Christmas Angel Crafts: 14 Heavenly Handmade Ideas for Adults That Look Like Heirlooms

Christmas angel crafts have a way of turning an ordinary tree into something that feels like it came from grandma’s attic, in the best possible way. There is something gentle and nostalgic about a little angel made by hand, with lace wings, a wooden bead head and a loop of twine. These are not the plastic angels from the big box store. They are the kind of ornaments people keep wrapped in tissue paper and pass down. The good news is that most of them use things you already have, like old books, doilies, clothespins, coffee filters and pine cones. Below are 14 easy, grown up angel projects that look like heirlooms but cost very little. Clear a spot on the table and choose your favorite..

Christmas Angel Crafts That Look Like Heirlooms

The prettiest Christmas angel crafts mix a few humble materials: a scrap of lace for the skirt, a fan of old book paper for the wings and a smooth wooden bead for the head. Together they look soft, old fashioned and a little bit magical, especially with warm white lights glowing behind them. Make a set of three and hang them together near the top of the tree, where everyone will see them first. Searches for angel crafts for adults have jumped this week, according to Google Trends, so you are in good company. Who would you make your first angel for..

You will need: Lace trim or a lace doily, an old paperback book, wooden beads about one inch wide, gold pipe cleaner or tinsel, twine and a glue gun (adult help).

How to make it: 1. Gather a strip of lace into a cone shaped skirt and glue the back seam. 2. Fold a book page into an accordion fan, pinch the middle and glue it behind the skirt as wings. 3. Glue the bead on top, add a gold halo and a twine loop.

Book Page Angel Ornaments

Old books that are falling apart get a beautiful second life as angels. Each one takes just two pages: one folded into a tight accordion for the skirt and one for the wings. The printed words give them a soft, vintage look that goes with any tree. Look for damaged paperbacks at thrift stores or library sales; never cut up a book that someone treasures. You can make a whole flock in one evening while you watch a movie. They also look lovely standing in a row on a mantel or a bookshelf. Do you have an old book that is ready for a new story?

You will need: An old paperback, a ruler, wooden beads, glue, twine and a small binder clip to hold folds while drying.

How to make it: 1. Accordion fold one page lengthwise in half inch pleats, then pinch one end and glue it into a cone. 2. Fold a second page the same way, pinch the center for wings and glue to the back. 3. Glue a bead on top and add a twine loop.

Christmas Angel Crafts With Lace Doilies

Thrift stores and estate sales are full of crocheted doilies that nobody uses anymore, and they make some of the sweetest Christmas angel crafts you will ever see. Fold a round doily in half, then fold the sides back to form a skirt and two little wings. Tie it at the neck with twine and glue a wooden bead on top. That is it. The lacy pattern does all the work. If the doily came from your mother or grandmother, the ornament becomes a keepsake with a story. Who in your family used to make doilies like these?

You will need: Small round crochet doilies, wooden beads, twine or thin ribbon, and fabric glue or a glue gun (adult help).

How to make it: 1. Fold the doily in half with the scalloped edge at the bottom. 2. Fold the top corners back to make wings and pinch the neck. 3. Tie with twine, glue the bead on top and add a hanging loop.

Wooden Bead Angels

Craft stores sell plain wooden cones, peg dolls and round beads for pennies, and they turn into little angels with almost no effort. Glue a round bead on top of a cone, cut wings from gold paper or a thin sheet of gold leaf foil, and glue them to the back. Leave them natural for a calm Scandinavian look, or paint the bodies white or soft pink. Line them up on a windowsill, tuck them into a centerpiece or add a loop and hang them on the tree. They are lovely little place cards for a holiday table too. How many will you line up?

You will need: Wooden cones or peg doll bodies, round wooden beads, gold card stock, wood glue, twine and optional acrylic paint.

How to make it: 1. Glue the bead on the top of each cone and let it dry. 2. Cut small wing shapes from gold card stock. 3. Glue the wings to the back and add a twine loop for hanging.

