From: pamela4848

The following are ideas for easy, inexpensive, homemade tree ornaments.

1. Hot glue a ribbon to the top of a pine cone and tie a bow.  The pine
cones can be spray painted or left natural, depending on your decorating
style.

2. Make up a kids' dough recipe, cut out shapes with cookie cutters,
pierce a hole in the top and bake, then paint.  Make sure kids know
they're not edible.  Alternately, you can make actual cookies and let
the family munch them.

3. Large candy canes

4. Ribbons tied in bows throughout the tree

5. Silk Flowers

6. You can buy unfinished flat wooden shapes in craft and sewing stores
for about $2-$3 per 50 or so.  Paint them and personalize them, then
either drill a hole to hand or hot glue a ribbon on.

7. Ruined Christmas ornaments can be re-used... if the silk threads come
off the plastic balls, paint the balls and glue ribbon or beads around
them.  Chipped paint on glass ornaments can be removed
with some homemade solvents (a web search should turn up recipes, I
can't remember offhand), and they can then be filled with dried flower
petals or you can dribble paint inside and let it run in
interesting patterns.

8. You can use plastic canvas and yarn to quickly make little 2" boxes
that look like presents.  Simply use any stitch you like on 6 squares
and then join them in a square and form a bow on top and hang.  I stitch
in an alternate color up the sides so it looks like they're really tied
with ribbons.

9. Small children's toys or booties can be sentimental ornaments and
cute.

10. Jewelry works, especially with Victorian trees.  Anything from drop
earrings to gold bracelets can add sparkle and charm.

11. You can buy beads and fake pearls by the yard in sewing stores for
much cheaper than garland in stores. Besides draping it the traditional
way, you can cut smaller lengths and drape them over
branches like icicles.

12. Craft sites on the net can provide lots more ideas too.