DIY Owl Ornaments: A Hoot to Make!

These owl ornaments are a fun little craft project for a cold, winter day and a hoot to make! Pine cones, acorn caps and other foraged materials add woodland details and some affordable natural charm.

Sunday was cold and rainy, perfect weather to stay indoors and do some winter nesting!

We’re enjoying the glow and twinkle of the lights from our Winter Nesting Tree, a cheery solution to brighten the house during the cold, gray months of January and February. Our winter tree is decorated with snowflakes, icy branches, glittery nests, pine cones and bird ornaments, you can see it HERE.

 I decided try my hand at making some ornaments to add to my ‘parliament’ of owls to hang on the tree. I had plans to make these before Christmas to share, but there’s never enough time during the *owlidays*!

These owls were a hoot to make and fun little rainy or snowy day project!

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I started with some sweater ornaments I found on clearance after Christmas. My ornaments were 4 inches and 2.75 inches. If you don’t have a ready-made ornament to decorate, you can fashion one from a Styrofoam ball, covering it in a sock or upcycling a sweater from the thrift store.

I used the same method and materials as with my No-Carve Pumpkin Owls. . .using natural materials to add some woodland details with pine cones, acorn caps, hickory nut hulls, and some maiden grass with its feathery plumes. I gave the grass a spritz of hairspray to keep the fuzz from flying away.

I used a pair of pliers to snip off the pine cone scales for the eyes.

Tips cut off the end of the pine cones were glued on to twigs as owl talons and give the owl a place to roost.

Use a hot glue gun to attach your materials.

Tip: It’s always wise 🦉 to keep a glass of ice water handy when you use your glue gun so you can peel any hot glue off your fingers immediately to prevent burns.

Tip: I find it easier to assemble the eyes and glue them together on a silicone hot glue gun mat. When cool, you can peel it off the mat and glue it already assembled onto the ornament. A hickory nut hull provides a beak for the larger size ornament. Grass plumes were glued on next for a feathery brow. If you don’t have any grasses to use, skip them and just use craft feathers.

No birds were harmed in the making of these owl ornaments ;). . . I found ‘fancy’ craft feathers at Hobby Lobby and added them to the owl for brows and wings. The package says ‘domestic goose’ feathers.

Since most of my bird ornaments on the tree have some sparkle, I decide to add some glitter, painting on a little Mod Podge first on the areas I wanted it to adhere, and then sprinkling on crystal glitter.

Allow the Mod Podge to dry and then shake off the excess glitter. I lined a sheet pan with wax paper to make it easy to pour the excess glitter back into the container to reuse it.

I used Mod Podge since that is what I had, but you could use any white craft glue that dries clear to add some glittery details if desired.

A pistachio shell provides a beak for a smaller owl.

Here is my new happy owl trio and family. . .

I tucked them a bowl with some greenery and pine cones to photograph them,

but they’ll fly back to the tree to roost and join their owl friends.

You’ll can also see them nesting in a winter wreath and find

An Easy Finger Knitting Project + DIY Winter Wreath, HERE.

I hope you’re staying warm and cozy in your nest. ♥

Thank you for your visit, sharing with:

 Between Naps on the Porch,