The Ultimate Holiday Hack: 8 Ornaments in 8 Minutes

We’ve been busting out pieces of holiday decor around here at a rate that rivals Santa’s workshop: from modern clay geo ornaments and glittery snow globes to colorful knotted garland for our festive faux fireplace. Phew! And now, we’ve taken on the ultimate timed challenge: to trick out eight clear ornaments in under a minute each! We have to say, while it may sound intimidating, it was a cinch to do. The trick: remembering it’s what’s inside that counts!

While these see-through ornaments have endless potential, we stuck to stuffing them with eye-popping odds and ends that any seasoned DIY-er should have on hand—think colorful pom poms, glistening glitter, and even a pair of air plants! Get ready for the ultimate holiday hack: on your mark, get set, MAKE!

Materials:
– large clear glass or plastic ornament with a top opening

– small pom poms

– festive string

We’ll start with what might be the simplest DIY ornament on our roundup—one stuffed with colorful pom poms! Pop these cozy embellishments right into your ornament, tie off with a festive string, and you’re ready to slap it on your tree. See, we told you these were fast!

Materials:
– clear glass or plastic ornament with a top opening

– silver glitter

– festive string

Tools:
– paper cone

– washi tape

Get a modern “dipped” look without busting out the painter’s tape! While we’re suckers for a classic gold dip (we do it on everything from vases to woven baskets), we opted for a more wintry silver version, which you make by carefully dumping silver glitter into your ornament. We tried to avoid getting glitter everywhere by rolling a piece of craft paper into a cone and using that as our transfer tool. But wait, what about the washi tape? Surprisingly, we’re not using it as a decorative element in any of these designs. Rather, we discovered that it makes the perfect stand to keep your ornament in place while you fill it. Who knew?

Materials:
– clear glass or plastic ornament with a top opening

– faux snow

– 1/2 inch vinyl lettering

– festive string

Tools:
– paper cone

– washi tape

We had a ton of vinyl letters laying around from a recent round of glass etching projects, so we decided to use them in this ornament DIY. Full disclosure: we did attempt to etch our glass ornament, but the iridescent glare made the frosty finish near impossible to see. We still loved the way the ornament looked before we peeled the letters off, so we decided to redo and stop at step one! We’re pretty smitten with the unintended results: the black vinyl letters add a cool, graphic pop to this faux snow-filled ornament—it’s one of our faves!

Materials:
– clear glass or plastic ornament with a side opening

– colorful paper confetti

– festive string

Tools:

– washi tape

If you’re stocking up on New Year’s Eve party supplies already, be sure to reserve some colorful confetti to make this festive ornament. We went with this lovely matte paper confetti, but you could always add some glitz by filling it with metallic bits.

Materials:
– clear glass or plastic ornament with a top opening

– gold paint

– festive string

Tools:

– washi tape

We got our inspiration for this ornament from a DIY basic that’s an oldie but a goodie: the inside out painted mason jar. Rather than use spray paint, we thought we’d go for more of a marbled effect by pouring shimmery gold paint into our glass ornament and swirling it round and round. For this method, it’s best to use house paint or paint that flows more easily. Acrylic paint in tubes is likely not going to flow the way you want it to—see how our paint drips into whirling shapes? Let it rest upside down on a paper plate until dry, then tie on a festive string to finish. The result is nothing less than luxe…and practically mess-free!

Materials:
– clear glass or plastic ornament with a side opening

– tinsel garland remnants

– festive string

Tools:
– scissors

– washi tape

With all the events we host here at Brit HQ, you can be we’ve cycled through our fair share of garlands. So for this ornament, we decided to reuse one of our more well-loved ones from our go-to garland supplier, Studio Mucci—if you ask us, there’s no better place on the web to get gorgeous garlands! So we snipped off three tinsel tassels, trimmed them down to size (we even gave the gold tinsel an extra thin snipping), and stuffed them into our ornament. These would make awesome party favors for any NYE bash!