Clothespin Angels With Lace Wings

Old fashioned round wooden clothespins, the kind without a spring, already look like little people, and with a bit of lace they become angels. Tie a short strip of lace in a bow around the middle for wings and twist a tiny ring of gold thread or wire for the halo. You can glue a wooden bead on top for a rounder head or leave the knob as it is. The split at the bottom lets them perch right on a branch. Kids and grandparents can make these side by side at the kitchen table. Do you still have a bag of old clothespins somewhere?

You will need: Round wooden clothespins without springs, lace ribbon, gold thread or thin wire, glue and optional wooden beads.

How to make it: 1. Cut a four inch strip of lace and tie it in a bow around the clothespin. 2. Glue the bow in place at the back. 3. Twist gold thread into a small ring and glue it on top as a halo.

Paper Mache Angel Tree Topper

A big handmade angel on top of the tree feels special, and paper mache makes it light enough to sit there safely. Start with a cardboard cone that fits over the top branch, a small foam ball for the head and two wing shapes cut from cereal box cardboard. Cover everything with strips of white tissue or paper dipped in flour paste or watered down glue. The torn edges give it a soft, handmade texture. Once it dries, it is surprisingly sturdy and will last for many years. Would your angel be pure white or brushed with a little gold?

You will need: A sheet of card stock rolled into a cone, a small foam ball, cereal box cardboard, white tissue paper, glue and water, and a paintbrush.

How to make it: 1. Roll and tape the cone to fit over the tree top and glue on the foam ball. 2. Tape the cardboard wings to the back. 3. Paste on two or three layers of torn tissue strips and let it dry overnight.

Christmas Angel Crafts in Burlap

For a farmhouse or cabin tree, burlap is the perfect fabric for Christmas angel crafts. It is cheap, sturdy and has that warm, natural texture. Cut a small rectangle of burlap, gather it at the top with twine to make a bell shaped skirt, then tie a strip of lace trim behind it in a bow for wings. A wooden bead head finishes it. Fray the bottom edge a little for an extra rustic look. These also make great gift toppers, tied onto a brown paper package with a sprig of pine. Would burlap angels suit your tree?

You will need: Burlap ribbon or fabric, cream lace trim, wooden beads, jute twine, scissors and a glue gun (adult help).

How to make it: 1. Cut a 4 by 5 inch piece of burlap and gather the top with twine. 2. Tie a 6 inch strip of lace into a bow and glue it behind the neck. 3. Glue the bead on top and add a twine hanging loop.

Pine Cone Angels

Pine cones are free on almost any walk in the fall, and they make a wonderful angel body because they already have that wide skirt shape. Bake them on a tray at a low temperature for about 30 minutes to dry them out and clean them. Then glue a wooden bead on the pointed top, cut wings from white felt and glue them to the back. They look lovely lined up along a mantel or tucked into a garland, and with a twine loop they hang on the tree too. Where is the closest pine tree to your home?

You will need: Small pine cones, a baking tray, wooden beads, white felt, fabric glue or a glue gun (adult help) and twine.

How to make it: 1. Bake the pine cones at 200 degrees for 30 minutes and let them cool. 2. Glue a bead to the narrow top of each cone. 3. Cut felt wings, glue them on the back and add a loop if you want to hang them.

Wire and Pearl Angels

These delicate angels look like something from an expensive boutique, but all they need is craft wire and a handful of pearl beads. Bend a piece of gold wire into a triangle skirt and two looping wings, then thread pearls onto thinner wire and wrap it across the frame in rows. A larger gold or pearl bead becomes the head. They catch the light beautifully on a white or flocked tree. Old broken necklaces from the thrift store are a cheap source of pearls. Do you have a broken strand of beads in your jewelry box?

You will need: Gold craft wire in two thicknesses, white pearl beads, one larger bead for the head, round nose pliers and wire cutters.

How to make it: 1. Bend the thicker wire into a triangle skirt with two wing loops at the top. 2. Thread pearls onto thin wire and wrap rows across the skirt and wings. 3. Add the head bead on top and twist a hanging loop.

Coffee Filter Angels

A stack of plain white coffee filters becomes a whole choir of angels for about a dollar. The ruffled edges are already perfect for a flowing skirt. Fold one filter into a cone for the body, pinch a second one in the middle for wings, and tie them together with twine under a wooden bead head. They are so light they can hang anywhere, even from thin branches or a window. Spray them lightly with starch to stiffen them, or dip the edges in watercolor for a soft blush color. Could you make one for every guest at your holiday table?

You will need: White basket style coffee filters, wooden beads, twine, glue and optional spray starch or watercolors.

How to make it: 1. Fold one filter in half twice and open it into a cone for the skirt. 2. Pinch a second filter in the middle and tie it behind the cone for wings. 3. Glue on the bead head and add a twine loop.

Christmas Angel Crafts in White Clay

Air dry clay gives Christmas angel crafts a clean, modern heirloom look that photographs beautifully. Roll the clay out, press a piece of lace into it to leave a pattern, then cut out angel shapes with a cookie cutter or a paper template and a butter knife. Poke a hole at the top for the twine. After a day or two of drying, they turn bright white and strong. Write a name and the year on the back with a fine pen and they become keepsakes. For more ideas, see our clay Christmas ornaments. Who would you write a name for?

You will need: White air dry clay, a rolling pin, a piece of lace, an angel cookie cutter or paper template, a straw and twine.

How to make it: 1. Roll the clay a quarter inch thick and press the lace onto it with the rolling pin. 2. Cut out the angels and poke a hole with a straw. 3. Let them dry for 24 to 48 hours, turning once, then thread twine through.

Vintage Spoon Angels

Mismatched silver plated spoons from the thrift store make charming angels with a little bit of sparkle. The bowl of the spoon becomes the head, the handle becomes the body, and a lace bow tied at the neck becomes the wings. The engraved handles look so pretty on the tree, especially near the lights. You do not need to polish them to a mirror shine; a little tarnish adds to the vintage feel. These also make a thoughtful gift for someone who loves to cook or bake. Which kitchen drawer is hiding a lonely spoon?

You will need: Old silver plated teaspoons, wide lace ribbon, jute twine, a glue gun (adult help) and narrow ribbon for hanging.

How to make it: 1. Wash and dry the spoons. 2. Tie a lace ribbon bow tightly just under the spoon bowl and secure it with a dot of glue. 3. Tie twine around the bow center and add a ribbon loop at the top.

Yarn Tassel Angels

Yarn angels are an old folk craft from Eastern Europe, and they still look wonderful on a tree. Wrap yarn around a piece of cardboard, tie the top, and then tie again a little lower to make the head. Split some of the strands to the sides for arms or wings, and leave the rest hanging as a full skirt. Use leftover yarn in red, cream or rust for a warm, cozy look. They are soft, unbreakable and perfect for homes with small kids or curious cats. If you love yarn crafts, browse our Christmas crafts for adults too. What colors are in your yarn basket?

You will need: Leftover yarn, a 5 inch piece of cardboard, scissors and a short length of thin ribbon for hanging.

How to make it: 1. Wrap yarn about 40 times around the cardboard and tie the top loop. 2. Slide it off, tie again an inch down to form the head. 3. Separate a few strands each side for wings, tie them, and trim the skirt evenly.

Christmas Angel Crafts With Pressed Flowers

If you pressed flowers from your garden this summer, these Christmas angel crafts are a beautiful way to bring them back for the holidays. Arrange petals and tiny leaves on clear self adhesive laminating sheets, seal them, and cut out a bell shaped skirt. Add a wooden bead head and a twine bow for wings. Hang them in a sunny window and the light shines right through the flowers like stained glass. They make a lovely gift for a gardener or a friend who misses summer. Which flowers would you choose for yours?

You will need: Pressed flowers and leaves, clear self adhesive laminating sheets, scissors, wooden beads, twine and a glue gun (adult help).

How to make it: 1. Peel one laminating sheet and arrange the flowers on the sticky side. 2. Cover with a second sheet, smooth it and cut out a bell shape. 3. Glue the bead on top, add a twine bow for wings and a loop for hanging.