Craft Charming Dollar Tree Gift Box Ornaments: An Easy & Inexpensive Jenga Block DIY
There’s a special magic that fills the air as Christmas approaches, and for many, that magic is intertwined with the joy of creating. DIY Christmas projects not only add a unique touch to your holiday decor but also create lasting memories. Among the myriad of festive crafts, these adorable DIY gift box ornaments stand out as a fun, inexpensive, and incredibly rewarding project. Made primarily with Jenga-like wood blocks and festive ribbon, they are a perfect way to add handmade charm to your Christmas tree without breaking the bank.
When the holiday season starts to whisper promises of coziness and cheer, the urge to immerse ourselves in DIY Christmas crafts becomes almost irresistible. There’s an undeniable satisfaction that comes from transforming simple materials into beautiful decorations. And when those materials come from the Dollar Tree, the crafting experience becomes even more delightful, offering both affordability and endless creative possibilities.
The Allure of DIY Dollar Tree Christmas Ornaments
While the Dollar Tree certainly offers a variety of pre-made ornaments, the real fun for a crafter lies in using their budget-friendly supplies to create something truly unique and personal. These stores are treasure troves for craft enthusiasts, stocking everything from basic craft essentials to unexpected items that can be repurposed into holiday masterpieces. The appeal of Dollar Tree Christmas ornaments isn’t just about saving money; it’s about the creative challenge and the joy of making something with your own hands that perfectly reflects your style and spirit.
The possibilities for homemade Christmas ornaments using Dollar Tree supplies are virtually limitless. Imagine crafting whimsical snowman ornaments, playful popsicle stick reindeer ornaments, charming clothespin reindeer ornaments, or rustic mason jar lid ornaments. Each project offers a chance to explore your creativity, and these beautiful gift box ornaments are a fantastic addition to that list of handmade treasures.
Unlocking Creativity with Jenga-Style Wood Blocks
It might initially seem unconventional to use Jenga blocks for Christmas ornaments, but these simple wooden pieces are surprisingly versatile for a multitude of DIY crafts. Their uniform size and shape make them an ideal base for countless projects, and the Dollar Tree’s version, the “Tumbling Tower Game,” offers an incredibly affordable starting point. This game is essentially a travel-sized Jenga set, providing 36 wooden blocks for just a dollar. This means you can create a dozen gift box ornaments from a single game, making it an exceptionally economical craft!
Using these readily available wood blocks opens up a world of crafting possibilities beyond just ornaments. They can be transformed into mini signs, photo holders, game pieces, or even small decorative sculptures. For this specific project, their cuboid shape is perfect for mimicking miniature wrapped gifts, providing a sturdy and classic base for your festive designs. The natural wood also offers a great canvas for paint and other embellishments, allowing for endless customization.
Why Make Your Own Gift Box Ornaments?
Crafting your own Christmas ornaments offers several compelling benefits:
- Personal Touch & Sentimental Value: Handmade ornaments carry a story and a piece of your heart. They become cherished mementos that bring back fond memories year after year.
- Unique Gifts & Keepsakes: These gift box ornaments make thoughtful and personalized gifts for friends, family, teachers, or neighbors. They can also serve as unique party favors or stocking stuffers.
- Budget-Friendly Decor: Especially when using Dollar Tree supplies, DIY ornaments are a fantastic way to decorate your home for the holidays without spending a fortune.
- Fun Family Activity: This craft is simple enough for older children to participate in, making it a wonderful family bonding activity during the festive season. Imagine sitting around the table, painting and gluing, while holiday music plays in the background!
- Customization: Unlike store-bought ornaments, you have complete control over the design, colors, and overall aesthetic, ensuring they perfectly match your holiday theme.
Essential Supplies for Your DIY Gift Box Ornaments
Gathering your supplies is the first exciting step in any craft project. For these gift box ornaments, you’ll be pleased to know that most items can be found at your local Dollar Tree, keeping costs minimal.
- Tumbling Tower Game blocks or Mini Jenga blocks: These are the foundation of your ornament. The Dollar Tree’s Tumbling Tower Game is perfect, yielding 36 blocks for a great value. If you can’t find them there, small craft wood blocks or actual Jenga/Mini Jenga sets will work too.
- Ribbon: Choose festive colors and patterns! Approximately 0.65 inches wide works well for the “gift wrap” effect. You might want a variety of widths and textures to add visual interest.
- Eyelet screws: These small screws with a loop at the end are crucial for attaching your hanger. Look for them in the hardware or craft section.
- Twine: A classic and rustic choice for hanging. You could also use fishing line, thin wire, or decorative string.
- Paint: Acrylic craft paint in your desired colors. White is used here for a classic look, but feel free to get creative with reds, greens, blues, or metallic shades.
- Paintbrush: A small to medium-sized brush will work best for covering the blocks evenly.
- Black marker (Sharpie recommended): Essential for outlining the gift box effect.
- Hot glue gun and glue sticks: For quick and strong adhesion, especially for the ribbon and embellishments. Ensure you have plenty of glue sticks.
- Silver sparkly styrofoam balls (optional): These add a lovely shimmering detail to the center of your ribbon bow, giving your gift box an extra festive touch. Look for small pom-poms, beads, or other miniature embellishments if you prefer.
Many of these items, like the Tumbling Tower Game, ribbon, screws, twine, and styrofoam balls, are readily available at Dollar Tree. You might even find paint and paintbrushes there, so always take a moment to browse their craft aisle for unexpected gems!