Materials:
– clear glass or plastic ornament with a top opening

– mini pine cones

– metallic gold spray paint

– white glitter

– festive string

Tools:
– paper cone

– washi tape

Get lost staring into this mini winter wonderland—complete with tiny gilded pine cones and glistening glitter snow! To create this whimsical winter scene, spray paint your tiny pine cones gold and let them sit to dry, about 10 minutes–just make sure they fit through the opening of your ornament first! Then, dump white glitter into your ornament with the help of your hand paper cone and pop in each pine cone, one by one!

Materials:
– large clear glass or plastic ornament with a top opening

– moss

– festive string

Tools:
– needle nose jewelry pliers or long tweezers

– washi tape

We’re obsessed with air plants, and how can you blame us? The root-less plants are the most effortless way to add greenery to a modern space, not to mention that caring for them is beyond easy. So we thought we’d create a holiday terrarium of sorts by adding a pair of air plants and a cushy bed of bright green moss to our oversized ornament.

Once you’ve inserted the moss, add each air plant with needle nose jewelry pliers, tweezers, or any other long handling tool you might have lying round—this makes it easier to arrange your plants among the fluffy moss. Once you have them in place, handle with care! Even the slightest shake could knock your natural set up. Once a week, take this ornament down from your tree and spray the contents with a small amount of water. Make sure the plants are completely dry before re-capping!

Annnd time! According to our clock, that’s eight tree-ready ornaments made in eight minutes! You can take it easy from here on out, we promise :)

Every addition was so simple, yet each ornament makes quite a statement, some more literally than others ;) What will you do with all this spare time? Our next move definitely involves a these eight ornaments and a tree!

Are DIYing your ornaments this year? What tree-worthy ones are you creating? Talk to us in the comments below!

You’ve picked out the perfect tree topper and DIYed a few festive holiday garlands; now all that’s left to do is to decorate the tree. Whether you’re looking for quirky and colorful ornaments or you’re going for a more sleek decorating scheme, these ornaments will have your friends and family singing “Oh, Christmas Tree” in no time. They make great stocking stuffers too for the ornament collector; the foodie, animal lover, or artist in your life; or anyone who takes joy in the holidays. Oh what fun!

Framed Beetle Ornament

These framed beetle ornaments are a great addition to your Christmas tree if you still have Halloweenon the brain.

Forest In Glass Ball Ornament

For color lovers, these glittery trees create a colorful forest on your festive tree.

Wondershop 'merry Christmas' Record Player Christmas Tree Ornament

Let this cute retro record player ornament help you ring in the sweet tunes of Christmas.

Glitterville Ice Cream Cone Ornaments (Set of 3)

These cute pastel ornaments will bring a tasteful (pun intended!) touch to your Christmas tree. And of course, if you start to crave the real thing, we have amazing ice cream sundae recipes for you to make at home!

MoMA Craftspring New York City Felt Hat Ornament

If you live in or just love NYC, here's a little felty tribute.

Wondershop Sequined Felt Donut Christmas Ornament

We're into this whole food theme with a sequined felt donut ornament.

Wondershop Felt Dragon Fruit Christmas Ornament

What a sweet little dragon fruit.

Wondershop Taco Glass Ornament

Taco dreams? Start with this quirky ornament.

Anthropologie Tinsel Cocktail Ornament

Cocktail wishes? Toast the new year with this sparkly tinsel ornament.

Anthropologie Travel Poodle Ornament (New York)

Get ready for your first solo travel trip by placing this travel poodle on your tree.

World Market Wool Smiling S'mores Ornament

Channel summer campfires with this charming s'mores ornament.

Anthropologie Gleaming Primrose Mirror Ornament

Pop a photo into this gleaming primrose mirror ornament for an on-trend tree.

Bloomingdale's Hot Air Balloon Ornament

Take flight with this monochromatic hot air balloon ornament.

World Market Glass Oat Milk Carton Ornament

Dairy-free? This shimmering ornament is too! ($8)

Anthropologie Macaron Box Glass Ornament

Macarons are a favorite around here.

