Christmas Ball Ornaments – 7 Fun Ways To Use Them

In today’s post you’ll find 7 creative ways to use Christmas ball ornaments, besides using on your tree. Whether vintage or reproduction these ornaments are full of possible uses, and some of these tips you may not have ever seen before!

I just may have 10,862 Christmas ball ornaments around here, or so it seems. As a long time collector of vintage Shiny Brites, my love of ornaments goes deep. Fast forward some years and when non breakable Christmas tree balls came along, I became somewhat of a convert. But I still have my vintage glass Shiny Brites that have patina to love!
When it comes to decorating my Christmas trees, I stick with the non breakables for the most part. With 3 curious dogs running around it’s a necessity! So what else do I love to do with these splendiferous baubles that only come out for part of the year? So many things and today I’m sharing some of these ideas along with a few friends in our 20 Minute Decorating series.

Christmas ball ornaments lantern

Christmas Ball Ornaments – 7 Fun Ways To Use Them

Fill A Lantern

Whether inside our outdoors, I love and use my large lanterns year round. They are so versatile and add such a festive look filled with Christmas ball ornaments. You could also toss some battery operated string lights with remote inside on top of the ornaments. So fun for a night time holiday party with friends!

lanterns with Christmas ball ornaments

Gather A Grouping In A Bowl

Bowls come in all shapes and sizes and EVERYONE has at least a few bowls laying around. Fill and gather either an entire bowl or sprinkle a few Christmas tree balls along with pine cones and greens. Below is an antique beaded lampshade that I’ve turned upside-down to use as a bowl, so think outside the box (er..bowl) and see what YOU come up with!

bowl with Christmas ball ornaments

Here is a garden pot that I brought inside and filled with pine cones, Christmas ball ornaments and vintage glass beaded garland. I LOVE the way that the vintage glass ornaments and garland shines and highly recommend adding some to your holiday stash.

Do you have a dough bowl? Perfect then…add some ornaments and elements from outdoors.

Hang Christmas Ball Ornaments In Unexpected Places

Find some branches outside and spray them white, or perhaps silver or glitzy gold. Place in a heavy pot and secure with crumbled newspaper. Then hang a few Christmas ball ornaments and you’ve made yourself an extra tree!

Every year I try to find some unusual way to hang ornaments. Why be the same…I enjoy being creatively different! Below is one of my vintage mannequins, dressed for the holidays and I hung some favorite Shiny Brites on her wire cage. Other hanging options could be to make a drapery pull from some holiday ribbon and add a few Christmas ball ornaments to the ends. Hang with ribbon from a chandelier over the dining table. You’re only limited by your imagination and I’d love to know what you come up with!

vintage mannequin with vintage shiny brides

Add To A Festive Tablescape

My favorite time to entertain and create a festive table would be the holiday season. The weather is generally cooperative here then and we head outdoors after many months of oppressive Florida heat. Christmas tablescapes like this one are such fun and guests love them. Just a few non breakable Christmas tree balls are mixed in subtle fashion.

Outdoor table setting with Christmas ball ornaments

Indoors a simple table runner has been created with a pretty layer of tulle, greenery and a few ornaments.

Sprinkle Here And There

One of the finishing touches to decorating for Christmas is to sprinkle ornaments here and there. I have a few special vintage Shiny Brites that have meaning and add depth and warmth wherever they are placed.

Make A Christmas Ball Ornaments Wreath

Oh gosh…if you’ve been with me for years (and I know that some of you have:-) I used to make vintage ornament wreaths and sell them. I stopped when they became mass produced with reproduction ornaments, but they would STILL be fun to make! Use a grapevine wreath and hot glue, making sure to cover the wreath entirely. You can use new ornaments for this and it will be easier to store away.

Make Your Own Glitter

Oops, did you drop a glass Christmas tree ornament to have it shatter to smithereens? I have a tutorial here on – HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN GLITTER. It’s consistently been one of my most popular posts for years, so take a look!

Christmas ornament ideas shabbyfufu.jpg copy 2

Please visit my friends below for more inspiration!

20 Minute Decorating series logo

French Country Cottage | DIY Fresh Holiday Greens & Oranges Wreath 

DIY Holiday Citrus Wreath FCC

On Sutton Place | Pine Cone & Rag Ball Centerpiece

Pine Cone Centerpiece from On Sutton Place

Shabbyfufu | Christmas Ball Ornaments

ways to decorate with Christmas balls besides a tree

StoneGable | Easy Christmas Centerpiece

EASY CHRISTMAS CENTERPIECE StoneGable

Thistlewood Farms | Easy and Inexpensive Christmas Decorating Ideas

Christmas centerpiece

Designthusiasm | Easy Shortcuts for Simple Christmas Decor

Christmas decoration ideas simple tabletop tree

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

12 Comments

  1. Connie McGhee says:

    I don’t need to be thinking about Christmas but I enjoyed every delightful pic of those who are!

  2. Would love to know where you got your tree. I’m looking for one just like it!

  3. Mary Reeves says:

    Hi Janet, there is a picture of an undecorated tree as soon as I opened your email. I’m wondering if it is real or faux tree. It is beautiful. Thanks for any info!
    Mary Reeves

  4. What a fun post! I love all these fun ideas! Thanks so much for inspiring me for Christmas!

    Happy day friend!
    karianne

  5. The mannequin!! 🙂 I love it and had never thought about decorating like that! I’m going to go look around my house and see what needs some extra bling this season! 💗

  6. Ann Drayton says:

    Janet, what a brilliant post! Love it.

    1. Awwww, thank you Ann! xo

  7. I have a dress form collection so your photo was so inspiring. I have a small apartment and have finished decorating, BUUUUT, I plan to use them for decorating in January, all pearls and crowns and lace. They reside in a corner of my bedroom now and I will be moving them to the living room in January as a main focal point!!! Thanks for the idea.

    1. There is just something about dress forms that I love! Sounds like a great plan Eileen!!

  8. Fabulous ideas, Janet! I’m going to pull out some more ornaments!!! Merry Christmas!
    xo Kathleen

    1. I’m so happy to inspire you Kathleen! xo, Janet

  9. Jean Windham says:

    Janet, I think every year I am not going to buy a flocked tree and I see a post with trees like the one you have. I guess I will break and get me one. Yours is absolutely beautiful. Thank you Jean