it thinner for easier threading through the hole.

I think these would be cute hanging on a wreath wrapped with a burlap bow, as well as on a Christmas tree. I’m also thinking of writing initials on them and using them as gift tags, and now that I think of it – they’d make fun name cards or napkin rings on a holiday table, too. And at less than .50 cents each, it’s an economical way to get a catalog look for less!

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I’m sharing this at Monday Funday, Inspiration Monday, That DIY Party, Best DIY and Recipes Party, Tuts & Tips and The Inspiration Exchange.