Bloomingdale's Gum Ball Machine Ornament

You won't find this classic gumball machine anywhere else except in this unique collection from Bloomingdales. ($7)

Altar'd State Sparkling Water Ornament

Sparkling water is a must if you're not drinking during the holidays.

Urban Outfitter's Croissant Ornament

Bakers will delight in this buttery treat.

Anthropologie Paint Palette Ornament

Your Christmas tree won't be complete until you add this paint palette ornament to it.

Craft Spring Hand Felted Pink Desert Ornament

We love the idea of a whole tree inspired by the desert.

H&M Dog Christmas Ornament

Got a beige dog? Now you do.;) ($7)

Hallmark Balloon Dog Ornament

How cute is this balloon dog in ornament form?

Kurt Adler Plastic Sushi Ornament

Keeping with the foodie theme, why not have 3 sushi rolls on your tree?

GAUMAANLEI Set of 2 Mac and Cheese Glass Ornaments

Yes please for mac and cheese!

Craft Spring Hand Felted Yellow NYC Taxi Cab Ornament

Here's your ticket to a nostalgic NYC-inspired tree.

Sudha Pennathur Empire State Building Ornament

Or if you prefer to focus on the Empire State building, here's a beaded version to help bring you holiday joy.

Harley Lilac Mushrooms Ornaments

This quartet of velvet beaded mushrooms is the sweetest for your forest-inspired tree.

Sur La Table Layer Cake Glass Ornament

A triple layer cake after an amazing Christmas dinner? We'll gladly take one!

Anthropologie Eiffel Tower Christmas Ornament

Bring a bit of Paris to your living room with this Eiffel Tower Christmas ornament.

H&M Lip Gloss in Ornament

H&M has a sweet surprise for you in the form of mini lip glosses encased in a clear ornament. It's the perfect gift that'll be hidden in plain sight!

Subscribe to our email newsletter for more holiday gifting ideas. Follow us on Pinterest too for tons of holiday decor and recipe inspiration!

Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

This post has been updated with additional reporting by Jasmine Williams.

Featured images via West Elm, Neiman Marcus, Anthropologie and World Market

The second the weather warms up even a smidge, I'm ready to throw on a sweet little sundress and embrace spring! So naturally, I'm window shopping for some new additions to my closet, and J.Crew's latest dresses honestly made my jaw drop. They're the perfect mix of chic, flirty, and fun — and I'm adding them to my cart as we speak. So if you're looking to update your spring wardrobe this year, then you definitely wanna check out these J.Crew dresses ASAP!

Scroll to see our favorite J.Crew Spring spring dresses we love for 2025!

J.Crew

J.Crew Gathered-Waist Mixy Dress

There's something so magical about an easy dress like this. You can dress it up with a pair of heels for a night out, or you can keep it casual with some sneakers and a denim jacket. Regardless of how you wear it, the silhouette looks so put-together all on its own — accessories not required.

J.Crew

J.Crew Hyacinth Dress in Striped Cotton Poplin

A pop of green is perfect for spring! It pairs oh-so well with the budding grass and fresh blooms of the season. And when paired with these elongating stripes and this smocked waist? Yeah, you're gonna look GOOD.

J.Crew

J.Crew Squareneck Midi Dress in Blurry Rose Print

This dress is so fresh and fun for spring and summer! I can totally see myself strolling around the farmer's market with my dogs, picking out some delish veggies for my next meal!

J.Crew

J.Crew Pleated Drop-Waist Dress in Crinkle Cotton Blend

Butter yellow is still everything this season, and what better way to embrace it than with a precious drop-waist dress like this! I can totally see this for a sweet date night dinner on a restaurant patio with an aperol spritz in one hand and some fresh mozzarella on the way!

J.Crew

J.Crew Collection Structured Lace-Trim Dress

And speaking of date night...can we talk about the lace on this gorgeous dress?! This is sexy, classy, and so coming home with me.

J.Crew

J.Crew Drop-Waist Mixy Dress

A crisp white dress like this is a necessity for the warm seasons! They're so easy to throw on, whether you're headed out to brunch with the girls, touring a vineyard with your in-laws, or just trying to stay cool on a random Wednesday.

J.Crew

J.Crew Collection Eyelet Maxi Slip Dress

I absolutely love how sweet this springy dress is! The ruffled neckline pairs so well with the precious eyelet pattern, giving you a subtle floral look without having to commit to a bold pattern.

J.Crew

J.Crew Cotton Voile Empire-Waist Dress in Leopard Print

Animal print is still that girl! I love how this dress genuinely looks neutral while still giving you all the fun of a pattern. Pair it with chunky gold jewelry and some black accessories (like above), and you have an absolute look!

J.Crew

J.Crew Collection Bra Top with Floral Sequins + Pleated Skirt with Floral Sequins

Okay, so this isn't exactly a dress, but this two piece look is everything to me! I love the pleats paired with the floral pattern! It's sexy and elevated and a must-have for all your spring and summer soirees this year!

Looking for more style & shopping inspo? Sign up for our newsletter!

Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

We love a good pun. With theholiday season upon us, why not put the two together with these punny DIY Christmas ornaments for your tree?! They’re super easy to make, so you’ll be able to save some time for a big mug of hot cocoa. More importantly, you’ll definitely be “sleighing” it (wink) with the decorations this year! Here’s the how-to. If you believe in your “elf,” you’re sure to do a great job!

How To Make DIY Christmas Ornaments

Materials:

  • colorful ornaments
  • vinyl in gold, white and black OR letter stickers

Tools:

  • Cricut Explorer (or other vinyl-cutting machine)
  • ruler

Instructions:

  1. Measure the approximate size of the front of your ornament with a ruler.
  2. Once you have the size, determine how large or small the vinyl letters need to be.
  3. If you are using a Cricut Explorer (or other vinyl-cutting machine) and a blank vinyl sheet, create a file with your puns and cut out the letters as per the instructions on your machine.
  4. Locate the center of your ornament and estimate where the first letter needs to be placed.
  5. Place all of the vinyl letters, making sure to space them evenly apart.

*If you don’t have a Cricut Explorer or other vinyl cutter, you can use store-bought vinyl letters to apply the puns.

Don’t worry if you misplace the letters. They’re just stickers, so they’re easy to take off and re-apply! And don’t fret if you don’t have a vinyl-cutting machine and don’t want to spend time hand cutting all of the letters! Your local craft store should have letter stickers in black and white that will do the trick.

Real Housewives of New York cast member Heather would definitely love the “Happy HOLLA Days” ornament, am I right?

Your tree will win the award for funniest this year!

Have any more Holiday puns? Or just a funny Holiday joke? Let us know in the comments below and follow our TikTok for more holiday DIYs like these DIY Christmas ornaments!

This post has been updated.

I was a bit surprised when Shea McGee named "Western Cowboy" as one of her top home trend predictions for 2025 — but she wasn’t wrong. With earthy decor, natural materials, and country cottage kitchens already trending, the shift toward an American Western aesthetic feels like a natural evolution (I mean, look at the Grammy's AOTY). This style resurfaces in home decor, but this time, it’s less about cowboy clichés and more about refined rustic charm — think of it as the new boho with Southern charm.

Scroll for all our favorite western decor ideas to add a little "Yeehaw!" to your space!

Etsy

Etsy Vintage Cowgirls Pink Wallpaper

I'm in love with this charming Vintage Cowgirls Pink self-adhesive wallpaper, featuring vintage western scenes, cowboys on horses, and picturesque landscapes in soft pastel colors.

Decor Tip: Use earthy tones like warm browns, terracotta, beige, and soft whites as your foundation.

Crate and Barrel

Crate and Barrel Dalton Brown Suede Lamp by Jake Arnold

This desk lamp, inspired by the 1940s, with muted red-finished metal dome, burnished brass accents and suede-wrapped tube warms up your Western aesthetic with a rustic yet elevated vibe.

Decor Tip: Mix vintage Western pieces with sleek, modern decor.