DIY Gift Box Ornament
Author: Jaclyn
Equipment
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glue gun
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paint brush
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marker
Supplies
- 3 Tumbling Tower Blocks or Mini Jenga Blocks
- White paint
- Ribbon we used .65 in wide
- Silver styrofoam balls optional
- 1 Eyelet screw
- Twine
Instructions
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Step 1: Prepare the Blocks. Take three Tumbling Tower blocks and use a hot glue gun to securely glue them together, forming a solid, compact block. Allow the glue to cool and set completely.
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Step 2: Paint the Base. Once your glued block is stable, paint all exposed surfaces white (or your chosen base color) using a paintbrush. Apply a second coat if needed for full coverage, and allow ample time for the paint to dry thoroughly. This step creates a clean, uniform look for your gift box.
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Step 3: Define the Gift Shape. Using a black Sharpie marker, carefully outline the edges where the individual blocks meet. This creates the illusion of a segmented gift box and adds a graphic, finished look to your ornament. Take your time to draw neat, straight lines.
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Step 4: Add Ribbon and Embellishments. Cut a length of ribbon sufficient to wrap around the painted block like a gift. Secure the ribbon in place with dabs of hot glue, ensuring it creates a neat “bow” or cross pattern on one or more sides. For an extra festive touch, hot glue silver sparkly styrofoam balls (or other small embellishments) in the center where the ribbon crosses, mimicking a decorative bow.
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Step 5: Optional Embellishment. If you desire, add additional silver balls or small decorative elements to the center of your ribbon bow. This step allows for further personalization and sparkle.
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Step 6: Attach the Hanger. Carefully screw an eyelet screw into the center of the top of the block. This will be the attachment point for your hanger. Once the screw is firmly in place, tie a length of twine through the loop to create a hanger. Adjust the length of the twine to your preference, then tie a secure knot. Your DIY gift box ornament is now ready to adorn your tree!
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Personalize Your Ornaments for a Truly Unique Display
One of the most exciting aspects of DIY crafting is the freedom to personalize your creations. These gift box ornaments offer a canvas for endless customization, allowing you to match them to your existing decor or create a new theme altogether. Here are some ideas to make your ornaments truly unique:
- Vary Your Color Palette: Instead of traditional white, paint your blocks in festive reds, deep greens, shimmering golds, or icy blues. You could even use pastel shades for a whimsical look or black and white for a modern minimalist vibe.
- Ribbon Galore: Experiment with different types of ribbon! Use satin for a luxurious feel, burlap for a rustic touch, glitter ribbon for extra sparkle, or patterned ribbon featuring snowflakes, stripes, or holiday characters. You can even layer ribbons for a more elaborate look.
- Add Extra Embellishments: Beyond styrofoam balls, consider adding tiny jingle bells, miniature pinecones, small artificial berries, glitter, sequins, or even tiny adhesive gems to the center of your ribbon bow or along the edges.
- Custom Text: Use a fine-tip permanent marker or paint pen to write names, dates, or short holiday messages on the sides of the blocks. This is especially lovely if you’re making them as gifts or commemorating a special year.
- Distressed Look: For a vintage or rustic feel, lightly sand the edges of your painted blocks once dry to expose a hint of the natural wood underneath.
Get creative and let your imagination run wild! The simpler the base, the more you can play with the details.
Frequently Asked Questions About Crafting These Ornaments
Is there an alternative to hot glue I can use?
Absolutely! While hot glue is highly recommended for its strong hold and quick drying time, making it ideal for craft projects like this, you can certainly use other adhesives. Any strong, fast-drying glue appropriate for wood and fabric will work. Craft glue, super glue, or wood glue are viable alternatives, though you may need to allow for longer drying and curing times, and some may require clamping the pieces together while they set.
Can I use something else besides Jenga blocks?
Yes, you can! For this specific project, we highly recommend the blocks from the Dollar Tree’s Tumbling Tower Game due to their perfect size and incredibly low cost. However, if those aren’t available, standard Jenga blocks or Jenga Mini blocks are excellent substitutes. You could also use any other small, uniform wooden pieces you can find at craft stores, ensuring they are suitable for gluing and painting. The key is to have consistently sized blocks to create the “gift box” effect.
Can I involve kids in making these ornaments?
This is a fantastic craft for involving children! Younger kids can help with painting the blocks (perhaps with washable paints) and choosing ribbons. Older children can assist with gluing, marking lines, and attaching the hanger with adult supervision. It’s a wonderful way to foster their creativity and spend quality time together during the holidays. Just be mindful of hot glue guns and sharp objects, always supervising closely.
More Dollar Tree Christmas Craft Ideas
If you’ve enjoyed making these gift box ornaments and are looking for more budget-friendly holiday inspiration, the Dollar Tree is your go-to source! Their aisles are full of items waiting to be transformed into festive decor. Don’t miss these other creative Dollar Tree Christmas craft ideas:
- DIY Upcycled Sweater Wreath: Transform old sweaters into cozy and charming wreaths that add warmth to your front door or interior walls. A perfect way to repurpose materials and create a unique, textural piece.
- Christmas Floral Tin Can Craft: Give ordinary tin cans a festive makeover with paint, fabric, and faux florals. These can be used as decorative centerpieces, utensil holders for holiday parties, or as small gift containers.
- Lottery Ticket Wreath: A playful and unexpected craft that makes a fun gift or party decoration. This unique wreath uses scratch-off lottery tickets for a chance at winning while celebrating the holidays!
For even more inspiration, be sure to explore a wide array of handmade Christmas ornament ideas to adorn your home with unique, heartfelt decorations.
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