Printed Christmas Ornaments: 16 Clever 3D Prints That Look Like Pricey Store Bought Decor

Printed Christmas Ornaments are the surprise hit of this holiday season, and you can make them right at home with a small desktop 3D printer. Home printers used to feel like a gadget for engineers, but now they sit next to sewing machines and glue guns on craft tables all over the country. Free design files let you print lacy snowflakes, glowing stars, tiny village houses and clever gift toys while you sleep. A spool of plastic costs about the same as a box of store ornaments, yet it can fill a whole tree. Holiday print videos are pulling millions of views right now, and it is easy to see why. Here are 16 clever ideas for the tree, the mantel, the table and the gift pile, each with a simple supply list and easy steps. Warm up the printer and let’s make some magic..

Lattice Snowflake Printed Christmas Ornaments for a Boutique Mantel

Start with the prettiest Printed Christmas Ornaments of all: lacy lattice snowflakes. Print them in white and red, then hang them along the mantel with a big lattice star, a few tiny village houses and a little brick chimney. The thin lines look like expensive laser cut decor from a holiday boutique, but each one takes only about half an hour to print. Thread them on pine garland with warm fairy lights and the whole shelf glows. Once you print one, you will want a dozen. Which color would you print first..

You will need: A home 3D printer, white and red plastic filament (PLA), a free snowflake design file, thin ribbon or fishing line, pine garland, battery fairy lights.

How to make it: 1. Download a free lattice snowflake file and slice it at a thin layer height for crisp lines. 2. Print a mix of white and red snowflakes, letting each one cool before you lift it off. 3. Tie ribbon through the top and hang them along a garland with fairy lights.

Chimney Gift Drop for Small Presents

This is the print that made millions of people smile online. A little brick style chimney holds tiny gifts, and when you lift the top, a present slides out of the opening at the bottom like Santa just came by. You can watch the idea in this chimney gift drop video, which pulled about 14 million views in under two weeks. Fill it with gift cards, candy or a ring box for a fun reveal. Kids and grown ups both love the surprise. Who would you hide a gift for?

You will need: A home 3D printer, red and white filament, a free chimney gift drop design, small wrapped gifts or treats, a little faux snow.

How to make it: 1. Print the chimney walls and the sliding insert in red, with a white top for snow. 2. Snap the parts together and test the slide with an empty box. 3. Load small wrapped gifts and set it under the tree.

Twisted Spiral Christmas Trees

Twisted trees are the easiest prints you will ever make. Most slicers have a single wall spiral mode, sometimes called vase mode, that prints a tall tree in one smooth line with no seams. Use a translucent filament and slip a string of battery fairy lights inside, and the trees glow like glass. Make three in different heights for a sweet side table display. They also look lovely on a windowsill. Would you choose green, white or gold?

You will need: A home 3D printer, translucent green, white or gold filament, a free twisted tree file, battery fairy lights, pine sprigs.

How to make it: 1. Turn on spiral or vase mode in your slicer and print the tree. 2. Print two more at 80 and 60 percent size. 3. Tuck battery fairy lights inside each tree and group them with pine sprigs.

Geometric Lattice Ball Printed Christmas Ornaments

These wavy lattice balls are the kind of Printed Christmas Ornaments that guests pick up and turn over in their hands. The open pattern looks like coral or lace, and light passes right through it. Print them in white or silver for a frosty tree, or in red and gold for a classic look. They are light and will not shatter if a pet knocks one down. A whole set costs far less than designer glass balls. How many would your tree need?

You will need: A home 3D printer, white or silver filament, a free lattice ball ornament file, jute twine or ribbon, ornament hooks.

How to make it: 1. Print the lattice ball with the support settings the designer suggests. 2. Gently peel away any supports and smooth rough spots with fine sandpaper. 3. Thread jute twine through the top loop and hang it on the tree.

Christmas Tree Countdown Drawer Box

A tree shaped box with little drawers turns the days before Christmas into a daily treat. Each drawer is just big enough for a candy, a tiny toy or a folded note. Print the frame in white and the drawers in a mix of colors, or keep everything white for a calm Scandinavian look. You can paint numbers on later or leave them blank. It sits nicely on a kitchen counter. What would you tuck in drawer one?

You will need: A home 3D printer, white filament plus one or two accent colors, a free tree drawer advent file, small treats or notes.

How to make it: 1. Print the tree frame first, then print the 24 drawers in batches. 2. Slide each drawer in and sand any that stick. 3. Fill the drawers and set the tree on a counter or shelf.

Light Up Star Tree Topper, a Glowing Printed Christmas Ornaments Idea

A hollow lattice star is the perfect top piece for a tree full of Printed Christmas Ornaments. Print the star in two halves, slip a small string of battery fairy lights inside and snap it shut. At night it throws soft star patterns onto the ceiling. A battery pack keeps it safe and simple, with no cords to the outlet. It also looks great on a lantern or a wreath. Would you print a white star or a gold one?

You will need: A home 3D printer, white or gold filament, a free hollow star topper file, a small battery fairy light string, a cone shaped base or clip.

How to make it: 1. Print both halves of the star and the base clip. 2. Feed the fairy lights inside and tuck the battery pack in the base. 3. Snap the halves together and clip the star to the top of the tree.

Snowflake and Star Cookie Cutters

Printed cookie cutters let you bake shapes you will never find in a store. Print a set of snowflakes and stars in different sizes, and you have a holiday baking kit ready for gifting. Choose a food safe filament and wash the cutters by hand in warm soapy water. Tie a set with ribbon and add your favorite sugar cookie recipe for a sweet homemade gift. They stack neatly in a drawer all year. Which shape would you bake first?

You will need: A home 3D printer, a food safe PLA or PETG filament, free cookie cutter designs, warm soapy water, ribbon for gift sets.

How to make it: 1. Print the cutters with solid walls and no gaps. 2. Wash them by hand and dry them well before use. 3. Press them into rolled dough and bake as usual.

Nordic Village Houses, a Cozy Printed Christmas Ornaments Display

Tiny Nordic houses are a sweet way to take Printed Christmas Ornaments beyond the tree. Print a row of white houses with little window cutouts, then slip a battery tea light or fairy lights inside each one. On a white mantel with bottle brush trees and faux snow, they look like a snowy town at night. Print one new house each year and the village grows with your family. They make lovely gifts too. How many houses would your village have?

You will need: A home 3D printer, white filament, free Nordic house designs, battery tea lights or fairy lights, bottle brush trees, faux snow.

How to make it: 1. Print three to five houses in different heights. 2. Set a battery light under each house. 3. Line them up on the mantel with mini trees and a sprinkle of faux snow.

Gift Box Shaped Ornaments

Little gift box ornaments look like presents for the tree itself. Print them in red, white and green with a raised ribbon and bow on top. Some designs even open with a hinge, so you can hide a small surprise or a folded wish inside. They are light, colorful and safe for homes with kids and pets. Hang a few at the front of the tree where everyone can see them. What would you hide in a tiny box?

You will need: A home 3D printer, red, white and green filament, a free gift box ornament file, ornament hooks or thin ribbon.

How to make it: 1. Print the box and the bow, using a second color for the bow if you can. 2. Glue the bow on top if it prints separately. 3. Add a ribbon loop and hang it on the tree.

Low Poly Reindeer for the Table

Low poly reindeer have that modern, faceted look you see in fancy home stores. Print a pair in smooth white and set them on a table runner with pine sprigs, pine cones and red berries. The flat angles catch the light beautifully. They also look sharp in matte gold or soft grey. Keep them out after Christmas as winter decor. Would you put them on the table or the mantel?

You will need: A home 3D printer, white filament, a free low poly reindeer file, pine sprigs, pine cones, red berries.

How to make it: 1. Print the reindeer in a few parts if the design is large. 2. Glue the antlers on and lightly sand the seams. 3. Set them on a runner with greenery and pine cones.

