Joy to the World Christmas Ornament Craft for Kids

‘Tis the season to gather the kids and the art supplies! We’ve got a super easy Joy to the World Christmas ornament craft to help you kick off the Christmas season with some creativity!

These mixed media ornaments are a fun and creative reminder of the reason we celebrate Christmas: the hope and joy we have because of the birth of Jesus.

Also, these Joy to the World ornaments are great for kids and teens because they provide no-pressure practice with several different art elements while also allowing breaks between the steps. They can work for a few moments and then run off to play during a drying stage. That’s especially nice during the holiday season when distractions seem to run rampant. 🙂

Joy to the World Ornament Craft Tutorial

Ready to get started with the ornaments? Here are the supplies you’ll need on hand:

Joy to the World Christmas Ornament Supply List

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• Ornament discs  
• Craft paint (We primarily used Folk Art Metallics for ours, but whatever you have on hand will work.)
• Paintbrush
• Scissors
• Pencil
• Printed map or scrapbook paper with a map pattern
• Mod Podge
• Sharpie and paint pens (optional)

Step 1 – Paint the discs.

Start by painting one side of the discs. When that side dries, flip it over and paint the other side. Repeat this process on the edges and again on each side if a second coat is needed.

Worth noting, you can also add a layer of glitter paint after the base color dries. It’s an optional step, but it provides nice texture to the ornament and reduces the need for accents referenced in Step 3.

Step 2 – Add the map. 

It may take a bit for both sides of the ornaments to dry, but thankfully you can use that time to prepare the map. To do this, simply sketch a heart, star, or preferred shape onto the back of the map paper and use the scissors to cut it out.
When the ornament is dry, use the Mod Podge to glue the paper heart to one side of the ornament.

(Note: We found individual sheets of map-patterned scrapbook paper at a local craft store for less than $1. If you can’t find them and don’t want to purchase an entire pad of scrapbook paper, you can use an old map or printout for this step.)

Step 3 – Outline and accent.

Once the Mod Podge dries, use a paint pen to write “Joy” or “Joy to the World” on the ornament.

Next, outline the heart using a black Sharpie or paint pen. This is also a good time to add touches like dots and accent marks if desired.

Step 4 – Seal and enjoy!

Finish up by “painting” the front and back with a layer of Mod Podge after all the accents are dry. This will seal the ornament and prevent smudging and chipping.
Once that coat of Mod Podge dries, the Joy to the World ornament is ready to display on your Christmas tree or give as a DIY gift. 

Remember, we love seeing your completed projects and this Joy to the World ornament is no exception! Be sure to include #masterpiecesociety in your caption and tag us when you share it on social media so we can enjoy your beautiful work!