Urban Outfitters

UO Vicki Collage Duvet Cover

This soft cotton duvet cover features rows of Western and floral icons for a more femme country vibe. Pair it with the Vicki Collage Sham Set.

Decor Tip: Have fun with it! Add pops of color and a touch of kitsch, but balance them with refined pieces to keep the look stylish and intentional.

Ruggable

Ruggable Lark Blue & Rose Rug

A modern (and washable!) rug with Southwestern geometrics brings a rustic refresh to your Western-inspired space.

Decor Tip: Layer in woven kilim patterns, Navajo-inspired throws, and fringed accents in earthy colors like dusty blue, sage green, rust, and shades of brown.

Urban Outfitters

UO Cowboy Boot Tufted Throw Pillow

Classic Western motifs like cowboy boots are on trend and perfect to incorporate in your home decor, just keep them tasteful and minimal. This black-and-white pillow is just the right amount of playfulness.

Pottery Barn

Pottery Barn Bronze Horse & Marble Bookends

Cast in bronze on white marble, these sculptural horse head bookends are the touch of equestrian elegance your Western bookshelf needs.

Etsy

Etsy Vintage UFO Poster

This retro sci-fi art is a unique departure from typical western art you might see, and totally fun and futuristic.

Decor Tip: Vintage black-and-white ranch photos, abstract desert landscapes, or bold Western portraits make great statement pieces.

Gold Dogs

Good Luck Horseshoe Wall Hanging

These viral 'Good Luck' brass horseshoes are perfect little accents for walls, shelves, anywhere you want to give guests a little wink and nod.

Decor Tip: Swap out kitschy Western elements for more artful, curated pieces.

Pendleton

Pendleton Cowboy Hat Hooked Pillow

This hand-hooked wool image of a cowboy hat was designed in Vermont by Laura Megroz.

Decor Tip: Use layered textiles (sheepskin throws, handwoven blankets, and plush cushions) for a cozy, inviting feel.

Etsy

Etsy Stacked Cowboy Hats Print

Cowboy hats are iconic and a great statement piece for your western decor.

East Fork Pottery

East Fork Pottery Small Mug

These handmade mugs from Asheville, North Carolina are the perfect addition to your Western earthy decor, and just the right size to keep your coffee warm while you drink it.

Decor Tip: Mix in handmade, artisanal pieces.

Farmhouse Pottery

Farmhouse Pottery Reusable Bowl Covers

These linen bowl covers are perfect for bread making or covering a salad until you're ready to eat. Each set includes 3 different sizes.

Decor Tip: Incorporate soft, worn-in fabrics like linen and distressed leather.

McGee & Co.

McGee & Co. Plaid Tasseled Throw

Classic plaid patterns are a perfect fit for this aesthetic, while the tassels bring a playful, laid-back touch.

Target

Threshold x Studio McGee Stallion on Canvas Board

Add a little personality with this affordable 8" x 10" stallion in an antique gold frame.

Decor Tip: Decorate with meaningful Western finds, like thrifted treasures, antique prints, or family heirlooms.

Monike Hibbs

MH Dinner Bell

This solid brass dinner bell is the cutest thing I've seen on the Internet today. Dinner's ready!

Decor Tip: Add subtle nods to Western culture.

Rugs Direct

Loloi Grand Canyon Area Rug

This cruelty-free design is perfect for adding a little rustic decor to your space. But make this your only animal hide in the space to keep it from traveling into kitsch territory.

Tejas Country Club

Tejas Country Club Howdy Print

A little Southern Charm in the kitchen or entryway adds a warm, welcoming vibe to your decor.

Decor Tip: Use mid-century modern art and lighting for a fresh take.

Subscribe to our newsletter to shop more home decor tips!

Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

It’s no secret that Trader Joe’s absolutely kills it in the dessert department. I’m a massive fan of their Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupsand Chocolatey Coated Chocolate Chip Cookie Dunkers, but taking a gander down the frozendesserts aisle is an entirely different ballgame. From fruit-flavored mochi to decadent chocolate layered ice cream sammies, there’s something at Trader Joe’s for every kind of sweet tooth. Perfect for mid-day and midnight snacks alike, these are the 8 best Trader Joe’s frozen desserts that are worth every bite.

Scroll on for the 8 Trader Joe’s frozen desserts that belong in your next grocery haul!

Trader Joe's

1. Coffee Bean Hold the Cone! Mini Ice Cream Cones

These coffee-flavored, chocolate-covered, mini-sized ice cream cones are a total hoot. Their small size makes 'em unbelievably easy to snack on, though, so it may take some restraint to not eat the whole box in a single sitting (speaking from experience). You get a little bit of creaminess and crunch with each piece, which is insanely satisfying – and something you don't get too much of – from a frozen treat!

@traderjoesobsessed

2. Blood Orange Mochi Ice Cream

These addicting little pockets of blood orange-flavored ice cream wrapped in sweet mochi dough are super nostalgic, especially for someone like me who practically grew up on Flintstone's Push-Ups! They're the ideal finger food, and though you might assume eating each piece is messy, the snackin' experience is anything but. With just enough zing from the blood orange and plenty of sugary goodness, you're definitely going to want to buy at least three boxes at a time during your TJ's runs.

Trader Joe's

3. Sublime Ice Cream Sandwiches

These ice cream sammies are simply a modern take on a beloved classic. They're just like those popular treats you can pick up at the gas station, but with tons more chocolate chips. TJ's says they've perfected the best "crunchy-chewy ratio" possible for the duo of chocolate chip cookies involved, both of which hug a thick dollop of vanilla ice cream for a sweet summertime – or anytime, really – refreshment.

@traderjolene

4. Macaron Chocolate Ice Cream Sandwiches

This brand-new Trader Joe's frozen dessert already has fans going crazy, and I get it – it's basically two of the best desserts in one! Surrounded by a pair of "delicate" macaron shells, these chocolate ice cream sandwiches are totally chocolated out. I'm certain any fan of chocolate will adore them.

A TJ's fan on Reddit noted that the macaron component of this treat is "perfectly cooked, sweet and chewy," while the ice cream "tastes premium... and has a lot of chocolate flavor."

"It’s like they made these just for me," someone else chimed in on the thread. Same here!

Trader Joe's

5. Chocolate Croissants

If you didn't know Trader Joe's carries frozen croissants by now, you've truly been missing out. No more paying $5 per pastry at your local cafe! These bake-and-eat goodies are crafted with high-quality butter and semisweet Belgian chocolate for a deliciously sweet balance – all without having to laminate the dough yourself (amen)! I love treating myself to this box to enjoy on a lazy Sunday morning alongside some fresh coffee.

Trader Joe's

6. Lemon Bars

As fun as they are to make yourself, these frozen, ready-to-eat lemon bars erase the need for you to drag out all of your bakeware! Also – oven, who?! After thawing out at room temp a bit, these truly taste just as fresh as they would if you DIY'ed them. These are my go-to Trader Joe's frozen dessert if I'm attending a party and need to bring something to share... but don't necessarily have all the time in the world to whip something up.

Trader Joe's

7. Speculoos Cookie Butter Ice Cream

Die-hard TJ's fanatics might already know the pure magic that is their Speculoos Cookie Butter, but not many know that the grocer's incorporated it into a deliciously creamy pint of ice cream! This frozen find is swirled with the famous butter and packed with pieces of cookie for extra Speculoos oomph. I like to add some chocolate chips to mine (like a total chocolate fiend), but I also think TJ's Teensy Candy Bars or crushed Chocolate Vanilla Creme Joe-Joe's would work wonderfully as toppings.

Trader Joe's

8. Brownie Crisp Coffee Ice Cream Sandwiches

Chocolate and coffee is a top-tier food combo, and it's downright irresistible if it comes in a frozen form like this. While traditional ice cream sandwiches typically come with cookies as the top and bottom layers, this TJ's dessert comes complete with a duo of brownie crisps to provide a unique bite. Eat them on their own, or dare to go bold and try one affogato-style!

Subscribe to our newsletter to discover more tasty Trader Joe's finds!