Snowflake Stocking Holders, a Clever Printed Christmas Ornaments Upgrade

Stocking holders can cost a fortune, but you can print a matching set for very little and keep the Printed Christmas Ornaments look going on the mantel. Print chunky snowflake holders with a weighted base and a hook. Fill the base with sand or coins so the holder stays put when the stocking is full. Make one for each person in the family. They look tidy, bright and custom made. How many stockings hang at your house?

You will need: A home 3D printer, white filament, a free stocking holder design with a hollow base, sand or coins, felt pads.

How to make it: 1. Print the holders with thick walls and a hollow base. 2. Pause the print near the top, pour in sand for weight, then let it finish. 3. Add felt pads under the base and hang the stockings.

Holly Napkin Rings for the Christmas Table

Holly napkin rings make a plain table look planned. Print the rings in green with tiny red berries, or print the berries separately and glue them on. Roll red cloth napkins through them and set one on each plate. They are fast to print, so you can make a set of eight in an afternoon. Guests often ask to take them home. What color napkins would you use?

You will need: A home 3D printer, green and red filament, a free holly napkin ring file, cloth napkins, craft glue.

How to make it: 1. Print the rings in green and the berries in red. 2. Glue three berries on each ring. 3. Roll napkins and slide them through the rings.

Spiral Link Garland, Easy Printed Christmas Ornaments Style for the Stairs

Print a pile of open rings in red, white and green and you can link them into a long garland, like the paper chains from school but much sturdier. This is an easy way to stretch your Printed Christmas Ornaments theme up the staircase or across a window. Some designs print already linked, so the chain comes off the plate in one piece. It packs flat and lasts for years. Would you drape it on the tree or the stairs?

You will need: A home 3D printer, red, white and green filament, a free chain link or print in place garland design.

How to make it: 1. Print a plate of links in each color. 2. Snap or slide the links together in a repeating color pattern. 3. Drape the garland along the banister, a window or the tree.

Gold Pine Cone Ornaments

Printed pine cones look almost real, with every little scale in place. Print them in plain filament, then brush on metallic gold or copper paint for a warm, rich finish. Hang them on the tree with jute twine next to real pine needles, and people will look twice to see which is which. They do not drop sap or seeds. Mix a few real pine cones in for fun. Can you spot the printed ones?

You will need: A home 3D printer, plain filament, a free pine cone ornament file, metallic gold and copper acrylic paint, a small brush, jute twine.

How to make it: 1. Print the pine cones with fine layers so the scales look crisp. 2. Paint them gold or copper and let them dry. 3. Tie on jute twine and hang them on the tree.

Simple Silhouette Christmas Scene

A plain silhouette scene brings a quiet, peaceful feel to a shelf. Print flat cutout shapes of a stable, a star, a donkey, a sheep and a few palm trees in white. Stand them in a row and put a few battery fairy lights behind them, so the shapes glow at the edges. The clean look fits any home style, from farmhouse to modern. It is a gentle reminder of the season. Where would you set yours?

You will need: A home 3D printer, white filament, free silhouette scene designs, a small wooden shelf or board, battery fairy lights, pine sprigs.

How to make it: 1. Print each flat shape with a small stand on the bottom. 2. Arrange them on the shelf from tallest to smallest. 3. Hide battery fairy lights behind the shapes and add pine sprigs in front.

Paint and Finish Your Printed Christmas Ornaments Like a Pro

A little finishing work makes Printed Christmas Ornaments look like they came from a shop. Sand rough edges with fine sandpaper, then spray a light coat of primer outside in fresh air. When it dries, paint with acrylic craft paint in red, gold or white and add a clear coat for shine. For color ideas, look through our hand painted ornament ideas. An adult should run the printer and the spray can, but kids can help paint. Which of these 16 ideas will you print first?

You will need: Printed pieces, fine sandpaper, spray primer used outdoors, acrylic craft paint, small brushes, a clear sealer, a drying rack.

How to make it: 1. Sand any rough spots and wipe off the dust. 2. Spray a light coat of primer outdoors with an adult and let it dry. 3. Paint, let dry, and finish with a clear coat.