Mixed Ornament Shapes? Try This Easy Ornament Stringer Hack!

I have been creating a Designer Christmas tree design for a local fundraiser event over Thanksgiving week. The tree will be full of colored ribbons, flocked stems, and lots of ornaments.  The color theme has been based mainly on a large 40-pack of pinkish ornaments featuring mixed shapes such as bells and spheres.  

Unfortunately, the ornaments are too small on their own to create the colorful impact I was hoping for.  So I decided to make ornament clusters to fill the tree and make decorating it in a limited time frame easier. 

But ornaments of different shapes and sizes strung together do not make for pretty-looking ornament clusters. I had to find a way to use all of the colorful ornaments in the box, no matter what shape or size they were.

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This post is part of the monthly Creative Craft Blog Hop that I co-host every other month with Sara of Birdz Of A Feather’s blog. 

If you are visiting from Gail’s Blog, I know you enjoyed her project for a Handcrafted Christmas Ornamental Flower DIY

 I have included links for the talented bloggers participating in the blog hop this month at the end of this post. 

How to use mixed-shaped ornaments as clusters.

Have you ever tried to make a mixed ornament shape cluster only to discover that different shapes don’t play nicely together? Bell ornaments stick out awkwardly, oval shapes tilt sideways, and round balls disappear into the branches. After trying to make an ornament cluster the usual way—sliding the ornaments onto a wire and twisting it tight —I was quickly disappointed with the look. I thought I was going to have to start over on the tree design just a few weeks before the event.

Before giving up on my preferred color theme, I searched online for posts and videos about making ornament clusters.  I didn’t find anything about ornament clusters using mixed shapes and sizes.

During my search, I watched this short video where a woman was showing how she made a string of ornament clusters for her fireplace with the clusters of round ornaments spaced out along the wire like a garland strand. Then she easily attached that strand to the greenery on the mantel. 

Although very interesting, I didn’t think about it further at the time. A few nights later, in the middle of the night, an idea came to me. 

Isn’t that when ideas usually come into your mind?

I realized I could try attaching the differently shaped ornaments to the wire one at a time, with space in between, instead of forcing them into a tight bunch, and then twisting the string of ornaments into a cluster on the branches. This way, I could control the placement of each ornament and still get that full, clustered look I needed to fill the tree.

So I tried it.  And it worked!

Why an ornament stringer works.

I’m calling this idea an ornament stringer—a simple DIY that solves the cluster placement problem for ornaments that aren’t the basic round ball. I have no idea if anyone else has been using this technique for years and giving it another name, but for my purposes, that is what I am calling it. 

When ornaments come in different shapes — like bells, finials, ovals, or oversized spheres — they rarely sit where you want them. Some droop forward, others hide in the greenery, and the clusters get bulky and uneven fast.

Instead of fighting against mixed ornament shapes, the ornament stringer approach lets you design the cluster effect right into your greenery.

Just a quick note:

Before making ornament clusters, make sure that the tops of each ornament are glued on.  I already had to do this step beforehand for the fundraiser’s requirements, so I meticulously glued the caps on every ornament I am using on the tree with Gorilla Glue.

Steps to make the ornament stringer.

These are the steps I used to make my small mixed-shaped ornament clusters.  

1. Ensure each ornament’s cap is secure with glue.
2. Choose at least 3 to 5 mixed-shaped ornaments for the cluster.
3. I used precut 18-inch 22-gauge wire. You can decide what gauge and length you need for your cluster.
4. Attach the ornaments to the wire using a wire loop knot method. Loop the end of the wire through the first ornament’s cap twice, and pull gently to make a secure “knot” in the wire. 
5. Continue adding ornaments, looping the wire twice through each cap and sliding them into position, allowing 2 to 3 inches between.
6. Optional step:  Add decorative ribbon to the end of the wire as a base for the small cluster.
7. Select a sturdy branch of your tree or wreath, and twist the string of ornaments around the base of the branch – not the tip – to create the cluster shape and look.

Now adding clusters of mixed-shaped ornaments to your tree is easier than you think.

I am thrilled that I found a way to use all of the mixed ornament shapes without as much frustration. With the ornament stringer wire loop knot method, I can place every ornament exactly where it looks best on my designer tree for the fundraiser and fill up the tree with the desired pops of sparkle and color I am trying to achieve.

Whether you’re trying to fill gaps in a Christmas tree, use every ornament in an assortment box, or add a different style to a tree, this simple DIY creates a custom-designed clustered look with far less hassle.

Although this is not exactly a completed craft project, these little ornament clusters were created following a crafty little technique to complete the style of a designer Christmas tree.

Pin For Later

I hope you will take this opportunity to visit the other talented bloggers who joined this month’s Creative Craft hop, starting with Sara’s Soda Tab Necklace.

How to Crochet an Evergreen Christmas Wreath

Handcrafted Christmas Ornamental Flower DIY

Mixed Ornament Shapes Stringer Hack for Clusters

Soda Tab Necklace

Red and White Decoupage Christmas Ornaments Tutorial 

Upcycled Christmas Tree Pillow

Hugs,

Zechariah 4:10 Do not despise the small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin.