Fillable Christmas Ornaments: 17 Clever Things to Tuck Inside Clear Ornaments

Fillable Christmas ornaments are the little clear balls that seem to be in every craft aisle this month, and they are far more fun than they look. Searches for them jumped by about 60 percent in a single week on Google Trends, and it is easy to see why. One plain plastic or glass ball can hold a gift, a memory or a tiny winter scene. You can tuck in cocoa for a neighbor, sand from a family beach trip, or shreds of a wedding invitation for newlyweds. Each one costs very little and takes minutes to fill. Best of all, the whole family can help. Here are the cleverest things to put inside clear ornaments this year, with simple steps for each one..

Fillable Christmas Ornaments: What to Put Inside

A table full of filled ornaments looks like a little shop window, and every ball tells a different story. Some are gifts, some are keepsakes, and some are just pretty. The best part is that the ornaments themselves are cheap, so you can try lots of ideas. Plastic balls are safest for kids and for gifts that travel. Glass looks a little fancier, while plastic will not break if it falls off the tree. Many packs come in mixed sizes, so you can make big ones for gifts and small ones for the tree. Fillable Christmas ornaments also make a great rainy day project with kids. Which one will you fill first..

You will need: Clear plastic or glass fillable ornaments with removable caps, a small funnel made from paper, ribbon.

How to make it: 1. Pull off the cap and make sure the ornament is clean and dry. 2. Roll a paper funnel and pour or drop in your filling. 3. Put the cap back on, add a ribbon and hang or gift it.

Rolled Cash Gift Ornament

Giving cash can feel a little cold, but tucked inside an ornament it turns into a fun surprise. Teens and college students love this one. Roll each bill tightly, tie it with thin ribbon and drop it in. Add a little shiny tinsel so the money looks like part of the decoration. They get a keepsake and a gift in one. Fold in a fun note like do not spend it all in one place for a laugh. You can also add a few shiny coins for extra jingle. It is a sweet way to give a grandchild a little spending money. Who on your list would love to crack this open?

You will need: A clear ornament, paper bills, thin ribbon, a little tinsel, a gift tag.

How to make it: 1. Roll each bill around a pencil and tie it with ribbon. 2. Drop the rolls in one at a time with some tinsel. 3. Close the cap and add a tag that says open me.

Hot Cocoa Fillable Christmas Ornaments

This might be the most loved of all fillable Christmas ornaments. A layer of cocoa mix and a cap full of mini marshmallows turns a plain ball into a cozy gift for teachers, neighbors or the mail carrier. Use a plastic ornament for food, wash it first and make sure it is fully dry. Add a tag with the mixing steps. For a twist, add a few crushed peppermint pieces or a spoon of chocolate chips. A dozen of these fit in one small basket, so they are perfect for office swaps and classroom parties. Who would smile at a cup of cocoa in a ball?

You will need: A washed and dried clear plastic ornament, hot cocoa mix, mini marshmallows, a paper funnel, baker’s twine, a tag.

How to make it: 1. Pour about three tablespoons of cocoa mix into the ornament through a funnel. 2. Fill the rest with mini marshmallows. 3. Close the cap and tie on a tag that says add to one cup of hot milk and stir.

Faux Snow and a Tiny Bottle Brush Tree

A tiny winter world inside a ball always makes people lean in close. A little fake snow and a mini bottle brush tree are all it takes. It looks like a snow globe that hangs on the tree. Use a dot of glue to stand the tree upright before the snow goes in. Glass ornaments with flat bottoms stand on a shelf too, so you can use them as tiny table scenes. A sprinkle of fine silver glitter in the snow adds a frosty sparkle. These look lovely lined up along a windowsill. Want to add a tiny deer or a little house too?

You will need: A clear ornament with a wide opening, fake snow, a tiny bottle brush tree, tweezers, white craft glue.

How to make it: 1. Put a dot of glue on the tree’s base and drop it in with tweezers. 2. Tilt the ornament so the tree lands upright and let it dry. 3. Spoon in fake snow around the base and close the cap.

Dried Orange and Cinnamon Ornament

Dried oranges, cinnamon sticks and star anise give an ornament a warm, old fashioned look and a gentle spicy smell. This is a pretty natural choice for farmhouse trees. Dry small orange slices in a low oven with an adult, or buy them ready made. A jute bow finishes it. Slice the oranges thin and dry them slowly until they are crisp, or the fruit can spoil inside the ball. A few whole cloves or a small pine cone fit nicely in the gaps. Hang several of these together on a garland for a warm, natural look. Can you almost smell it from here?

You will need: A clear ornament, small dried orange slices, short cinnamon sticks, star anise, jute twine.

How to make it: 1. Break orange slices into halves if they do not fit. 2. Drop in oranges, cinnamon and star anise, shaking gently to settle them. 3. Close the cap and tie a jute bow.

Wedding Invitation Shred Keepsake

Newlyweds keep their wedding invitation forever, but it often ends up in a drawer. Cut a spare copy into thin strips, curl them and fill an ornament. It becomes a first Christmas keepsake they will hang every year. Add the wedding date on a tag or on the ball with a paint pen. If you do not have a spare invitation, use a copy of the menu, the program or a printed love song. Some couples also add a few dried petals from the bouquet. It is one of the most thoughtful fillable Christmas ornaments you can give at a holiday wedding shower. Who just tied the knot in your family?

You will need: A spare wedding invitation, scissors, a pencil for curling, a clear ornament, a gold paint pen, ribbon.

How to make it: 1. Cut the invitation into thin strips. 2. Curl each strip around a pencil and drop them in. 3. Write the names and date on the ball with a paint pen and tie on a ribbon.

Fillable Christmas Ornaments With Beach Sand and Shells

A summer trip can live on your tree all winter. Pour a little beach sand in the bottom, then add tiny shells you picked up together. Write the beach name and year on a small tag. Every December, the family gets to remember that sunny day. Rinse the shells and let them dry in the sun for a day first. You can also use pebbles from a lake, pine needles from a mountain trail or ticket stubs from a concert. Every family has places worth remembering. Which trip would you put in a ball?

You will need: A clear ornament, a few spoons of clean dry sand, tiny shells, a paper funnel, ribbon, a tag.

How to make it: 1. Pour the sand in through a funnel. 2. Drop in the shells one by one, the prettiest last. 3. Close the cap, tie on a ribbon and add a tag with the place and year.

Pressed Flower Fillable Christmas Ornaments

Flat disc ornaments are perfect for pressed flowers because the petals lie open and you can see every detail. Use flowers from a wedding bouquet, a garden or a special day. Light shines through them beautifully when they hang in a window. A tiny dab of glue keeps them in place. Make sure the flowers are completely dry and flat, or they can turn brown. Pansies, violets, small ferns and baby’s breath press best. These also make beautiful memorial ornaments for someone who loved their garden. Do you have flowers pressed in a book somewhere?

You will need: A clear flat disc ornament, pressed flowers and leaves, tweezers, a thin stick or skewer, a dab of clear glue.

How to make it: 1. Slide a flower in with tweezers. 2. Use a skewer to push it flat against the inside face. 3. Add the rest, then close the cap and hang it where light comes through.

Glitter Swirl Ornaments

This classic trick for fillable Christmas ornaments makes cheap balls look like store bought ones. Swirl a little clear acrylic floor polish inside so it coats the walls, pour out the extra, then add fine glitter and shake. The glitter sticks inside, so it never sheds on the floor. Pick colors to match your tree. Use a fine glitter, as chunky pieces do not stick as well. You can also swirl two colors together for a marbled look. Leave the caps off while the balls dry upside down overnight in a paper cup. Silver and gold, or something bold?

You will need: Clear ornaments, clear acrylic floor polish, fine glitter, a paper cup.

How to make it: 1. Pour a little polish into the ball and swirl until the inside is coated. 2. Turn it upside down in a cup to drain the extra. 3. Add glitter, cap it and shake until it is covered, then let it dry.

Soft Feather Filled Ornament

Feathers make ornaments look soft and dreamy, almost like clouds caught in glass. White feathers suit a snowy theme, while peacock or pheasant feathers look rich and grand. Craft stores sell small bags for very little. Gently push them in with a skewer so they fluff out. Mix in a little silver tinsel or a few tiny pearls for extra shine. Feather balls look especially pretty in a white or blush colored tree. They are also very light, so even thin branches can hold them without drooping. Which color would match your tree best?

You will need: A clear ornament, small craft feathers, a wooden skewer.

How to make it: 1. Fold a feather gently and slide it into the opening. 2. Use the skewer to fluff it out inside. 3. Repeat until the ball looks full and close the cap.

Fillable Christmas Ornaments With a Mini Photo

A small photo inside a ball turns any ornament into a keepsake. Print a picture about the size of a postage stamp, glue it to a thin wire and curl the wire so the photo stands in the middle. It works for new babies, pets, a first home or a loved one you miss. Print the photo on regular paper and glue it to thin card so it stays flat. A tiny bit of fake snow or glitter at the bottom adds a finishing touch. Fillable Christmas ornaments with photos are some of the most treasured gifts for grandparents. Whose picture would you hang this year?

You will need: A clear ornament, a small printed photo, thin gold craft wire, glue, a little tinsel.

How to make it: 1. Glue the photo to card so it stays stiff. 2. Tape it to the end of a wire and coil the other end. 3. Slide the coil into the ball so the photo stands up, add tinsel and close the cap.

Jingle Bell Fillable Christmas Ornaments

This one jingles every time someone brushes past the tree, and kids love it. Fill one of your fillable Christmas ornaments with small gold and silver bells, or red and green ones for a classic look. It is also a fun one for a door handle or a gift. It takes about one minute. Mix in a few red beads or tiny pine cones for color between the bells. Use a plastic ball if small children will play with it. You can find bags of small bells at most craft stores for very little. Who in your house will shake it first?

You will need: A clear ornament, small jingle bells, a plaid ribbon.

How to make it: 1. Drop the bells in a few at a time. 2. Fill about two thirds so they can still jingle. 3. Close the cap and tie a plaid bow.

Tiny Felt Ornaments Inside a Big One

Ornaments inside an ornament feel playful and sweet. Cut tiny felt stars, hearts and trees and drop them into a larger ball. Kids can cut the simple shapes with safety scissors. It looks like a little toy box hanging on the tree. Older kids can stitch tiny details with thread, while little ones can glue on small sequins. Make one for each child and add their name on the cap with a paint pen. It will become a sweet family heirloom over the years. Which shapes would your kids pick?

You will need: A large clear ornament, felt sheets in three colors, small scissors, a marker for tracing.

How to make it: 1. Draw tiny stars, hearts and trees on felt and cut them out. 2. Drop them into the ornament. 3. Shake gently so the colors mix, then close the cap.

Handwritten Wishes and Notes

Some of the most precious fillable Christmas ornaments hold just a few words. Ask each person at the table to write a wish, a thank you or a favorite memory of the year on a strip of paper. Curl the strips and seal them inside. Open them next Christmas and read them aloud. Use colored paper for each family member so the strips are easy to tell apart. Kids can draw a small picture instead of writing. It is a gentle way to slow down and remember what matters. What would you write on yours?

You will need: A clear ornament, strips of paper, a pen, a pencil for curling, a ribbon and a tag with the year.

How to make it: 1. Have each person write one wish or memory on a strip. 2. Curl the strips around a pencil and drop them in. 3. Close the cap and tie on a tag that says open next Christmas.

Colorful Confetti and Tinsel Fill

Sometimes simple is best. A scoop of colorful confetti and a little shiny tinsel make a ball sparkle in the tree lights. Pick your favorite team’s colors for a sports fan, or school colors for a graduate. It is quick enough to make a whole set in an afternoon. Metallic confetti catches the light best, but paper confetti looks softer. You can also add tiny letter beads to spell a name. Make a set in team colors and give them to the whole sports team as end of season gifts. Which colors would you choose?

You will need: A clear ornament, paper or metallic confetti in two or three colors, a little tinsel, a paper funnel.

How to make it: 1. Pour in the confetti through a funnel. 2. Add a few short pieces of tinsel. 3. Close the cap and shake to mix the colors.

Fillable Christmas Ornaments for Gift Cards

A gift card is useful, but it is not much fun to unwrap. Slide it into a ball filled with paper shred and suddenly it feels special. Most cards bend gently enough to curve inside a large ornament. Ask the receiver to open the cap to find the surprise. Write a small riddle on the tag so they have to guess what is inside before opening. You can also tuck in a coffee card with a packet of cocoa. It is one of the easiest last minute gifts. Who on your list always asks for gift cards?

You will need: A large clear ornament, a gift card, red or green crinkle paper shred, a velvet bow.

How to make it: 1. Gently curve the card and slide it into the ornament. 2. Fill around it with paper shred. 3. Close the cap and add a bow and a tag.

Pine Sprigs and Red Berries

Tiny pine sprigs and bright red berries make an ornament look like a little piece of the forest. Use faux berries if you have small kids or pets. It pairs beautifully with real greenery around the house. Faux pine sprigs last the longest, while fresh ones stay pretty for a few weeks. Fillable Christmas ornaments like this one cost almost nothing if you trim sprigs from your own tree. For more ideas with leftover baubles, see our Christmas ornament hacks. Ready to fill a whole set?

You will need: A clear ornament, small pine or cedar sprigs, faux red berry picks, a red velvet ribbon.

How to make it: 1. Trim the sprigs into short pieces. 2. Push them in one at a time with the berries between them. 3. Close the cap and tie a red velvet bow.